Aaron Hattan
New Member
Here are the beginnings of what I hope is a long-lasting and enjoyable hobby. I've had many in the past, most recently brewing, which I still dabble in, but equipment mostly sits in the garage. Too hot in SC right now.
Currently running a 29-gallon tall top-fin tank. Scored a great price on the kit, of which I replaced the power filter with a Tidal 55 HOB. Using the large sponge, filter floss, polishing pad and the included matrix bio-media. Please critique!
Using the included hood/white led light combo, and running a marineland led 24-hour timer which sits inline on the power cord.
I added 40 lbs. of Caribsea Ocean Direct, to give about a 2-3ish inch sand bed (did not rinse) and have just a few pieces of Caribsea Life Rock (Arch, Nano Arch, and Cave totaling about 20-25 lbs.). I'm ok with how the scaping turned out, but may add some more pieces, or replace with some other shapes, if anyone has a better eye than I, or if I need to add some more for bio filtering, or for overall tank health, please chime in!
I'm keep looking at that heater, and that glass scares me, so may be swapping out for a ceramic heater sooner than later.
Other than that, planning on a very simple setup, couple of clowns, a goby, shrimp, and a crab. Once the tank has matured for a while, I'll look at improving lighting, and add some softies and lps coral.
No fancy toys other than a refractometer, using API fluid tests to keep track of tank levels, and just registered the ammonia spike, so happy to see the cycle starting. Trying to keep it stupid simple, but that hasn't lasted to long in my previous endeavors haha.
Water and Sand, exciting!
Rocks in, circulating, and initially had a Marine IC LOOP LED and an accompanying eflux 660 wave pump, but decided to step back and take things slow...
Current state, all clear, cycling, and anxiously awaiting its first residents... Need to top off, and still do a little glass cleanup, ordered a flipper float that is supposed to be delivering today.
Looking forward to the feedback and support from the community!
Currently running a 29-gallon tall top-fin tank. Scored a great price on the kit, of which I replaced the power filter with a Tidal 55 HOB. Using the large sponge, filter floss, polishing pad and the included matrix bio-media. Please critique!
Using the included hood/white led light combo, and running a marineland led 24-hour timer which sits inline on the power cord.
I added 40 lbs. of Caribsea Ocean Direct, to give about a 2-3ish inch sand bed (did not rinse) and have just a few pieces of Caribsea Life Rock (Arch, Nano Arch, and Cave totaling about 20-25 lbs.). I'm ok with how the scaping turned out, but may add some more pieces, or replace with some other shapes, if anyone has a better eye than I, or if I need to add some more for bio filtering, or for overall tank health, please chime in!
I'm keep looking at that heater, and that glass scares me, so may be swapping out for a ceramic heater sooner than later.
Other than that, planning on a very simple setup, couple of clowns, a goby, shrimp, and a crab. Once the tank has matured for a while, I'll look at improving lighting, and add some softies and lps coral.
No fancy toys other than a refractometer, using API fluid tests to keep track of tank levels, and just registered the ammonia spike, so happy to see the cycle starting. Trying to keep it stupid simple, but that hasn't lasted to long in my previous endeavors haha.
Water and Sand, exciting!
Rocks in, circulating, and initially had a Marine IC LOOP LED and an accompanying eflux 660 wave pump, but decided to step back and take things slow...
Current state, all clear, cycling, and anxiously awaiting its first residents... Need to top off, and still do a little glass cleanup, ordered a flipper float that is supposed to be delivering today.
Looking forward to the feedback and support from the community!
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