Zechenia's 28 Gallon Bowfront Beginner Reef [UPDATED]

Get the lights all situated and then grab some corals.

 

Actinic Lights:


Daylight (white + Actinic):



Nightlights:


I Really like them! I love the moonlight shimmer

 

awesome build man... I finally got the ok for a salt tank from the boss, this after getting two pups. A shepherd and a yorkie-poo

 

Watch out! It's addicting

 

Great looking rock work

 

Thank you

So, The LFS only had large (fairly expensive) frags, and some TINY cheap ones. I picked up a couple of the really small ones as my first coral. If they're doing good after a couple weeks I might consider looking at some of their bigger ones.

I picked up a tiny GSP and a small green mushroom. The mushroom has openned up nicely, but I placed it in a place on the arch where it's really hard to see or get a picture of it (hoping it grows. Wanted it to be in a secure place for the initial frag). The GSP seems to be closed up still. I placed it midlevel on the right side.

I also added a media bag with carbon to the output side of my skimmer.

The LFS had a couple really big candycane coral. Very colorful. I think they were like $30 or $40. Is that a good price... and I seem to be reading that they are hardy. Would they be a good beginner coral, or should I only be looking at zoas and mushrooms? lol

 

Well, one of my hermit crabs (bulldozers) knocked off my GSP frag. I can't find it ANYWHERE. I dont think it's worth wripping apart my rock for a $3 frag. Hope it ended up in a cranny someplace that works for it :/

 

Updates:

I picked up some zoas. The guy at the LFS actually said it was from his tank at home, and gave me a nice deal on them after we talked for a while. He warned me they are a bit stubborn and take longer than most zoas to open the first time in the tank. I also picked up a small purple candycane frag.

I moved my tiny mushroom down to the sand bed, as it looked like it was getting too much light. My GSP frag was found (it fell into a crevis, I only found it because the polyps openned up and were sticking out). I have since moved it a little so that all the polyps have room to open.

Unfortunetly, my lights aren't working well (blue lights are on the fritz). Aquatic Life has been working with me, and will be sending me a new ballast. So, once that comes in, I should have pictures of my tiny new corals

 

I have been raiding the $5 "small frag" section at my LFS. I like the idea of buying small so I can watch them grow!

Here are some pictures. Best I can do with my point and shoot camera.

 

Time for another update!

Word of warning: I am always at work (during the week atleast) while the day time part of the light cycle is going. I turned on the day lights for these pictures, so some of the corals are closed up a bit more than during the day. Here ya go!












(I've never thought my candycane was too happy )






(yes I have a clownfish algae clip... holding some cheato)