New project, I'd like your thoughts

[Anonymous]

Well guys, since I got the 120 running, I have that 72 bowfront just laying around and as you well know there is nothing sadder than an empty tank. So, I am thinking of setting up something I’ve always wanted to do right, a sea grass biotope.

Here’s my thoughts:

72 bowfront, dual down flow (it’s currently a single downflow and I’ll like to convert it as before when it was set up there was poor flow even with supplemental pumps) into sump running back to two outlets, maybe seaswirls for a gentle surge type water movement-any suggestions on water returns/configurations? Also I was thinking of going skimmerless after the cycling stage. (Tracy waits for the outcry )

I have enough live rock now to stock it, but I thought I'd get a few pounds of TBS liverock http://www.tbsaltwater.com/ as well, which should make for interesting infauna.

DSB, which is kind of essential for that seagrass environment I’m looking for although a muddier type of substrate than the usual sand would probably be more appropriate so any suggestions?

I ran into on heck of a deal on a used Hamilton Anderson Dual MH light fixture/ballast from a local guy here who was upgrading:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... duct=LTRSD

So I think even though that fixture is 36'' where the tank is 48'' it'll have enough light :lol:

Tank inhabitants for certain: Seahorses, pipefish, shrimp/goby pair.

Any thoughts? I’d like to order the parts for plumbing this week and get it started.

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I would put three maxijet 1200's on one end of the tank and have them on the same wavemaker. It would be like the waves pounding the shallows. Some turtle grass and sargassum would sway awesome. You could even add a mangrove or two. No seahorses . But a shrimp/goby combo and pipefish would be cool. Add some conchs and turbos. Cukes.

That 36" will be just fine IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

Well the seahorses are a livestock "must have". I've kept them before, and like them very much. Your idea about the wavemaker could work with a little judicous tweaking. Thye actually can take a bit stronger currents than you'd think as long as they have something to 'hitch' to.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you thought surge device? (Don't seagrasses typically live closer to shore where this is the norm?).. or is this in nice setting (ie living room with no space for it) where a surge would not be useful?

Eitherway I would suggest a sh*t load more flow than what a few maxijets can put out, they're what? 300gph or so?

Now granted I don't know much about seahorses, so anything more might be too much. Also can't help you with your skimmerless route, as much as I would love that, I don't have the desire to keep ontop of waterchanges as my main form of filtration.

 

[Anonymous]

True about the horses, however they are not really such inshore creatures.

Also true about the maxi jets. I just did not think you wanted to get two Tunze Streams$$$$$$$$$. Although I think that would be even better.

 

[Anonymous]

I would LOVE to get Tunze streams :lol: but you are right they are pricey.