Aggressive Reefkeepers

[erikharrison]

Alrighty, I am pondering this as our next tank. I'd like to know who else has one, and to list off so I can double check with them, and others about this project. I am a fish lover, and I want really exotic fish. I have a long list, including some tangs, that I am going to put in there. The tank is a 75g (Thelma's old one) and I would like ANY ideas. This includes filtration styles, circulation styles, fish, and cleanup. The biggest places I will need help in are fitration, circulation, and cleanup. I still do want fish listed, as I do not know them all, but I pretty much have the ones I want picked out. This tank will primarilly be foam and agrock, I will be trying some new variations using both techniques. Just spew out any ideas you all have, as I have NO IDEA!!!! Lighting will be 2 or 3 250w mh, and probably VHO t5 with a possibility of LEDs.

<><>IT WILL BE HEAVILY STOCKED<><>

[hobogato]

if you are doing fish only, hiatt is hard to beat for waste controll.

[erikharrison]

you think I could do the Hiatt style Filstar XP3? I have a semi Hiatt with my XP2, one of the chambers is filled with carbon.

[erikharrison]

It is going to be a semi reef environment. A few really easy sps, with alot of zoos and some softies. Any suggestions in this arena would be appreciated. I want bright, vivd colors that will pop with actinic support!

[~TG~]

Thats right Erik, i forgot to mention you need a REAL GOOD skimmer i have to clean mine out every 2 days and its not a small skimmer either.. the more fish - the more you feed - the more waste... :sick
Also make sure you plan out your selection of fish very well because remember my grouper story :cry the more aggressive the more territorial and you dont have that much room in a 75g.. :D

[hobogato]

an aggressive reef with sps - man, i thought i liked a challenge. from my experience, there is some chemical issue with the hiatt and sps. you could probably get away with some zoas and some lps in an agressive reef.

[erikharrison]

This is the skimmer that I have had my eye on.
http://www.reefoctopus.com/v2/pub/index.cfm
The outlet could easily fit an attachment to make it quieter. I can't remember what it's called, but I saw it somewhere!

[erikharrison]

an aggressive reef with sps - man, i thought i liked a challenge. from my experience, there is some chemical issue with the hiatt and sps. you could probably get away with some zoas and some lps in an agressive reef. I was only contemplating something like monti caps, we have a few frags that lasted through my tank crash, and although they do not really seem to have grown much, they are polyp'd out like mad.

[Bill S]

My experience tells me that Hiatt and stoney corals don't mix well. I'd be particularly hesitant in an aggressively stocked tank. It's hard to keep a LOT of big fish and stoney corals together.

[erikharrison]

yeah I figured as much, but what are some easy sps? I know it sounds funny, but I am sure there are some hardy sps!!!

[erikharrison]

Anyone ever use an octopus skimmer???? I am planning on one rated for 200+ gallons. Possibly larger depending on size, and for the price, it's not an issue to spend a little more!

[5.0Stang]

The only one thats ever metioned anything about octopus is the guy at aquarium designs. He swore up and down about them he even has one for 1000+ gallons and when i asked him what hes running he showed me a bekett. If it was me I'd have ace build you one. Not only can he custom make it I've heard hes got good customer service too! + do you ever plan on upgrading?

[erebus]

I have the HOB dual Reef Octopus and love it.

[erikharrison]

I have the HOB dual Reef Octopus and love it.

thanks for the feedback. I may sink some cash into one, I figure they cant be half bad, especially if I put a 220 rated one on a 75...

[Thunderkat]

I notice you said you wanted to have tangS in your tank. I recommend buying them all at once and introducing them to the tank at the same time.

[erikharrison]

I notice you said you wanted to have tangS in your tank. I recommend buying them all at once and introducing them to the tank at the same time.

I assume this is due to the whole "runt factor" correct? I do plan on introducing them all at once.

[5.0Stang]

Hey do you know of anywhere else to buy that octopus skimmer i tried the link youput buy i cant find prices and i wanna see if i can find that 1000+ gal skimmer cause he wants 649.00 for the one at aquarium designs

[Ram_Puppy]

I agree w/ bstreed that a HIATT and SPS can be risky, though, I have had some moderate success.

If you do go w/ a hiatt, an XP2 will not be enough, I am running an XP4 on a 30 gallon.