My newly setup 75G and poor pictures

[haywood2]

I'm new at saltwater and picture taking, but here is the progress of my tank... Any comments/suggestions? I need help with my rockscaping.

Filled her up and added some sand...

Added some live rock....

Finally added the last of the rock, got all of it for $4/lb fully cured.

Some close-ups of the rock

 

[skoomamonster]

Lookin good so far but eventually your going to need some more rock. And also that macro algae on your live rock will spread really fast and that would be a bad way to start so you should get some snails and hermit crabs in their to graze on your algae and try to pluck some of it out unless you plan on getting some algae grazing fish soon. But as for your pictures to me they just look a little over exposed.
Keep us updated with your tank!

 

[haywood2]

What do you mean by overexposed?? And which algae is the macro algae, the green hairy stuff or the purple hairy stuff? Thanks for the comments, I was beginning to think that my first attempt at a FOWLR tank sucks lol.

 

[skoomamonster]

Im not much of a camera expert but when you look at your sand it looks bright white and the dark spots on your rock dont look dark enough. By being overexposed i mean your exposure time was to long which made everything in your picture brighter than normal their should be a setting on your camera to change the exposure time to a shorter time which will darken your picture. Both types of algae are macro algae. Macro algae is any type of algae that you dont have to use a microscope to see the individual plants. So any algae that is hairy or leafy is macro algae. I personally like macro algae, its kinda neat to see but thats why i have a refugium so all of my algae can grow in there instead of my main tank. Id love to grow it in my main tank except it would take over my tank. But dont worry your off to a good start and if that light you have is the 260 watt light, then you could keep some corals like mushrooms or zoas even a frog spawn if you wanted to! Keep up the good work, Nick

 

[haywood2]

The light I have is only 130 watts, so I am pretty sure I won't be getting any corals. It's okay though, I just want some nice healthy fish in the tank. My mom lost the directions to the camera and I couldn't find anything online. Anyone have any suggestions or pointers for my aquascaping?

 

[senatormoe31]

REmember folks...... Rock --->>>sand--->>> water.
Don't put your rock on top of sand. can you spell "avalanche"
You will almost certainly "end up" with some form(s) of burrowers or diggers. When they excavate enough, "down comes the cradle".
Especially in a DSB system.
Rock on glass.
JMO as a LONG time screwer upper.

 

[senatormoe31]

ALSO.....long term... leave yourself a fists width distance from your side panes all the way to the sand. YOU WILL thank me, otherwise over time it will become a nightmare to keep clean..
start the rock off away from the back wall a couple of inches and lean it back as you go up if ya want.
FLOW<FLOW<FLOW.
Dead spots a no no.
Smile and be happy.
Thought these ideas would help, hope so.

 

[senatormoe31]

Reef or swim?
Either way, your next $40 bucks would be best spent on a book like "reef Secrets" by Nilsen and Fossa.
They will keep you from "blowing" loads of cash.
Also thet book is awesome for suggestions about achieving a long term goal.
JMO.

I see you have already started buying equipment, and from the looks of it could have poss. been better chosen.
Nows the time to educate yourself.