Cheap and easy 65 gallon

[shoelaceike]

I sold my 180 gallon in January. Here is the link to that.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-180-mixed-reef.224293/

I was going to get out of the hobby but I got the itch. I went to Petsmart and purchased a 65 gallon full set up. Below is what I have.

65 gallon with stand - $100

Penguin 350 hob filter x 2 - $50

Hydor 1500 gph - $25

25 lbs LR

Current USA Orbit Marine -$100

My total came out to about $300 for all the hardware. Purchased everything new

I have attached some pics...I will try to keep everything updated every now and then.

 

[Brew12]

I sold my 180 gallon in January. Here is the link to that.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-180-mixed-reef.224293/

I was going to get out of the hobby but I got the itch. I went to Petsmart and purchased a 65 gallon full set up. Below is what I have.

65 gallon with stand - $100

Penguin 350 hob filter x 2 - $50

Hydor 1500 gph - $25

25 lbs LR

Current USA Orbit Marine -$100

My total came out to about $300 for all the hardware. Purchased everything new

I have attached some pics...I will try to keep everything updated every now and then.

Now that is reefing on a budget!

 

[reeferfoxx]

I really like that scape!

 

[shoelaceike]

 

[mattgsa]

Wow, i thought i was building my tank on a budget. Great job! Looking forward to following along.

 

[shoelaceike]

 

[shoelaceike]

Tank has been up and running for about a month. I used all new water, 5 pounds of LR and a bag of matrix from a small biocube. I never had a cycle and all fish were added during the first week. I used tap for the fillup but will probably start rodi moving forward. I have one, I might as well use it.

 

[shoelaceike]

Fish I have

Foxface
Sailfin tang
Niger trigger
Saddle valentini puffer
Chromis x4
Clowns x2
Bi-color blenny
Royal gramma

I intend on having a mixed reef.

 

[Zeal]

Does it bother you how thin those breeder tanks are from Petsmart? I really want something bigger then 40G but the breeder seem really hard to create a sense of depth with the aquascape

 

[shoelaceike]

Does it bother you how thin those breeder tanks are from Petsmart? I really want something bigger then 40G but the breeder seem really hard to create a sense of depth with the aquascape

I assume you are referring to the depth and not the glass....My tank is 18" wide. While I would love to have more depth, at this price I cant complain. My goal is to eventually get a DD 150 or 200 which is 36" deep.

 

[Zeal]

I assume you are referring to the depth and not the glass....My tank is 18" wide. While I would love to have more depth, at this price I cant complain. My goal is to eventually get a DD 150 or 200 which is 36" deep.

Yes, the depth is my issue.

edit: was there some crazy sale to get the tank/stand for so cheap?

 

[shoelaceike]

Yes, the depth is my issue.

edit: was there some crazy sale to get the tank/stand for so cheap?

Basically it was on sale for 250. I got an additional 15% discount due to some small scuffs on the stand. They also gave me a refund of about $100 because the light didn't fit correctly. It worked out because that light was total garbage anyway

 

[Zeal]

Basically it was on sale for 250. I got an additional 15% discount due to some small scuffs on the stand. They also gave me a refund of about $100 because the light didn't fit correctly. It worked out because that light was total garbage anyway

Makes sense that's what I saw online.

 

[shoelaceike]

 

[shoelaceike]

Added some coral

 

[NY_Caveman]

Tank is looking great! I like the coral placement. I can imagine how it could grow in quite nicely.

 

[shoelaceike]

Tank is looking great! I like the coral placement. I can imagine how it could grow in quite nicely.

Thank you

 

[shoelaceike]

 

[shoelaceike]

I wonder if I'm overstocked. I know the tangs will eventually need a bigger tank. My fish list is below.

Foxface
Hippo tang
Sailfin tang
Coral beauty
Royal gramma
Clowns x 2
Starry blenny
Chromis x 3
Bangaii cardinal

 

[Brew12]

I wonder if I'm overstocked. I know the tangs will eventually need a bigger tank. My fish list is below.

Foxface
Hippo tang
Sailfin tang
Coral beauty
Royal gramma
Clowns x 2
Starry blenny
Chromis x 3
Bangaii cardinal

It is difficult to overstock a saltwater tank. If your filtration can keep up, you are pretty much fine from that perspective.

If you are asking if you are appropriately stocked, that is a different question. With fish like the Tangs, you likely won't know the tank is too small for them until either they get aggressive or they die. Mysterious deaths is often the first sign a hobbyist has that their fish have outgrown their system.