Hello from Torrance, CA!

Hey guys, my name is Chad and im pretty new to the hobby, been going for about 5-6 months now on a Reef setup with fish. I started out with a second hand 24g JBJ nano that I quickly outgrew and upgraded to also a second hand 50g cube (24x24x20) from Clear Diamond Aquariums with sump. The 50 is much more satisfying however I think my dream setup would be a 36 wide by 36 or 24 long by 18 or 20 high.

I tried a 4 bulb T5 setup on the 50 but found it to be lacking a little spectrum, so I swapped it out with a 150w MH/2x24" T5 setup and the coral seem to be a little happier. I'm running a Blue+ and a Purple+ at the moment in it, but will probably swap the Purple+ with another Blue+, unless anyone has any recommendations.

Right now I have the 50 running on an MP10w and a small nano koralia with the stock skimmer, and the light I mentioned previously. I LOVE zoas/palys, I heard everyone goes through the phase but I can promise you I wont, SPS just doesn't do anything for me. Aside from birdsnests (which I dont have yet, but like) and the garf bonsai that I do have, there is absolutely zero interest in getting any more. However for zoas and palys I want sooooo many more its crazy!

Here are some that I have now - Red People Eaters, Purple People Eaters, Orange Bam Bams, Mardi Gras, Yellow Mambas, Raptors Rainbow, Fire And Ice, Hawaiian Sticky Punch, An unknown one that looks like a Golden Eagle Eye, Darth Mauls, Captain Americas, + one or two more!

For Fish I only have a Black and White Misbar and a Sixline with a small CUC and a scarlet cleaner shrimp.

Anyways, I am still learning, I frequent the SCR forum but to be honest found there to be a lot of negative input regardless of whether its on a serious note or not. I'm hoping I can find some more helpful, less arrogant people to chat with. However, I did meet a handful of extremely helpful and friendly people already from there so I am merely expanding my options to meet more of them here!

 

Welcome to 3reef, sounds like a great setup. Please post some shots as everyone will love to see them and we are pic hounds here.

I wold suggest changing to a Coral Plus if you want a little less red. Otherwise changing to the Blue Plus is good also.

 

Welcome to 3reef Chad.

Would love to see some images of your zoanthids and palys. Zoanthids and palys are still very attractive to me and I have been at this a long long time. Lets see your collection.

 

Oh cool, I just picked one up when I was experimenting with the T5 fixture, that will work perfect. Photos!







I've got a maxi mini, some GSP, Ricordeas, a crocea clam, monti, and a kenya.

 

Sweet tank.

You have a ton of light.

Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks! Yeah that was the 4x24 T5 fixture, it had (B+, P+, Coral+ and an AquaBlue Special)

I went to a new (used) one with a 150w MH/T5 and it now has a Blue+ and the Coral+ to go along with it.

 

What is the brand name of the fixture?

 

Lovely tank, can't wait to see it all filled in with zoas.

 

That is one sweet freakin ricordea!

 

The T5 unit is a Cadlight I was told, the MH unit is unknown, BOYU I think. Eventually I want to get a Radion but funds are extremely low right now due to me not making any money at a new job I took.