Andrew's 72 gallon bowfront build

[metcalf vt]

After having a 29 gallon tank for two years I decided it was finally time to upgrade. I now have a 72 gallon bow front tank. The tank cycled quickly as I swapped everything over from a previously running tank and now has been running for about two months.
I went with a 72 gallon drilled tank, the lights are NEP six bulb t5 fixture, A rio return pump, two koralia 4's, a 300 watt titanium heater, and a coralife 125 skimmer. I swapped over 75 pounds of live rock from the 29 and picked up another 50 from here.
The lifestock consists of two clarkii's, three green chromis', purple psuedochromis, a fire shrimp, and a peppermint shrimp.
Enough with the description an here are the pictures
Right after everything was put in there:

Only actinics:

All of the lights on:

I am going to try to take some better pictures this week.

 

[metcalf vt]

Also, anyone in the DC area who wants to give me some nice LPS or SPS frags for a good price let me know.

 

[nycbob]

nice start!

 

[saltyfish808]

great job

 

[metcalf vt]

Originally Posted by nycbob
http:///forum/post/2884944
nice start!
What is the stock list on your 72? I know I have seen it before because I checked out many of your posts before I decided on the fixture
Originally Posted by saltyfish808
http:///forum/post/2885272
great job
Thank you
I am hoping everything starts to fill soon, it will be interesting to see how much growth difference there is between the t5s and my old pcs
I need to post a picture of my 29 before I broke it down, it was literally stocked to the brim with no more room for anything.

 

[cmaxwell39]

Very nice start. I think you will really enjoy the T5s over the pcs. There is just no comparison. What are you planning for the tank fish wise? Everything looks great so far.

 

[nycbob]

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/344752/hippo-and-royal-kissing
u will hv to look at the pic bc its going to take a few minutes to list everything.

 

[metcalf vt]

Originally Posted by cmaxwell39 http:///forum/post/2891113
Very nice start. I think you will really enjoy the T5s over the pcs. There is just no comparison. What are you planning for the tank fish wise? Everything looks great so far.
My plan is to keep the six current fish (two clarkii's, purple pseudochromis, and three green chromis) and then add a cleaner shrimp, two more green chromis, and then I have not decided what else I would like to add. I can already see growth in the corals compared to the PCs so I am enjoying that already.
Originally Posted by nycbob http:///forum/post/2891282
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/344752/hippo-and-royal-kissing
u will hv to look at the pic bc its going to take a few minutes to list everything.
The tank looks great, if you need to make some room I would be more than happy to take some frags off your hands

 

[creekchub]

WOW, nice lookin tank, I see you have no cover / glass top on you tank.... Is it like this all the time, do guys run without glass covers?

 

[metcalf vt]

Originally Posted by creekchub
http:///forum/post/2892409
WOW, nice lookin tank, I see you have no cover / glass top on you tank.... Is it like this all the time, do guys run without glass covers?
I have always ran a saltwater tank without glass on top, I have heard that it doesnt allow for proper gas exchange and can cause heat issues. I dont think I even ran a top for my freshwater tank bank in the day.

 

[creekchub]

I tried sending you a PM but forever what reason I can't, not sure if you can PM on this site, or cause I'm a newbie, I had a questions though. I also have a 72 bow and I like your approch:
The light you have, do you like it? What's the full name of it, where did you get it, and how much am I looking to spend to get one.
thanks

 

[lkgrenegade22]

I run my 72 bowfront topless also. It helps with heat and proper gas exchange as stated above.
Also creekchub I don't think you can send PM's until you have been here a month or something like that.

 

[cmaxwell39]

Originally Posted by creekchub
http:///forum/post/2895442
I tried sending you a PM but forever what reason I can't, not sure if you can PM on this site, or cause I'm a newbie, I had a questions though. I also have a 72 bow and I like your approch:
The light you have, do you like it? What's the full name of it, where did you get it, and how much am I looking to spend to get one.
thanks
I believe he is using the Nova Extreme Pro light fixture.

 

[metcalf vt]

Originally Posted by creekchub
http:///forum/post/2895442
I tried sending you a PM but forever what reason I can't, not sure if you can PM on this site, or cause I'm a newbie, I had a questions though. I also have a 72 bow and I like your approch:
The light you have, do you like it? What's the full name of it, where did you get it, and how much am I looking to spend to get one.
thanks

Originally Posted by cmaxwell39
http:///forum/post/2895561
I believe he is using the Nova Extreme Pro light fixture.
That is correct, i am running a six bulb nova extreme pro fixture.

 

[metcalf vt]

I finally got around to taking a few more pictures. I picked up 20 more astreas yesterday, they snails did a good job so far, I am going to wait a few more days and I might pick up a few more if needed.
The full tank shot:

 

[metcalf vt]

I picked up a few more pieces, no good close up shots this time but here is another FTS. I will try again sometime this week for good macros. I picked up a couple pieces of acropora, orange montipora, a small frag of superman montipora (looks awesome by the way,) and a small favia.
I didnt realize how dirty my tank was for that picture

 

[metcalf vt]

Here are the updated shots of the tank

Green acropora from the top

The purple tips are coming out a lot more and looks much better than when I first picked it up

A superman montipora

side shot with a few more corals than before

And the full tank shot:

It is starting to look like a tank should.

 

[mopar9012]

i like it.
Give it some time to grow along with a some more frags and it will be one nice tank.

 

[dbestnindy]

Originally Posted by Metcalf VT
http:///forum/post/2892445
I have always ran a saltwater tank without glass on top, I have heard that it doesnt allow for proper gas exchange and can cause heat issues. I dont think I even ran a top for my freshwater tank bank in the day.
I have a glass top on mine. Should I remove it? I did have a clown get out, I was cleaning my tank and he bit me and made me jump so I am not sure if I made this happen or not. Do they usaully jump out of tanks? Sorry if I am posting in the wrong place. If I am please let me know where I am supposed to ask this question.
Your tank looks great!

 

[metcalf vt]

Originally Posted by mopar9012
http:///forum/post/2914987
i like it.
Give it some time to grow along with a some more frags and it will be one nice tank.
Thank you. I have decided that I will give the tank a month or two before I get anything else because I want things to grow out.
Originally Posted by DBESTNINDY
http:///forum/post/2915066
I have a glass top on mine. Should I remove it? I did have a clown get out, I was cleaning my tank and he bit me and made me jump so I am not sure if I made this happen or not. Do they usaully jump out of tanks? Sorry if I am posting in the wrong place. If I am please let me know where I am supposed to ask this question.
Your tank looks great!
I have never ran a glass top on mine and have only had one loss (a longnose hawkfish)but that was on my old tank. Since this one is drilled I have about an inch gap between the top of the tank and the water line. What size tank do you have and is it drilled? If the water line is very close to the top then it could cause them to jump easier.