Moderate Reef Setup 60 gal. hex.

[Palani]

Now that I'm moving I need to down size. I've decided to do a 60 gal hex with ritteri and carpet anenomes. It's going to be a semi-aggresive tank with 5 damsels, a pseudochromis, a pair of clownfish, a flame hawk, my secretive wrasse, potter's angel and maybe some large gobies. It is going to be a full reef with a large coral banded shrimp (I'm sure he can hold his own) and LPS, SPS, and some softies. I decided on this tank because I needed a new scenery. 95% of reef tanks are rectangular (and for good reasons too). But I want to try something different (just like my black sand that I tried). I will be making a rock structure mostly out of large pieces of Tonga branching LR that will go about 80-90 per cent of the height of the tank. I'll have out croppings that will house stangs for the damsels. As for lighting I was thinking about a 250watt de MH because of the depth. I think they are about 30" deep. I'll have a sump of some sort. I'm not exactly sure what size will fit in there. I was wondering of some type of skimmer I could use that does at least a 100 gallons. I like the becket type of skimmer, but could also try like a aqua remora HOB type or something else.

Please let me know what you think, may it be good or bad, or maybe some better ideas. The thing is that I want to try this hex tank. I've seen an example 35 hex. that my friend has and that has inspired me to do this one.

[nu2reef-n]

I'm currently running an Aqua-C remora pro on my 116 Gal. tank. I'm in the process of switching to an Aqua-C EV-180, just setting it up now. I've had great luck with the remora pro and would highly recommend them as one of the best H.O.T. skimmmers. IMO

[drock59]

For what its worth, ive heard that large hex tanks are more prone to leaks/rupture than standard tanks. I had a 35 gal hex and thought it was pretty cool except it was dificult to find good lighting.

PS. that anecdotal evidence is via Roger, so take it with a grain of salt.

[Palani]

Amazing Roger? Well I had my eye on an acrylic hex., so HA.

[WAVES]

Hey Jansen I can get cylindar tanks if you want something really crazy :)

secretive wrasse the same as dissapearing?

[Krux]

yep they are the same (unless he is using a non-standard name for another species.

i would be concerned with the bio load if you are going to try to do sps in that as well. that many fish, those big anemones sloughing mucus... even with a big skimmer you are going to have slow growing, relatively brown corals i imagine. in all honesty, that fish list i would feel uncomfortable with in a 120 simply on the nutrient import side.

any chance you want to do a corner tank? those can be very impressive as well, and are easier to light and create flow in, and they are not as common, not as rare as a hex, but not everywhere for sure.

my other concern would be with carpets in that small of a footprint. they tend to wander all over, unless you were planning on keeping nothing in the bottom 1/4 of the tank, you are likely going to have some warring.

it would be an impressive tank for sure, if you go ahead with it i want photos, i am just concerned that after the 6 month mark you are going to be dissapointed with growth and coloration, unless those are not issues for you.

[Palani]

All of the fish will not be any bigger than 3 inches, except the clowns. Oh yeah, FYI my secretive/dissapearing wrasse jumped out my my qt tank today. Sad day. I don't know why they misnamed such an interesting wrasse. It was not secretive what so ever.

As for the Carpet I was wanting it to have the whole floor to itself.

I have been thinking about this tank and was also thinking about doing an Oceanic cube tank or some cube around 30-60 gallons as well. Maybe I can put my sps in there.

[R-3]

Man that sucks about your wrasse! A cube would be cool. I love the look of cubes. It wil get a cube when I break down my 75. A Aqua C should work good from what ive heard. Im gonna try out a PM HOT+1 on my 20. I got a good price on it so I thought I would try it out. If money is no prob look at the Deltec MCE600. It seems to be a nice unit. Anyway, Later Ryan

[WAVES]

I have a customer with a corner tank with a round front,, SUPER cool. Very expensive furniture required though, to deal with the round front.

[R-3]

Hey Jansen look at this setup. Looks in nice shape.

http://portland.craigslist.org/for/151242109.html

Later Ryan