Back in the hobby after 12 years

[MR Big Head]

Just got back into the hobby. Started up a smaller 26 Gallon simple aquarium.
Specs

26 gallon. 5.5 Gallon rock and sand displacement, 20.5 gallon water holding at 1.025

Seachem Tidal 110, currently running just matrix as I finish my cycle.

Rock is 12 pounds of Pukani dry and 7 pounds of Reef Saver from BRS. Rinsed this in freshwater, but did not cure. Small piece of live rock for seeding bacteria which I scraped clean on the bottom to seed coraline algae throughout the tank.

Sand is 20lbs Caribsea Bahama 00Lite mixed with maybe 10lbs of Caribsea Dry aragonite Larger grain.

Hydor 600 GPH powerhead/circulator.

Coralife 24" HO T5, which is just a 1 switch on/off. I put that on a remote wireless timer programmed for a 12/12 hour light cycle.

Small dose of ammonia to start the cycle, followed by a decent dose of BioSpira.

(photo is just a DIY water polisher doing some work. I ended up with a lot of fine particulates in the live sand, so I gave the sandbed a big stir last night to trap and export.

Plan is a very simple upkeep light bioload tank, with hardier softies. Any people in this group relatively close to Kent/New Milford CT?

 

[james30ct]

Welcome back

 

[MR Big Head]

Thanks man. Where are most of the CTARS members located? Manchester is kind of a hike for me.

 

[JerSaint]

Welcome back! CTARS members cover the state! I am from Mystic and Manchester is a hike for me as well but worth it! Meetings have been great lately. Looking forward to seeing your progress!

 

[fastest302]

Welcome.. I'm in danbury.

 

[Maritimer]

Welcome back from Norwalk!

Tank's looking pretty good - filled with promise, as well as rock and water!

~Bruce

 

[sassAwrasse]

Welcome back!

 

[kgstei]

Welcome aboard.

 

[GobyApparatus]

Welcome back!

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Danbury here as well

 

[MR Big Head]

OK, its seeming like there are a lot of members down this way. Where do you guys shop for your livestock? are there any danbury locals selling frags?

 

[fastest302]

I go all over the state closest to us is blakes

 

[Awesome Dennis]

I've been driving to exotic fish and coral, never been to blakes before.

 

[Maritimer]

Exotic Fish & Coral in Milford ... sometimes.

MaxReef in Bridgeport ... sometimes.

Life Aquatic in New Canaan ... sometimes.

Westport Aquarium ... sometimes.

Greenwich Aquaria - rather more often, especially when Jason busts out a sale.

The Coral Reef, LLC - great folks, but haven't been to their new spot. Catch up with them on Facebook . . .

House of Fins in Greenwich ... sometimes.

Shoreline Pet ... not as often as I'd like, but it's kind of a hike from here.

There's a new place in Westchester called "Gill's" - haven't been.

Also haven't been to The Reef Shoppe in The Bronx, but have been told that I really should.

Went to Reef-A-Palooza in NJ last year, and would certainly do again - that was an exceptional day!

~Bruce

 

[fastest302]

Exotic Fish & Coral in Milford ... sometimes.

MaxReef in Bridgeport ... sometimes.

Life Aquatic in New Canaan ... sometimes.

Westport Aquarium ... sometimes.

Greenwich Aquaria - rather more often, especially when Jason busts out a sale.

The Coral Reef, LLC - great folks, but haven't been to their new spot. Catch up with them on Facebook . . .

House of Fins in Greenwich ... sometimes.

Shoreline Pet ... not as often as I'd like, but it's kind of a hike from here.

There's a new place in Westchester called "Gill's" - haven't been.

Also haven't been to The Reef Shoppe in The Bronx, but have been told that I really should.

Went to Reef-A-Palooza in NJ last year, and would certainly do again - that was an exceptional day!

~Bruce

I've heard the reef Shoppe is a nice place.. need to check them and Gills soon

 

[MR Big Head]

Played around with the rockscape a little bit. Had a great bit of luck today as I walked into Petco to buy a Pom Pom Crab, and these 2 clowns had just been dropped off for adoption. Also went to Complete Aquarium in Bedford Hills NY and picked up a couple mushrooms and a xenia.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Did you go to Brookfield petco? I was getting dog food.
I got a bunch of my CuC from complete aquarium their tank are usually I pretty good shape and well taken care of.

 

[MR Big Head]

Yeah, it was the Brookfield Petco. The woman in charge of the Tanks and Frag tank takes pretty good care of everything. Complete aquarium is a nice little shop. Limited selection, but I think they are more aquarium maintenance.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

We probably passed each other in there. Complete aquarium has a decent fish selection I think they get the shipments on Wed but yea it seems like they do mostly service/ maitnence

 

[Mark Gray]

Welcome back Things have changed, I took a 10 year break and then I went scuba diving in Thailand LOL