Erin O's 75G Build

[sfin52]

If you have both you can run both. I have hob filters on the 55.
The fx4 is on the 75. I like the customized media. It can hold more media and more versatile.

 

[fish farmer]

I would look into if the sides aren't tempered (assuming they aren't) and drill it for a side overflow and a sump.

This gives you the option of hiding equipment in the sump, better skimmer, chaeto fuge, etc, etc.

 

[Erin O]

I would look into if the sides aren't tempered (assuming they aren't) and drill it for a side overflow and a sump.

This gives you the option of hiding equipment in the sump, better skimmer, chaeto fuge, etc, etc.

A sump just isn't in the cards for this tank, unfortunately. Tempered glass all around.

 

[Erin O]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

I finally broke it to my husband yesterday that I've decided to switch the 75g instead of the 29g. He took it surprisingly well. No arguing and only a slight eye roll lol. I showed him the fish on my tentative stocking list and he actually seemed almost interested, especially when I showed him the flame angel. I guess that means I'm one step closer to starting that build thread lol

 

[sfin52]

A sump just isn't in the cards for this tank, unfortunately. Tempered glass all around.

That's ok. A canister will be fine. It's really ok. I run a one. A reef can absolutely be run on a canister

 

[sfin52]

Christmas was great. It was fun spending with Heather and our three kids

 

[Erin O]

Christmas was great. It was fun spending with Heather and our three kids

Nice! We had a pretty good Christmas, too. Of course, my daughter (6 yr old) kept saying that she didn't get enough presents. Go figure lol. My son (2 yr old) got all things "Cars" and couldn't be happier. He lit up like a Christmas tree every time he opened a present. So awesome ;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[Erin O]

Ok, everyone. I've been double checking my plan as far as what I'll need for equipment, since I decided to switch to the 75g. When I was planning my 29g, I had planned on getting 2 Hydor Koralia Nano circulation pumps at 565 gph each. Now, I'm trying to decide what power heads I should get instead. Any thoughts? How many gph minimum? Is there such a thing as too much flow?

 

[sfin52]

Ok, everyone. I've been double checking my plan as far as what I'll need for equipment, since I decided to switch to the 75g. When I was planning my 29g, I had planned on getting 2 Hydor Koralia Nano circulation pumps at 565 gph each. Now, I'm trying to decide what power heads I should get instead. Any thoughts? How many gph minimum? Is there such a thing as too much flow?

Yes and no. It depends on the coral you want to keep. Let's go that route first than you can decide on flow

 

[Chefwheredyougo]

There is a thing as too much flow. Some corals have flesh that can be pulled from the skeleton.
I recommend gyres like maxspect or the cheaper icecap. I use a icecap 3k on my tank at max 50%. I have the lower flow corals placed under the gyre so they get a bit but not too much.
They will have more than enough flow for your tank, come with controllers, and can be used on your inevitable tank upgrade

 

[Erin O]

Yes and no. It depends on the coral you want to keep. Let's go that route first than you can decide on flow

I'm still not positive as to what I want to keep, aside from an anemone. Do all zoa's need the same flow? All xenia's? Mushrooms? At this point, I guess I'm going to be looking at corals that can thrive with the same flow.

There is a thing as too much flow. Some corals have flesh that can be pulled from the skeleton.
I recommend gyres like maxspect or the cheaper icecap. I use a icecap 3k on my tank at max 50%. I have the lower flow corals placed under the gyre so they get a bit but not too much.
They will have more than enough flow for your tank, come with controllers, and can be used on your inevitable tank upgrade

This may sound bad, but I'm afraid to spend that much until I know I can be successful with my FOWLR

 

[sfin52]

I was in the same boat terrified at the thought of coral. That I started it was both thrilling and terrifying. Than I started keeping some lps. It's great.

Low flow are shrooms,Xenia,gsp are all low flow
Leathers, zoa,palythoa,lps, gorgonian coral are moderate flow.
Zoa,gsp, palythoa, leathers are great soft coral
Great starter lps Duncan and acan.

Anemone I suggest sometime around the one year mark.

 

[Erin O]

Ok, so I'm still looking for a bold blue fish for my tank. I was looking at the blue reef chromis and one of the milder tempered damsels (I know that some people think that the damsel is a mistake, but they are the blue I'm looking for). I wouldn't be able to keep a shoal of the chromis, would I? I've been reading that the dominant will kill off the others most of the time. Will one truly be able to thrive on its own? If I go with the damsel, would I have better success if its that very last fish in the tank? Will the clowns and flame angel help keep it in line?

 

[sfin52]

Ok, so I'm still looking for a bold blue fish for my tank. I was looking at the blue reef chromis and one of the milder tempered damsels (I know that some people think that the damsel is a mistake, but they are the blue I'm looking for). I wouldn't be able to keep a shoal of the chromis, would I? I've been reading that the dominant will kill off the others most of the time. Will one truly be able to thrive on its own? If I go with the damsel, would I have better success if its that very last fish in the tank? Will the clowns and flame angel help keep it in line?

Yes they can be kept in a shoal of five in your 75 or one by itself. If in a group I wouldn't do less than 5. I've had the same group for the last five years.

I didn't have any issues till I had one die. Now it's chaos. I'm down to three. I had to remove the fourth because if agression and possibly blind.

 

[sfin52]

What about an indigo Hamlet. Meets your needs and a gorgeous fish. I had one till it are a rubber band that got knocked into the tank.

 

[Erin O]

What about an indigo Hamlet. Meets your needs and a gorgeous fish. I had one till it are a rubber band that got knocked into the tank.

Yup! That fish needs to be in my tank. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[sfin52]

Yup! That fish needs to be in my tank. Thanks for the suggestion!

Your welcome. They stay small as well 3-4 inches. Does that meet your blue

 

[Erin O]

Your welcome. They stay small as well 3-4 inches. Does that meet your blue

I do believe it does! Now, to find one when I'm ready for it lol

 

[Mrod]

Hi all. I think I've convinced myself to convert my 75g into SW instead of my 29g (@sfin52, I believe that you predicted that this might happen in my meet & greet post lol). There are just so many fish out there that I want to get but aren't suitable for a 29g lol. I'm not going to be able to drill it because its tempered glass, so no sump. I'll have the Tidal 110 on it with a couple of power heads. Dry/live rock, live sand. This will be a FOWLR for quite a while, at least until the tank matures and I feel comfortable enough to try a reef. My current stocking plan is (this is the plan for the 29g, I'm just going to add to it) :
2 ocellaris clowns
? banggaii cardinals (I'm not sure how many I can have in this size of tank)
1 Yasha goby/ pistol shrimp pair
1 royal gramma
hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp, an urchin (if you have other suggestions to add to this group, I'd love to hear them)

These are the fish I'm looking at to possibly add to my stocking list:
1 flame angel (I know that this fish could be a problem if/when I start adding corals)
1 simple damselfish (will the fact that this is a 75g cut down on the aggression?)
1 fairy wrasse (either a lubbock's, whip fin, or ruby longfin)

I'm open to other suggestions. Can I get away with another bottom dweller or should I just stick to the 1 yasha/shrimp pair?

I have found azure and talbot damsel to be less aggressive and had them do well even in a 16 gallon. Have also seen someone with several in their 120 as they also like them and find them to be well behaved

 

[sfin52]

I do believe it does! Now, to find one when I'm ready for it lol

Now that your looking for it you will have a hard time finding it. That's what it's like for me