DBLDWNFireMedic
New Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2017
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 6
I have been lurking here for a while, I think I posted once in a thread about black substrate. I feel like putting my setup out there. It't not perfect, so I will try and explain why some things are the way they are and admit to any screw ups that I am aware of.
A little background about me and about this project. I am 33 and have kept tanks, ponds, planted vases and other assorted things since I was about ten. I've had turtles, fish, frogs, shrimp, species tanks, community tanks, high tech tanks, low tech tanks and everything I could think of that interested me as far as freshwater goes. As for this project, it started when my 5 year old and I would go to one of our LFS to buy freshwater. She couldn't get away from the saltwater fish. We would go in for a cichlid of some variety or a school of something and she would lose interest and be glued to the marine stuff! I had always wanted a saltwater tank, but I never really looked into it much because I just figured it was a lot of work. Well now I had a reason to look a little closer, so I started researching. I got plugged in to a local group, I hounded my LFS, and I made contact with a few people who live near me. It took me about 6 months to do my research and gather my supplies, but its been a blast so far. My 5 year old helped my every step of the way. This tank is for her, so shes picked the fish and the colors while I have kinda focused more on inverts, CUC, and corals.
The tank is only three months old. I should have drilled two overflows, maybe 3, instead of one. I should have gone bigger than 3/4 inch plumbing. Also I got hold of the two nems I have on a bit of a whim. I got good deals on them, but I ultimately jumped into them. I know, shame on me. I hope they can survive in my newer tank and I plan to watch them very close. I've got a buddy that can hold them for me if they start looking to be in poor condition.
Picture Descriptions:
Overall Setup - 40B drilled, Current Marine LED, Generic Fan, Mag 5 Return pump, DIY stand, DIY plumbing, koralia power heads, trigger systems sump, black sand (dry), dry rock.
Overall DT
Overall Sump
Inadequate Skimmers - These just need to get me by a bit longer. A very gracious fellow fish keeper who lives near me just gave me a EuroReef 180 that just needs a tiny repair, which I am planning to complete tomorrow.
Just before the return. I used these little pot scrubber just to cut down on micro bubbles. I rinse them when I change filter socks. It isn't ideal, but it works for now.
Forgot I uploaded this one. A little 30x30x12 Frag tank I picked up. Its not in perfect condition, but not bad for $30.00! Not yet decided if I will actually keep it as a frag tank, as I am still new to the hobby. I may just set it up as a QT tank as needed. Then again I could do a shallow scape, DIY a spare 29g into a sump and use it as a grow out tank for corals and throw a little CUC in there. Who knows. Either way, it passed its leak test!
Green Star Polyps. I know. They Spread. A lot. I have them isolated on a rock in one of the front corners for now. Hoping they will behave and stay there.
Yellow Eyelash.
Valentines Day Massacre Zoa
Hollywood Stunner Chalice
Utter Chaos Zoa. This one is breaking my heart. It isn't opening up very well and I am so upset by that. It isn't melting, it just doesn't seem too happy. Any Ideas?
Rainbow BTA with one of my two Ocellaris photobombing.
Green and Purple Long Tentacle Nem.
Not pictured is some Pulsing Xenia that blew off its frag plug. God only knows where that sucker landed. Ugh.
As far as fish and other livestock, I dont have any pictures with me. I can tell you what I have though:
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
3 Bar Gobys (or Zebra Barred Dartfish or whatever you want to call them)
2 Peppermint Shrimp
10 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
10 assorted variety of snails.
TL;DR:
I am new here and to saltwater! Its going OK so far, but I've made some rookie mistakes! Please ask questions and give advice, as I am more than happy to learn and take advice! Also... PICTURES!
EDIT : Adding a little better shot of the DT.
A little background about me and about this project. I am 33 and have kept tanks, ponds, planted vases and other assorted things since I was about ten. I've had turtles, fish, frogs, shrimp, species tanks, community tanks, high tech tanks, low tech tanks and everything I could think of that interested me as far as freshwater goes. As for this project, it started when my 5 year old and I would go to one of our LFS to buy freshwater. She couldn't get away from the saltwater fish. We would go in for a cichlid of some variety or a school of something and she would lose interest and be glued to the marine stuff! I had always wanted a saltwater tank, but I never really looked into it much because I just figured it was a lot of work. Well now I had a reason to look a little closer, so I started researching. I got plugged in to a local group, I hounded my LFS, and I made contact with a few people who live near me. It took me about 6 months to do my research and gather my supplies, but its been a blast so far. My 5 year old helped my every step of the way. This tank is for her, so shes picked the fish and the colors while I have kinda focused more on inverts, CUC, and corals.
The tank is only three months old. I should have drilled two overflows, maybe 3, instead of one. I should have gone bigger than 3/4 inch plumbing. Also I got hold of the two nems I have on a bit of a whim. I got good deals on them, but I ultimately jumped into them. I know, shame on me. I hope they can survive in my newer tank and I plan to watch them very close. I've got a buddy that can hold them for me if they start looking to be in poor condition.
Picture Descriptions:
Overall Setup - 40B drilled, Current Marine LED, Generic Fan, Mag 5 Return pump, DIY stand, DIY plumbing, koralia power heads, trigger systems sump, black sand (dry), dry rock.
Overall DT
Overall Sump
Inadequate Skimmers - These just need to get me by a bit longer. A very gracious fellow fish keeper who lives near me just gave me a EuroReef 180 that just needs a tiny repair, which I am planning to complete tomorrow.
Just before the return. I used these little pot scrubber just to cut down on micro bubbles. I rinse them when I change filter socks. It isn't ideal, but it works for now.
Forgot I uploaded this one. A little 30x30x12 Frag tank I picked up. Its not in perfect condition, but not bad for $30.00! Not yet decided if I will actually keep it as a frag tank, as I am still new to the hobby. I may just set it up as a QT tank as needed. Then again I could do a shallow scape, DIY a spare 29g into a sump and use it as a grow out tank for corals and throw a little CUC in there. Who knows. Either way, it passed its leak test!
Green Star Polyps. I know. They Spread. A lot. I have them isolated on a rock in one of the front corners for now. Hoping they will behave and stay there.
Yellow Eyelash.
Valentines Day Massacre Zoa
Hollywood Stunner Chalice
Utter Chaos Zoa. This one is breaking my heart. It isn't opening up very well and I am so upset by that. It isn't melting, it just doesn't seem too happy. Any Ideas?
Rainbow BTA with one of my two Ocellaris photobombing.
Green and Purple Long Tentacle Nem.
Not pictured is some Pulsing Xenia that blew off its frag plug. God only knows where that sucker landed. Ugh.
As far as fish and other livestock, I dont have any pictures with me. I can tell you what I have though:
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
3 Bar Gobys (or Zebra Barred Dartfish or whatever you want to call them)
2 Peppermint Shrimp
10 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
10 assorted variety of snails.
TL;DR:
I am new here and to saltwater! Its going OK so far, but I've made some rookie mistakes! Please ask questions and give advice, as I am more than happy to learn and take advice! Also... PICTURES!
EDIT : Adding a little better shot of the DT.
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