Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and reefing in general. Set up my 40-gallon AIO Aquatop cube last November.
I was hoping there would be local reefers in my area (North Bay, Sonoma County) to trade ideas/livestock/advice with from time to time.
My tank has been surprisingly stable considering my rookie status although I have made some mistakes along the way. One is way too much live sand and live rock. Have had to rearrange rocks many times to figure out the best solution. Unfortunately I have now ended up with an aquascape that I rather like but which is completely stacked against the back. I'm concerned there is not enough flow behind the rockwork and I will eventually end up with a toxic situation.
Also was too eager to stock it. Although I patiently let the cycle take its course over six weeks, I started off with blue chromis, which killed each other off rather quickly. Got a couple blue devil damsels, which easily killed the previously victorious chromis. (I was obviously trying to figure out a way to keep costs down and LFS said these fish were great and easy to keep...). Returned the damsels when I realized they were not going to allow any other fish in the tank. Got a pair of Clarkii Clowns, which have been great, a diamond goby (my favorite fish, which unfortunately went kamikaze on me and jumped out when I was doing a water change. Didn't notice until I saw him next to the tank the next day). Replaced the diamond goby with a banded sleeper goby, added a cleaner shrimp, a neon dottyback, lawnmower blenny and six-line wrasse. All seem to get along great. Have since added a number of different corals, including green, pink and birds-of-paradise birdsnest, a couple euphyllia and other LPS, zoas and mushrooms.
My last big problem was with anemones. Got a Haitian Pink Tip anemone at LFS because the Clarkii were hosting in it at the store. The anemone thrived but clowns were not interested in my tank. Took the nem back and replaced with a RBT from a friend. Clowns were hosting immediately but the nem went traveling and finally settling in a cave in the middle of the rock work!!! I ended up conceding that the anemone was going to do as it wished and rather than force the issue I just removed a rock above to make sure it got some light. All seems well now.
After that long intro, here are some pics:
I'm new to this forum and reefing in general. Set up my 40-gallon AIO Aquatop cube last November.
I was hoping there would be local reefers in my area (North Bay, Sonoma County) to trade ideas/livestock/advice with from time to time.
My tank has been surprisingly stable considering my rookie status although I have made some mistakes along the way. One is way too much live sand and live rock. Have had to rearrange rocks many times to figure out the best solution. Unfortunately I have now ended up with an aquascape that I rather like but which is completely stacked against the back. I'm concerned there is not enough flow behind the rockwork and I will eventually end up with a toxic situation.
Also was too eager to stock it. Although I patiently let the cycle take its course over six weeks, I started off with blue chromis, which killed each other off rather quickly. Got a couple blue devil damsels, which easily killed the previously victorious chromis. (I was obviously trying to figure out a way to keep costs down and LFS said these fish were great and easy to keep...). Returned the damsels when I realized they were not going to allow any other fish in the tank. Got a pair of Clarkii Clowns, which have been great, a diamond goby (my favorite fish, which unfortunately went kamikaze on me and jumped out when I was doing a water change. Didn't notice until I saw him next to the tank the next day). Replaced the diamond goby with a banded sleeper goby, added a cleaner shrimp, a neon dottyback, lawnmower blenny and six-line wrasse. All seem to get along great. Have since added a number of different corals, including green, pink and birds-of-paradise birdsnest, a couple euphyllia and other LPS, zoas and mushrooms.
My last big problem was with anemones. Got a Haitian Pink Tip anemone at LFS because the Clarkii were hosting in it at the store. The anemone thrived but clowns were not interested in my tank. Took the nem back and replaced with a RBT from a friend. Clowns were hosting immediately but the nem went traveling and finally settling in a cave in the middle of the rock work!!! I ended up conceding that the anemone was going to do as it wished and rather than force the issue I just removed a rock above to make sure it got some light. All seems well now.
After that long intro, here are some pics:
