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46 gallon bow front build

14K views 67 replies 10 participants last post by  JohnnyD 
#1 ·
Heres a couple of pictures. I had to run to borrow my sisters camera so some of these pictures are from a few days ago but ill try to keep up to date with the rest of the pictures!
 

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#35 ·
It looks like quite a bit of sand has settled onto the live rock. Try gently fanning the live rock with water, using your hand, to remove any loose debris. You don't want to allow the sand to settle onto the rock, especially at this stage. You don't want to encourage any dead spots on the rock. After you get fish and a clean up crew in place this won't be an issue.
 
#36 ·
I did that, and you were right. A lot of sand had settled into the rock, but the rock has some white on it as well. I feel like I have 1 great piece of live rock and the rest aren't so great. On one of them theres all sorts of growth and on the others theres none. I think I kind of know what to look for next time so.....if anything it was a learning experience haha
 
#37 ·
Diatom bloom has begun! Also, should my skimmer constantly have bubbles bubbling over the collection cup cone into the collection cup during all of this? It seems that most of the time the microbubbles arent making it into the collection cone. If I adjust the water level in the tank or move the water-level adjustment dial on the skimmer it either bubbles over and fills up the cup with a ton of water in a few seconds or doesnt bubble at all. Ive been looking in the manual but cant figure out what is wrong
 

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#38 ·
Diatom bloom! Don't you love it when things are predictable?-)

The collection cup should not have bubbles always rising over the neck. My skimmer generally has bubbles just below the neck, with bubbles rising into the neck and falling into the collection cup as organics are skimmed from the water. But no, you do not want a continuous bubbling over.

Remember, you are looking for a dark thick liquid, and the thicker the better.
 
#39 ·
Is the skimmer new? Could be going through the "break-in" period.

Also if it is a Coralife Super Skimmer, it needs to be fine tuned. I would have to turn the dial all the way down when I used this skimmer in the sump of my 46 bow. After a day I would then have to give it a quarter-turn. I would get coffee colored skimmate out of that skimmer every few days when I ran it.
 
#43 ·
So, I don't have any new pics to put up right now but here's a small update: I swapped out the AquaClear 50 with the new Koralia 4. In my main tank I now have two Koralia 4's. I also bought a few hermits almost a week ago and added them to the tank. I also purchased a Q-tank and a sponge filter. The sponge filter has been hooked up in my main tank for 2 days now. I will give it a few more days then put it in my Q-tank with the AquaClear 50. Next, I am looking to buy a small heater for my Q-tank.

Also, my T-5s came in yesterday and I will be installing them today. The manual says specifically that the light is not intended for tanks that do not have lids. The problem is my lid wont fit with the skimmer and all the wires running from the tank. Does anyone think that there will be a problem if I don't have a lid on the tank?

Also, should the actinics be on both an hour before, and after the 10,000k bulbs?

Thanks everyone
 
#46 ·
I turn my actinics 1 hour before my day time lights. and leave them on for an hour after. I don't know if there is any science behind it but it could act as a transition period for your tank instead of just turning on all that light at once. I know you want to replicate the wild as much as possible.
 
#50 ·
I'm looking to add another fish to my 2 black perc clowns now. I eventually want a regal/hippo/blue tang in my tank but i figured it would be best to add the hippo tang last to hopefully reduce aggression. Do you guys think 46 gal is too small for a hippo tang? I feel like I need some more color in there since my clowns are black and white. Any fish suggestions?
 
#51 ·
I eventually want a regal/hippo/blue tang in my tank but i figured it would be best to add the hippo tang last to hopefully reduce aggression. Do you guys think 46 gal is too small for a hippo tang?
Yes, a 46 is too small. These fish grow to be over a foot. The 46 bow is only 36" wide. That doesn't really leave a lot of swimming room. I had to upgrade to a 150 after I bought a Hippo.

I feel like I need some more color in there since my clowns are black and white. Any fish suggestions?
Maybe a Potter's Angel, or a Coral Beauty Angel. Also there are some nice wrasses that can make it in a 46 gallon, like a Fairy Wrasse or Flasher Wrasse. Maybe a Helfrichi Firefish? There are nice looking Jawfish and Gobies that would look nice in a 46 also.
 
#56 ·
Right now I have the tank stocked with 2 onyx clowns, a fireball angel, and a 6 line wrasse. What else do you guys think i can/should add? Do you think i still have room for a jawfish or gobie like mentioned earlier by wake?

Thanks guys. Dont wanna add anything to my tank that isnt gonna make it.
 
#61 ·
very nice! you should transfer this to the pictures and video section, a lot more people go there and you can get a lot more viewers, just saying
 
#64 ·
oh whoops, lol. hey where did u get those onyx? ive been looking to get some in the future and cant find a site that will promise a black nose.
 
#66 ·
I actually got them from my LFS. I think I got lucky because every time I go there they have terrible looking onyx. One of ours has an almost completely black face and one of them has just a little bit of orange on it. I wouldnt change either of them though. We picked out one that had almost perfect stripes for a clown, and the other one we chose to be more unique and has the saddle-looking white stripe on its back (and a completely black nose).

Its tough to get a decent picture of the 6 line wrasse tho...hes a quick one haha.

We are looking to add 1 more fish. Anyone have any ideas? So far we have the 2 onyx, sixline wrasse, and the fireball angel and some frags.
 
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