My 80 gallon tank has arrived: the saga begins...

[Hellspawn]

Hi! I'm new to this board, and aquariums in general. So me and my buddy who works at the LFS picked up my new 80gallon and equipment this morning and set everything up (well he did most of the setting up ) This is my first aquarium, let alone reef tank. I have been absorbing information off this site like a sponge and reading tons of books, so I am super excited! I let my buddy pick out the equipment and here's what I got, let me know what you think:

- Helios Lighting (4x55 watt bulbs, two 7100 K daylight & two actinic)
- 2 Via Aqua 750 canister filters
- Via Aqua multi-skimmer w/uv filter
- 2 Rio 1100 powerheads

I have live sand and added 32lbs of LR today, will be adding 50-60lbs more on monday when my LFS gets a new shipment. I can't wait for my water to finish cycling! I will try to keep this thread updated as my tank matures.

 

[Arch01]

Looks nice. I'd add a dark (I prefer a solid color) background to help hide your equipment. Good luck and welcome!
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[Hellspawn]

Thanks! Yeah I'm thinking about putting on a blue background, but after i add 50-60 more lbs of lr on monday you probably wont see much of the back anyways, so I'm not sure yet.

 

[Always J]

hi there! of course i'm gonna ask the question that's on everyone's minds: what kinds of fish are you going to put in it? is it gonna be fish only or with corals? details! details!

~j~

 

[Hellspawn]

ok, this is my tentative plan:

- 2 percula clowns
- 1 yellow or purple tang
- 1 blue jaw trigger
- 1 copperband or longnose butterfly
- 2 clown gobies
- 1 flame hawk
- 1 flame angel

angel and butterfly will be added once tank has matured a bit, and probably the tang last since he is probably the most agressive of the lot.

and maybe a mandarin after quite a while if my tank has a good population of pods.

probably going to go with mostly soft corals, and hopefully some anemones and clams in the future

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to Reefs.org

 

[Anonymous]

ok, this is my tentative plan:

- 2 percula clowns
- 1 yellow or purple tang
- 1 blue jaw trigger
- 1 copperband or longnose butterfly
- 2 clown gobies
- 1 flame hawk
- 1 flame angel

angel and butterfly will be added once tank has matured a bit, and probably the tang last since he is probably the most agressive of the lot.

and maybe a mandarin after quite a while if my tank has a good population of pods.

probably going to go with mostly soft corals, and hopefully some anemones and clams in the future

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here but wouldn't a longnose be similar enough in body shape a yellow tang would go after it? Also in't a Trigger not really that reef safe?

 

[Hellspawn]

Welcome to Reefs.org

Thanks!

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here but wouldn't a longnose be similar enough in body shape a yellow tang would go after it? Also in't a Trigger not really that reef safe?

It's possible, which is why I will go with either a copperband if I get a yellow tang. As for triggers, all xanthichthys genus species (planktonic) are considered very reef safe. These include bluejaw, crosshatch, and sargassum triggers .

 

[Tackett]

at least the guy has done his homework. Dude take my word for it, grab some purple firefish or another form of dartfish, IMO they are gorgeous. With that amount of sand you could get some Jaw fish too, love those guys. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Tackett]

oh yeah, forgot, flame angels can sometimes pick at corals, most dwarf angels can for that matter. Hawkfish can will also kill any shrimp youll have in that tank. Some people have been able to keep them happy enough for a time that they dont mess with them, but in a matter of time the Hawk will kill them, it is just its nature, If you want shrimp I would reconsider the hawks longnose or flame. (cryin shame I like them alot too.) And I would watch out for the copperband as they can be very finicky. and I cant stress enough CHANGE YOUR WATER religiously. I will echo what everyone else here will tell you. Get in a water change rythm and habit early and save yourself alot of headache in the future.

 

[Hellspawn]

Yeah I really like the firefish, but I hear that they are jumpers, and my tank has no top... do you have any experience with this? I will keep the jawfish in mind. Also thinking about maybe a sailfin blenny, those guys seem pretty cool.

I have heard that about hawkfish eating shrimp, so if I try that combo I will make sure that the shrimp are larger than the hawk. It seems like people that have hawks like them alot though. Would you rather have a hawk or a couple shrimp in your tank?

 

[tazdevil]

Nice setup-Like the spraybars in back. Watch those Rio's though, there are some stories about them that may make you cringe. As far as shrimp/hawkfish, I'd rather have the shrimp, but no Coral Banded, I've personally had bad luck with them attacking fish. Cleaner shrimp or blood shrimp I'd definetly keep. As stated, if your doing a reef tank, you'd want to drop the trigger from that list.

 

[Hellspawn]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind about the coral banded. I'm not too concerned with the blue jaw, however, considering he is in the xanthichthys genus (planktonic) extremely reef safe. I've not heard the stories about the rios, what have been the problems?

 

[tazdevil]

Pumps seizing up/overheating for no good reason. Then melting down and releasing some poisinous oily substance into the tank. FWIW, I have a RIO 2500 return on my 75 that has been running for almost 3 years. I believe this problem was associated with the higher # rio's (1000-3000) not the little ones, which I have 4 of. I'm also in the process of taking down the 75 and setting up a smaller (37) tank that won't have rio's on it.


BTW, nice mechwarrior name there! :lol:

 

[Hellspawn]

haha thanx, I have used this name in tribes, counterstrike, and mechwarrior, along with the dozens of forums (cars, video games, fish) that I am on. Easier to remember 1 name :wink:

 

[Hellspawn]

aquascaping is finished! I have a total of 85lbs LR and 30lbs dead coral I brought back with me from Kauai which will turn into LR eventually Water still a little greenish from the LR. Also found an emerald crab hitchhiker but couldn't get a pic.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind about the coral banded. I'm not too concerned with the blue jaw, however, considering he is in the xanthichthys genus (planktonic) extremely reef safe.

"Extremely" reef-safe isn't exactly accurate, nor does it jive with the mixed results folks have with this genus. These animals really should be watched closely, as one would with, say, a large angel in a reef setting. Also, if you're planning on stocking with tasty crustaceans, don't be surprised if any are lost to this fish.

 

[Hellspawn]

ehh, most people have had good experiences with this genus, except for the few lost shrimps and such. The trigger is more important to me than the shrimp anyways. Although more hazardous to shrimp, they are totally safe with corals, which cannot be said for large angels. Many people have sucessfully kept this species in a reef, which also cannot be said for large angels.