29g budget build

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Well, i've finally had some time and after 3 or 4 months of looking and piecing equipment and parts i've got my old 29g turning into a salty. nothing special but trying to keep in low cost and maybe try a grow out for zoas or try to turn it into a zoa garden. here's the equipment list:
29g tank and stand: free old freshy
18" odyssea MH & t-5 combo with extra cooling fan $40
30lbs dry rock Made made $10
koralia 425 $10
koralia 550 $15
aqueon hob filter free
penguin 200b free

the plan is to run the tank bare bottom to have lots of flow. the hob filter will run with carbon or chemipure and the other with rock rubble and cheato. figured if i can do a 5g water change weekly i'll be able to skip having a skimmer. wont have a huge bioload maybe a pair of clowns and 3 chormis. LMK what every1 thinks and if y'all have some advice.
dont think i would be able to have a scooter blenny w/o sand right?

thanks for looking hopefully have it up and running within the months thanks lil matty

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Now some pictures

right side

left side

thanks for looking

 

[financialreef]

Looks great! Where'd you get the rock?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Sounds good!! I'm interested in seeing how this pans out!

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Thanks you two. I bought them off a guy on a local forum. He had like 80lbs for $25. I took what i wanted and then sold 3 pieces to a friend for his biocube and to another reef and made some extra $$$$$

The only thing I'll need to buy is a top off system. I've got one from autotopoff.com on my 90g and I'm loving it and its not going to kill the bank so I'll probably go back to them.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

well, some ppl told me to paint the bottom so got some spray paint and epoxy when i went out today. here it is
before

after

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Where did you get those lights from for so cheap?!

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Where did you get those lights from for so cheap?!

there was a guy on a local forum selling all his equipment. he had two 20g long tanks. one was a frag tank that had 2 exotic par38 bulbs and the other was an anemone tank with these light and that was his price. you can buy them on aquatrader for $110 NIB

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Hmm. Thats not a bad deal. I think im going to keep looking local until I can find a steal lol.

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Hey, I've got 3 local forums to look at and Craigslist is big down here. I bought mine 90g lights for $100. Current pro 6 bulb fixture

 

[revsgirl]

Lookin' good!

 

[Veganbrian]

That rock is very interesting, Lets see some water!

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

Thanks revs girl & veganbrian.

I'm going to be doing a 20g WC on my 90g this weekend so I'll take some of that and then some fresh salt and get her wet hopefully this weekend.

 

[revhtree]

Yes the aquascape looks good!

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

*****Update Time*****
Well, I did a 20g water change to my 90 last night so I took that and another 15g of new salt and finally got her wet. Only had one minor issue. I set the temp on my 100w heater to 79 and left it alone. I went and bought a thermostat for the tank and when I stuck it in it went to 84. Yikes!!!!! No wonder why this tank started to smell bad. I was basically cooking the rock. Turned the heater down and stuck some floss I. The aqua and then after 3 hours stuck some carbon in to clear the water up a lil bit. Some far everything else is good. Got to grab a piece of rock from the 90 to seed this one and start the long wait for the cycle. Now some pictures.

Tomorrow I'll set up the ato and figure out all the wires so they aren't a hazard to the kids.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Woohoo!!! It has water in it!!! :bigsmile:

 

[ifarmer]

too much rock in that tank perhaps?

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

too much rock in that tank perhaps?

Don't think that's possible. Rock and sand are your filtration. The more the better

 

[Bry]

Looking good!

Doesn't look like to much rock to me..

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

well, its been a month since last update. my cycle went smooth and lasted about a month or so. a friend gave me a clown for free cause it was being naughty. i tore down my 90g to upgrade to a 150 cube so everything there had to go. took some coral out and my pair of bl&wh clowns and added it to this one and came out nicely. added a cheap ato some1 local was selling for $10. does a good job but the pump will quit working every couple of day so i've got to shake it a lil. i also added a lawnmower blenny to cut the algae. hes doing a great job and was an awesome addition. here are some pics.
duncan and frogspawn

green zoas

some nice pink ones already have a baby

another zoa

thanks for looking