aldrichg9
Community Member
Hello all,
This build has been in the works for some time but maybe in different forms.
First thing, I wanted to try to avoid ordering online and only buy local for the things I need.
My local fish store has been around for quite a while and has nice employees, but selection of equipment can be.... limited.
I started a few years ago collecting sand, shells, and interesting fossils from whatever Florida beach I vacationed at.
I've had these items cycling in saltwater for at about 2 years with some circulation and an HOB filter just for aeration.
All while lurking Marketplace looking for used setups.
In December I found a local guy selling out the following for $250 and I snatched it up.
125 aqueon with dual overflows
Stand that is too short and black
Unknown sump maybe ~50 gallons?
4 - 5 gallon buckets of sand
3 72" Orbit Pro LED lights
Unknown light for sump
Glass tops
Heaters that I didn't trust
Return pump with cracked magnet
Marineland skimmer that works but makes a heck of a bunch of noise
First I'll show a picture of what it looks like today after adding my first fish
2 Fancy Clowns
1 Firefish
8 Hermit Crabs
3 Turbo Snails
2 Peppermint Shrimp
The first thing I needed to do was some cleanup.
Washed down the tank and sump
I didn't take a ton of pics because well there's really nothing special about that process.
I will drop a pic of the sump here though because I'd like to see if anyone can identify what model this is.
Next I tested the return pump that came with my purchase.
Turns out the magnet is cracked and this pump hasn't been manufactured in many years (Deep Blue or something like that...)
So off I went to my LFS (where as I mentioned their selection is.... meh)
They recommended the below Grech pump (chinese)
Wasn't my first choice for sure! but it is running and moving water and it was cheap.
The flow isn't what I had hoped for and I will be getting another pump at some point so this one will become a backup.
Oh and it's louder than i had hoped.
All things considered though and especially for the price, I'm ok with it.
Next up was heat.
This also came from my LFS and their selection on this was also meh... (picture below)
The price is cheap and it works ok.
I had to return the first one.
The temp was off by 8 degrees and after a week I could hear the relay clicking on and off about once per second.
The store happily swapped it out and this one works ok, but I'm likely to order a better quality controller from BRS at some point.
Ok next came the stand.
I don't care for tanks that are way low to the floor and a person can't really just look in - they have to look down.
So I built a riser for the stand out of 2X8s using pocket holes.
Best thing I have done yet on this build
My dogs get forced to pose for these pics
A little painting in the house because it was cold out
Oh something else I picked up at the LFS was about 65 pounds of Real Reef rock.
Wanted more, but this stuff gets expensive fast!
I guess that's really it other than some new tubing for plumbing connections.
Cycled for about 6 weeks and I just couldn't take it any more so I had to add some critters this weekend.
Oh I almost forgot - added some lava rock and other porous shenanigans to the sump.
And just sharing some more pics for fun.
If you have made it this far - thanks for checking out my budget build and please make comments.
This build has been in the works for some time but maybe in different forms.
First thing, I wanted to try to avoid ordering online and only buy local for the things I need.
My local fish store has been around for quite a while and has nice employees, but selection of equipment can be.... limited.
I started a few years ago collecting sand, shells, and interesting fossils from whatever Florida beach I vacationed at.
I've had these items cycling in saltwater for at about 2 years with some circulation and an HOB filter just for aeration.
All while lurking Marketplace looking for used setups.
In December I found a local guy selling out the following for $250 and I snatched it up.
125 aqueon with dual overflows
Stand that is too short and black
Unknown sump maybe ~50 gallons?
4 - 5 gallon buckets of sand
3 72" Orbit Pro LED lights
Unknown light for sump
Glass tops
Heaters that I didn't trust
Return pump with cracked magnet
Marineland skimmer that works but makes a heck of a bunch of noise
First I'll show a picture of what it looks like today after adding my first fish
2 Fancy Clowns
1 Firefish
8 Hermit Crabs
3 Turbo Snails
2 Peppermint Shrimp
The first thing I needed to do was some cleanup.
Washed down the tank and sump
I didn't take a ton of pics because well there's really nothing special about that process.
I will drop a pic of the sump here though because I'd like to see if anyone can identify what model this is.
Next I tested the return pump that came with my purchase.
Turns out the magnet is cracked and this pump hasn't been manufactured in many years (Deep Blue or something like that...)
So off I went to my LFS (where as I mentioned their selection is.... meh)
They recommended the below Grech pump (chinese)
Wasn't my first choice for sure! but it is running and moving water and it was cheap.
The flow isn't what I had hoped for and I will be getting another pump at some point so this one will become a backup.
Oh and it's louder than i had hoped.
All things considered though and especially for the price, I'm ok with it.
Next up was heat.
This also came from my LFS and their selection on this was also meh... (picture below)
The price is cheap and it works ok.
I had to return the first one.
The temp was off by 8 degrees and after a week I could hear the relay clicking on and off about once per second.
The store happily swapped it out and this one works ok, but I'm likely to order a better quality controller from BRS at some point.
Ok next came the stand.
I don't care for tanks that are way low to the floor and a person can't really just look in - they have to look down.
So I built a riser for the stand out of 2X8s using pocket holes.
Best thing I have done yet on this build
My dogs get forced to pose for these pics
A little painting in the house because it was cold out
Oh something else I picked up at the LFS was about 65 pounds of Real Reef rock.
Wanted more, but this stuff gets expensive fast!
I guess that's really it other than some new tubing for plumbing connections.
Cycled for about 6 weeks and I just couldn't take it any more so I had to add some critters this weekend.
Oh I almost forgot - added some lava rock and other porous shenanigans to the sump.
And just sharing some more pics for fun.
If you have made it this far - thanks for checking out my budget build and please make comments.
