A Newcomer's 75g In-Wall Build (1 Viewer)

[cliner]

Congeats on the whole process T. Wish I could have helped you more recently, but you know what battles we've been fighting. Anyway, looks really nice in the wall. I'm sure it will only get better from here on out, but, water chemistry, livestock introduction and care, can be a nightmare. Sooo, keep it slow and easy. Peace

 

[evolution159th]

Yeah, I know it's been rough on you lately. No worries. I am just happy to have the thing in the wall.

 

[AquaticExperience]

Hey, it looks fantastic. You will be making Mike jealous in no time.

 

[evolution159th]

Hey, it looks fantastic. You will be making Mike jealous in no time.

Lol!! Thanks man... I have put alot of work into this thing and seeing it come together is unbelieveable. Cant wait to fill it with all kinds of cool stuff. I can see Mike being super jealous at first but he will retaliate 10x when he builds his house pretty soon... I know his tank will be much bigger than mine.

UPDATE...

Almost finished with the final plumbing pieces. All I have left to do is figure out what I am doing with my fuge inlet, and run pipe from my union to my pump... For these two things I will have to wait til I can get some of the rock out of my sump so I can get some room to work. Here is pics... Gotta love the nasty primer spill on the back wall... I am so freakin clumsy! I guess it adds character?

Mixin up 40g to start. Will tweak then add sand and rock and see what my lvl looks like. Shouldnt be but a few more days.

 

[evolution159th]

Oh yeah... still need to paint the front trim too.. lol Thats why it kinda looks funny.

 

[evolution159th]

Rockscaping done. Sand is in the tank. Finishing last minute plumbing and starting the cycle today.

What kind of sand should I use in my fuge?

I am using aragonite seaflor special grain for the tank. I have an extra bag so that would be perfect for the fuge if it is suitable for that application.

 

[Llama]

I went with sugar sand last time and liked it a lot. This time I went with a combo of aragonite sea grade, mud, bagged live sand, and about 10 cups of my old fuge sand in that order. So far so good with that combo.

 

[evolution159th]

Pics of progress. Tank room reached 86 degrees yesterday with the halides on for 8 hrs. I am going to put fans on the display and the sump and insulate the room to see what kind of difference it makes. After it's all said and done I will probably run the halides 4-6 hrs a day with the pcs for dusk and dawn and leds at night. Still pushing hard for a chiller-less operation.


I am pretty enthused with the rock work so hopefully it will stay just like it is.

First fish to go in as soon as I get my temp under control will be:

Royal Gramma
Green Chromis (10-15? how many should I start out with?)
Ocellaris Clowns (2)

considering a Midas Blenny among other easy to keep fish.

I will be adding 3 to 5 tangs in the nearest possible future as my wife will not do without. Considerations are:

Naso or Blonde Naso
Blue Hippo
Carribean Blue
Yellow tang


For a clean up crew I was considering:

(50) trochus snails
(25) nassarius snails
(25) cerith snails
and a few brittle stars as well as some cleaner shrimp.


Heres the pics

 

[mario8402]

dude that looks pretty sick. tell mike I said he taught you well 8)

 

[evolution159th]

dude that looks pretty sick. tell mike I said he taught you well 8)

lol... Thanks alot man. I like it so much I stare at it and go thru the pics of the build on my camera at work sometimes... lol!

 

[trb]

Rockwork looks really great! I may have to do something similar if I upgrade to a 120 sometime in the future.

But I would be careful about putting several tangs in a 75 gal tank. I have one 4" scopas tang in my 65, and that is pushing it. But it's a bonus if the wife wants tangs, you can use that as a legitimate excuse to upgrade to a 120! Just show her the recommended tank sizes, and tell her you need a bigger tank to get her what SHE wants! LOL!

Good luck with it!

 

[evolution159th]

Im kinda getting used to the 2 different color lights. I think it gives it a little something extra. haha Im sure ill change it but do you think it would have any difference in coral growth, etc. with one being 10k and one 14k?

 

[evolution159th]

Rockwork looks really great! I may have to do something similar if I upgrade to a 120 sometime in the future.

But I would be careful about putting several tangs in a 75 gal tank. I have one 4" scopas tang in my 65, and that is pushing it. But it's a bonus if the wife wants tangs, you can use that as a legitimate excuse to upgrade to a 120! Just show her the recommended tank sizes, and tell her you need a bigger tank to get her what SHE wants! LOL!

Good luck with it!

Thanks man!

yeah I have already started warming her up to the idea of switching to a 120. I can tell I will have to be picky with fish and corals in such a small tank. I will definately be building a 210 or 270 in my next house.

As for the tangs I hope to have atleast 3. She wants the naso for sure b/c she fell in love with Mike's naso already. The other two would be a blue caribbean and blue hippo.

I could do with just a naso or blue hippo, so that may be the route I have to take.

 

[Llama]

Hippos get pretty damn big. Us guys with 4' tanks are really limited on tangs. I also have a scopus (3") and I plan to add a chevron if I can find one. I'd be looking into the smaller tangs for now.

 

[evolution159th]

Hippos get pretty damn big

Yeah I was worried about that. I know most of the tangs are larger tangs besides the chevron and yellow tang... I dont know which other ones would be suitable but I will tell you this. My wife will shiz a brick if theres not a naso or something that has the personality and color of a larger tang. The yellows dont really excite me all that much. Chevrons are cool as long as their color is right.

Would there be any harm in getting tangs smaller and getting rid of them before they get too big in the tank?

That idea really isnt all that appealing to me either because I would get attached to them and then have to get rid of them, but the only other option is a much bigger tank and I've spent ALL (no joke) my money on this tank and still dont have everything I need!!!!

Mike said 1 or 3 tangs but no even numbers or they will fight.

What about a flame angel? Bad idea?

 

[Llama]

Purple tang can be another choice. In my opinion a scopus would do fine, although they ar not the most beautiful tang. Don't tell mine that though!

As far as getting small ones for a temorary home goes. That's a matter of personal choice. That is until the tang police arrive. hehehehe

Flame angel is gorgeous, but you stand a chance of them becoming a coral eater at any moment. Then you'll be like me trying to catch the fish out ASAP.

 

[evolution159th]

lol! I do plan to "experiment" with semi reef safe fish, but not necessarily right at the get go. I definitely love the look of the flame angel but it may be quite a while before I try to have one. I hear if you keep everything fed well there isn't too many issues with nipping and etc. I also plan for some bta's of various colors for my clowns to host. Im sure this may be an issue with it trying to eat my fish as well. Again one of those I may wait a while for.

Right now I am concerned with hardy easy to care for fish and a good CUC. Zoas will be my first plan of attack coral wise.

May add a tang in October since my wife will probably buy me one for my bday. lol For me for her. 8)

Talked to Don (FnM) today about maybe getting a head start on the CUC with some serpent stars, snails and brittle stars.

 

[Llama]

lol! I do plan to "experiment" with semi reef safe fish, but not necessarily right at the get go. I definitely love the look of the flame angel but it may be quite a while before I try to have one. I hear if you keep everything fed well there isn't too many issues with nipping and etc. I also plan for some bta's of various colors for my clowns to host. Im sure this may be an issue with it trying to eat my fish as well. Again one of those I may wait a while for.

Right now I am concerned with hardy easy to care for fish and a good CUC. Zoas will be my first plan of attack coral wise.

May add a tang in October since my wife will probably buy me one for my bday. lol For me for her. 8)

Talked to Don (FnM) today about maybe getting a head start on the CUC with some serpent stars, snails and brittle stars.

Feeding to keep pickers from picking is a myth in my opinion. I feed my tank daily, nori twice a day. I think something jsut flips in their brain and all of a sudden they get the taste for coral. It took 6 months for mine to start. He started with one coral, my monti. Within a month he was nipping at every piece of LPS I had and some of my SPS. Needless to say it was time for him to go.

 

[trb]

We've had our flame angel since Christmas, that was the fish tank present my son asked for. He's been fine as far as I can tell. I don't have a lot of growth of my corals, they just kind of stay the same for the most part, but he does nip at the rocks and goes after the nori along with our scopas tang. I figure we have the tank primarily for the colorful fish, the corals and other stuff are just decorations that could go if they had to.

 

[evolution159th]

Obvious as it may already be, I am starting to grasp the concept that every aquarium thrives differently and trial and error and lots of wasted money come into play when you "experiment" a little outside the lines.

I will be sticking to the books for the time being...
I am still trying to get the temp issue under control. Seems today it hasnt peaked 83 but I still have 4 more hours to go on my halides. I am going to change the timer tomorrow to only have the halides on from 1-7 and have the pcs from 9a-9p.

I am slowly heading toward the 10000k mh and running 460nm pcs for blues. I dunno y et cuz thats just more heat in my room. Any feedback on that set up? More growth with the 10ks?