55 Gallon Build

I would say you are right.

 

Very well done, WOW, thats impressive. And yes, you nailed the only thing I'd suggest, is for the QT tank to have less rock. I'd just say don't add anything to that tank so you can remove the rock when ya have to catch a fish!

Congrats on a very great start Good luck

 

I have an acclimation box, which doubles as a trap; just hoping they fall for it ;D And thanks for the comments!

 

First update! The 55 gal is coming along nicely. Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates have all been zero for weeks now. I do have some GHA growing, but the large ceriths have been slowly taking it down. I added a crab-free CUC from reefcleaners a few weeks ago (thanks John!). Here is the largest of the nerites, complete with quite a few barnacles (excuse the quality as they are from my cell):



Last week I also added two scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp and a Royal Gramma.



RG found a small opening in some live rock and made it his new home:



The 46 gallon quarantine tank also got some inhabitants. Aiptasia was popping up all over the place, so 5 peppermint shrimp were added last week and seem to be controlling it nicely:



Last night I also picked up a Lawnmower Blenny who is in the QT and will be transferred to the 55 gallon after a few weeks:



I got him instead of a Tailspot Blenny as it made more sense to add an algae eater instead of another carnivore! Plus I actually think they are very cool looking if you take the time to appreciate them

 

(click photos to enlarge)

FTS from today:



I received some Kenya Tree for free, which the owner told me it was Xenia (I may not have taken it if I knew it was Kenya Tree!). I know they can easily overrun a tank so I will have to keep an eye on it!




Royal Gramma is getting nice and fat:



Same with the Lawnmower Blenny (just moved from the 46 QT a week ago):



Currently have two female Fairy Wrasse in the 46 QT (most likely Lubbock's):



And the reason I have not had any updates in a month:



Almost 3 months old now ;D

 

I forgot to add the tank changes since last month. I am now running HydroCarbon II through a BRS single reactor (thanks group buy!). I added a Koralia 1050 (to go along with two 750's) running the two 750's together and the 1050 separately on a wavemaker. I also removed the eggcrate from the top and instead just installed 1/4" screen to cover the openings on the back of the canopy. Much easier to work around the tank now!

Oh, and I just did my first round of vacuuming out the cyano from the refugium. I have chaeto down there but the cyano seems to be competing with it as it has not grown much over a couple of months. At least the tank is cyano free!

 

Good day today! Went to my LFS to see what they got in stock and they had a Tiger Watchman Goby! Put a deposit on him and will probably pick him up in 2 weeks, which is when I was planning on moving the 2 wrasse down to the DT anyways.

I also caught the mantis shrimp that was diminishing my dwarf cerith population...

 

8/20/12 update:

Wrasses are finishing up the last week in the QT, and one is starting to change







Also, here is a sneak preview of the Tiger Wardi Goby that will be going in the QT on Monday (LFS is holding him until then):

 

Nice work...looking great. The wrasse are sweet...and the goby's awesome. : )
Great picture work.

 

Thanks I was very excited when my LFS actually had him in stock as I had not seen one previously. And the recent photos were all with my phone actually, but I thought they did come out pretty good considering!