mh6i's new 46 gallon setup

[mh6i]

I'm in the process of setting up my new 46 gal bowfront reef tank. It's an upgrade from a 20 gal FOWLR tank that I had for about 6 years.

Current equipment list:
61 lbs of live rock
Aqua Clear 70 HOB filter
AquaC Remora protein skimmer (with MJ1200 pump)
196W Coralife PC lights (10K + Actinic + Lunar)
JBJ Arctica 1/10HP chiller set at 78F
Iwaki 1223 pump for chiller

Residents transferring from old 20 gal tank: 1 three-stripe damsel, 1 Mexican red legged hermit crab, 1 Nerite snail, 2 Nassarius snails.

I'll probably add a Koralia pump soon to help with dead spots. This tank will end up with less than 10 fish and a few invertebrates like mushroom and hammer corals, zooanthids, a tridacna clam and some shrimp. I haven't added the sand yet. Here are a few pictures of the setup so far. The LR has been in for almost 2 weeks and I'm starting to see some hair and brown algae growth. More pics to come as I add more stuff. Enjoy!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/151985front_full.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/151985front_closeup.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/151985side_view.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/151985under_tank.JPG

[barbra]

That looks like a nice beginning. Keep us posted :)

[drummereef]

Very cool. What corals are you wanting to keep?

[nsreefer]

Nice start! Welcome to RC.

[mh6i]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10134988#post10134988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Very cool. What corals are you wanting to keep?

Nothing too fancy since I only have PC lighting. Just some mushroom and hammer corals, zooanthids, and a tridacna clam. I'll have to check if my LFS (or anyone here) recommends anything else that's cool and my lights can sustain.

[DaveG99]

I love the stand! I have a 46 gallon tank that I got for free but I dont have the nice stand like yours. Its a pretty good tank size. Why do you have a chiller? My tank wont go over 80 degrees. I am using a Koralia #2 right now and a rio 200 for circulation. I am going ot add another koralia #2 to it soon. I also have 192 watts of PC and I keep zoas, gsp, frogspawn, candy cane corals, shrooms, xenia, and even a piece of porites SPS that I got as a hitch hiker. Everything is growing and lookign great with my lighting.

[kysard1]

I would imagine a chiller is a requirement in AZ.

[mh6i]

Thanks for the feedback, DaveG. The chiller is a must on my new system because my old FOWLR system was consistently running water temps of 85F+ in the Arizona summer heat. I wanted to provide a more stable environment without keeping my entire house below 80F. Great suggestions on the corals- I've added candy canes and xenias to my wish list!

[nattydread]

Hows that filter treat you?

nice tank BTW.

[drummereef]

You'll love the candy canes and xenia. I keep both in my tank under pc's. Love them. :)

[mh6i]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10141714#post10141714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nattydread
Hows that filter treat you?

nice tank BTW.

The HOB filter is working great so far... I have it set up with the foam pad for mechanical filtration and carbon for now while the LR is curing. I had a smaller Aqua Clear HOB with my previous tank and had no complaints with it so I didn't hesitate getting another one for my new larger tank.