EliMelly’s 350 G2 Build

Lavey29 · Mar 7, 2023

EliMelly said:
From the ocean? Can I order that online? Or should I head down to the beach?

Yes there is a few places online that aqua farm live ocean rock such as KP aquatics. It's pricey but your only need a few pieces shipped wet and then QT them in a brute for short period checking for any pests to remove.

EliMelly · Mar 7, 2023

Lavey29 said:
Yes there is a few places online that aqua farm live ocean rock such as KP aquatics. It's pricey but your only need a few pieces shipped wet and then QT them in a brute for short period checking for any pests to remove.

Will they need to be in saltwater ? I’m completely new to this…

Lavey29 · Mar 7, 2023

EliMelly said:
Will they need to be in saltwater ? I’m completely new to this…

Yes and the vendor can tell you the best method for preparing them for the tank. Basically you want to keep all the good stuff alive and remove a few bad hitchhikers like aptasia, fire worms, gorilla crabs, etc... if you see any. If you are only getting a few pieces for the sump should be pretty easy and you probably only need a gallon or two of water then.

Premium Aquacultured Live Rock - Overnight to your Door - In water

Aquacultured live rock is one of our specialties. You will get one of the best live rock available in the industry. Forget about painted rock with no life.

www.kpaquatics.com

EliMelly · Mar 7, 2023

Lavey29 said:
Yes and the vendor can tell you the best method for preparing them for the tank. Basically you want to keep all the good stuff alive and remove a few bad hitchhikers like aptasia, fire worms, gorilla crabs, etc... if you see any. If you are only getting a few pieces for the sump should be pretty easy and you probably only need a gallon or two of water then.

Premium Aquacultured Live Rock - Overnight to your Door - In water

Aquacultured live rock is one of our specialties. You will get one of the best live rock available in the industry. Forget about painted rock with no life.

www.kpaquatics.com

They’re fully out of stock anywhere else you recommend?

Lavey29 · Mar 7, 2023

EliMelly said:
They’re fully out of stock anywhere else you recommend?

I just googled but probably some people on here can give you first hand experience from a vendor.

Aquacultured Live Rock, Diver Direct from Florida

www.google.com

Skynyrd Fish · Mar 7, 2023

Great Looking scape!

Slocke · Mar 7, 2023

Base Live Rock – Tampa Bay Saltwater

tbsaltwater.com

I personally like cycled LFS rock. It doesn't have the biodiversity of Live Rock and you will need to buy copepods separately but it has fewer risks and is a lot cheaper. Not saying Live Rock isn't great but its just so expensive.

EliMelly · Mar 7, 2023

Skynyrd Fish said:
Great Looking scape!

Thanks!!

EliMelly · Mar 7, 2023

Slocke said:
Base Live Rock – Tampa Bay Saltwater

tbsaltwater.com

I personally like cycled LFS rock. It doesn't have the biodiversity of Live Rock and you will need to buy copepods separately but it has fewer risks and is a lot cheaper. Not saying Live Rock isn't great but its just so expensive.

Got it I will definitely follow your lead!

blaxsun · Mar 8, 2023

EliMelly said:
I need video proof

I'll need another set of hands for the camera, but "Beaker" is very affectionate. He'll even eat seaweed right off my fingers.

Petcrazyson · Mar 8, 2023

Instead of waiting months for the rock to cure I think @Slocke is right and some already cycled and ready live rock at the LFS is better IMO. The Caribsea Life rock/shapes (arches caves overhangs etc) are a really good choice of rock. They can’t get a bit expensive though but that depends if you get a whole bunch. Spent around $800 bucks on all the rock I wanted for my tank a little bigger than yours but there is no need for you to spend that amount of money on yours as you just need a few key pieces in key areas.

EliMelly · Mar 10, 2023

Update: I added some hiding spots / caves and slightly modified the aquascape. Feels a bit full now though, or is it just my OCD driving me insane… Thoughts?

EliMelly · Mar 10, 2023

Petcrazyson said:
Instead of waiting months for the rock to cure I think @Slocke is right and some already cycled and ready live rock at the LFS is better IMO. The Caribsea Life rock/shapes (arches caves overhangs etc) are a really good choice of rock. They can’t get a bit expensive though but that depends if you get a whole bunch. Spent around $800 bucks on all the rock I wanted for my tank a little bigger than yours but there is no need for you to spend that amount of money on yours as you just need a few key pieces in key areas.

I plan on putting a bit in the sump will that be sufficient?

EliMelly · Mar 10, 2023

Petcrazyson said:
Hopefully these suggestions help you out a bit.

Blue Hippo Tang - I’d pass on the Blue Hippo until you upgrade as it will grow pretty quickly fed right. This is mainly because of its aggression in smaller tanks especially at feeding time. If you do decide to add it watch for its aggression and add as one of the last fish, not THE last fish lol as some say.

Zebrazoma Yellow/WTKT - Everyone loves a Yellow. Do you plan on going down the CB Biota road or Hawaiian WC? The WT Kole being a bristletooth is one of the more docile tangs so that’s a plus. Make sure to feed nori at least twice a day and some cucumbers and other veggie treats along the way. I fed my tangs spinach on the clip next to the nori so they don’t get picky. The Yellow will outgrow your tank eventually but much slower than the Hippo. Once he gets too aggressive or starts pushing that 4” mark I’d plan on upgrading his tank. The Bristletooth can stay in that sized tank much longer as they are the only Tang’s that can suit a 4 footer comfortably for the long part. Once he does start getting aggressively dominant be best to upgrade.

Halichoeres melasmapomus - Personally appreciate you are giving some love to this Halichoeres. Make sure to have at least an inch of sand bed for them to sleep in at night. Halichoeres are great because they eat all kinds of pests especially flatworms and monti eating nudis. He can get a bit of an attitude as he gets older. Something beneficial is add live copepods to the tank so he has at his disposal some natural food.

Banded Snake Eel- My man @Slocke keeps a few of them and even wrote an article about them you can find on here. He is your go to guy for all you need to know about these eels. Some of the best eels and super peaceful. Safest eels for fish that like to sleep in the sand at night and fish that like to burrow. And they have very tiny teeth so if they bite it hardly hurts or breaks skin, it would feel more like pressure. Plenty of meaty foods for this guy crab mussels maybe some live shrimp.

Hawkfish - IMO get a Longnose as Flame’s are a bit overrated in my opinion lol.

Since you do plan on an eel, gobies aren’t the best match up with them as they are generally small and are in the sand or on the sand most of the time. Theres the Yellow Watchman for a choice or the Orange Banded Prawn Goby. These guys would be I think your best bet. Wouldn’t recommend the other shrimp or prawn or nano gobies.

Genicanthus watanabei - Genicanthus angelfish are known to be the only true reef safe angelfish and stay on the smaller side so really good candidates for reefs. They do come with a bit of a price tag so don’t be shocked if you see them for $300 plus. I’d suggest a pair as you get the best character out of them.

I hope this helps lol. I’ll be following I want to see more!

What do you mean by character regarding the Wantanabe Angel?

Petcrazyson · Mar 10, 2023

EliMelly said:
What do you mean by character regarding the Wantanabe Angel?

They keep bickering a little lower, the male displays his best colors and the interactions you get between them.

EliMelly · Mar 10, 2023

Petcrazyson said:
They keep bickering a little lower, the male displays his best colors and the interactions you get between them.

They keep nicked a little lower? Meaning they don’t bicker with other fish?

Petcrazyson · Mar 10, 2023

EliMelly said:
They keep nicked a little lower? Meaning they don’t bicker with other fish?

Sometimes. They are just more occupied with the each other and don’t show 100% of their attention toward someone. Though they can still decide to not like someone.

EliMelly · Mar 12, 2023

Petcrazyson said:
Sometimes. They are just more occupied with the each other and don’t show 100% of their attention toward someone. Though they can still decide to not like someone.

Got it, would I be able to do a purple tang instead of the blue tang? How would I go about adding it in with the yellow tang?