Hi there, I'm new to tonmo but you guys have a lot of great info on Cephalopods so I'm hoping to get some advice. I have been keeping tanks since I was a kid and I made the jump to saltwater about three years ago. I have started working at an lfs a few days a week and we currently have what I believe is an abdopus that I have been caring for. I currently have a custom 18g ADA tank that has housed all types of corals as well as a dragonet and a wrasse. It's a beautiful tank and I'll be sad to see it go but I'm only allowed one tank at a time right now. I had considered turning this into a merc tank but it would be a challenge to make it octo friendly. So I picked up a new tank. This is where the fun starts.
I picked up a 55g for dirt cheap so I am thinking I may build this out. The idea is to make it into an all-in-one peninsula tank with a protein skimmer and all the other equipment safely out of reach in the back chamber. I may also add an ice probe or maybe two for cooling. Does anyone use these? I know they can't do much but I'm hoping they can at least keep the tank a few degrees below room temp.
I plan to use LED lighting so I can save on electricity and heat. I want enough light to grow macro algaes and some soft corals, will that much light stress an octo? I use LEDs in my current tank to grow sps but I probably won't use the same fixtures.
I also have a vortech mp10 that I would like to use for flow but I've been told they're not safe. Is this true? I can downgrade to Koralias if that would be better.
I was thinking that I would like to get abdopus (acleatus?) but I really just want an active, curious and diurnal animal. Any other species suggestions? I cannot do a bimac since my water will not be cold enough so I'm thinking something from warmer waters.
Sorry for the long post, I've been lurking but I haven't quite found all the answers yet. Sorry if these questions have been asked before. Thanks in advance for the help, I'll keep you guys updated on my progress!
I picked up a 55g for dirt cheap so I am thinking I may build this out. The idea is to make it into an all-in-one peninsula tank with a protein skimmer and all the other equipment safely out of reach in the back chamber. I may also add an ice probe or maybe two for cooling. Does anyone use these? I know they can't do much but I'm hoping they can at least keep the tank a few degrees below room temp.
I plan to use LED lighting so I can save on electricity and heat. I want enough light to grow macro algaes and some soft corals, will that much light stress an octo? I use LEDs in my current tank to grow sps but I probably won't use the same fixtures.
I also have a vortech mp10 that I would like to use for flow but I've been told they're not safe. Is this true? I can downgrade to Koralias if that would be better.
I was thinking that I would like to get abdopus (acleatus?) but I really just want an active, curious and diurnal animal. Any other species suggestions? I cannot do a bimac since my water will not be cold enough so I'm thinking something from warmer waters.
Sorry for the long post, I've been lurking but I haven't quite found all the answers yet. Sorry if these questions have been asked before. Thanks in advance for the help, I'll keep you guys updated on my progress!