125 Gallon Saltwater Reef (Done Cycling)

[SanDiegoBryan]

Hello Reefs.org!!!

I've had my 125 for about 4 years. Originally, I had it set up as a fantastic reef, with over $4,000 invested. However, one of the beautifull SEA APPLES got sucked into the powerhead, and by the time I found out what it was, the whole tank was DEAD!!!

I then converted it to fish only for about 3 years with some Groupers, and other aggressive fish.

Currently, I just emptied my tank, and started over. Here is what I have:

125 Glass with Overflow.
30 Gallon Sump with Protein Skimmer
Rio 3100 Pump for the sump
Powerhead 802 for the tank.
4 Phillips Actinic 03 40W Florescents
2 50/50 40W Florescents
20 lbs of Natures Ocean "Bio-Activ" Live Aragonite
60 lbs of Red Sea "Sugar Sized" Aragonite.
About 20lbs of Live Rock, and 30lbs of Lava Rock
Colt Coral.
Green Star Polyps.
Misc Mushrooms.
About 20 Hermits
4 HUGE Turbos.
1 Gold Stripe Maroon Clown on Bubble Tip Anenome
3 Green Chromis Damsels
1 Pink Spotted Goby
2 Peppermint Shrimp

Anyway, that is what I have. If you have any suggestions, I'm starting to get addicted, so please help steer me the right way!!


(Updated 12-21 - Corrected powerhead and pump)

[ December 21, 2001: Message edited by: SanDiegoBryan ]

[ January 23, 2002: Message edited by: SanDiegoBryan ]</p>

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Just bought a Clown Tang like this, but Approximately 2 1/2" for only $23:

[ December 27, 2001: Message edited by: SanDiegoBryan ]</p>

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

UPDATE!!! Corraline Algae is spreading rapidly...

Tank has stabilized.

Everyone is getting along. Even the cracked out clown tang.

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

There is no way to take a picture, as my eyes are screwed up from looking sooo close, and its hard to type, but...

I think my Peppermint shrimp had babies??? There are about 20 extremely small (Baby Brine Sized) shrimp shaped clear critters at one end of the tank..

We'll see - they will probably get eaten.

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

I just noticed that the live sand really was seeded!!!

There are a LOT of microscopic reddish-brown worms, extremely small fan shaped clear things attached to the glass, and the sand is starting to develop "Micro-Tunnels" from the little things.

Its really cool seeing everything starting to take off. I'd kinda like to know what the little things are.

The algae "Circles" are growing about 1/4" a day - its awesome!!

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Just added a Purple Lobster, and a cleaner shrimp.

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

I just added (2) 96w 36" Compact Florescents - One is Blue and the other is 10,000k

I cannot believe the difference.. its like night and day. I can see things I used to have to squint.

I can't wait to see how much faster things grow!!!

I got frustrated replacing the regular florescents... I just had a ballast go out, and it took out two BRAND NEW $25 Actinic 03 bulbs that were just bought a week prior.

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

I just noticed one of the peppermint shrimp is carrying eggs!!

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Here is a picture of the tank...

Obviously, I need more live rock...

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Awesome CORALINE ALGAE BLOOMS!!!!

Almost every lava rock I had in there has putple and pink spots on them. On one rock alone, I counted 20...

My Colt Coral has doubled in size and health.

Green Star polyps are spreading and turning a brighter florescent green..

Its awesome what 2 96w PC's will do!!! Its only been since January 23!!! Not even 3 weeks yet!!!

PC's RULE!!!!!

 

[SanDiegoBryan]

Thought I would update this...

Currently I have:
1 SailFin Tang
1 Gold Stripe Maroon Clown & Anenome
1 Pink Spotted Goby
3 Chromis Damsels
1 Tiny Purple Lobster
1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Peppermint Shrimp
Some Hermits
Some Turbos
Colt Coral
Green Star Polyps
?? Polyps
?? Anenome
Corraline Algae


One of my 96w PC's fell apart, and the other is close... I have to contact AquaticWarehouse.com and see what's up with that!