Erin O's 75G Build

[NY_Caveman]

Lights. Why do they have to be so difficult and so darn expensive? Would plant grow lights work? I was looking on Amazon and typed in "T5 lights" thinking that would get me to the right lights but they were mostly for growing house plants. Would LED lights work as well as fluorescents?

Also, are anemones harder to keep than softies? It's my understanding that they are not the same thing, correct?

The box lights like @sfin52 mentioned are what I use on my 45 gallon tank and they work excellent for all corals and anemones. Anemones are in some way similar to soft corals (no skeleton) but they can and will move around, especially if they are unhappy with lighting or flow. They can also attack and kill corals. Only Euphyllia corals are able to fight back typically. I have two anemones and several LPS.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Another thing, anemones can split. I just had this happen

 

[Erin O]

Correct yes lights are expensive. But there are alternatives.
Amazon product you'll need two
Amazon product 2 168 watt for a 75

Do the lights that I choose have to hang? Can they sit on the tank like my Finnex?

Another thing, anemones can split. I just had this happen

I was thinking about having mostly anemones with maybe some softies. I don't know if that would be a wise way to go, but I can see it in my head and I like the way it looks lol

 

[sfin52]

Those have to be hung

 

[sfin52]

@dantimdad. Suggestions on lights

 

[Erin O]

Those have to be hung

I know that those specific lights have to be hung, but is there a suitable light that doesn't have to be? One that would sit on the top like my Finnex Planted?

 

[NY_Caveman]

My black box lights were from SB Reeflights and they sit on my aquarium like you want. You can see the brackets in the photo (sorry for the foot, LOL) I believe Reefbreeders Photon LEDs have brackets too. Both are fairly affordable.

 

[dantimdad]

I like the sbreef lights and the noopsyche. I am going to order some new AI lights and try them soon because they look nice

 

[Erin O]

My black box lights were from SB Reeflights and they sit on my aquarium like you want. You can see the brackets in the photo (sorry for the foot, LOL) I believe Reefbreeders Photon LEDs have brackets too. Both are fairly affordable.

I like the sbreef lights and the noopsyche. I am going to order some new AI lights and try them soon because they look nice

I'll take a look at those. Thanks!

 

[sfin52]

My black box lights were from SB Reeflights and they sit on my aquarium like you want. You can see the brackets in the photo (sorry for the foot, LOL) I believe Reefbreeders Photon LEDs have brackets too. Both are fairly affordable.

Those are some sexy toes

 

[NY_Caveman]

Those are some sexy toes

I was not home at the time and it was my best photo of the brackets on my phone. LOL!

 

[sfin52]

I like the sbreef lights and the noopsyche. I am going to order some new AI lights and try them soon because they look nice

Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Erin O]

UGH!!! Note to self... when looking up CUC, make sure the 6 year old is IN ANOTHER ROOM!!! Or out of the house altogether. I was looking at the crabs on Live Aquaria and she has decided that we need them ALLLLLL! Then she decided that she wants all the shrimp too. She doesn't believe me when I tell her that some of these critters won't be a good fit for our tank ;Hilarious. So she wanted me to ask you guys, since you, and I quote, "Know what you're doing and mommy doesn't." Thanks kid LOL

 

[sfin52]

You are correct. Not all critters are compatible.

 

[Erin O]

You are correct. Not all critters are compatible.

I told her that we're going to start with snails and add other critters as we go. She thinks that's a TERRIBLE idea. She says that snails aren't any fun

 

[count krunk]

Tell her we recommend to start with nerite, cerith, and nassirus (spelled wrong most likely) snails.

After they are doing fine add an emerald crab or two. When those are good a cleaner shrimp would be great. After that perhaps a blood red fire shrimp. Perhaps 6 months after that the more fancy ones.

Don't add peppermint shrimp or coral banded shrimp. Peps may disturb/munch your zoas and coral banded are too aggressive to other shrimp for me.

 

[sfin52]

Halloween hermits, blue legged and red legged hermits are good to add early. They are easy to spot feed. They add some cool factor for the 21yr old.


Further down the road a tiger sand conch

 

[crusso1993]

No mantis shrimp! Lol

 

[Erin O]

No mantis shrimp! Lol

I've read horror stories about those guys! No, thank you! Lol

 

[crusso1993]

I've read horror stories about those guys! No, thank you! Lol

Though they are very cool to have in a tank by themselves!