• (1) 150 Watt HQ1/14k
• (4) Nite-Vu LEDs with separate power cord
• (2) UL-Listed Accela Powerheads (266 gph each/16w each)
• (2) Directional Flow Nozzles on each side of the aquarium
• (1) Ocean Pulse Duo-Alternating WaveMaker
• (1) Protein Skimmer (Counter Current) with Air Pump
• (1) Integrated Center Overflow
• (1) Newly redesigned filtration system with designated heater column and protein skimmer solumn with constant water levels.
• (4) Integrated Cooling Fans (3000 RPM's)
• (1) Flame-retardant ABS Canopy Housing
• (1) Integrated Thermal Protector for Canopy (Auto Shut Off Protection)
• (1) Removal Filter Media Basket with handle and sliding door for easy access
• (1) Filter Media - Sponge, Activated Carbon, Ceramic Rings

29 gallon glass tank

TetraTec back filter w/built-in heater

Lee's medium counter current skimmer

2 unknown brand 90gph powerheads

DIY canopy (temp) 2x 24" NO daylight 1x 24" NO actinic 1x 18" NO 50/50
when I build new canopy I am adding 3x 13w PC's

25 pounds live sand
50-60 pounds live rock

Yellow tail blue damsel
Candy stripe shrimp
a single brown button polyp? LFS didnt know anything about it so they sold it to me for $3
3x Turbo Snails
Margerette snail
1 blue leg & 1 zebra leg hermit
two antenee worms? Lots
hydroids? Lots
4-5 Aptasia? (not sure how to get rid of. They stay small and havent spread yet, and my shrimp likes to play with them?

I've spent about $100 putting this tank together so far
I dont have much to spend so any usefull DIY ideas wanted
My tank has been running for about 10 months now with no losses
Any ideas about coral suited to my tank needed

here are some crappy pics untill I can borrow a better Cam

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last pic is of the unknown polyp

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Hello all here is my tank.
A bio 29 with a home made sump and fug wich holds about 12 gal. about 40-50 lbs. of live rock. 24" T5 HO also a DIY counter current skimmer

Overpaid Eclipse System 12 gallon
1 Firefish Goby
1 Sharknose Goby
1 Serpent Star
1 Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
1 Emerald Mithrax Crab
Assorted Snails and Hermit Crabs
Live Rock
Live Sand

Have had this set up for almost two months. Never kept a tank before but my kids 4 & 2 could spend hours at the LFS. Tried to read as much as possible B4 buying. Cycled the tank for close to a month B4 adding livestock.

When testing the water everything seems to be in order expect the GH or water hardness seems to be really high. NYC tap water that's conditioned.
The livestock seem fine though but I have had a few snails perish.
Should I be concerned? If so, what to do?

Another question is I am alternating Seachem Reef Builder, Reef Advantage Calcium, and CaribSea Purple Up hoping to get some color into the Live Rocks and create an environment where I might get some good biodiversity.
Since I'm adding calcium doesn't this increase the GH?
I'm of the impression the water is 'hard' but not sure if it's necessarily a bad thing or even what to do if it was.

My other main concern was water temp goes above 82 degrees, I think due to the lighting, but for most part I've cured that by permanently keeping the filter media access cover off.
I'm thinking of getting an inexpensive fan and clip it on.

Any suggestions would be welcome.