It's Winter and thinking up a new project - Need Reefer input

[95harley]

I'm sitting here considering tearing down my 240g FOWLR and building a 180g Reef tank to move my DME and Damsels/Chromis/ Sgt Major's etc to.
This would allow me to get rid of a 240g and a 75g and just have a single 180g tank. Tired of so much cleaning.
I'm thinking of a LOT of LR as I already have over 300-400lbs of it, a double overflow running through a dual wet/dry, and my EV-240 skimmer running through a Mag 12 or Mag 18. I was also thinking of adding a large chiller and replacing my PC lighting with T5 High Output lights and maybe even MH.
I need some advice on Soft and Hard Corals that would work in a tank with a 3' eel and tons of small shoaling fish. I would add alot of Tiger Cowrie's, Turbo snails, and hermit crabs.
I also need acclimation advise on Soft and Hard corals, do you drip them or just temp acclimate them.
Again, for now, this is just theory so be creative.
Here is some video's of where I'm starting from:
75g - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnC1uiui8yw
240g - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsi3Omvf6-w
Thanks in advance.
Joe

 

[95harley]

I was thinking:
Pulsing Xenia
Kenya Tree's
Colt Corals
Various Zoanthid polyps
Chilli Coral
Lobed
Various Mushrooms
and maybe even some Orange Montipora Capicornus
Anyone see problems or issues?

 

[reef_dart21]

Originally Posted by 95harley
http:///forum/post/3197581
i was thinking:
Pulsing xenia -they tend to grow like a weed and eventually become a pest
kenya tree's - see above
colt corals - from what i know these are these are very difficult do to their feeding requirments but never personally took care of one
various zoanthid polyps - yep
chilli coral - see colt coral
lobed -lobed what? Brain, toadstool etc?
Various mushrooms - yep
and maybe even some orange montipora capicornus - if t-5 keep em up high and let em grow they are hardy
anyone see problems or issues?
imo since you will have an eel/schooling fish i would suggest encrusting coral (to act like a cover)to add contrast to their colors

 

[95harley]

Originally Posted by Reef_Dart21
http:///forum/post/3197597
imo since you will have an eel/schooling fish i would suggest encrusting coral (to act like a cover)to add contrast to their colors
Suggestions?
All the corals and names are 100% foreign to me at this point.

 

[kjr_trig]

I know little about hard corals, but I definitely like where you are going on the softies...Love the Colts, Zenia. Zoa's, and Mushrooms. I have had great luck with and really like my 2 Giant Cup Mushrooms, they are both about 7 inches across. I love Toadstools too, they are amazing when they get big. I didn't have any luck with my Chili Corals, I think a good idea, but my Sunset Wrasse kept abusing it, not eating it, just dislodging it when I found a good spot for it. They key is finding a dark spot that still gets good flow.
You gonna sell off the rest of your fish? You can't sell that awesome Tusk you've had for so long can you?

 

[95harley]

This is still an "in Theory" plan but I found a picture of someone's 180g they were tearing down over on R C and I was thinking this is what I'd like my tank to look like but with a LOT of various fish (all < 6") and my DME.
As for my other fish, I may try to keep them all if possible.