[malawiMD]

The tank is 90 gallons. I purchased it. It was cheaper than I could build it for. The top has two 250 watt 20,000 XM MHs and four NO flourescent lights. The stand is 2x4 construction with dark stained oak plywood. I have a 20 gallon sump that I built. I am also using a FB filter made from PVC.

The tank has been circulating water for about a month. I just added a few fish last week. I also have about 25 # of live rock and the substrate is partly live sand. My live rock has sprouted anemones and feather dusters - plus a few snails. Hopefully all is well. All my bad chemicals are currently zero. I did have a small spike last week though. One bad note - I bought a fish that had Ick on it's tail. I don't know if I should treat it or take it back. It is a damsel fish, so if I take it back I am sure it will be killed. Anyway, here is some pics. The back isn't on it yet. I cant decide if I should go blue or black. If you have any suggestions, with the tank or the ick fish, let me know!!

This is with my MH lights off and the room lights on.




Here is with the MH lights on.



It sure looks baren!

[malawiMD]

Just to clarify, I only purchased the tank. I built everything else.

[Reefland]

Looks great! What are your intentions, FO or Reef?

If you have a fish with ich, it is already to late and your taking a chance on it infecting other fish and your tank in general. Do a search here on ich, there are many good reads.

You mention that your liverock has sprouted anemones, if they are Aiptasia you'll want to eradicate those as well. Again, a search on aiptasia should pull up some pictures if your not familiar with their appearance.

If your using a sump, how are you draining water to it?

[scubadude]

I think Scott is right on about spot checking for aiptasias and me personally I would put more Live Rock in there wether it was a FO or Reef tank. Very nice woodwork And as far as black versus blue background it wont matter after about 6 mos cuz there will be algae/coraline on the back anyway unless you clean the back so its a matter of preference.

[malawiMD]

I really want to do a fish and reef tank. That is why I decided to go with the MH lights. I took the fish with ich back to the store. I couldn't find any pictures of aiptasia when I did the search, so I may put a pic of it on and see someone else can identify it.

My tank has two holes drilled in the bottom which feeds into the large tubes running up the sides. In one side the water pumps in with a rio 20hf and drains out the other. As of now, I don't have a protein skimmer. I hope to get one soon. I may build one if it isn't too hard.

Also, I dropped in a coral shrimp today. I was thinking of getting a bunch of hermit crabs. Does anyone know how many I should have for a tank only a month old?

Thanks for the advice everyone

Oh ya, I would like to get more rock, but I have fish in it already so it makes me nervous putting it in the tank. I don't want an ammonia spike