My 90g setup (pics)

chadf

It's finally up and running!
The setup:
130 lbs lr
240 lbs ls
aquac remora pro skimmer with mag3 pump
current usa 48" 260w pc lighting
2 marineland penguin 1140 powerheads
2 visi-therm stealth 250w heaters
whisper 60 powerfilter

The pics don't do this lr justice. Every single piece is completely covered in lime green and purple coralline algae. But here they are:

Nereaga

Now THAT is a DEEP sandbed!!! Nice work! Cant wait to see that thing mature with time. Im sure whatever you stock it with will like its new home! Got any ideas on what you want?

chadf

Yep it's between 4-6 inches deep. Hopefully it turns out working ok and keeps those nitrates down to a minimum. Well, I've had so much planning time so I do have my stocking list... starting off with 2 true or false perculas (whichever specimens I like at my lfs's at the time), then auriga (threadfin) butterflyfish, then powder brown tang (now that I see 130 lbs of lr in there I'm unsure about how much room he'll have though), and finally a coral beauty. I will be waiting at least a month between stockings. What do you think?

Oh yea, I used Tommygun's applying background with petroleum jelly technique. I used a rubber window squeegee to get the bubbles out and it turned out perfect (thanks tommy). It's only black though, I bet it would turn out even better with some color.

I paid $3.10 a pound including shipping for this rock!! Send me a pm if you want more info.

Nereaga

With a sandbed like that I dont think you will have to worry about high nitrates at all!!!

I think that list could work. Just keep in mind that the butterfly will eat coral and inverts. They are not reef safe. I would love to house a butterfly, unfortunately I would put my coral and inverts at risk, cant do it. I absolutely am in love with this species:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/2159/product.web

They have 4 of them at my lfs, no one wants them.... I wish!!

I will be adding some sand to my display when it gets here. I can only use like 15lbs in my Aquafuge, the rest will go in the display.

You dont have to wait a month in between adding livestock. Test the water in between the fish, and wait for your tank to adjust, and then add more.

Good luck!

chadf

Yeah, I know. I'm still undecided whether I want to attempt keeping any lower light corals. What do you think my setup would allow me to keep if I went without the butterfly? The lighting's a current usa orbit extreme 48" 260w 10,000k, I think 8,000k, I think 420 actinic and I think 460 actinic. I have it on a dusk, dawn effect timer. Lot's of water movement everywhere.

Nereaga

How deep is your tank?

chadf

From the top of the water to the sand is like 16-17"

Nereaga

You could keep a lot of things since the depth is pretty good so you will get good light penetration. I have about the same distance in my 55g to the top of the water, I have a coralife pc 260 watt fixture. My LSP seems to really enjoy the light and it is on the sandbed.

You could go for many different soft corals. You could also get into some LPS's. You could do mushrooms and zoos aswell. The only thing I wouldnt try is SPS corals and some anenomes, IMO. They need more intense light to survive.

chadf

Alright cool, well I certainly have a while until I even get the 2 clowns so I'll ponder what I'll end up getting into. The more I learn the more I want to reef though, so I don't know. I'll be checking out the lfs to see what they have and whatnot.

chadf

Tested my water for the first time today. I added the ls on Monday and the lr yesterday. Params:
Ammonia: .125 ppm
Nitrites: 1 ppm
Nirates: 15 ppm
PH: 8.3
KH: 200 ppm
Calcium: 450 ppm
Phosphate: 0
Salinity: 1.023
Temp: 79.3