55 gallon now...

Your tank looks good. Stacking a bit of rock up a touch is a good suggestion. I also really like your background - way better than mine, which is plain black.

I was the same as you before I had a sump - I thought it was super complicated and scary! Sometimes when I see others' tanks I think they still can be scary, but it's easy to keep it simple also. If you're gearing toward a reef, it's something to consider. You'll have more water volume, better options for a skimmer, and a place to stash equipment. ;D I also strive to keep my tank simple, and for me, having a sump is a way to do just that. Good job, and have fun creating!

 

I agree with the stacking of some LR in the center, and I'm always looking for the right piece, every time I go to LFS, they get LR a couple times a month, and they let me go the back and see what they have, just can't seem to find the right pieces. But yes, I am working on it. I'm pretty anal retentive about the LR I buy, IDK, maybe I shouldn't be.

T.

 

Nope - it's perfectly acceptable to make sure you love the rock you buy! After all, that's the foundation of what you will be looking at for years to come! When I bought mine, it was all a piece or two from many local stores. I had fun shopping for it. Too much maybe, my tank is packed!

 

Yeah, I went into Petco the other day to kill time while wife was a couple of doors down shopping, and I was blown away, but they actually sell LR! Some of their stuff looked pretty good too!

 

Nice tank, reefcleaners sells nice dry rock if your looking for more I'd check them out.

 

Ever since I started back with a regular 12 hour light schedule, diatoms are coming back again. Now its been awhile since I've had to mess with diatoms, but don't diatoms come and go? For the past 4 months I've went down to 2 hrs of light a day to battle my cyno. About two weeks ago, I went back to a 9 hr schedule for a few days, and went to 12 hours a day. Now I'm only at full power with my T5's for about 5 hrs a day. It starts out with my pink lights in the morning (Not sure the technical name, sorry) then at noon, my bright blues come on till 5, then they go off, then back to pinks till about 830 pm, then its moon lights.

 

Don't everybody chime in at once now....LOL

T.

 

heres the backdrop! Amazon.com: Seascape Double Sided Aquarium Background - 24 in. High - (Sold by foot): Pet Supplies

I had it but used the seaview gel that came with it to put it on! Big mistake! its messy and then a few months after it was on it started getting bubbles in it that were impossible to get out! Eventually had to tear it off! It does look cool though!

What water are you using?

 

Thats the back drop for sure, but I only paid $4 a foot for it, and I only needed 4 ft of it, with shipping, it cost a little under $20. I have no idea what you are talking about in terms of the gel stuff, I just used clear tape, and it's held up fine. Its not professional I guess, but tape works for me, you can't see it from all 3 sides. As far as water is concerned, (assuming I understand you correctly) I use RO/DI

 

hmm maybe i need to just use tape! loved the look of it! mine came witha POS gel solution to attach it that was a nightmare! maybe i'll order a new one!