From lurker to member
- Thread starter Grootzilla
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Iona Skye
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Welcome!
I strongly encourage you to check out the diy threads for equipment. I had no money for a tank (like, seriously only 30-50 bucks here and there) so I built stuff and fixed up people's old used equipment and I had a marvelous time with a beautiful tank before I had to tear it all down to move. Saltwater tanks, even reef tanks, actually can be really really doable on a budget, if you like to learn lots of new things.
Have a wonderful time!!
I strongly encourage you to check out the diy threads for equipment. I had no money for a tank (like, seriously only 30-50 bucks here and there) so I built stuff and fixed up people's old used equipment and I had a marvelous time with a beautiful tank before I had to tear it all down to move. Saltwater tanks, even reef tanks, actually can be really really doable on a budget, if you like to learn lots of new things.
Have a wonderful time!!
toddferreira
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!!! Welcome to R2R !!! Nice looking tank. If I have a fish tank on my bedroom I may need to sleep on my sofa because I will be looking at that tank all night...LOL
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Grootzilla
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Hey all. It has been some time since I updated this thread on my tanks progress, so here goes!
About two months ago I splurged on a Nero 5 pump from AI and I thank myself everyday for that decision. The one I was using before was some cheap 50$ one I got on Amazon. As soon as I put it in, 3-4 months worth of detritus was kicked up causing a crazt dust storm that lasted two to three hours before my filtration caught most of it. There had been a coating of some brown slimy algae along my rocks that grew back no matter how many times I scrubbed it off and siphoned it out. Pretty much all of that has been blasted off, and everything just looks healthier and happier because of it. My torch, which had been struggling to split for 3 months did so within a few days of the pump being on and almost all the heads of my candy canes have begun to split. So yeah. I really like this pump a lot. That is the only big equipment update.
As for livestock, I have added two new fishes since January (at the time I just had a pair of clowns who have grown a Lot since I got them in November holy cow!). I got an orchid dottyback first and she has been a fun addition cruising in the rockwork. She gets along really well with my female clown; I often see them paling and swiming around together. This past month I added a firefish. The poor guy was picked on by the orchid dottyback for about two weeks on and off but they seem to have worked out their differences since then with the occasional chase if he gets too close to her territory. All of the fish are eating and happy and relaxed.
I have gotten quite a few new pieces of corals including a wonderful microlord from a fishstore, frogspawn, alveopora, and some zoas. I also have a galaxea that I kind of want to get rid of and a neon toadstool which I love. I have some more lords coming in on Wednesday too. I've really fallen in love with them since the one I bought from the store.
I am currently fighting a massive cyano outbreak which is super frustrating but I have been doing a waterchange every other day for the past week and already see a difference. I ordered some chemiclean just in case but I think I should be able to beat it with just some good old fashion elbow grease and persistence.
I have been looking into upgrading my lights because while the stock lighting in the hood of the biocube is good for keeping corals alive and relatively healthy it doesn't really make the colors of the corals pop or promote significant growth. But ALSO. Going topless without anything to keep the fish in is way to stressful all I would think about would be my clowns hopping out in the middle of the day or night when I'm not paying attention. So I need to get some sort of top but given the shape of the tank, buying a DIY mesh top is out of the question, meaning I would need to get it custom made. Which means even more money on top of new lights unless I am willing to get creative with it and brainstorm with my father since he used to be a carpenter (he helped me build my stand). *siiiiigh* Guess it's time to save up $400+ for some nice lights.
About two months ago I splurged on a Nero 5 pump from AI and I thank myself everyday for that decision. The one I was using before was some cheap 50$ one I got on Amazon. As soon as I put it in, 3-4 months worth of detritus was kicked up causing a crazt dust storm that lasted two to three hours before my filtration caught most of it. There had been a coating of some brown slimy algae along my rocks that grew back no matter how many times I scrubbed it off and siphoned it out. Pretty much all of that has been blasted off, and everything just looks healthier and happier because of it. My torch, which had been struggling to split for 3 months did so within a few days of the pump being on and almost all the heads of my candy canes have begun to split. So yeah. I really like this pump a lot. That is the only big equipment update.
As for livestock, I have added two new fishes since January (at the time I just had a pair of clowns who have grown a Lot since I got them in November holy cow!). I got an orchid dottyback first and she has been a fun addition cruising in the rockwork. She gets along really well with my female clown; I often see them paling and swiming around together. This past month I added a firefish. The poor guy was picked on by the orchid dottyback for about two weeks on and off but they seem to have worked out their differences since then with the occasional chase if he gets too close to her territory. All of the fish are eating and happy and relaxed.
I have gotten quite a few new pieces of corals including a wonderful microlord from a fishstore, frogspawn, alveopora, and some zoas. I also have a galaxea that I kind of want to get rid of and a neon toadstool which I love. I have some more lords coming in on Wednesday too. I've really fallen in love with them since the one I bought from the store.
I am currently fighting a massive cyano outbreak which is super frustrating but I have been doing a waterchange every other day for the past week and already see a difference. I ordered some chemiclean just in case but I think I should be able to beat it with just some good old fashion elbow grease and persistence.
I have been looking into upgrading my lights because while the stock lighting in the hood of the biocube is good for keeping corals alive and relatively healthy it doesn't really make the colors of the corals pop or promote significant growth. But ALSO. Going topless without anything to keep the fish in is way to stressful all I would think about would be my clowns hopping out in the middle of the day or night when I'm not paying attention. So I need to get some sort of top but given the shape of the tank, buying a DIY mesh top is out of the question, meaning I would need to get it custom made. Which means even more money on top of new lights unless I am willing to get creative with it and brainstorm with my father since he used to be a carpenter (he helped me build my stand). *siiiiigh* Guess it's time to save up $400+ for some nice lights.
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Sounds like some great additions. What size tank do you have? It’s cool to hear that the pump seems to have helped so much
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Grootzilla
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I have a 32 biocube.
Yeah, I am really happy with it. It's been running smoothly the whole time and is surprisingly powerful given it's size. I only run it at about 35-40% of it's capacity since the sandbed gets kicked around if I go any higher (though I would like a little more flow. Oh well.)
I am also interested in having a nem only tank at some point but I don't have the space or money for it, even if I were to go budget build with it (which I have considered doing). Multiple Tank Syndrome is creepin up on me..
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Grootzilla
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Good luck with your tank. Whats in it? How big is it? remember the 'tiny' pieces of coral you might be buying will grow over time
Updated the progress on the tank a few posts back.
