Reefers,
Today is the official end to our twin tank build. The system has fully cycled and looks to be fairly stable. Here is a picture of the final twin tanks we are ready to begin stocking.
However, let me start with the question most people ask me. Why two 45 gallons tanks instead of a single 100 gallon tank? The answer is simple. Siblings don't like to share. I have a son and daughter that are very close in age and I want to work on a project with them that we could accomplish together (mostly). So, we set out almost a year ago to build two new tanks, a stand and sump. Now we are ready to start stocking them. They will also be responsible for the feeding and cleaning of their own tanks. Not all chores have to be boring. IMO
Here are the basic system parameters:
System Age: 5 months
Tank Size: Two tanks 45 gallons each sharing a common sump
Refrugum: 16 gallons with DSB, live rock and Chaeto
Total H20 Capacity: 120 gallons w/o live rock
Lighting: 2 X 250W HQI and 4 X 18" ATI T5
Chiller: JBJ ¼ Chiller
Live Rock: 60 Lbs
Tank Flow: 2 X VorTech MP10
Sump Flow: ~600 gallons per hour (Eheim 1262)
H20 Changes: 10 gallons weekly
Salt Mix: Red Sea Coral Pro
Temp: 79 "“ 81F
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: <10
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.0 "“ 8.2
ORP: 400 - 440
Plus a few things to keep in mind:
Here is some of the livestock and corals we are thinking about stocking our tanks with. We would love your opinion and any suggestions / recommendations you would be willing to offer.
Tank #1 (Left Tank) "“ Daughter's Tanks
*Green Reef Chromis (small size)
ORA Ocellaris Clownfish (pair) Thanks Nemo!
Bubble Tip Anemone
ORA Mandarin Drogonette
Pistol Shrimp
Orange Spotted Goby (symbiotic w/ pistol shrimp)
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
Corals:
*Frogspawns
4 or 5 different small Zoas Colonies
Yellow Colony Polyp
Green Harry Mushroom Colony
Green Polyp Duncan
Tank #2 (Right Tank) "“ Son's Tank
*Tomato Clownfish (medium size)
*Flame Hawkfish (medium size)
*Coral Banded Shrimp (medium size)
Coral Beauty Angelfish or Flame Angelfish
Long Tentacle Anemone or Sebae Anemone
ORA Sunrise Dottybacks
ORA Spotted Mandarin
Corals:
Red Mushrooms Colony
Pipe Organ Coral
Green Polyping Toadstool Leather
Red Tip Tree Coral
If these were your tanks how would you stock them? Please feel free to list any fish, corals, or inverts that you would recommend for our tanks. Also, we would love to know of any fish that kids (age 8 - 13) really like.
Today is the official end to our twin tank build. The system has fully cycled and looks to be fairly stable. Here is a picture of the final twin tanks we are ready to begin stocking.
However, let me start with the question most people ask me. Why two 45 gallons tanks instead of a single 100 gallon tank? The answer is simple. Siblings don't like to share. I have a son and daughter that are very close in age and I want to work on a project with them that we could accomplish together (mostly). So, we set out almost a year ago to build two new tanks, a stand and sump. Now we are ready to start stocking them. They will also be responsible for the feeding and cleaning of their own tanks. Not all chores have to be boring. IMO
Here are the basic system parameters:
System Age: 5 months
Tank Size: Two tanks 45 gallons each sharing a common sump
Refrugum: 16 gallons with DSB, live rock and Chaeto
Total H20 Capacity: 120 gallons w/o live rock
Lighting: 2 X 250W HQI and 4 X 18" ATI T5
Chiller: JBJ ¼ Chiller
Live Rock: 60 Lbs
Tank Flow: 2 X VorTech MP10
Sump Flow: ~600 gallons per hour (Eheim 1262)
H20 Changes: 10 gallons weekly
Salt Mix: Red Sea Coral Pro
Temp: 79 "“ 81F
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: <10
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.0 "“ 8.2
ORP: 400 - 440
Plus a few things to keep in mind:
- We like lots of color and diversity.
- We would like to keep some corals in the tank therefore the fish will have to be reef safe. It will be a mixed reef with mostly LPS and Softies (limited SPS)
- We would rather have quick growing corals then slow ones.
- My daughter would like to have at least a pair of clowns and an anemone when the tank is ready.
- We like to use captive bread livestock any time possible.
- Depending on how the system reacts the goal would be to stock no more then 3-4 new items a month.
- Items marked with a "œ*" are already in the tank that we inherited a family friend.
Here is some of the livestock and corals we are thinking about stocking our tanks with. We would love your opinion and any suggestions / recommendations you would be willing to offer.
Tank #1 (Left Tank) "“ Daughter's Tanks
*Green Reef Chromis (small size)
ORA Ocellaris Clownfish (pair) Thanks Nemo!
Bubble Tip Anemone
ORA Mandarin Drogonette
Pistol Shrimp
Orange Spotted Goby (symbiotic w/ pistol shrimp)
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
Corals:
*Frogspawns
4 or 5 different small Zoas Colonies
Yellow Colony Polyp
Green Harry Mushroom Colony
Green Polyp Duncan
Tank #2 (Right Tank) "“ Son's Tank
*Tomato Clownfish (medium size)
*Flame Hawkfish (medium size)
*Coral Banded Shrimp (medium size)
Coral Beauty Angelfish or Flame Angelfish
Long Tentacle Anemone or Sebae Anemone
ORA Sunrise Dottybacks
ORA Spotted Mandarin
Corals:
Red Mushrooms Colony
Pipe Organ Coral
Green Polyping Toadstool Leather
Red Tip Tree Coral
If these were your tanks how would you stock them? Please feel free to list any fish, corals, or inverts that you would recommend for our tanks. Also, we would love to know of any fish that kids (age 8 - 13) really like.
