This weekend I'll be picking up a 60 gallon aquarium for my first reef tank. I'll be building the hood and stand DIY and probably be using a majority of base rock and seeding it with live rock. I've been looking through the forums here on TR and on RC. Mostly just getting a rough idea of what types of corals I would like to look forward to. I am much more focused on corals that actual fish I believe. I havent really looked into too many SPS corals either, as i would like to get my feet a little wet before i begin on that. I'll most likely be running the 60 with a 20 or so gallon fuge, and im not really sure if i want to do a wet dry or a canister quite yet. I have an XP3 on my cichlid tank and it has been doing a fantastic job thus far! I'm not quite to the point of selecting the lighting. I'm leaning toward a set of possibly 2 200 or so watt 20,000K MH and probably some PC or T5's to run actinics on. anyways, heres my list of corals that I really found interesting. From a purely visual point of view =D
Micromussa
Tubastrea
Blastomussa
Open Brain
zoas (radioactive dragon eyes)
rainbow palys
ricordia
hot Pink Yumas
Rhodactis
Clavularia

As far as livestock goes, I really enjoy watching small cleanup crews, like the porcelain crabs and other active cleaners. If anyone has any advice to point out, I'll probably try and have this moved once i actually get everything built and ready to rumble to a tank project page. but for now I thought this would be an appropriate place to post. Please let me know what you think!

Alex!

Alrighty Alex.. let me give you my two cents, and you can do what you will with it :)

...probably be using a majority of base rock and seeding it with live rock.

A very cost effective and practical approach! We have a sponsor, Marco Rocks, who may be of assistance there.

I havent really looked into too many SPS corals either, as i would like to get my feet a little wet before i begin on that.

Advice... you WILL get into some SPS eventually. Probably sooner than later. Your list of wish corals is good. Try to keep from putting in too many softies like leathers etc. You will want to learn more about how softies and stonies fare, together in a captive reef and "chemical warfare" (especially at 60 gallons or less). The LPS, coralimorphs etc. will do well with SPS eventually, short of LPS sweeper wars, but that's a different ball o' wax.

I'll most likely be running the 60 with a 20 or so gallon fuge,

Great!

and im not really sure if i want to do a wet dry or a canister quite yet.

Doh.. Not so great ;) Try sumping the system and researching skimming or "foam fractioning". A good skimmer with plenty of live rock, live sand, and macro algae in the fuge is a better idea. Read up on wet/dry, canister, and other mechanical filtration as it pertains to nitrate. You may just change your mind. BUT.. a good canister filter, for infrequent polishing of the water, used as a vacuum of sorts is not a bad idea. Probably not 24/7 though.

I have an XP3 on my cichlid tank and it has been doing a fantastic job thus far!

I'm sure, but in a cichlid tank, or even marine fish only tank (FO), you can get away with higher nitrate levels. Sessile inverts, mobile inverts, some more delicate fish and starfish can not tolerate the same levels. The use of these mechanical filtration, with aerobic activities tends to make them "nitrate factories" which will cause you great frustration when trying to lower the levels.
I'm not quite to the point of selecting the lighting. I'm leaning toward a set of possibly 2 200 or so watt 20,000K MH and probably some PC or T5's to run actinics on.

That would be more than adequate for LPS, SPS, Clams etc. 20,000K is way too blue for my liking...I like "daylight" look, but others love the blue look. Especially those who dive on reefs etc. Read up on color temp (search for anything by Sanjay Joshi) before buying the bulbs and make sure you get what you really want...and what is best for the critters in your glass box.

My notes on your corals....

Micromussa - VERY POPLULAR today.. some fetch big bucks

Tubastrea - Beautiful coral, rarely fares well in a tank with "light husbandry". they are asymbiotic and need to be fed like a baby. This means you will be a slave to your purdy orange/yellow coral.

Blastomussa - another popular choice, and another that could empty yer wallet ;)

Open Brain - Ahhh...one of my favorite LPS and a great coral for folks learning husbandry.

zoas (radioactive dragon eyes) - Zoanthids are "polyp-o-licious", some more than others. My only nightmare is how quickly they can overrun an SPS system. Best kept in little isolate, "island" in the sand for reasons of control. there are some "STUNNERS" out there to be had.

rainbow palys - Palythoa I'm assuming.. well.. one note here... everyone is all the rave about polyp corals in this color, that color, long skirt, short skirt...blah blah blah... take them from the tank that they "morphed" into this "designer polyp...and, for instance, put them in your tank with 20K, and POOF.. a different color... the polyp is grumpy..skirt gets shorter...etc. It's hit or miss my friend. Best bet is to find corals growing in "Similar systems" and then go from there...with fingers crossed :)

ricordia - Gotta love them... I DO!

hot Pink Yumas - Again, just remember the "morph" issues. Again, I love coralimorphs!

Rhodactis - Fine, just be careful, some get big!! Looking like carpet anemone...AND.. some will eat fish and such :wow: Like the elephant ear.

Clavularia - Okie dokie...but this too can be invasive...keep a watch on its progression towards the rest of the reef.

As far as livestock goes, I really enjoy watching small cleanup crews, like the porcelain crabs and other active cleaners.

They are some of the best entertainers in our reefs.

If anyone has any advice to point out, I'll probably try and have this moved once i actually get everything built and ready to rumble to a tank project page. but for now I thought this would be an appropriate place to post. Please let me know what you think!

Alex!

I can move it for you later. Go ahead and start your build and again, welcome!

Dave

Wow, What a great post man thank you!!
What are your feelings as far as a chiller goes? Do you think I'll need one?
Any specific brands of Metal Halide Retro kits that you would recommend?
Thanks again for that great post!

I purchased my Retro fit kit from hellolights.com and im very happy with them. They shipped it out the next day and everything is working very well. I ordered the 175 15k magnetic ballast kit. I think it was around $190 but for some reason i think its cheaper now.

Awesome great info!
Do i really need 2 bulbs? or can i get away with one and a few VHO/PCs?

Also so im looking at hellolights, and im not sure what the difference between single ended and HQI bulbs. How hard is it to wire these electronic balasts, and what brands of bulbs should i be looking for?

Thanks!
Alex

I'm not really sure the dimensions of a 60 gallon tank but you will want a MH for every 24X24. However If you are working with a space that is say 20X20 i would still use two bulbs. In addition to the MH you will want either VHO's or PC's. Example, You would want your MH's on for 4-6 hours a day and then a 10k VHO or PC on for 8 hours a day and actinics in either VHO or PC form on for 10 hours a day. All three make one nice light setup. I have never used VHO's but i use Coralife PC's and i love them. I have one setup for 10k and the other actinic.

How wide is your tank 48 inches?

The ballast's arnt that hard to wire. They come with directions and if you are unsure or confused about something you can ask us here. The ballast i ordered from them is a magnetic ballast so im not to sure what type of electronic ballast they have and how to hook it up.

Hellolights.com (http://www.hellolights.com)

You can choose any of the brands. XM is usually the cheapest and I among alot of other people use XM with no problems.

I'm not sure on the exact measurements on the tank, as i am picking it up probably Sunday. Is a RO/DI unit necessary?

Some people say no its not, however i say YES!!! :) R/O water is a must and getting your own system at the beginning prevents a few headaches. water quality is one and the other is just going to the store for R/O it gets tiring after awhile.

Here is a link (http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUA-SAFE-100GPD-MAXIMUS-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-WATER-FILTER_W0QQitemZ150085544433QQihZ005QQcategoryZ206 84QQcmdZViewItem) for the unit i purchased. its cheap and i love it!! works very nicely.. a few of us on here use it.

lol you forgot the link =D

Just click on "link" :) it should be a darker blue.

lol now i feel stupid =D
Do i really need 100gpd for a 60 gallon?

Not really but you can use it for drinking and cleaning the equipment and whatever esle you can think of. Also if you ever get into culturing your own phyto you will need a good amount of water. I use mine to clean all my power heads and whatever esle i use for the fish tank. i drink it too :)

I'm glad Wes was able to help out here with your additional questions.

In re: Chiller... you won't really know until you have the tank up and running...and the warmer weather kicks in.

Today...in CO.. you'd probably be okay.. in the Summer..who knows.

I don't need them in my basement tanks... it stays nice and cool down there. My pony tank upstairs, from time to time, during the heatwaves, gets upwards of 80 degrees. I have a window mounted air conditioner nearby and used a dryer hose, and HVAC register box to direct AC cooled air into the sump. That brings it down to about 75 again and when the heat wave snaps, I take the hose down and put it away.

You really do need to see how hot your system runs when it is up and wet.

Dave