65 Gallon FOWLR to Reef Tank - Here I GO!

[estein02]

I've been posting about doing this...finally took the first steps! Last night from 9:00PM to 1:30AM re-aquascaping my tank. What I pain in the you-know-what that was, but I am happy with the results and I think I created some good areas to add corals. I added 30 lbs of a rock called Tonga Nuku
Here is the before:

And the after:
Front View

Right Side

Left Side

I've also made a few other changes. I've added a refugium (an AquaFuge 2), added a little more LS and changed my bulbs to, what I have been told, better ones (Giesemann Lamps; 2 Pure Actinics, 1 AquaBlue and 1 midday). I was told that this combo would be good for LPS and softies.
I'm also trying to determine what combination of PHs would be best to use. Currently in the tank I have a Hydor Koralia 3 on the back left a Koralia 1 on the back right (both facing down towards the front center) and a small maxijet running behind the LR between the rock and back glass. Any help on what combo to use would be greatly appreciated. In addition to the flow from the PHs the return pump creates about 450 gph of flow.
Any and all comments and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated as well as recommendations for some corals for the various areas of my tank.

 

[azfishgal]

I really like the new aqua-scape. Very nice job!

Sounds like you should have enough flow for what you want. If you don't have any dead spots you should be good to go.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
I really like the new aqua-scape. Very nice job!

Sounds like you should have enough flow for what you want. If you don't have any dead spots you should be good to go.
Thank you...I'll have to post better pictures after I start adding some stuff, these aren't that great. That Hydor 3 really moves some water. I'm not sure that having it above the BTA is creating too much flow for it.

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by estein02
Thank you...I'll have to post better pictures after I start adding some stuff, these aren't that great. That Hydor 3 really moves some water. I'm not sure that having it above the BTA is creating too much flow for it.
Your BTA will move if he's not happy, so I wouldn't worry about that. I have two #3s in my 125 on either side and yes, they have great flow. I'm sure in your smaller tank it seems like even more.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
Your BTA will move if he's not happy, so I wouldn't worry about that. I have two #3s in my 125 on either side and yes, they have great flow. I'm sure in your smaller tank it seems like even more.

My BTA has moved. Guess I'll try the Koralia #2 on the left side in place of the #3. It's buried itself between 2 rocks...hopefully it will move back to the top with less flow.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by estein02
Front View

Right Side

Left Side

Should I put the PH with more flow on the left side or the right side. I was thinking the left side since it is more open. Is that the best way? What is the best way to arrange 2 PHs in a reef tank? Thanks

 

[azul1994]

I would put it wherever the flow is low, you dont want any dead spots in your tank.

 

[estein02]

I took more pictures, but these were the only 2 that came out halfway decent.
Sun Coral

Pink Zoos

 

[azul1994]

Nice Pictures!

 

[estein02]

Thank you...I love the sun coral and the pink on the zoos has gotten really bright. I got the pinks from efishnsea on this site.

 

[grabbitt]

Ah, those pink zoos are awesome!

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by GRabbitt
Ah, those pink zoos are awesome!
Thank you...I'm hoping that they spread to cover the branch that you see in the picture.

 

[estein02]

Here are a few more pics.
BTA

African Blue Zoos form efishnsea

Ocellaris Pair

Lawnmower Blenny

I plan on getting some corals over the weekend...so I will post more pictures.

 

[nemo_66]

did you buy that tank used, or did the coraline die in the back of the glass?

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by Nemo_66
did you buy that tank used, or did the coraline die in the back of the glass?
It is a new set-up...not really sure what is going on back there. There is some purple on the glass too and some of the white does turn purple then back to white. I don't believe that there is anything wrong with it. If there is I hope somebody lets me know. Maybe I need to get my calcium up...it is around 400 right now.

 

[earlybird]

Calcium should be fine but white suggests dying coraline. I don't want coraline on my back glass but am surprised that it's not growing there anyway.
Have you noticed a change in alk or calcium lately? Could be the cause of it bleaching.

 

[estein02]

Originally Posted by earlybird
Calcium should be fine but white suggests dying coraline. I don't want coraline on my back glass but am surprised that it's not growing there anyway.
Have you noticed a change in alk or calcium lately? Could be the cause of it bleaching.
Haven't noticed a change lately...it has been pretty consistent. I need to get it higher anyway so I will probably dose some with B-ionic. Also thinking about switching salt from regular Tropin Marin to either the Tropic Marin Pro, Reef Crystals or Oceanic. I believe those will help elevate the calcium.