Larry from
St. Rose, Louisiana
size of tank:
55 Gallons- 48" wide,24" tall and 12.5" deep
inhabitants:
Critters: 1 Yellow Eyed Tang,1
Yellow Tang,1Lawnmower Blennie,1
Blue Damsel,1 Purple Dottieback,1
Diamond Goby, 1 Mandarin Goby with
Bubble Anenome, I Maroon Clown
Fish,1 Brittle Star( Orange),1 Sand
Sifting Star,1 Sally Lightfoot
Crab,3 Green Emerald Crabs,1 Pocelin
Crab,3 Astro Snails,2 Lettuce
Nudibranch,1 Cleaner Shrimp,1 Coral
Banded Shrimp,1 Camel
Shrimp,3Peppermint Shrimp 3
Bumble Bee Snails
Corals: 1 Orange Montiopora
Capriconus,1 Green
Montiopora Capriconus,1 Yellow with
Purple Edge Montiopora Capriconus,1
Green
Montipora Digita,1 Brown Srolling
Montipora, 1 Pink Ricodia,1 colony
Orange Eyed
Zoos,1 Colony Silver Eyed Zoos,1
Colony Red (with green center)
Palythoa,1 colony
Purple Mushrooms,1 colony mixed-
Purple with Green Centers and
Metalic Green
Mushrooms,1 colony Red with Purple
Spots Mushrooms,1 Ultra Green
Mushroom,1 colony
Pink nad Green candy Cane Coral, 1
colony Green Galaxia, 1 frag Green
Hydnophora,1
Green Finger Le!
ather,1 colony Blue Ricodia,1 colony Green Star Polyps, 1 colony White
Star Polyps,
1 white and Brown feather Duster,
dozens of wild feather Dusters, 1
Wild (Purple
Banded) Anenome, 1 colony Blue Pipe
Organ Coral
system: 1 Ehiem Pro 2
Canister Filter(run it fairly dirty
to keep bacteria cultures in a Reef
Tank),1 Bak Pak2 Protien Skimmer
(essential for water quality and
healthy Corals), 1 250 Watt
submersible heater, 2 large Radio
Shak fans 3 timers- 1 for a 2 hour
shut down of filtration (for the
Corals who like less current!)2 for
lighting- 1 for 12 hours on the main
light and 1 for 6 on the 2 smaller
ones
lighting: I am currently
using 1 48" Coralife Aqualight Power
Compact light 260W Total and 2 24"
Coralife Aqualight Single Linear
Strip 65W Total. I am in the process
of replacing the 2 smaller lights
with a 250 Watt Metal Halide system
I am building myself
live rock: I have 50 lbs of
live rock- all different types and
shapes (take your time pick up some
at the time- you won't break the
bank and you can choose interesting
pieces as you find them
tips: Damsels are the
easiest fish to keep- cheap and
colorful but they will be aggresive
later (thay also tend to move all
your rocks and Corals as it siuts
them.If you are building a Reef Tank
make sure all inhabitants are REEF
SAFE!Take your time add your
livestock SLOW- this will give your
tank and them time to adjust to the
Bio load.Use plenty of Cleanup
critters- start early with them- you
will be glad.DO WEEKLY WATER
CHANGES- at least 20 % this will
keep you tank HEALTHY.Buy a ggdo
Hydrometer- a Spectrometer is even
better not to expensive but worth
it's wieght in gold- Proper salinty
is A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH to
your critters.Mix your saltwater
early- it can take days to fully
stabilize,check it everyday (stir
before testing) until you get the
desired results- I prefer my
salinity @ 1.025, don't cheat on
this - take your time and get it
right. ENJOY YOUR TANK- IT TAKES
TIME AND MONEY BUT IT CAN BE VERY
REWARDING.
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