New to the hobby in Maryville

Jeeper · Jan 26, 2016

Got a couple tanks up and running.. Running a 75 gallon display tank with a eshopps R100 gen 3 sump and skimmer. Currently it just has 5 turbo snails working the initial diatom bloom (fish less cycle on both tanks with tim's ammonia drops and stability) I bought the tank and stand used but everything else is pretty much new. I am still adjusting the plumbing and wiring to my liking. I have a RODI unit for all my water. My other tank is a 14g biocube. I have a black occ clown, royal gramma, peppermint shrimp, 3 scarlet hermits, and a couple turbos in it. When I get the kinks worked out I will move everything over. Really interested in getting into raising some corals. I've had 0 readings on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for a few weeks now but just added livestock this weekend.

CastAway · Jan 26, 2016

Beautiful!

Welcome to the ETRC forum.

KJ · Jan 26, 2016

Looking great!
And Welcome to the ETRC forum

cee · Jan 26, 2016

Off to a GREAT start and welcome. If you can find time, please stop by one of our meetings anytime. We really enjoy having new people participate and are all members are very willing to help.

Jeeper · Jan 26, 2016

I will definitely try and make it.

Reeflogic · Jan 27, 2016

Hellooooo from Maryville! Welcome to R2R! Great looking setup!!

Chriscrna · Jan 27, 2016

Welcome to R2R and the ERTC forum.

Looks like you're off to a great start!

cale0721 · Jan 27, 2016

Welcome! Looks like positive start. Let us know if you have questions!

justaDutchguy · Jan 27, 2016

Welcome! Lovely scape you have going on there, it screams for coral!

Rob.D · Jan 27, 2016

Welcome to ETRC and R2R!!! I love the rockscape, especially the right side!

Jeeper · Jan 28, 2016

I actually do have a few questions... My diatom bloom seems to be over the turbo snails, and filter floss/ socks seemed to have made quick work of it. I have been expecting an algae bloom of something to follow but so far my rock is clean. I have an I tank media basket I the cube with puregen and chemipure elite and floss. Been changing the floss daily as it has been brown with diatoms. The socks on my 75 are nearly as bad. I was wondering how you guys wash them. I have been using tap water then hanging them to dry. I have several so I haven't put any back in yet that have been washed. Do you dip them in rodi water with some prime in it or something or should they be good after completely dry? If algae doesn't show up soon do I need to supplement the snails with some nori or something?

Also wondering if it would be OK to add some coral to the 75g. Is there some that you guys would recommend for a less mature tank and inexperienced owner? I'm going to stick with coral safe fishes mostly small stuff and probably around 5 total (occ clown, Royal gramma, some kind of smaller tang, a reef safe wrasse, and tbd). My lights are 2 aquatic life 14" xs-uv http://www.aquaticlife.com/light-fixtures/led-xs-uv-reef I want color but I don't want anything super difficult to feed. My wife is a stay at home mom and while she likes to look at the fish she doesn't want to feed/take care of them...

Jeeper · Jan 28, 2016

Couple more shots of the setup.

Jeeper · Jan 28, 2016

Light ramps up as the day goes on they are programmable. I wish I had used gate valves instead of ball valves. Also wish I had put a liner in the cabinet... With the return pump off it doesn't over fill the sump so I guess I shouldn't worry too much.

cale0721 · Jan 28, 2016

I use nylon socks instead of felt so I wouldn't have much info on that. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

Coral wise maybe try some Xenia , green star polpys, birds nest. Maybe even some mushrooms. Any of those are starter corals. Just be warned with green star and Xenia they can grow fast and can take over rock work easily.

Your setup looks great though - look forward to seeing it grow!

-Caleb