First Tank Ever - NJ

[mzurla]

Hey guys, figured I'd make one of these build threads.

A couple months ago the wife and I said we should get a fish tank for the kids. We had recently lost our 12 year old dog and I had the itch to take care of something. Talked to my "fish buddy" about setting up a freshwater tank and now I have a 75 gallon beginnings of a reef tank...

Picked up a 75 gallon full setup off of Facebook market place. Slapped a new coat of paint on the stand. Picked up about 100lbs of dry rock from a guy on FB marketplace for $20.

Set the tank up in the living room, filled it and added salt. Threw some microbacter start and a couple of clownfish in it. After a couple weeks just added a small mimic tang and a handful of snails.

Overall very pleased with how things are going. Excited to get some easy corals down the road.

Anyways, here are some pictures of the progress.

 

[Peace River]

It looks like you are off to a good start! Congratulations on your new adventure!

 

[fishface NJ]

Scape came out great!

 

[Supa]

Nice! Welcome to the club

 

[mzurla]

Scape came out great!

Thanks!

 

[paintman]

Yoo dude!!!!!!!!! Where you located in NJ? I am in Hunterdon County. Do you know about the NJ club? NJreefers.org
We are having a get together tomorrow (Saturday). Pop over to the website and snoop around!

 

[mzurla]

Yoo dude!!!!!!!!! Where you located in NJ? I am in Hunterdon County. Do you know about the NJ club? NJreefers.org
We are having a get together tomorrow (Saturday). Pop over to the website and snoop around!

Hey man, I'm in Jackson by Six Flags. Attending a wedding tomorrow though. I'll check out the website as well

 

[paintman]

Hey man, I'm in Jackson by Six Flags. Attending a wedding tomorrow though. I'll check out the website as well

That's cool I am down your way all the time. I go to New Egypt Speedway on Saturdays.

 

[mzurla]

Hey guys, is this standard "ugly phase" stuff? Tank has had fish in it about a month now. Been using some microbacter clean for a couple weeks now. Have a small clean up crew of a handful of snails. Picking up more this week and starting a refugium.

 

[fishface NJ]

Yes it’s the ugly stage of dry rock

 

[mzurla]

Officially one year in! Have had some film algae popping up the last couple of weeks. Reduced feedings and increased water changes so we'll see.

Currently have....

2 clown fish
1 mimic tang
1 purple firefish
1 purple striped dotty back
Bunch of different snails and hermits
GSP
Couple of unknown corals (I think they're candy canes?)
A mushroom or two
Putting xenia
Galaxia

Refugium is running with sea lettuce

 

[fishface NJ]

looking good

 

[DanM1029]

Did you glue the rock scape together in any way?

 

[JSmith]

Looking good! I’m in Manalapan about 10 minutes from 6 Flags as well. Have you joined the NJREEFERS.org forum?