Proposed 65 gallon setup:

In the belief that a picture is worth a thousand words, I cobbled together these 3D renders of what I have in mind. Effort has been made to keep everything in the images to scale, with the chair and small end-table for references. The glass of wine is purely for use as a sedative, since I liked the idea so much when I saw John Rice list it in his equipment required for soft coral propagation page.

I'm looking at a 65 gallon All-Glass Aquarium tank, undrilled. At some later point I may set it for a sump, but initially I plan to run without one. The tank measures 36" long, 18" front to back and 24" tall. Yes, I know, the height is usually a small point -- but for the tank setup I have in mind it'll come in handy.

Hardware:

• 2 175w ALS modular halide fixtures with 10000K german bulbs. I might add supplemental actinics. (Above tank in graphic)

• CPR Bakpak skimmer (see below, located on rear right side in graphic)

• Osiwave (located rear middle in graphic)

• possibly an additional powerhead (not located in graphic)

Software:

• Approximately 25 lbs fiji rock

• Approximately 25-35 lbs fiji branch rock

• 30 lbs live sand

• enough additional 'dry' sand to provide a sandbed approximately 6"-7" deep (no plenum)

• lots and lots of turtlegrass

A few points on the hardware:  Both the ALS halides and the bakpak are on hand already. I don't plan to use the bakpak on this tank for long, but I'm undecided on what to change it to. Probably either a KNOP hang-on, a Reef Devil II Hang On or a plain old Reef Devil II if I decide to set up a sump. Suggestions for skimmers are welcome. I plan to use an Osciwave for primary current, but I'm still in the dark for what pump to use with it. Depending on how it works out, I might add additional  powerheads as neccessary.

A few points on the software: You might notice I'm planning to use no more then 60 lbs of pacific rock in this tank -- possibly less. I want to leave the vast majority of the deep sandbed uncovered by rock, having one large rocky outcropping and a second smaller outcropping on the other side of the tank. A few small, fragmentary rocks may be placed singly on the substrate but no other formations will be used. The substrate will be covered by turtlegrass (forgive the lame look of the grass in the images).

Here's a side view of the setup:

In terms of inhabitants, I'm figuring on mostly 'lagoonal' corals like elegance and  hydnophora, along with some corals that appreciate bright light but low current (fox, bubble, etc).  The rock promontories should be exposed to lots of flow, while the lower areas of the tank are fairly calm. Corals like elegances will go right on the substrate, while the SPS species will be mounted high on the rockwork.

For fish, I'm thinking a pair of firefish (got a nice, established  pair in my 20) a pearly jawfish and another small goby or two. Nothing else.

Okay, I'm open to critiscism and ideas -- especially in regards to the skimmer and the turtlegrass. Please note that the turtlegrass is being used not as a magic filter, but simply because I like the idea of it's habitat. What can I say, I got intrigued by Eric's description of his turtlegrass tank.

Send comments either to the list, or to me personally at rhe1@gte.net