Our 75g build thread

[TJCJohnson]

My wife and I started a 75 gallon build about 1 1/2 months ago. I hadn't posted anything on here until now. We have alot of work to do, but we're having fun.

My wife had a 45 gallon several years ago and wanted bigger. We happened to find this 75 gallon tank that had been in an office in Houston for free. We had it drilled, the box put on and all the plumbing done. Bought the stand off craigslist (which was exactly what we wanted) made a DIY sump, bought everything else from LFS.

2 Koralia 2's
Rio 2500 return pump
Marineland 100 skimmer
Nova Extreme 2x54 T5 lights
50lbs live rock
30lbs base rock
2 1/2 inch sandbed

Livestock:
2 green chromis
1 banded sleeper goby
5 red leg hermit crabs
2 turbo snails

Parameters:
SG-1.026
Ammonia-0
Nitrate->10
Nitrite-0
Calcium-580
PH-8.2

Here are the pics

[TJCJohnson]

My first real question is about corals. How is my light setup? What can I expect to house with my current lights? What would be the next best lighting option?

Second.. my tank is turning over about 23 times an hour w/o counting the skimmer. Do I need more?

[LittleReef]

2 65's would house Softies really... maybe some LPS but I'm not sure about that.


Next step up if you wanted to house some more complex corals, that'd be T5's or MH's

[TJCJohnson]

Sorry.. I mistyped.. We have a Nova Extreme 2x54 T5's..

[Mr Cob]

Welcome to MAAST! Looks like you guys are off to a good start.

My first real question is about corals. How is my light setup? What can I expect to house with my current lights? What would be the next best lighting option?

With a T5 light fixture with only 2 54w bulbs I think you will be limited to softies and LPS. You may do ok with Montiporas (Monti Caps) for SPS. Your next option in my opinion would be to build a canopy and install a T5 retrofit setup with 5 bulbs (5x 54w). Or hang 2 250w or 2 150w MH pendants over the tank.

Second.. my tank is turning over about 23 times an hour w/o counting the skimmer. Do I need more?

It all depends what you want to keep. Increasing the flow in the display will please SPS and keeping it as is will be great for softies. You seem to already have decent flow but it all depends on how that flow is being distributed and if it is all in the display.