My new 46 gallon bow. Suggestions/comments/questions

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by a1hilde, Nov 10, 2010.

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  1. a1hilde

    a1hilde Plankton

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    Location:
    Florida
    I bought a used 46 gallon bow that came with live rock, live sand, and a few other goodies including some type of blenny that survived a 30 min drive in the live rock.[​IMG] This is what it originally looked like when I initially set it up.
     

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  3. a1hilde

    a1hilde Plankton

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    So this is what I have currently:
    I added 22lbs of live rock to the already 25lbs that came with it (47lbs)
    I stained the cabinet stand black
    I also added a bigger sump for the skimmer I bought and removed the bioballs

    -46 Gallon Bow
    -Not sure how big the sump is or how many lbs of live sand i have
    -150 Gallon reef octopus skimmer
    -1 Power head
    -Marineland stealth heater
    -Coral life fixture with
    -1 Actinic T5 Giesmann 22k bulb
    -1 T5 22k White bulb
    -18 white LEDs and 6 Blue LEDs
    (can't adjust the LEDs seems like too many whites and I am hoping to add another Actinic and purple light when I add more coral)
    Timers, Battery back up, testing kit (testing tubes not the strips), Hydrometer

    As far as live stock:
    2 clown
    1 Blenny
    1 Sand sifting goby
    2 emerald crabs
    snails, hermit crabs, etc

    I have a few mushroom corals, polyps, and one coral frag that came with the tank when I bought it. I am not sure what they are.

    I was hoping to add 2 cleaner shrimp, 6 line wrasse, and possibly a yellow tang, blue tang, and flame angel. I know the tangs will have to go once they get to a certain size. Could this work if I bought them really small and just traded them out after they get too big?

    Oh yeah my water parameters:
    pH 8.3
    Ammonia 0
    Nitrites 0
    Nitrates 60ppm (Just installed the Skimmer and removed the bioballs)
    Temp 82°F
    Spec gravity 1.024
     

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    Last edited: Nov 10, 2010
  4. offensetaken

    offensetaken Montipora Digitata

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    The Desert, AZ
    Looks like you have a great start there. I also have a 46 BF that I recently set up and loving it! Good luck and Happy Reefing!
     
  5. offensetaken

    offensetaken Montipora Digitata

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    Do have pics of the coral frags? The blenny looks like a lawnmower blenny or a starry Blenny
     
  6. a1hilde

    a1hilde Plankton

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    If you look at the first pic in my 2nd post you can see it on the rock. You can't see much and I can't get a good pic of it. Probably won't help much.

    ....What is your opinion about my tang question?
     
  7. SkyFire

    SkyFire Clown Trigger

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    Location:
    Sacramento CA
    Congrats on the new, to you, bowfront..I love mine.
    Just hate my stand as mine doesn't allow for a sump, so have a display fuge I'm connecting this weekend.
     
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  9. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Nice looking start, excellent upgrades to the equipment
     
  10. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    That can be difficult with the tangs do to the length and rock set up.
     
  11. a1hilde

    a1hilde Plankton

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    Location:
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    I've also heard taking care of a mandrine is tough as well as clams due to my lack of lighting. :-/ seems like anything I want I can't have.
     
  12. offensetaken

    offensetaken Montipora Digitata

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    Yah I wouldn't do a tang. I really want a powder brown tang but only have a 46 3' tank. You want a 6' 125 or so for most tangs. I'm planning for a 150 reef in the next 2 years when I buy a house. I'm still gonna wait for the PB tang even though I'll have a large enough tank in the future.

    Mandarins are hard to keep happy and healthy. A constant supply of pods is needed IMO. You might wanna think about upgrading the lights and add a fuge if possible.