JB's Reef Tank

[reeffreak]

Very nice and clean Jb.

[Bifferwine]

Looks good. You might want to move the powerhead to the surface for best results. This will encourage lots of gas exchange between air and water.

[LionFish]

Wow lookin good,
what are the livestock plans,

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by LionFish

Wow lookin good,
what are the livestock plans,

About 45 lbs of live rock (and whatever might be hiding within) will be my first order of business. Want to get water in it tomorrow (need to figure out the best way to get about 50 gallons of RO/DI wanter.

After my system cycles with the live rock, I wil be adding another 30-40 lbs of additional live rock...probably wait a week to see if another cycle ensues and then will be ready to add my first inhabitant...Lawnmower Blenny.

Others have suggested that 4-5 smaller fish would be a good balance...so after the blenny, probably a purple firefish (or this other variation that someone suggested in another thread, it was very cool), not sure about a third yet, but my "centerpiece" fish will probably be either a coral beauty or flame angel...someone told me to look at a potters' angel as well.

Want to have a couple variations of shrimp, and whichever starfish that is coral friendly...I think someone said a sand starfish?...I added sand (had been considering glass bottom but my son begged me for sand) and want to have lots of "functional" critters that will keep it stirred up (small hermits, etc)

[fatman]

For cheap RO water look for local suppliers of bottled water for office use etc. They nearly always use RO water or a mixture of tap and RO water for their water cooler/dispensers. Producing it themselves makes it cheap as they do not pay shipping for water and by your furnishing containers they sell it the cheapest. About the cheapest plastic jugs you can get are usually at place where people cast and fire ceramics. They are 5 gallon collapsible jugs that they use for their slip (watery clay used for casting). Here in Alaska they charge $2 each for new jugs.

[Bifferwine]

Skip the sand sifting star in a tank that size -- it will starve to death. For reef safe starfish, your best bets are serpent and brittle stars. Don't add them too soon, as they are very sensitive to changes in water parameters (as are shrimp).

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by fatman

For cheap RO water look for local suppliers of bottled water for office use etc.

I actually have a bottled water supplier I use for my water at work but I didn't think that type of water would be good enough, it says it is only "distilled"...here is a link to the supplier: Planet Earth Distilled Drinking Water - PlanetEarthWater.com

I am going to run to WalMart and see if their camping section has any larger containers (suggested by Bifferwine)...I did find a local SuperSaver grocery store that has a huge RO/DI machine where I can buy water for $0.27/gallon...don't know if that is high or not...once I figure out the best way to get my tank filled, I'll be buying a RO/DI unit for my tap...don't think I'll need anything really "high volume" since I just will need to top off and occassionally water change 10% my tank after that

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by Bifferwine

Skip the sand sifting star in a tank that size -- it will starve to death. For reef safe starfish, your best bets are serpent and brittle stars. Don't add them too soon, as they are very sensitive to changes in water parameters (as are shrimp).

Awww...really?...thats a bummer, I was hoping I'd be able to keep a sand sifter guess I'll have to wait until I move up to a 120 some day

[jb61264]

Originally Posted by Bifferwine

Looks good. You might want to move the powerhead to the surface for best results. This will encourage lots of gas exchange between air and water.

You know, I wondered about that...I do have it pointed up towards the surface if that counts for something...wanted to get a good cross sectional flow from the bottom corner of the tank to the top but I guess I'll have to get water in first to find the best arrangement...my goal today...WATER

[roberttroy81]

Your tank looks good.Great job on the plumbling.I like the way you made your returns to the tank.