Daves 450 Litre Tank

Hey everyone,
I posted a brief introduction in the "Introduce Yourself" section, but I thought it would be a good idea to start a proper tank diary thread here, where I can post more info and pics, and also ask questions! (Apologies in advance for the long post)

Basically, my first every marine tank (and first ever fish tank!) was a 58 Litre nano setup which I started in the summer 09. That met with disaster in September 09 when one of the return pumps came loose and pumped 3/4 of the water onto the floor. I lost my only fish (Purple Firefish) and a few soft corals. After an emergency operation I managed to get the tank back up and running that day, and some corals and my CUC survived (they are all still thriving to this day). I then slowly started building up that system again and pretty much filled it with corals, three fish (2 Clowns and a sun tail goby) and some other inverts (Cleaner Shrimp, Sexy Shrimp, Hermits etc).

After I got married, and had some free cash again, I decided to upgrade. So in August I purchased a 340 Litre display tank/cabinet with a 110 Litre sump. I got that going with a load of live rock (my wallet didn't like that!) and went through the usual daily water testing to determine when my cycle had ended. In fact the cycle was extremely short, and after 6 days the tank was Nitrate/Nitrite/Ammonia = Zero.
I then spent one Sunday transferring my nano stock into the new setup. I did lose my sexy shrimp though, she must have jumped out of the bucket because we found her on the floor. It was a real shame because I had her for a year and she was doing great. Other than that though, everything made it with no problems.

So where am I now. Well, the tank has been properly up and running for about 3 weeks and everything is doing great. I added a Yellow Tang two weeks ago and he is doing great, whenever you look into the tank he comes over to your face - which is pretty funny. I also just added 3 peppermints to combat an aiptasia outbreak, and got my refugium going with some Chaeto and Caulpera. My next steps will probably be getting some more coral (I am a bit of a coral nut!), including some SPS and I will also start thinking about future fishy additions.

Current Stocking List:
Fish
2 x Percula Clowns
1 x Sun Tail Goby
1 x Yellow Tang

Inverts
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
3 x Peppermint Shrimp
1 x Halloween Hermit Crab
7 x Red Legged Hermit Crabs
1 x Orange Clawed Hermit Crab
10 x Turbo Snails
1 x Astrea Snail
2 x Bumblebee Snails
3 x Nerite Snails
1 x Pistol Shrimp (Live rock hitchhiker)

Corals
Branching Hammer Coral
Candy Cane Coral
Sun Coral
Bubble Coral

Green Star Polyps
Pulsing Xenia
Zoanthids
Ricordeas

Other
Bleached BTA (or possibly Sebae) - hitchhiker on live rock

Some pics:
Old Nano




New Setup:

Nice shots of the setup there Dave, keep em coming as it progresses. Shame about the Sexy, they are the biz. Any more stock planned?

Jay

Thanks Jay, yep my wife was pretty upset about the sexy shrimp to be honest because she thinks they are great! So will probably be getting a few more of them I'd say.

As regards other stock, I am debating whether to get another tang (possibly a Powder Blue or Regal), and perhaps a couple of Bangaii Cardinals also. A Mandarin is for sure on the cards for further down the road. I haven't really decided on any other than those.

With regards to corals, well I definitely want some SPS:
Acropora
Plating Montipora
Birds Nest

Along with some more LPS & Softies:
Torch Coral
Brain Coral
Duncans
Plate Coral
Zoanthids
Ricordeas
Toadstools & other leathers

Might also look at clams, and definitely a BTA at some point.

Fantastic wishlist bro, good stuff. Keep an eye on the yellow tang when you introduce another surgeon fish as they can be aggressive if not released into the tank together, that said your setup is large so it may not be a problem.
Would have tried a clam myself but switched to a FOWLR setup because of the workload, simplt havnt the time to maintain a large reef setup . Had a BTA for a long while in a nano and they are the biz, they tend to roam a lot though so just be sure it doesnt settle on a powerhead . You have obviously thought this project through, and thats the key with marines as is patience...and a steady income

Jay

I hear ya on the possible aggression from the YT. Something which is causing me to seriously think about whether to add another tang or not.
I will wait and see if the hitchhiker anemone makes it or not (it is pretty bleached so I am feeding it often), if that survives then there will be no need to buy one I suppose!

The costs are a pain for sure, but the main costs are in setup - now I can take things slowly and add livestock here and there when the funds are available!

Great pics! Tank will be fantastic when your done! Hope to do it myself someday!

A few more pics:

Beautiful pics there Dave........

Hi Dave,

Lovely set up and great pics! Thanks for sharing it with us...

I somewhat started like yourself, with a small nano tank and very soon could not wait to get a bigger tank! Just got it, and slowly will be stocking it up....

Keep us updated with the progress, I might be picking your brain soon!

L

Thanks guys. Another quick update, I got a lovely sarcophyton on Sunday in Seahorse Aquariums and it has settled in nicely. I also ordered a porcelain crab from them, which should arrive in the next couple of weeks.

Another quick update. I got my new MH bulb today, a 10000k 250 Watt Blue Life SPS bulb.
The reason I got a new bulb so quickly is because I just wasn't happy with the one I got with the 2nd hand light - it was too yellow so was probably 6500k. Anyway I am MUCH happier with the new bulb, see comparison pics below

Old bulb


New bulb


Other new pics:
Mushrooms


Halloween Hermit Crab stealing dinner from the Sun Coral

Great decision Dave. Looks far more "natural" with the higher temp bulb. Good stuff, bet that wasnt cheap .

Jay

that hermit is a cracking shot.

mods when's the photo comp?

Lovely pics.

Mick........

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Jay, you are right and I am so much happier with the new bulb! I ordered it from the US on ebay, I think it was about $68 including delivery but it was really worth it. I was a bit worried after ordering it thinking maybe I should have gone for an even higher temp, but I worried needlessly.

The light looks much better Dave.
You took a bit of a gamble ordering from abroad. But it seem to have paid of.

Nice pics.

What's the story re conversions, Voltage etc? they run different to us.



Kev.

With discharge bulbs like metal-halides, mercury vapour, (HPS for the horticulturalists!) and even flourescent tubes, it's the control gear that takes care of the voltage/frequency issues. The bulbs are the same.
Hence, it's ok to use a US mh in a uk fitting here, but not a uk bulb in a us fitting.

(note: cfl's etc with built in control gear are region-specific!)

As Murph said....

Looks great!