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Hello everyone,
Its been a long time since my last post and my tank has made leaps and bounds. My 70g now holds:
70 pounds live rock
3 pulsating xenia
2 patches of zoos
2 patches of green star polyps
1 leather
2 large frogspawns
2 green chromis
2 percula clowns
1 bicolor blenny
1 sixline wrasse
2 bristelstars
1 fire shrimp
15 hermits/ 6 snails

The tank is really going well, with the exception of a Rose Bubble tip that died on me about 3 weeks ago. I threw away the compact and went with p.c. I have a total amount of 192 watts of light.
Does anyone have any suggestions for fish and corals to add? I'd really like to add more color, especially green and yellow. Thanks.

i was just curious in how much the setup cost? an how long it took?

i was going to start a 75usg with the same concept

I estimate a total cost of about $2600 U.S. Its not cheap, but the outcome is worth it.

As for the costs, try joining a local reef club. Not sure of your location, but there are many reef clubs across the states. Within the these reef clubs, you can usually get frags of coral for next to nothing. And after you get your corals doing well, you can frag them for trading to others. In my 75 gal reef, I only have about 5 of the 35 different corals, that I actually bought at a store. All the others came from frag trading with other club members. If you tank is properly kept up, many corals will actually grow quite fast. I have several corals right now, that I actually have to frag in half, every 6 months or so, or they will outgrow the tank. Some of the faster growing corals that frag well, are many of the zoos, star polyps, some of the gorgonias, many of the leathers, and mushrooms. The most prolifric is the common xenias, as these have been known to take over tanks in a year or two.

Good Reef Keeping, and HTH......

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There is always a bigger fish...

I like low bio loads and in your case i think theres room for another chromis or two to fill it out and also a "centrepiece" fish, something a bit larger than the others that will occupy all levels.

For corals, keep an eye out for nice elegance corals, brain corals and zoanthids as some of these can have fantastic shades of the colours you mentioned you were after. There are others but these are my personal favourites.

-DL

Cake > Pie

I just picked up a yellow eyed tang today for $30. I really was going after the purple tang but the LFS that I go to said that they were getting rid of their ick cause they had only been there for a week.
Thanks for the advice on the clubs. I only know of one society here in San Diego that called the San Diego fish society. I'm really not sure about what they do, but they meet once a month. I'd really like to get the bargains, cause even frags that I've bought have been close to $15.
I've been trying to seperate my tank per family of corals. I really like to hammer corals. I think they would make a nice addition to my frogspawns.

By the way Dark Lotus, I saw the pics of your tank and I really like the layout. You have a real sight on your hands. How big is your tank?

pmdaggett, i updated my thread with details today.


Also, thats a great idea on seperating the tank according to coral species... done well it would look so natural

What else are you considering fish wise for your tank or are you happy with it for now?

-DL


Cake > Pie

Well, I don't want to put too much of a load on my tank, but I do like a couple other fish. The other additions I'd like to make are:
Royal Gramma
Watchman Goby or sailfin w/pistol shrimp
2 firefish
flame angel or coral beauty (really like the flame)
Hawkfish

I'm wondering if I can keep all those fish in my tank. I know the rule of thumb which is 1" of fish per 4 gallons. If that were the case, I'm breaking the rule already.