Tim's 25g lagoon

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#1
Hey everyone, I recently decided to take the plunge from freshwater planted to saltwater. I originally wanted to just do a fowlr tank. However after curiously looking at beginner corals, I fell in love with things like pulsing xenia, zoas and some of the mushrooms. I bought a used im 25g lagoon, and have just done the hardscape and will let it cycle soon. Lmk what you guys think about it and my plan for eventually stocking it.

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1. I was thinking for this island to do mostly pulsing xenia. I absolutely love the movement and how fast it'll grow. Hopefully it'll take over this island fast and be mesmerizing to look at. Maybe mix in some feather duster worms for variety.

2. I think this island will be perfect for a zoa garden, but i've been thinking about maybe putting torches here instead.

3. I was thinking about putting a nice elegance coral or just cover it with torches here. I wanted the future clown fish to make it there home and be right in the center for me to watch.

4. Either do a mushroom garden or a nice small meat coral.

5. lastly, 5 is where ill put a wave maker on the glass. In hopes of it sweeping the back section and keeping it clean.
 
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#3
This was me about a year and a half ago.
Been a freshwater guy since college, but took a dive into saltwater once I moved into my spot.
I really like the rock work. Any idea on fish? Just my $0.02 but I'd shift or rotate island #2 back abit to free up some opening swimming space in front of the tank. Xenia will take over that rock in no time and will cover up anything behind it. Plus you could have your mushrooms or LPS as the center pieces

regardless, really digging it and cant wait to see your progress
 
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#4
Looks good, I like rock work! Zoa's, torches, and elegance corals! Sounds like this is going to be a sweet tank!

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#6
This was me about a year and a half ago.
Been a freshwater guy since college, but took a dive into saltwater once I moved into my spot.
I really like the rock work. Any idea on fish? Just my $0.02 but I'd shift or rotate island #2 back abit to free up some opening swimming space in front of the tank. Xenia will take over that rock in no time and will cover up anything behind it. Plus you could have your mushrooms or LPS as the center pieces

regardless, really digging it and cant wait to see your progress
Thank you! Im really excited for the new learning journey and challenge, I felt like I had gotten the planted/ high tech side of freshwater down pretty good.

I've always wanted a pair of clowns, fire fish and bengal for sure. Other than that, i'm still looking around.

That's a good idea about having the mushrooms or lps in front, I was afraid they would be getting too much flow and possibly light? I actually sit to the right side of this tank, so I could clearly see them on the right side too.
 

Kobin

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#8
Rock work looks good! I would consider adding more areas for fish to hide as needed. Firefish can be skittish and would love additional caves or areas to hide. I always love my gobies in a reef tank with the randalls being my favorite. You can add the shrimp that pairs with it too. I would also be considerate of the flow. It depends on how strong it is since most mushrooms don't like strong flow. If you keep the flow at area 5, then it'll hit the glass and sweep directly downwards into the shrooms at area 4. Look forward to your progress!
 
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#9
Rock work looks good! I would consider adding more areas for fish to hide as needed. Firefish can be skittish and would love additional caves or areas to hide. I always love my gobies in a reef tank with the randalls being my favorite. You can add the shrimp that pairs with it too. I would also be considerate of the flow. It depends on how strong it is since most mushrooms don't like strong flow. If you keep the flow at area 5, then it'll hit the glass and sweep directly downwards into the shrooms at area 4. Look forward to your progress!
I was really hoping to be able to carve into the first big island rock to create caves. Maybe ill give it another try to have more safe spots like you said.

Just googled randall goby, man do they look great. Thanks for the suggestion!

There really doesn't seem to be a slower flow area, maybe I can provide more rocks around area 4 so they don't get hit so much by flow.
 

Kobin

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#10
There are a few overhangs and areas where your fish can hide, but I wouldn't be too worried personally with the list you're trying to keep. I would just add the clownfish last as they can get territorial once comfortable in the tank. You can always add more rocks as needed or carve the rock like you said! The area under 5 is a slower flow area and between 2 and 1. You can put them on the sand around there and maybe do acanthos or other larger coral in area 4. It'll be easier to tell once you start putting things in so use your best judgment!
 
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#11
Little update:

Went to buy saltwater from amazing aquariums and reefs. Ali definitely lives up to the reviews i've read, super nice and helpful guy.

Decided to move the rocks a little.

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Ended up moving the smaller island to the left more to the front. I wanted to give it more space because i'm planning to either put a RBTA or do a torch/hammer island on the island behind it.

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Pushed the large island to the right back more to give more swim room in the front, and gives me space to put a meat coral in front. The wave maker will be on the right side now, behind the large island. Should give the hammer/torch island some nice movement and flow.
 
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#16
Update Time:

Had a pretty nasty ugly phase, hair algae everywhere. Ended up picking up 15 astrae and 4 trochus snails, they have been doing an amazing job eating the diatoms and hair algae. Still some remnant of it but it's finally at a place where I don't feel ashamed to share lol.

Equipment:
Picked up a hydra 32 and nero 3 from Ali, loving both of them. Picked up a light diffuser from 3dreefing, I don't really know if its worth the price tbh, I do like that the shimmer is softer now. Been meaning to rent a par meter to see where everything is at, running the lights pretty conservatively at the moment. Also decided splurge and future proof myself a little and picked up a 7 stage rodi from BRS, currently using coral pro salt.

Livestock:
Just snails and one cleaner shrimp atm. Got 3 chromis that are gonna be coming out of quarantine soon. Gonna either pick up a clown pair or a mandarin to quarantine next.


 

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