Quote:
Originally Posted by
mustang 50 http:///t/391532/my-75gal-about-2-1-2-3-months-old#post_3472950
i have a backpack filter with the filters and i just set up my refugium and yes i have one powerhead it is little to strong for my GSP so i had to move it and i have the return from the refugium is spraying over my polyps and seem to like the flow. and im saving for a skimmer any suggestion ? and i have one t5 12kwhite and another 460nm t5 both are HO.
OK, good starts, good starts. Let me give you some more advice if I may.
First, let's talk about those fish. Rickross may have been a little harsh but he has some salient points. You have two wrasses in there that are going to get BIG. Both the Lunare and the Dragon wrasses are large fish that are generally considered to be non reef-safe animals. The Dragon Wrasse's other name is (aptly) "Rockmover Wrasse" because it will flip over rocks surprisingly much bigger than you'd think in order to find food. Both animals will reach a length of about a foot, give or take an inch or two. Neither are really considered safe for tanks less than 100g/6 foot long. You *might* be able to get away with the Lunare, but I'm afraid your combination of the two is just going to cause stress in the long run. For you and the fish. You may want to consider bringing at least the Dragon back.
Now, you're at a great crossroads with your tank. Do you want a full reef tank, a FOWLR tank, or something in between? A full reef tank typically consists of an invertebrate clean up crew that includes scavengers like sea stars and shrimp as well as snails for the sand and glass. A FOWLR is "Fish Only With Live Rock," which is pretty self explanatory. Right now your wrasses (both of them!) and your lighting will prevent you from going full reef. Both of these species will hunt and decimate any ornamental shrimp or sea star, and many will eat the snails if they can manage it. If you choose to keep your Lunare, you will need to find a happy medium between a full reef and a FOWLR.
Your lighting will also need to be considered if you want to go bigger on your corals. You have 108 watts of T5 lighting on a 75g tank....that's basically the BARE minimum even for hardy species of coral. Your GSP and your zoas will probably be OK, but they won't really thrive under this lighting. You can also do plain mushroom corals under this and you'll be OK. Once you decide to do more coral variety, however, you will need to upgrade that lighting. I would personally recommend that you do a 4-bulb or a 6-bulb T5 setup. I also notice that you have the light sitting directly on what looks like a glass top. If the fixture came with legs, I would install the light's legs, lift it off the glass, and remove the glass altogether. You will get a much better O2 saturation if you get some air flow over the water here.
If you don't want to go reef, you can keep the lighting as is and even (probably) keep the corals you own, but I would still strongly consider removing that Dragon and letting the Lunare be the boss of the tank. It is a fairly aggressive animal, and may beat up any newcomers from now on. Just be aware of that possibility.