The official West Boca High School Tank Renovation Project!
- Thread starter novahobbies
- Start date
novahobbies
New member
Yesterday was the Big Stuff reset day for the West Boca High tank. Once again, I want to thank everyone who contributed, everyone who offered items, and all the people who are offering a few corals in the future. We're going to let the tank settle in a week or two before we start in on corals, but the main work is essentially done as of yesterday.
Once again, Sean (Doreo) showed up to help out A LOT. I and my back thank him gratefully. We removed the old light fixture, took off the hood permanently (we had to; the light fixture was too big!!) added the new rock columns, took out about 50-60% of the sand and replaced it with a new mixture of oolite and fiji pink, did some aquascaping, installed the new light, and added a HOB refugium/skimmer.
In short, this is how we found it:
And this is how it looks now:
Once again, Sean (Doreo) showed up to help out A LOT. I and my back thank him gratefully. We removed the old light fixture, took off the hood permanently (we had to; the light fixture was too big!!) added the new rock columns, took out about 50-60% of the sand and replaced it with a new mixture of oolite and fiji pink, did some aquascaping, installed the new light, and added a HOB refugium/skimmer.
In short, this is how we found it:
And this is how it looks now:
novahobbies
New member
Waiting for the sand cloud to clear, obviously. I'll be by sometime this week, next Saturday at the latest, with a couple new screen tops to replace the glass ones. We went for a more open look for the tank rockwork, with larger caves and crevices.
Now comes the fun part: Planning a few new fish and livestock. It turns out that this is a 90g bowfront, not a 72g like we first thought. Little taller. But with that in mind, I have no fear about adding a Kole tang into the mix.
Since they have a fair number of small damsels in the system, I want to add just a couple fish that will be (a) inexpensive and (b) feisty enough to hold their own against the damsel horde. This is what I'm thinking:
1. Diamondback Goby. We need a sand-sifter in there to help keep that bed nice and bright. Diamond gobies are pretty hardy, and once the net is in place I don't think we have anything to fear from leaping fish.
2. Coral Beauty. I overheard Amy saying she liked this fish.
3. Kole Tang. For possible algae issues, and because, you know. Tang.
4. Bicolor Blenny. Because it's one of those "classic" saltwater fish, and because of the personality and antics Blennies have.
We also need a number of blue-leg hermit crabs and some nassarius snails to add to the mix....Sean has already given them a fair number of turban and turbo snails to complement the ones they already had.
Obviously Amy and I need to sit down and discuss fish prices, because I think the parents of the students might be able to chip in and donate some funds for the livestock and for the future tank maintenance costs. We have had some very generous people and groups chime in for corals, and I will be hitting them up in the coming weeks to start "collecting" the coral donations.
Now comes the fun part: Planning a few new fish and livestock. It turns out that this is a 90g bowfront, not a 72g like we first thought. Little taller. But with that in mind, I have no fear about adding a Kole tang into the mix.
Since they have a fair number of small damsels in the system, I want to add just a couple fish that will be (a) inexpensive and (b) feisty enough to hold their own against the damsel horde. This is what I'm thinking:
1. Diamondback Goby. We need a sand-sifter in there to help keep that bed nice and bright. Diamond gobies are pretty hardy, and once the net is in place I don't think we have anything to fear from leaping fish.
2. Coral Beauty. I overheard Amy saying she liked this fish.
3. Kole Tang. For possible algae issues, and because, you know. Tang.
4. Bicolor Blenny. Because it's one of those "classic" saltwater fish, and because of the personality and antics Blennies have.
We also need a number of blue-leg hermit crabs and some nassarius snails to add to the mix....Sean has already given them a fair number of turban and turbo snails to complement the ones they already had.
Obviously Amy and I need to sit down and discuss fish prices, because I think the parents of the students might be able to chip in and donate some funds for the livestock and for the future tank maintenance costs. We have had some very generous people and groups chime in for corals, and I will be hitting them up in the coming weeks to start "collecting" the coral donations.
RarefiedAir24
New member
Man, you guys did a GREAT job! Looking good!!! cant wait to see it with livestock. I may also have a frag or two I can donate.
Great job!
Frank
Great job!
Frank
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