Here's my plan...tell me what you think.

[anative]

As mention in my previous post I am in the process of putting together a reef tank. Here's what I am planning:

-55 gallon tank (already have)
-DIY Stand and Hood (just finished, looks great)
-2 X 65 watt PC lights from LFS
-1 (Not sure of wattage) Actinic 03 light.
-Prizm Protein Skimmer hanging on back
-2 Power Sweep 228 (270 gph) power heads
-"The Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater includes:
-55 lb of Live Sand
-110 lb of Live Rock
-110 Blue Leg hermit crabs
-28 Turbo Snails
-4 Tiger Tails Cucumbers
-2 Serpent stars or Brittle Stars
-2 Pistol Shrimp

So how does this sound? Am I on the right tracking or heading for a big mess?

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Jon

[JohnL]

Hi anative,
[welcome]

You will probably get more replies by posting these kinds of questions in the Reef Discussion forum.

Have you read any books yet?

What kind of information are you looking for?

[JohnL]

Oops, I see you are in good hands with Bubba on the other thread :)

[Bubba]

Sounds fine to me. :D

You may also want to add ONE (and only one)
hardy/inexpensive fish like a Damsel after you
get the tank set up. That will help get the nitrogen
cycle going. Be sure to feed it VERY sparingly until the tank
cycles. DO NOT PUT ANY CORALS IN THE TANK UNTIL AFTER
IT CYCLES.

By all reports Tampa Bay SW is a good company to deal with.

In the future you may want to think about adding
a sump/refugium with some macro algae - I've found
that it is a great way to reduce unwanted compounds in
the water as well as fine food for Angels and Tangs.

If you are interested, after you get the system stable,
I have MANY different corals for sale/trade.

Cheers,

Bubba

[hbui3077]

everything sounds ok...but i won't recommend the power sweep powerheads...not very powerful. I had best luck with max. water flow, and those you mentioned will barely move the water. I had some in the past, they aren't made very well...and stop working often.

[Lutefisk]

Here is my input

I have two reefs. One a 30 gallon and the other is a 85 gallon hex. I started off the 30 gallon with a high number of hermits and a brittle star. The 85 gallon only has two hermits - one blue leg (hitchhiker) and one scarlet.

If (when) I do another tank I'm going to go light on the hermits. My nassarious snails do a great job of hunting down any scraps that hit the sand and don't eat each other and other critters.

Another thing that I would suggest is to add the snails, hermits, stars, and cuc's over time instead of one big purchase. While it may be a little more expensive it will allow your tank to develop to a point where it will sustain them as you add them. If you add them too soon your mortality rate would be a little high.

I agree with the thumbs down on the powersweeps


Paul