crazyfins
New member
Background Information:
Hi all! I'm crazyfins, a new addition to the forum and an enthusiastic female fish hobbyist. I've kept fish on and off for about 10 years now. I've had fantastic experiences with freshwater fish and began my great saltwater endeavor last July (summer of 2015). I started with a 36g Aqueon bowfront tank, upgraded to a 54g Aqueon bowfront corner tank at the beginning of February, and have now purchased an additional 75g Aqueon tank (not set up yet). As of right now, I plan on running both the 54g and 75g tanks as saltwater environments.
My supplies for the 75g (48" tall x 18" deep x 21" tall) are as follows:
+ ESHOPPS R-200 Sump/Refugium (holds ~30g; currently in need of an appropriate refugium light)
+ Reef Octopus 150-INT Protein Skimmer (rated for up to 210g)
+ Jebao DCT-6000 Controllable Water Return Pump
+ ESHOPPS PF-1000 Overflow Box (rated for up to 400g)
+ Sicce Voyager 3 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (1200gph) x 2
+ Sicce Voyager 2 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (800gph)
+ Current USA Marine Orbit LED Light (36-48")
+ 250-watt Aqueon Pro Heater x 2
+ 32lbs of live rock (just purchased yesterday and currently curing in a 20g tank with a powerhead and filter by itself)
+ ~10-15lbs of dry rock (from MarcoRocks on eBay)
My supplies for the 54g (39" front x 27.4" sides x 23" tall) are as follows:
+ ESHOPPS RS-75 Reef Sump (holds ~7-10g) + biological filtration media + Purigen pack
+ CPR Aquatic Aquafuge 2 HOB 2.5g Refugium (light runs 24/7)
+ Tunze Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 9001 (rated for up to 37g; previously recommended for 36g tank; currently out of use because it fell apart somewhat and needs cable ties to put it back together)
+ Sicce Syncra 2.0 Water Return Pump
+ ESHOPPS PF-300 Overflow Box (rated for up to 75g)
+ Sicce Voyager 2 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (800gph)
+ Sicce Voyager Nano Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (530gph)
+ Marquis Dual-Lamp T5HO Light (30")
+ 200-watt Aqueon Pro Heater
+ ~20-30lbs of live rock
+ ~10-15lbs of dry rock (from MarcoRocks on eBay; undergoing conversion into live rock since February)
Livestock that I currently own:
+ Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) x 2
+ Strawberry Dottyback (Pictichromis porphyrea)
+ Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) + Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus)
+ Blue-Legged Crabs (multiples)
+ Cerith Snails (multiples)
+ Fighting Conch
+ Nassarius Snails (multiples)
+ Scarlet-Legged Crabs (multiples)
+ Serpent Sea Star (one red, one brown) x 2
+ Pincushion Urchin
+ Blue Mushroom Coral
+ Zooanthid Coral
+ two different types of flower-looking corals, unknown species
Other livestock that I find interesting, listed in alphabetical order:
+ Anemone (a species that clownfish may eventually host)
+ Atlantic Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish (Centropyge argi)
+ Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
+ Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
+ Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)
+ Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
+ Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
+ Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus, extremely sensitive to their large tank and care requirements, as well as concerns regarding native populations in relationship to the movie Finding Dory)
+ Blue-Spotted Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti, owned previously and one of my all-time favorite fish)
+ Christmas Tree Worm on Rock (Spirobranchus porites)
+ Debelius' Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus sp.)
+ Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
+ Dog Face Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)
+ Dwarf Colored Feather Duster (Bispira sp.)
+ Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
+ Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
+ Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)
+ Flame Scallop (Lima scabra)
+ Green Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
+ Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)
+ Humu Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)
+ Linckia Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)
+ Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
+ Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
+ Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
+ Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)
+ One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
+ Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
+ Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
+ Pearly/Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
+ Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni complex)
+ Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)
+ Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus)
+ Potter's Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
+ Red Sea Star (Fromia milleporella)
+ Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sp.)
+ Saddle Valentini Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)
+ Sand Sifting Sea Star (Astropecten polycanthus)
+ Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
+ Snowflake Eel (Echidna nebulosa)
+ Stars and Stripes Puffer (Arothron hispidus)
+ Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
+ Yellow Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
+ Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
+ Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)
Questions:
(1) Does my proposed amount of rock in each tank seem appropriate?
(2) How thick of a sand bed do you recommend (obviously, taking into account that livestock selection can affect this recommendation)?
(3) What kind of refugium light would you suggest for the R-200 refugium section in my 75g tank set-up?
(4) What kind of protein skimmer would you recommend for my 54g tank?
(5) I love fish with personality, but I'm also not prepared to care for any fish beyond moderate care levels. For example, I know that Potter's Angelfish and dragonets are notoriously difficult to care for, so even though their personality and/or lifestyle interests me, I'd be unlikely to actually purchase one. In other cases, I know my tank size is inadequate and would never want to house a fish in too small of a tank. That said, based on my livestock lists (meant to give you an idea of what I'm drawn to) and any ideas you may have regarding appropriately-sized fish with personality, what are your stocking suggestions for my 75g and 54g tanks? I'm okay with splitting up the fish that I currently own if appropriate. Also, I'm not currently pursuing corals beyond what I have and would sell what I have in favor of a fish-only tank if necessary.
I know I've posted a lot of information here, so thanks in advance for any advice! I'm sending good vibes your way! :fish1:
Hi all! I'm crazyfins, a new addition to the forum and an enthusiastic female fish hobbyist. I've kept fish on and off for about 10 years now. I've had fantastic experiences with freshwater fish and began my great saltwater endeavor last July (summer of 2015). I started with a 36g Aqueon bowfront tank, upgraded to a 54g Aqueon bowfront corner tank at the beginning of February, and have now purchased an additional 75g Aqueon tank (not set up yet). As of right now, I plan on running both the 54g and 75g tanks as saltwater environments.
My supplies for the 75g (48" tall x 18" deep x 21" tall) are as follows:
+ ESHOPPS R-200 Sump/Refugium (holds ~30g; currently in need of an appropriate refugium light)
+ Reef Octopus 150-INT Protein Skimmer (rated for up to 210g)
+ Jebao DCT-6000 Controllable Water Return Pump
+ ESHOPPS PF-1000 Overflow Box (rated for up to 400g)
+ Sicce Voyager 3 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (1200gph) x 2
+ Sicce Voyager 2 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (800gph)
+ Current USA Marine Orbit LED Light (36-48")
+ 250-watt Aqueon Pro Heater x 2
+ 32lbs of live rock (just purchased yesterday and currently curing in a 20g tank with a powerhead and filter by itself)
+ ~10-15lbs of dry rock (from MarcoRocks on eBay)
My supplies for the 54g (39" front x 27.4" sides x 23" tall) are as follows:
+ ESHOPPS RS-75 Reef Sump (holds ~7-10g) + biological filtration media + Purigen pack
+ CPR Aquatic Aquafuge 2 HOB 2.5g Refugium (light runs 24/7)
+ Tunze Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 9001 (rated for up to 37g; previously recommended for 36g tank; currently out of use because it fell apart somewhat and needs cable ties to put it back together)
+ Sicce Syncra 2.0 Water Return Pump
+ ESHOPPS PF-300 Overflow Box (rated for up to 75g)
+ Sicce Voyager 2 Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (800gph)
+ Sicce Voyager Nano Power Stream Pump/Powerhead (530gph)
+ Marquis Dual-Lamp T5HO Light (30")
+ 200-watt Aqueon Pro Heater
+ ~20-30lbs of live rock
+ ~10-15lbs of dry rock (from MarcoRocks on eBay; undergoing conversion into live rock since February)
Livestock that I currently own:
+ Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) x 2
+ Strawberry Dottyback (Pictichromis porphyrea)
+ Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) + Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus)
+ Blue-Legged Crabs (multiples)
+ Cerith Snails (multiples)
+ Fighting Conch
+ Nassarius Snails (multiples)
+ Scarlet-Legged Crabs (multiples)
+ Serpent Sea Star (one red, one brown) x 2
+ Pincushion Urchin
+ Blue Mushroom Coral
+ Zooanthid Coral
+ two different types of flower-looking corals, unknown species
Other livestock that I find interesting, listed in alphabetical order:
+ Anemone (a species that clownfish may eventually host)
+ Atlantic Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish (Centropyge argi)
+ Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
+ Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
+ Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)
+ Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
+ Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
+ Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus, extremely sensitive to their large tank and care requirements, as well as concerns regarding native populations in relationship to the movie Finding Dory)
+ Blue-Spotted Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti, owned previously and one of my all-time favorite fish)
+ Christmas Tree Worm on Rock (Spirobranchus porites)
+ Debelius' Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus sp.)
+ Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
+ Dog Face Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)
+ Dwarf Colored Feather Duster (Bispira sp.)
+ Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
+ Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
+ Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)
+ Flame Scallop (Lima scabra)
+ Green Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
+ Helfrichi Firefish (Nemateleotris helfrichi)
+ Humu Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)
+ Linckia Sea Star (Linckia laevigata)
+ Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
+ Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
+ Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
+ Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)
+ One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
+ Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
+ Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
+ Pearly/Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
+ Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni complex)
+ Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)
+ Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holocanthus)
+ Potter's Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
+ Red Sea Star (Fromia milleporella)
+ Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sp.)
+ Saddle Valentini Puffer (Canthigaster valentini)
+ Sand Sifting Sea Star (Astropecten polycanthus)
+ Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
+ Snowflake Eel (Echidna nebulosa)
+ Stars and Stripes Puffer (Arothron hispidus)
+ Yellow Coris Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
+ Yellow Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
+ Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
+ Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)
Questions:
(1) Does my proposed amount of rock in each tank seem appropriate?
(2) How thick of a sand bed do you recommend (obviously, taking into account that livestock selection can affect this recommendation)?
(3) What kind of refugium light would you suggest for the R-200 refugium section in my 75g tank set-up?
(4) What kind of protein skimmer would you recommend for my 54g tank?
(5) I love fish with personality, but I'm also not prepared to care for any fish beyond moderate care levels. For example, I know that Potter's Angelfish and dragonets are notoriously difficult to care for, so even though their personality and/or lifestyle interests me, I'd be unlikely to actually purchase one. In other cases, I know my tank size is inadequate and would never want to house a fish in too small of a tank. That said, based on my livestock lists (meant to give you an idea of what I'm drawn to) and any ideas you may have regarding appropriately-sized fish with personality, what are your stocking suggestions for my 75g and 54g tanks? I'm okay with splitting up the fish that I currently own if appropriate. Also, I'm not currently pursuing corals beyond what I have and would sell what I have in favor of a fish-only tank if necessary.
I know I've posted a lot of information here, so thanks in advance for any advice! I'm sending good vibes your way! :fish1:
