Moving from FOWLR to beginner reef

Hi All

I have recently bought 80 gallon bowfront with 25gallon wet/dry filter, UV sterilizer, aquaclear 500/110 hang on powerfilter and two 800 gph sunsun powerhead wavemaker. I have 48" coralife 65watt fixture with two 10000K white and two 420nm actinic, sorry no proten skimmer. Previous owner had tank for more than 6 years. He had some 20pounds of LR and i have added another 60pounds of lace rock in it. I have following fishes in it:

one blue hippo tang(4"), one sailfin tang (3") , two tomato clown fish (5", 1.5"). My wife wants to add one yellow tang and few green/blue chromis, Are we good to add them?? I am not 100% sure of water parameters, but tested(ammonia zero, nitrite 0 not sure about ph/nitrate) with levels are good and salinity at 1.022. I am not looking to convert into reef tank, but interested to know if anyway I can make my tank look better by adding some rock anemones or any soft corals. recently I went to LFS and they had these colorful anemones for 7$ each, i guess marty rock anemones...I am not sure if my tank lighting falls under low or medium lighting. I always turned up to 3reef.com whenever I am not sure about something. I have included my tank picture tank 2 days back.

Awaiting comments/suggestions from reef experts.

 

A reef tank will require more husbandry and maintaining but besides that, for me atleast its fairly simple once you get the proper equipment and know your stuff.

Your gunna need a few things though, Skimmer,better lighintg if you want to keep more interesting corals besides softes,more test kits(Nitrate,nitrite,ammonia,Alkalinity,Calcium,Mag,Ph,salinity is what you want to test)

I think that will get you started.

 

You could do some soft corals with the lighting that you have. But I would suggest getting a skimmer if at all possible.

 

I would suggest better lighting, a skimmer, and a more spread out scape IMO. It looks really good, but in a reef tank you should have a good flow of water throughout the tank.You look like you have great start though. Good Luck!
JJL

 

Thanks for your suggestions. however I am not interested currently to spend another 400$ on lighting. Also we just want our tank to be bit more colorful rather just fish/rocks. I am OK to keep any corals which require low lighting(as like mine). Any suggestions on what cheap corals/anemones to keep in my tank. I am looking for some good deals to get skimmer but might take some time. Can I keep green/blue chromis, PJ cardinal and yellow tank with my current tank mates?

 

Welcome to 3reef.

The Chromis and Cardinal are initially pretty passive, I am not sure how they would fare with a resident pair of clownfish and the larger tangs.

The tank looks good, congratulations on the new set up.

 

Anemones are much harder to take care of than most people think. Your LFS will not tell you this. Lighting is very important when it comes to anemones. Leather corals and mushrooms are your best bet.

 

I would skip the extra tang in an 80 gallon tank that already has 2 in it that are going to outgrow your tank. That hippo will get a foot long and the sailfin will get over a foot long.

For coral color, I'd go with mushrooms and leathers like dowtish said.

 

Thanks Everyone...Even I thought one more tang will be too much...I will also skip anemones and go with mushrooms..

 

Reef tanks are definitely more work buy they are more rewarding!

Thomas