Iamse7enfold
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2020
- Messages
- 1
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- What state or country do you live in
- Maryland
My Saltwater Tank !
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Aquarium
Hello. I have been a long-time lurker of this sub, as well as a lifelong fan of aquariums. Tiny backstory: throughout the years I have had fish tanks. Started with goldfish in elementary school, stopped for a few years, started again in high school with the obvious choice of cichlids. Wound up with 3 oscars in a 30 gallon tank that quickly became a battleground – as only a high schooler could wish for. The fish quickly outgrew the tank and I donated them to a local shop and moved on. My dad brought the tank to his business and loaded it up with safe freshwater fish and that was the last of it.
Fast forward 15 years and I wanted my 2-year-old son to have an awesome tank to stare at. I first started with a 36-gallon freshwater. Within a month I realized I should have gone with a Saltwater tank and asked the fish shop if I could hire someone to turn the tank over to saltwater to toss in a pair of clowns.
My 36 gallon was great! Low maintenance, happy clowns, and fun to watch. Unfortunately for me, my son’s daycare has the coolest saltwater reef tank I have ever seen in person. Things quickly escalated and I asked the owner of the daycare of how he maintains it and he gave me the information of the shop who manages the tank.
Here comes my competitive side. I wanted to have a similar tank. Maybe even better
. I found myself staring at the corals and life every time I picked up and dropped off my son. He did too… always searching for the starfish, Gobi, snails, shrimp, crabs etc…. it became a fun bonding experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the wonder in his eyes.
The daycare gave me the information of the guy who configured the tank and maintains it. I called him and asked what the process is like if I were to hire. I received a crash course on things I would need to know and be responsible for as an owner as well as the quickly escalating costs. He was an expert. Answered all of my questions, truly had a passion for the hobby but more importantly he made it a career. He walked me through his setup and we basically turned the conversation into an interview in which I left it wanting to work with him.
He helped me pick out everything I needed to get started as well as a plan on how we would be stocking the tank over the next 7 months.
Goal is a flourishing reef tank with vibrant colors, great variety of corals and an awesome hobby.
Specs:
\- Red Sea Reefer 350
\- Will add my pump later
\- 2x AI Hydra 64HD
\- 2x Vortech MP40w
\- A lot of Real Reef Rock
\- Reef Octopus Skimmer
\- Sand, Salt etc…
Over the next 6 months we have been adding to the tank and I’ve been having maintenance every two weeks. We were able to use the rock and sand from my 36 gallon to help kick start the new tank. I have few tangs, coral beauty, pair of clowns, snails shrimp emerald crabs, gobi w pistol shrimp. Posting a few pictures here but I am having a ton of fun and am enjoying everything about the hobby!
My aquarium buddy performs all service, maintenance and has been educating me along the way. I've learned a lot of the mechanical trouble shooting and it's been incredible having a basically 24/7 support line to call if I need anything.
Sorry for the somewhat potato pictures... will work on taking better ones!
[
Aquarium
Hello. I have been a long-time lurker of this sub, as well as a lifelong fan of aquariums. Tiny backstory: throughout the years I have had fish tanks. Started with goldfish in elementary school, stopped for a few years, started again in high school with the obvious choice of cichlids. Wound up with 3 oscars in a 30 gallon tank that quickly became a battleground – as only a high schooler could wish for. The fish quickly outgrew the tank and I donated them to a local shop and moved on. My dad brought the tank to his business and loaded it up with safe freshwater fish and that was the last of it.
Fast forward 15 years and I wanted my 2-year-old son to have an awesome tank to stare at. I first started with a 36-gallon freshwater. Within a month I realized I should have gone with a Saltwater tank and asked the fish shop if I could hire someone to turn the tank over to saltwater to toss in a pair of clowns.
My 36 gallon was great! Low maintenance, happy clowns, and fun to watch. Unfortunately for me, my son’s daycare has the coolest saltwater reef tank I have ever seen in person. Things quickly escalated and I asked the owner of the daycare of how he maintains it and he gave me the information of the shop who manages the tank.
Here comes my competitive side. I wanted to have a similar tank. Maybe even better
. I found myself staring at the corals and life every time I picked up and dropped off my son. He did too… always searching for the starfish, Gobi, snails, shrimp, crabs etc…. it became a fun bonding experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the wonder in his eyes.The daycare gave me the information of the guy who configured the tank and maintains it. I called him and asked what the process is like if I were to hire. I received a crash course on things I would need to know and be responsible for as an owner as well as the quickly escalating costs. He was an expert. Answered all of my questions, truly had a passion for the hobby but more importantly he made it a career. He walked me through his setup and we basically turned the conversation into an interview in which I left it wanting to work with him.
He helped me pick out everything I needed to get started as well as a plan on how we would be stocking the tank over the next 7 months.
Goal is a flourishing reef tank with vibrant colors, great variety of corals and an awesome hobby.
Specs:
\- Red Sea Reefer 350
\- Will add my pump later
\- 2x AI Hydra 64HD
\- 2x Vortech MP40w
\- A lot of Real Reef Rock
\- Reef Octopus Skimmer
\- Sand, Salt etc…
Over the next 6 months we have been adding to the tank and I’ve been having maintenance every two weeks. We were able to use the rock and sand from my 36 gallon to help kick start the new tank. I have few tangs, coral beauty, pair of clowns, snails shrimp emerald crabs, gobi w pistol shrimp. Posting a few pictures here but I am having a ton of fun and am enjoying everything about the hobby!
My aquarium buddy performs all service, maintenance and has been educating me along the way. I've learned a lot of the mechanical trouble shooting and it's been incredible having a basically 24/7 support line to call if I need anything.
Sorry for the somewhat potato pictures... will work on taking better ones!
