Reef Aquariums
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Freshwater isn't that hard cobguy, the usual mistakes people make is not cycling the tank first to get a biosphere happening, and then adding too many fish at once which disrupts the biosphere causing ammonia levels to spike, or having too many fish for the size of their aquarium. Once you have a tank going, it's pretty smooth sailing with freshwater, it's once you get into the big tanks it can get more stressful, but also more rewarding. I'd suggest something like a 35-40 gallon for a beginner, small tanks can also be hard to maintain. 35-50 gallons is an ideal size to have a good tank. Also choosing the right groups of fish. I'm sure there's enough guys here who could walk you through it successfully should you try again.
My set up "was" more like that cobguy. I never trusted the sump method, but had a refugium that dumped into the top tank.
I found my pistol shrimp and goby video. For those tha tdont know... Pistol shrimps snap at prey and stun them to eat but they cant see well. They rely on a goby to warn them of incoming dangers. Gobys feed off the debris and pods the shrimps stir up while making tunnels. The shrimps clean out under the live rock which we cant do ourself during siphons. Notice the the shrimp keeps a feeler on the goby, when the goby is scared the shrimp backs into his hole. The snap of the pistol shrimp is so fast it creates a sonic boom and a void of super heat. Pretty amazing stuff. My shrimp was called "Dozer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ruWQKv7b4&feature=youtu.be
I found my pistol shrimp and goby video. For those tha tdont know... Pistol shrimps snap at prey and stun them to eat but they cant see well. They rely on a goby to warn them of incoming dangers. Gobys feed off the debris and pods the shrimps stir up while making tunnels. The shrimps clean out under the live rock which we cant do ourself during siphons. Notice the the shrimp keeps a feeler on the goby, when the goby is scared the shrimp backs into his hole. The snap of the pistol shrimp is so fast it creates a sonic boom and a void of super heat. Pretty amazing stuff. My shrimp was called "Dozer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ruWQKv7b4&feature=youtu.be
Very cool Hawke!! I might add a pair to my tank. My LFS stocks the pairs regularly.
I ended up going with the Kessil A360WE. Because of the odd corner shape of my tank, I preferred the option of placement vs a panel with dual fixed lights. I'll add a second fixture which should provide a perfect coverage. The penetration is great all the way to the bottom. The shimmer from the single point light source is as good, if not better, than any Halide I've ever seen. It's a terrifically engineered piece of hardware. We'll see how I feel about in 6-8 months, but from a purely aesthetical sense, it's perfect.
I ended up going with the Kessil A360WE. Because of the odd corner shape of my tank, I preferred the option of placement vs a panel with dual fixed lights. I'll add a second fixture which should provide a perfect coverage. The penetration is great all the way to the bottom. The shimmer from the single point light source is as good, if not better, than any Halide I've ever seen. It's a terrifically engineered piece of hardware. We'll see how I feel about in 6-8 months, but from a purely aesthetical sense, it's perfect.
That's nice to hear, Nate. I'm looking at dual A160WE Amazon Suns for my discus tank. I figure that with the controller I'll be able to dial back the light and deliver the sunlight through jungle canopy look that I'm looking for.
@Hawke - I've read posts from folks who swear that their pistol shrimp caused tank failures with their sonic snap... Have you ever seen such a thing?
-- Pat
Love the new set up! I recently had a smaller version of your disaster my 20 gallon sprung a leak and shot water all of our 64" tv 8O . Amazingly though it didnt do any damage just a wet floor, I managed to catch it before too much at leaked out. I've never set up a reef tank but here is one of my freshwater tanks. The fish got a bit camera shy and went into hiding so it looks a bit empty.
Parker, nice tank! I have the same problem trying to photograph my fish.
Today I added my first non-fish animal. It was time to give my maroon goldflake an anemone of her own, a ritteri anemone.
Pat, you'll love the Kessil! Assuming of course you're a fan of the shimmer. I find it quite realistic and aesthetically pleasing. Hopefully this ritteri is a fan.
Today I added my first non-fish animal. It was time to give my maroon goldflake an anemone of her own, a ritteri anemone.
Pat, you'll love the Kessil! Assuming of course you're a fan of the shimmer. I find it quite realistic and aesthetically pleasing. Hopefully this ritteri is a fan.
Those anemones will travel around a little I found when first put in until they get used to all the changes they just went thru being moved. If your water quality is different good or bad might make the move for a spell, I don't know. I've had more than one get chewed by a powerhead. Milky water and major die off issues if not addressed quickly. Overall, I didn't have real good luck with anemones. Wonder what I did wrong.
@Pruss. No I never did and heard him snap often day and night. I've read Mantis Shrimp can break glass with their "hammer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti2Uoc1RXuQ
@Pruss. No I never did and heard him snap often day and night. I've read Mantis Shrimp can break glass with their "hammer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti2Uoc1RXuQ
Hawke, anemones require pristine water and even more importantly, intense lighting. There's a large number of people who believe they can do well under t5 lighting, but this has not been my experience. They need at a minimum 250w Halide or equivalent LED. Under deficient lighting they die off slowly taking a year to dissolve into mush. As you know, they are NASTY when the die. Another mistake is over feeding. Almost all nutrition is photosynthetic, but I feed a piece of seafood smaller than their mouth size one every couple weeks at most, often less. Beyond that proper acclimatization prior to entering the tank, as you said. It's possible I've made a mistake adding a Ritteri to my system. They're really sensitive animals and get very seriously large. It'll likely outgrow my tank in a couple years or less. This gives me a valid excuse to get a larger tank 
Since I was a kid I wanted a spherical reef so fish can swim in circles and I can see all around the reef. A 200-300 gallon spherical reef is my endgame.
At my LFS they carry mantis and we've taunted them for fun. They can break glass, but only if it's an inexpensive tank with thin glass, but damn it is LOUD when they hit the tank walls. Sounds like a 22 being fired.
Since I was a kid I wanted a spherical reef so fish can swim in circles and I can see all around the reef. A 200-300 gallon spherical reef is my endgame.At my LFS they carry mantis and we've taunted them for fun. They can break glass, but only if it's an inexpensive tank with thin glass, but damn it is LOUD when they hit the tank walls. Sounds like a 22 being fired.
No, these are fish, not sharpened knives made from toothbrushes. Those are "shanks." This is also different than a "shart," which is... er, someone will tell you, surely. Perhaps even a codger, because they seem to be into talking about those.
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