New Project - 66 gal. Half Cylinder Tank

Welcome back GM!
I was going to suggest a Kessil spot, but I'm sure you want to keep that nice hood. What is your budget for a light?

 

Time for an update. After about 6 weeks contemplating my next steps, I have the rock in and have most of the old inhabitants out. The sweet lips; tomato clown; paddle fin wrasse and Emperor angel are all gone now. The Emperor was starting to change which was kind of neat to see, but the paddle fin, angel and sweet lips were fighting and I never saw the clown, he just hid on the other side of the tank and dug a hole. The day the aquarium guy came to take them out, we couldn't find the paddle fin. We ended up finding him at the bottom of the overflow, which is 30" deep. To our surprise, not only was the paddle fin there, but a blue damsel has been living in there for the past 3 months. So now, the only inhabitants are the 2 blue damsels. I am waiting on the rest of the livestock which will include a yellow tang, coral beauty angel, a fairy or flasher wrasse and two clowns. The one damsel has been building a home under one of the rocks. He constantly removes a rock/shell and has created a small cave where he likes to hang out. The damsel that was in the over flow is just happy to be out I think. The next step will be to let things settle down, then slowly remove the bio balls and add the skimmer. I would like to add corals as some point, but will wait a bit as I will need to start using RO water, add some power heads and upgrade the lighting first.

Here are pictures of the new aquascape. This was very challenging as the tank is very tall and only 18" in diameter, so it has to be pretty vertical. I like the way it turned out as the entire center is nearly hollow with multiple caves and arches. I bought 70lbs of fiji from bulk reef supply, but probably used only about 60lbs. Having 70 was a bit too much.

Left side:


Center:


Right Side, and view from my desk:

 

I considered my fish list very carefully. The YT will actually have more space to swim than most people's tanks, although curved tanks have some disadvantages, one big one is that it will have nearly 5' to swim along the front curve, plus it will have 30" vertically. This is much more than most people's 90s.

If other people have input, I'll be happy to listen.

 

love the shape of the tank and you did a great job on the aquascape!

 

Here's another update. I have now completed the second phase of my project. I traded in the old livestock, except for the damsels for new, more reef friendly occupants. The current livestock inlcudes the following:

1 small Yellow Tang
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Large Clown
1 Valentini Puffer
1 Fairy Wrasse (I believe a Scott's Fairy Wrasse)
2 Blue Damsels

There was another smaller clown, but I think he died. Haven't seen him for a few days. Everyone is getting along very well and are eating. I did start feeding the puffer raw clams as he wasn't eating the pellets or flake. I need to get some krill and mysis too. He really seems to like them, as do every one else, except the tang and clown.

I'm going to wait a few weeks to let the tank settle a bit. The next step is to add a skimmer in the sump, but I will have to do some modifications. In the meantime, I'm looking for some powerheads to get some flow in there.

Here are some pictures:

 

Wrasse is a Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura (female).

 

looking good! love the little puffer!

 

Thanks evolved! I was actually thinking a female due to the coloration.

 

Your tank its awesome!! I like so much

 

VAST improvement. Looks good.