Experienced folks...

[v320]

I am currently working on a 180g tank, and I wanted to see what some of you have experienced so far in the hobby.
This will be a mixed reef, where I will try to have a few shoals, and mostly peaceful fish.

SO hear is the question: What kind of fish/coral/other inverts would not recommend or definitely recommend in a reef system?
(i.e. what were some mistakes that you felt you made, and would avoid if you were to do it all over again - please include any structural or plumbing experiences).

For instance:
No mushrooms (unless that you want a lot of them) - they spread like wild fire throughout the tank, and can effect stony coral grow, and even kill/smother them.
Cons: they can look beautiful and add a ton of color.

Thanks in advance...

 

[washingtond]

I would go with a mix of LPS and SPS corals with no Mushrooms or leather corals they grow like weeds and will make life hard for the SPS corals.. Place the SPS corals high in the tank with lots of flow and the LPS lower with less flow. Remember that most of the LPS corals such as Hammers do not like a lot of flow and really don’t need that much light either.

Well that is my

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[Wes]

one thing i am doing in my new big tank that i did not do in my 90 is use acrylic rods in the rock work to make sure everything is sound and sturdy no matter what

 

[extinguishfire]

A few things I have come across in my exp.

1. Drill your rocks before water is in your tank for pegging. It makes coral placement easy in your tank. You can see a video of this guys awesome tank where he did pegging. Just go to www.reefvideos.com and click on the video mounting pegging. You can also see a video of his tank under Carl's 150g reef at the top.

2. I would suggest lining the inside of your stand with pond liner so that it keeps any kind of spill out of your sump from getting onto floor. Build it up the sides like 6 inches. In my previous 140g I had plenty of times that it held 20 - 30 gallons just in the stand when I had an auto top off problem.

3. When you have your sump built include mounts for auto top off controls, maybe some heater holders and probe holders.

4. Get a sand sifting diamond goby. This will help keep your sand bed clean. The diamond goby sifts the sand down low and does not make a sandstorm in your tank like others that take a mouthful all the way to top of tank before letting go.

5. Take your time aquascaping your rockwork and do it before you put water in your tank. Aquascaping your rock is what makes or breaks a tank in my opinion.

6. Set up your sump so that you can pump the water out of the drain and refugium section for water changes. That way it doesn't take the water out of your main tank display and doesn't leave gobies and small fish stuck in the top of the rockwork without water. If you set it up right you should be able to do 20 -25 gallon weekly water changes easy. Just pump it out and then pump some fresh saltwater right in. Should be quick like 10 -15 minutes.

7. Lastly take your time and plan it out. Nothing good comes fast in this hobby.

 

[extinguishfire]

@WeMa wrote:

I was going to do the acrylic rods but the rock I got fit together so nice that I didn't have to. It should withstand alot.

 

[Bayou]

I have a tank of only peaceful fish. Here is the results of my research:

A shoal of Blue/Green Chromis would look great and get along w/ other peaceful fish. 5 or so
Lyretail Anthias look good in a shoal and help to bring out the other fish. 1 male and 3 females
A single Tang would be nice and help eat algae. Powder Blue, Yellow, Naso or Kole tangs are my favorites
Manderins are great addition for a peaceful tank.
Other suggestions:
A pair of clowns
A wrasse
An angel or butterfly or Foxface.

Good Luck!

 

[stratman]

@Bayou wrote:

Wow, how ironic. Take out the Anthias (which I would like to have) and switch the Manderin for a Scooter Blenny and you have my tank!

5 blue-green Chromis
Naso Tang
Scooter Blenny
mated pair False Percs
Flame Angel


A six-line wrasse, and a foxface would be my only additions for a simple mixed tank with no hard to find fish.

I also have 2 asst peaceful damsels that I just can't catch. I gave up trying since they don't pick on anyone.

Keep in mind Mandarins and blennies need mature live rock to supply them with microfauna. IMHO, I would not add one to a tank that hasn't been up for a least a year, seeded with copes and other pods, and is supported by a fuge.

 

[v320]

Thanks for all the replies...

Some great ideas!

David - thanks for the tip on the leathers... I was actually going to add a few of them in there, but I was a bit concerned about their growth rate. I didn’t know that they spread so quickly. I was considering a Fiji yellow, and my devil’s hand, and white leather (still quiet small). Are these leathers that spread quickly?

Wess – I am currently debating using some sort of rods or pvc for the rock construction, just haven’t decided yet. I would love to see how yours turns out. Will you be using pvc as well?

Chris – You read my mind on some of those suggestions…
1. I will be pegging the rocks, but was contemplating how to create a system for coral I already have (some have taken a considerable amount of time to place and make stable). Perhaps that vid will give me some ideas.
2. The liner is a definite – it is waiting for installation now. Any suggestions on what to use to attach it to the stand without doing too much damage to the wood? I picked up some metal tacks, and some small nails, but haven’t decided what to use yet. I will be attaching it about 6-8” up, but I was contemplating how I would make the corners neat. I didn’t want to cut it, or water might be able to seep through the cuts.
4. Great idea. I was considering this, but wasn’t certain if there was in fact a species, that would not scatter the sand too much. I was also concerned with supplemental feedings. Another fish I might consider is a mated pair of Hector’s goby (I know they are small, but I have always liked them – plus they will have plenty to sift)
5. I couldn’t agree with you more!
6. Constantly planning and re-planning – lol.

James & Stratman – Thanks for the suggestions. I am still debating on which tang, but I was leaning towards a blue hippo. The powder blue might make it on the list. The anthias are a definite (considering 4f - 1m)! I really like wrasse, but from my research/experience, the majority of them will take out cleaner shrimp once they get large enough (interestingly, some have never had a problem with this), but I think some canary wrasse would look great. I was also considering a leopard wrasse, but I don’t know if there will be enough food to go around for it and the mandarin/scooter (1 of these will be added at the 1-2 year mark).

Stratman – I have an azure damsel that has never been a concern, and I gave been debating moving him to the new tank. One of my favorite fish, but I may just leave him in my old tank to be on the safe side. My research indicated they are one of the most peaceful damsels out there (with the exception of chromis and false perc clowns of course).

 

[Wes]

@v320 wrote:

You are more than welcome to come over, i will start a build log when the tank is done, and just let me know if you want to check it out. I doubt i will be using PVC, only the rods.

 

[extinguishfire]

As far as the liner goes I used a staple gun. And in the corners you just put the sides as far into the corners as possible. It makes a flap that comes out and you just fold that flap to one side and staple it. If that makes sense.

 

[v320]

@WeMa wrote:

You are more than welcome to come over, i will start a build log when the tank is done, and just let me know if you want to check it out. I doubt i will be using PVC, only the rods."]

Sounds good, I'll pm you.

I noticed your 180 is now a 210... lol.

 

[v320]

@extinguishfire wrote:

It makes complete sense, thank you.
Thank for taking out the time to make such a comprehensive list... it is appreciated...

 

[Wes]

@v320 wrote:

lol, yea...during my upgrade i upgraded, lol...im actually close to setting up now...rock is perfect, stand is complete...i have every peice i need except a sump and a canopy...

 

[v320]

@WeMa wrote:

lol, yea...during my upgrade i upgraded, lol...im actually close to setting up now...rock is perfect, stand is complete...i have every peice i need except a sump and a canopy..."]

Can't wait to see it is person... i know your setup will look awesome... I know you've spent more time then me in planning...

 

[kwl1763]

I would also say plumb unions everywhere! You will wish you had if you don't.

Plan for easy water changes. At a minimum make it easy to gegt in your sump so you can drain and pump in there. At best you can plumb something that will send the water down the drain with your return pump (I did it and it's so nice. Takes me like 10 minutes to change 100G)

Plan your fish list and stick to it. Add from least aggresive to most aggressive and stock that way and you will ost likely have no aggression issues.

Qt everything. You'll have thousands invested in a big reef don't take a chance of introducing Ich or redbugs or aefwS, ETC. It can ruin the enjoyment real fast.

Determine the tpe f tank you want and plan everything around the corals. If you want a mixed tank (I highly recoend against it but 90% of tanks are) then plan some high light high flow areas (for SPS), some high light low flow areas (for LPS), and some modest light modets flow areas (for softies.

Avoid GSP, xenia, and mushrooms unles you want a softy tank! Zos should be isolated so they don't hurt your SPS.

If you must have an anemone (which I again recommend against) Put that in as one of the first corals once your tank is up and stable several months. They wander and you want it to settle in so it doesn't walk and kill your favorite coral (it still ight even if settled)!

Stay away from damsels and the lined wrasses (4,6,8 lines) These are aggressive and while some have success most cause issues and won't let you add anything after them.

Go very slow. A reef takes a year minimum to get settled in and rocking. Don't be adding fish every week! Take you time. Add one a month, then qt another and add after that, etc. Be patient it will pay off in not having the dreaded algea problems most people suffer!

 

[nobody]

@kwl1763 wrote:

I'm by no mean "experienced", but I agree with Keith completely here. I'll add that if you use solvent to glue your plumbing, be sure to have enough room to allow for 1 mistake. For example, if you glue the union to the ball valve, make sure that there's enough pipe between the union and the valve so that if you have to separate them, you can cut the pipe and reuse both parts. I recently wasted close to $50 on ball valves and unions because I glued them back to back.

 

[v320]

Thanks for the plumbing tips guys. That is something I still have to work on. I have seen so many different approaches, and am not completely certain which is the best route for me - as of yet anyway. I will be using mostly rigid pvc (IMHO - looks neat), and a small amount of flex (not clear of course).

Keith – I am currently working on my water change system. I think it will work, but we will see. I would love to use a drain for old water, but unfortunately, I do not have one close enough to the tank. So I will most probably drain out via siphon, or perhaps a “T” valve from the return, and then complete the water change using my system (perhaps you can pm more info on your system, and I can give you more details on my plans).

I was considering an anemone, but didn’t not know that they move again even after settling down. I will definitely have to research this more before deciding.

The only wrasse I have always wanted is the golden or yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus), but am concerned about my ornamental shrimp. I know I will definitely keep some shrimp in the tank – I have always enjoyed observing their behavior. I have heard many having success here, but there is a chance you will lose your shrimp over time.

I will definitely be adding my stock slowly. I will most probably try to remain patient, and add more coral and then the fish (as it is set up). You mentioned the algae problem many experience and its relation to adding fish more rapidly. I am assuming this is related to the excess detritus build up, with the new addition, and the time required for “good” bacteria to further colonize, but I don’t really see the connection? Am I missing something? Thanks.

 

[v320]

@washingtond wrote:

David, when you refer to them spreading, are you referring to their grow rate (i.e. size), or multiplying in the tank?
I know some colt corals, Kenya trees, and the like will actually multiply throughout the tank, but what about such things as devil's hand, yellow Fiji leather, etc. Thank you.