New 125 gallon quarter cylinder tank...need help with stocking

[AMagz73]

Hey...I was wondering if any of you have any ideas for me since I'm new to saltwater and there are so many choices. I have a 125 gallon corner cylinder acrylic tank and I'm not sure which direction to go in. I don't know if I should have high currents and powerful lighting say for SPS, or should I go for a more subdued lighting tank such as in a deep water reef. I do want to include fish too, but basically need some other ideas for aquascaping besides the typical reef wall look. If anyone has any advice or opinions, please feel free to share them. I'm looking forward to reading your posts....thanks.

Anthony

 

[9supratt4]

Give us a bit more information. Do you want a reef?? What type of corals do you want to house?? What types of fish do you like??

 

[AMagz73]

Sorry, yes I do want a reef,and being new, I didn't want to get any species too difficult. I'd be happy with just alot of a few different species of coral,and I would like groupings of fish..such as a small colony of 8 or so anthias or grammas. I want to do a deep sand bed (approx 5-6 inches). I apologize for not giving you my tank dimensions earlier, they are 36x36x30 high. Does this help any?

 

[concept3]

Sorry, yes I do want a reef,and being new, I didn't want to get any species too difficult. I'd be happy with just alot of a few different species of coral,and I would like groupings of fish..such as a small colony of 8 or so anthias or grammas. I want to do a deep sand bed (approx 5-6 inches). I apologize for not giving you my tank dimensions earlier, they are 36x36x30 high. Does this help any?

Oh yes, the dimenions definitely help!



If that tank were mine, I would do the following:


single halide bulb, either 175W halide for subdued lighting like a deepwater reef or a 250w halide for a shallower reef. I'd be careful with the 250 because heat and acrylic don't mix. Bulb choice: 20K radiums for darker deeper blues or 12K for a decent balance

I'd aquascape that puppy into a tall reef wall with cliffs and overhangs, throw a bunch of smaller sized squirrelfish in a group of 5-7 for that nice dramatic schooling effect. Place some SPS up top to catch the light, mixed in with a maxima and crocea clam for some sweet color; and a bunch of LPS and softies down the bottom. Throw some gorgonians at the base on the sand, maybe a deresa or two to break the monotony.

Some dendros and suncoral can be used under the overhangs and will simulate an underwater cave, maybe a carnation coral or two mounted just under the overhang.

A tang or two, and like 10-12 chromis will fill in the midwater column for movement!




I want a bigger tank!

 

[concept3]

I drew this up in pages real quick-

enjoy

 

[Hawkeye]

I drew this up in pages real quick-

enjoy

The red fish on the right hand side appears upside down...LMAO.

 

[reefsandrotts]

The red fish on the right hand side appears upside down...LMAO.


LOL...Victum of adding too many fish at one time.....
Hey Merv
What kind of sps is the purple one in the center....

 

[concept3]

The red fish on the right hand side appears upside down...LMAO.


LOL...Victum of adding too many fish at one time.....
Hey Merv
What kind of sps is the purple one in the center....

The fish is meant to be upside down

It's a squirrelfish.



and the SPS in the middle is an acropora tortuosa, but it's pretty hard to see the polyp extensions, the polyps have a hint of green mixed in with the purple. Also, the edges needed to be rounder a bit, it looks more like a birdsnest from your angle.


and the upside down orange-looking SPS are actually sun corals or non-photosynthetic corals, you take your pick!