MikeP
Thu, 20th Nov 2003, 03:11 PM
Since I have changed directions on my 215 reef to be geared toward stony corals and small fish I am left with some gorgeous softies and some neat but boisterous predators (Harlequin tusk, my dwarf lions).
I am thinking of setting up a soft coral - predator tank. I would probably go with a 4 x 2 x 2 120 gallon or maybe a 6 foot 120. Petsmart has a 150 thats like 48" x 24" x 30 for 450 and the stand 150 they are closing out. Cheapest Oceanic I can find is a trade in at Aquatek - 140 non RR with stand / glass top for 900. This tank will likely be sumpless and will just have a hang on skimmer and some kind of auto topoff, going to take all the extra live rock out of my existing refugium and use that and maybe a dusting of sand and some live rock rubble for substrate.
The issue would be lighting - I have several sarcophytons, some colts , lobophtyum, sinularias that would all be going in but in a 30" tank I don't know that I'd be able to swing it with just VHOs or T5s and don't want to spend the cash on halides for another tank. THis is going to be a low maintenance tank I want to emulate some of the simpler German and Dutch soft coral tanks I've seen the only difference being I will have predatory fish (coral safe) as a feature. The tusk is probably going to be the largest fish in the tank and I don't plan on having anything but him, my Steene's dotty back and the two dwarf lions, may add another fuzzy dwarf if I can find a nice red variant.
Second idea was a 92 gallon corner lit by one 250 w DE pendant - I can get tank, stand and it's reef ready for about 1k? Vinh can you suggest a place in houston I can buy one cheaper?
Thoughts? Currently have the tusk and lions in a 45 with liverock and macroalgae but figured this tank I could solve my noxious soft coral problem and housing for my toothy predators.
I am thinking of setting up a soft coral - predator tank. I would probably go with a 4 x 2 x 2 120 gallon or maybe a 6 foot 120. Petsmart has a 150 thats like 48" x 24" x 30 for 450 and the stand 150 they are closing out. Cheapest Oceanic I can find is a trade in at Aquatek - 140 non RR with stand / glass top for 900. This tank will likely be sumpless and will just have a hang on skimmer and some kind of auto topoff, going to take all the extra live rock out of my existing refugium and use that and maybe a dusting of sand and some live rock rubble for substrate.
The issue would be lighting - I have several sarcophytons, some colts , lobophtyum, sinularias that would all be going in but in a 30" tank I don't know that I'd be able to swing it with just VHOs or T5s and don't want to spend the cash on halides for another tank. THis is going to be a low maintenance tank I want to emulate some of the simpler German and Dutch soft coral tanks I've seen the only difference being I will have predatory fish (coral safe) as a feature. The tusk is probably going to be the largest fish in the tank and I don't plan on having anything but him, my Steene's dotty back and the two dwarf lions, may add another fuzzy dwarf if I can find a nice red variant.
Second idea was a 92 gallon corner lit by one 250 w DE pendant - I can get tank, stand and it's reef ready for about 1k? Vinh can you suggest a place in houston I can buy one cheaper?
Thoughts? Currently have the tusk and lions in a 45 with liverock and macroalgae but figured this tank I could solve my noxious soft coral problem and housing for my toothy predators.