steveo's 72 gallon build

[steveo9043]

Hey everyone, the name is Steve.

I have to admit that the show tanked got me into the hobby. I started with a tight budget and was going to pick up a 20 gallon setup. I knew I wouldn't be happy with a 20 gallon tank. So I went off on craigslist and found my 72 gallon bow front, 3 pumps, heater, hood, CPR HOB PS refugium and stand. Picked it all up for $200. Couldn't be happier for what I got for the price.

Picked up most of my sand/rock/maintenance items from petsmart, aquarium adventures and sea escapes

Prior to the tank fully cycling I started noticing aiptasia and was really wanting some live stock so I picked up 3 peppermint shrimp. (i know its mean and wouldn't do it again)

Tank fully cycled I finally purchased 2 B/G chromis
Waited a week and tested the water daily, No signs of a mini cycle and no spikes.
one week later I added 2 ocellaris clowns and a yellow headed jawfish.
Again was still testing daily and everything was looking good.

4 days later I come home from work and one of the clowns is barely moving on the bottom of the tank. Checked the water and all was good. I decided to try a water change just to see. While doing the water change I watched him take his last breath No signs of any disease that I or the people at the store noticed.

Got a full refund for him and took it as store credit. Waited a week and a half before adding another clown back in the tank. It has now been 3 weeks and all has been good.

During this all a kenya tree and what I think are daisy polyps started forming from my live rock.

 

[steveo9043]

Last week at the swap I picked up my first coral

Next things on the list are:
QT Tank
More inverts (clean up crew)
RO/DI unit?

 

[steveo9043]

Yesterday my LED flood lights came in

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=271070600424&view=all&tid=1002915449017

Night and day difference in the intensity of the lighting!

Need to get some sort of antic/moon lighting.

 

[steveo9043]

Update:

Lost one of the corals. Seems like a fish knocked it over into the sand bed. When I went to pull it out it was all white and flaky.

Other corals is doing good especially this guy

Went to the LFS that I had a gift certificate for and picked up this guy for $11

Tiger watchman goby!
He got right to work after acclimation and is cleaning the sand like a mad man.

 

[steveo9043]

Update: picked up 30lbs of live rock today. Went from established tank to bucket with wet paper towels to my tank ASAP. Need to rework my aquascape when lights are on.

Before:

After:

 

[Joe5688]

Looks good def need some actinic accent in there

 

[dajcadams]

I would recommend you get the RO/DI unit but there are some folks that are successful with just tap water. I would also suggest that you get started with soft corals and LPS until you get the water chemistry stuff down. My tank's been going for two years now and I'm only keeping the easiest of SPS.

 

[steveo9043]

Looks good def need some actinic accent in there

Yes I do! I am working with the supplier of the LED flood lights on getting some Actinic lighting.

I would recommend you get the RO/DI unit but there are some folks that are successful with just tap water. I would also suggest that you get started with soft corals and LPS until you get the water chemistry stuff down. My tank's been going for two years now and I'm only keeping the easiest of SPS.

Yes the SPS was on an impulse buy at the frag swap. I am thinking of offering it to someone who can grow it successfully. I am asking for a RO/DI unit for Christmas.

 

[Joe5688]

Keep an eye on cl for a rodi unit. I picked mine up for dirt cheap and just replaced the filters.

 

[steveo9043]

Keep an eye on cl for a rodi unit. I picked mine up for dirt cheap and just replaced the filters.

Sounds like a good idea, thanks.

 

[steveo9043]

Update:

Couple weeks ago I added 3 turbo snails and 2 astrea's, no more algae on the back glass!

I also lost the Yellow headed jawfish to carpet surfing.

Saturday I took my original T8 fixture and put a a blue bulb in. Also I added two 3 stripe damsels.

I am liking the look of the depth of the tank. No canopy tho so lights are just sitting on top of tank. Working on a new lid.

Current stock list = 1 peppermint shrimp, 3 turbo's, 2 astrea's, 2 clowns, 2 three stripe damsels, 2 b/g chromis and 1 tiger watchman goby

Was fighting cyano a couple weeks ago and had it under control before I left for vacation. My cousin watched the house and tank and I told him to feed every other day. He liked watching them eat so he fed daily and now I have some Cyano again.

 

[steveo9043]

Few shots of my coral under moonlights