jaymz101
New member
Im relatively new to the SW hobby... Ive had my tank since I was 13 (Im 27 now) Its a 50 gallon breeder tank (weird dimensions 36w x 18d x 24h) It was originally a freshwater tank and ran for over a dozen years at my parents house. when I went to college my mom took care of it without adding anything new. when everything finally died (of old age) she broke it down and I brought it to Florida. I really wanted to setup a SW tank so I decided FOWLR would be a good place to start and Im a marine biologist and have worked at MOTE aquarium and with Florida Fish and Wildlife for a few years and thought I had enough knowlege. I set it up last year. The coral-like critters are a new adiition (2-3 months). Heres what I got:
36" 96(?)watt Coralife compact flourescent (1 10000K, 1 Actinic, 2 LED)
~15 gallon wet/dry sump
750gph return pump (main water movement)
SeaClone 100 skimmer
36# live rock
~2-2.5 in sand bed (approx half local and half arag-alive)
inverts:
~20 various drawf hermits
~12 margarita snails
1 tropical abalone
1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
some mushrooms, starburst polyps and zoos
I just ordered about 30 more hermits and 12 nerites snails to replenish my clean-up crew
fish include:
1 yellow tang
1 flame angel
1 lawnmower blenny
1 Florida Blenny (local)
1 six-line wrasse
3 blue-green chromis
Its been running for about a year (this August) and Ive run the gamut of problems (hair algae, cyano, diatoms, etc.) Right now im in the midst of a cyano problem (take 2), I have high diatomaceous growth (almost cant see through glass in 1 week) and I have high PO4 (probably causing all of my problems, but I think I found a cure (RO water).
I want to add more live rock (to about 60#) to increase the filtration load and add some macroalgae (Caulerpa or Halimeda) to help control the microalgae.
I attribute many of my problems to lack of experience in SW. Its a decent tank for now but I want to turn it into a kickass tank. I dont want to add any stiony corals to this tank (I have Ideas for a reef tank on the horizon 36 gal bowfront or 24 Aquapod). Any suggestions on taking this aquarium to the next level?
36" 96(?)watt Coralife compact flourescent (1 10000K, 1 Actinic, 2 LED)
~15 gallon wet/dry sump
750gph return pump (main water movement)
SeaClone 100 skimmer
36# live rock
~2-2.5 in sand bed (approx half local and half arag-alive)
inverts:
~20 various drawf hermits
~12 margarita snails
1 tropical abalone
1 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
some mushrooms, starburst polyps and zoos
I just ordered about 30 more hermits and 12 nerites snails to replenish my clean-up crew
fish include:
1 yellow tang
1 flame angel
1 lawnmower blenny
1 Florida Blenny (local)
1 six-line wrasse
3 blue-green chromis
Its been running for about a year (this August) and Ive run the gamut of problems (hair algae, cyano, diatoms, etc.) Right now im in the midst of a cyano problem (take 2), I have high diatomaceous growth (almost cant see through glass in 1 week) and I have high PO4 (probably causing all of my problems, but I think I found a cure (RO water).
I want to add more live rock (to about 60#) to increase the filtration load and add some macroalgae (Caulerpa or Halimeda) to help control the microalgae.
I attribute many of my problems to lack of experience in SW. Its a decent tank for now but I want to turn it into a kickass tank. I dont want to add any stiony corals to this tank (I have Ideas for a reef tank on the horizon 36 gal bowfront or 24 Aquapod). Any suggestions on taking this aquarium to the next level?
