My first reef tank

[Ratpack]

After having FO tanks for years I have started my first reef tank. Here is what it looks like today. Hopefully it will grow into a larger tank in the near future. Any comments and advice are appreciated. Oh and I already have koralia 1 pumps to replace those powerheads, just need some time to get them in.


Thanks!

[zhenya]

Looks nice, ratpack. I agree with you on those power heads, they sure make small aquariums all cramped looking.
What type of sand bed is that you have? If it is crushed coral type, I would suggest perhaps replacing it with finer grain sand (sugar sized). CC tends to accumulate detritus and contribute to nutrients build up over time, so while tank is in the earlier stages of it's life I think it is a good idea to maybe fix that potential problem. ;)
If you haven't read this article yet I recommend looking it over
How Sand Beds REALLY Work

[FireEater]

I agree with Gene, remove the crush coral while you can. You will regret having it in there later on.

This is what you need. Get the dry sand and not the live sand. It costs less, you get more sand per bag and it will come alive fast enough for you.

[Ratpack]

I know I need to change it out, but won't that totally wreck the biological filter by removing all that at one time? Also since most of the corals in there are fairly new to the tank, I would like to let them get acclimated for a while before totally redoing it. But any help and suggestions on making this change are greatly appreciated since I am just starting my reef experience.

[FireEater]

Do it now while it will be easy. You can remove all corals and rock, put in holding tanks, replace sand, wait a day or two for cloud to settle and then put everything back in.

You don't have that much in there to worry about so it is a good time to do it. Softies can be very hardy and will survive it all.

You'll regret it later if you wait.

[Ratpack]

Actually I have quite a bit; 1-devil's hand leather, 1-toadstool leather, 1-not sure leather, 2-mushroom rocks, 1-kenya tree, 1-candy cane, 1-green star polyps, 2-branches of fragspawn, 1-zoo rock, 3-damsels, 1-firefish, 1-maroon clown, 1-lawnmower blenny, 1-flame scallop, 2-fire shrimp, 3-peppermint shrimp and numerous snails and hermits.

I will probably still wait until I have the time to devote a full day to this so I can get it done and over in one day. Plus I have no holding tanks so a large rubbermaid tub will have to do while I make the change.

Of course I could pick up a 10 gal tank for nothing and I have a set of regular lights that would fit it and the skimmer would easily move for a day or two. Then I could put a pad in the fluval canister and run it full blast to help settle any residual dust. But hopefully I can prepare the sand ahead of time and put it in the tank without stirring it up too much and then pour the water in via a plate or cup to baffle the flow so it doesn't disturb it too much. The fish and inverts could probably handle a little dust floating around, but the corals might not like it.