RJ Harris
Active Member
Hey everyone. After taking a year and half or so break from the reef world, I’ve decided to come back. I’ve held on to a few of my reef related things like my prime hd, my smart ato and my im 25 gallon lagoon which has been a freshwater planted tank and a shell dweller tank in the past year. I hate the thought of setting a reef back up but I know I can’t stay away forever. Especially with my favorite store hiring on one of the saltwater greats in my area and building a salt section in one of their new store, I knew I couldn’t stay away.
So here’s the start of my new reef. Keeping it simple and small. I have 3 freshwater tanks along with this build so I figured this 25 would be a perfect reef. Still need to acquire a few things like a skimmer and a mp10qd wet side before I really get going on this tank. So being out of the reef community for a year and a half I’m sure things have changed a lot. Are there any new must have products I need or new brands of skimmers? I also have a dozer that I plan on setting up for the first time, as I want to keep a heavy amount of lps. Mostly euphyllia, candy canes maybe some softies on the false wall as I have a 3-d background in the tank. As far as fish, I have no idea right now. The wife said she wanted another mandarin. Now I know some of you are going to freak out, a mandarin in a 25 gallon? What are you gonna do about pods and making sure it stays healthy. Well in my 5 years of keeping a reef I’ve kept many mandarins and even had a breeding pair that ate frozen. The thread is probably still somewhere on r2r. But anyways. I’m not completely sure I want to keep a Mandy. That would probably be the last fish I add. As far as other things I definitely want shrimp maybe a nem and crabs. Definitely black sand, possibly a Valentini puffer which I’ve kept in my 125 gallon before and never had an issue with nipping, I know every fish is different.
So anyways here’s a few pics of my aquascape. I like it a lot so far but not completely in love with it. I have time to play with it more and feel free to make suggestions .org show me your 25 gallon lagoon scape if you got em. It’s good to be back.
So here’s the start of my new reef. Keeping it simple and small. I have 3 freshwater tanks along with this build so I figured this 25 would be a perfect reef. Still need to acquire a few things like a skimmer and a mp10qd wet side before I really get going on this tank. So being out of the reef community for a year and a half I’m sure things have changed a lot. Are there any new must have products I need or new brands of skimmers? I also have a dozer that I plan on setting up for the first time, as I want to keep a heavy amount of lps. Mostly euphyllia, candy canes maybe some softies on the false wall as I have a 3-d background in the tank. As far as fish, I have no idea right now. The wife said she wanted another mandarin. Now I know some of you are going to freak out, a mandarin in a 25 gallon? What are you gonna do about pods and making sure it stays healthy. Well in my 5 years of keeping a reef I’ve kept many mandarins and even had a breeding pair that ate frozen. The thread is probably still somewhere on r2r. But anyways. I’m not completely sure I want to keep a Mandy. That would probably be the last fish I add. As far as other things I definitely want shrimp maybe a nem and crabs. Definitely black sand, possibly a Valentini puffer which I’ve kept in my 125 gallon before and never had an issue with nipping, I know every fish is different.
So anyways here’s a few pics of my aquascape. I like it a lot so far but not completely in love with it. I have time to play with it more and feel free to make suggestions .org show me your 25 gallon lagoon scape if you got em. It’s good to be back.
