AndynotDrew
New Member
Hey everyone! This is my 2nd go at my first reef tank. Working with a 50gal corner tank. It was a gift from a friend that was running it as freshwater with a hang on filter. I had two other freshwater tanks and decided it’s time to finally try saltwater.
I didn’t have the nerve to drill the out of fear that I’d mess up, so I ran a diy siphon overflow to a sump tank. Things were going well, until they weren’t. Went through algae outbreaks, and made all the newbie mistakes. Then it up being like clockwork that I would lose siphon every two months. I’d then empty the tank to access all the plumbing just to be sure it was still just a siphon issue. I should’ve fixed the problem with an air pump, but I didn’t want to run one more piece of gear. Did I mention I’m reefin on a budget? Lol.
After a while I lost my motivation and the tank sat there with only power heads keeping the water moving. Cut the lights off to let the algae die, and didnt turn them back on. Eventually any coral in there died, and I lost the couple fish I had (horrible person, I know). There it sat being a representation of my failure for a few months.
Finally, I decided it’s time to regroup, and revamp this system. To my surprise I still had a couple snails and a few hermit crabs in there! Made a diy above tank sump, redid the scape (a couple times), and let it run. 6 months later and here we are! Stocked with some fish, inverts, rbta, and I’m officially addicted to corals!
This has been a 2+ year process. I’m still a newbie learning more everyday and enjoying it. Here are some pictures showing my 2nd go at this. Appreciate any and all feedback, or pointers, and look forward to learning more through this forum.
I didn’t have the nerve to drill the out of fear that I’d mess up, so I ran a diy siphon overflow to a sump tank. Things were going well, until they weren’t. Went through algae outbreaks, and made all the newbie mistakes. Then it up being like clockwork that I would lose siphon every two months. I’d then empty the tank to access all the plumbing just to be sure it was still just a siphon issue. I should’ve fixed the problem with an air pump, but I didn’t want to run one more piece of gear. Did I mention I’m reefin on a budget? Lol.
After a while I lost my motivation and the tank sat there with only power heads keeping the water moving. Cut the lights off to let the algae die, and didnt turn them back on. Eventually any coral in there died, and I lost the couple fish I had (horrible person, I know). There it sat being a representation of my failure for a few months.
Finally, I decided it’s time to regroup, and revamp this system. To my surprise I still had a couple snails and a few hermit crabs in there! Made a diy above tank sump, redid the scape (a couple times), and let it run. 6 months later and here we are! Stocked with some fish, inverts, rbta, and I’m officially addicted to corals!
This has been a 2+ year process. I’m still a newbie learning more everyday and enjoying it. Here are some pictures showing my 2nd go at this. Appreciate any and all feedback, or pointers, and look forward to learning more through this forum.
