New 75gal Reef Tank Step-By-Step Setup DIY

[Geoff]

it sure looks a lot better when you are out of the way.

you might need more light depending on the corals you find on the LR.

G~

[VWD]

Everything looks real nice and do you like the way it works for You, Also thanks for all the pictures and updated.

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by ski1297

Looks very good! Just get the skimmer on the tank to help the LR. Are you going to get other lights than the NOs? Where are you going to get the live rock?

I am planning on getting a 150W MH w/ PC Actinic supplement eventually, but I was not planning on this right away. Do you think I need more than NO fluorescent to keep the corraline algae happy, and other growths on the rock????

I don't know of any places around Milwaukee that sell cheap LR. Premium aquatics is located in Indianapolis (~4.5 hrs) and they sell what looks like REAL high quality rock at ~3.50/lb. I was planning on road tripping there. Any suggestions near milwaukee?

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1973

Are you placing the rock directly on the bottom glass? Or will you have a substrate or glass covering?

I am actually looking at getting Fiber-Grate. It is like a fiberglass plastic mesh to put the rock on. I am going to create a large overhang for the lionfish at one end of the tank. I want to use the fibergrate to attach the rock too with zip-ties or plastic bolts. this way i can create a vertical wall of rock on the back side of the tank. I am not goign to set the rock directly ont he bottom in either case

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by Geoff

it sure looks a lot better when you are out of the way.

you might need more light depending on the corals you find on the LR.

G~

What about the corraline algae, does this require any certain intensity of light? Will I be encouraging other unwanted forms of algae if I would add more intense MH/PC?

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by VWD

Everything looks real nice and do you like the way it works for You, Also thanks for all the pictures and updated.

Thanks...everyone here has helped me greatly with the design and building so now I will start getting lots of cool pictures so everyone will start seeing the final products. Any way to increase the limit on my file attachments???

[PowerManJ316]

Question...I was wondering if I can add salt and stabalize this and then add my rock shortly after. I know it is usually recommended to wait 24 hours, but will LR be ok?

[Jeremy1973]

I would get your salinity and temp stablized first, then add the LR. It would be the least stressful for the critters on the rock. If your SG is what you want, and temp is what you want, I say it is fine to add the rock then. Just my two cents.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by PowerManJ316

What about the corraline algae, does this require any certain intensity of light? Will I be encouraging other unwanted forms of algae if I would add more intense MH/PC?

i honestly would not worry about corraline. when i first started reefing i also thought it was all about corraline growth. now that i have done it for so many years it just does not matter to me anymore, and this is why.

corraline is so specific to light temp, current and tank temp, that if something were to change you can/will loose all of your corraline from a certain area, or the tank. the object is to have a lot of diversity in the corraline so that when you change something in the tank another species can take over. you just hope that you already have that species.

as long as you have some light on the system most of the corraline will be fine. do not be surprised if most of it turns white though in a week or so. also do not be surprised if the corraline will turn white again once the tank is setup and the lighting is on it.

i agree with Jeremy on the S.G. if you can get it stable than that would be best. i would also suggest stabilizing your S.G. at 1.026. this way there should not be any osmotic shock to the critters (assuming that they used NSW for spraying the LR before shipping).

G~

[PowerManJ316]

Thanks for the words of advice Geoff...I am just going to stick with the lighting and I have and not worry about the rock at all until it is fully cured and I am ready to add corals/livestock.

I got my salt today and have the temp set at 76 F and am aiming for a S.G. as close to 1.025 as I can get.

But on that note, I ordered 40lbs of Marshall Island LR and 20 lbs of Fiji LR today. I have also ordered 40 lbs of Arag-Alive Pacific Black sand for the bottom. I am driving to pick up this rock from Premium Aquatics in Indianapolis. This is about a 4hr drive but it will save me 150 bones in shipping and I think this will minimize the die-off because I plan to bring two large bins with me to keep the rock in on the way home.

I am very excited!!!

[Jeremy1973]

Very cool! Will you get to hand pic the pieces you want then since you are driving there to pick it up?

When calculating your SG, are you using a swing arm, or a refractometer? I would say if you can afford it, invest in a refractometer if you don't have one already.

[Geoff]

i miss the good ol days of picking out LR. back when carribean LR was all you can get and everyone had vats full of it. used to be able to get some amazing pieces. i prolly still have some in the tank now that is over 15yrs old! i am sure they have a huge selection of LR to pick from. i could be there all day picking out LR.

G~

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1973

Very cool! Will you get to hand pic the pieces you want then since you are driving there to pick it up?

When calculating your SG, are you using a swing arm, or a refractometer? I would say if you can afford it, invest in a refractometer if you don't have one already.

I am simply using a swingarm model temp corrected for 65-80F. I will most definitely be getting a refract when I start adding coral/livestock because I am not very impressed with the swingarm style...to many variables. No bubbles, perfectly level, temperature .... no me gusta!

[Fly Guy]

Right on right on.


Nice job. Cant wait to see it fill up.

[PowerManJ316]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

Right on right on.


Nice job. Cant wait to see it fill up.

Thanks Man! No one's waiting more than me!!!!!