Newest photos, and questions

Uvajed, it's funny but when I see your name I can't help thinking I've seen it somewhere before. (OK, moving on).

Being an owner and great fan of the Aquactinics TX5 fixture (a 5 bulb fixture), you should know that if you plan on keeping clams and SPS eventually, if your 75 gal tank is any taller than 21", metal halides might be a better choice. For my 55 gal, I feel the T5 bulbs are the best bang for the buck, seeing as they don't produce a lot of heat, and produce MH quality light (AT SHALLOW DEPTHS).

I also chose a pair of banggai cardinals for my first purchase. To me, they're ideal fish. They are entertaining to watch, and are gentler than the pope. I've not heard of anyone having difficulty keeping them before mission's statement. (LOL, mission's statement).

I was just working at an FPL facility, and they have their mission statement posted on every engineer's cubicle.

Anyway, I think you should take the plunge and after you purchase your lighting, buy a nice mushroom or zoa-covered rock. They're great hardy beginner corals.

You may consider upgrading your protein skimmer eventually. Good luck to you!!

 

My lights are now on. I'll turn them on in the am, and turn them off at bedtime. That's what I was thinking, I have no algae, whoo hoo, way to go, I'm better than everyone else!! Deep down, I knew something wasn't right, or I had a super tank....... Should I promote trying to get algae?

 

Do you recommend the pajama's before the bannggias? I really appreciate everyone's take, I know, each tank, owner is different, and I'll sift out what I perceive as good or bad, but I'll tell you, everyone here has been so great!

Uvajed

 

I think you've dreamed about this.......

I'm not sure what I'm going to keep yet. I hear lots about SPS and other systems, but, I'm just so new, I'm exporing and learning what's what.

Thanks for the input. Seriously, and I'm not bragging, but I've been taking this tank thing slow, probably way too slow. So, possibly getting a couple of banggai is a good option for me, but I'll keep the pajama option open.

I've been out of the "business" for years, what's FPL? I was sucked into ISO9000, QS9001 crap. I'll tell you, if you're an engineer, RUN AWAY from that crap!

Thanks, I'll make sure I make a note of this post!

I've been scolded on other sites, I'm an idiot, do a sump, do a refugium, do this, do that...... I'm an idiot for starting...... (OK, those are the extremes) Drill your tank, why didn't you this or that. I really can't listen to the "experts", because I need to find out what I can do. Tanks are a reflection of who we are. And I'm trying to figure out who I am as a tank person. I'm brand new. I can do a sump, a refuguim, and all that, (give me the manual) but if I don't know what I'm doing, and how it works, it's pointless if I screw it up even more. I want to know why I'm doing what I'm doing. Hence, I'm taking it easy.

I'm not keeping high end critters here, but, I'm willing to learn about tanks, my next steps, and when I need to upgrade I'm ready. I'm fully aware that my system now isn't going to be my system in 2 years. I'm accepting that, and am ready to upgrade as I advance. But in the meantime, I need to take it slow, learn what I can do, how I can incorporate all that into my system. And I don't want to kill any fish doing so. I know reality sets in, and I'll have causalities, but I want to minimize it.

 

Yes it doesn't matter if your getting into Reef Aquariums or playing the Tuba until your into it you don't know what you need. I think you've done a great job so far and picked a great first tank. Yes you will need to upgrade but by then you'll better know how and where you want to take your tank.

Keep us posted and we all enjoy progress pictures

J

 

Algae comes into play around somewhere in the middle and towards the end of a cycle, give or take. Did I make any sense? Luna

 

Your tuba analogy made perfect sense since I'm an old musician. (cello, alto sax, piano (bad piano))

Everyone on this thread has been fabulous! Thanks everyone, you've given me a lot to think about. And it really helps that you've supported my newbie decisions. At least I didn't heed the advice of one guy, buy the potion that will make your tank instantly ready.....

 

;D;D

 

It's been 6 weeks, all my testing says I'm done cycling, perhaps I'm not done. My fish are doing well, (2 weeks now). Maybe I'll just sit on this system for a couple weeks and see what happens.

 

You are aware that a cycle can last up to 12 weeks right? Luna