Back to salt with an 80 gallon

[fishdweeb]

About five years ago I sold most of my set ups (72 bow and a 75 gal) both were reef tanks...I kept my skimmer (remora pro) and my lighting. (2-250 ushio halides)

Since that time I have accumulated lots of tanks. 120, 72bow,55, 29 and multiple 10's....all are freshwater planted tanks and I enjoy them very much.

I fell backwards into a great deal on a 80 gallon set up. 100bucks for everything...the two magnums alone made it well worth the price.

At any rate, I am thinking about making this 80 a salt. probably FOWLR to start....I have noticed some changes in the hobby since I left it....and want to get opinions and ideas on the "fresh start" opportunity.

I don't think I want to go "BB". I buy the concept completely, but IMO they look horrible and "bare".


Salt is more expensive.
Live Sand is more expensive- (I'll probably buy the Caribe Aragonite stuff again)


Thanks in advance for any ideas...I look forward to learning from this forum as well.

brad
northdakota
120-planted- ( I have been breeding black veiled angels for a few years)
55-planted
72-bowfront-turtle and Koi winter home
29- planted- RC Shrimp and tetra tank
80- To be determined.

[biowheel]

Welcome to TRT !!
Sounds like you have a decent idea on how to start . Just keep asking questions . There are 100's of us here to help
Best of Luck .
One other thing . BB are Best . Once the Coraline grows and from a maintenance issue they are Super . JMO

[fishdweeb]

I am reading about BB....IMO they just don't look complete. I had two reef tanks with DSB for about 5 years each....zero issues with the DSB. Even back then I had read about the "inevitable" crash. I never stirred, but did regular water changes and had sleeper gobies sifting like crazy....lots of red legs and blue legs, turbo's etc....

I suppose i could paint the underside of my 80....but then again the ocean ain't BB!

[mxracer19]

lol the ocean's not ALOT of things that our tanks are...

I wholeheartedly agree...BB tanks look unfinished. Im a fanof that nice 5" deep sugar sand!

-Matt

[fishdweeb]

Agree....I love the visual aesthetic. Probably more than the "see I can make this flourish"....most things did well. in the beginning the hard corals and clams were a challenge....Hallides helped....hundreds and thousands of dollars always seem to be an eventual cure.