Roatan Reef
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MAC of SW Florida
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My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
Sooooo after 15+ years in the Freshwater Hobby, I finally decided to do a Mixed Reef Tank.
Yes, I have Snorkel and Dived all over the Caribbean.. Roatan, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Belize, Bahamas etc...and not just on a cruise ...we typically rent a house for 1.5 weeks in said locations...so I am thrilled to actually start a SW Tank.
I have a converted 125 Salt Water Tank for my S. American Cichlid/ Mixed Community Tank, and its doing great...I now sometimes wish that I should have kept the sump and not plugged the overflows, but all together it is my best and biggest FW tank ever. Its acrylic BTW..
Also have 2 Planted Betta Tanks, 2.5 gallons.
I've researched SW setups for over 6 years, but was always cautious about actually doing it. These are the big things that convinced me to pull the trigger....also been a lurker on R2R for years, never setting up an account until now.
1. I watched literally hundreds of Videos, read hundreds of articles over the years...although controversial, Reefbuilers and Jake Adams really convinced me to pull the trigger with his 1 day 20G Nano Tank build.
I figured I would use his method and apply it to a 40B tank.
I lol'ed at all the reefers telling him it was impossible to do what he did without cycling, no dosing, and he only did 6 water changes in 2 years...people absolutely lost their minds...and yet this is someone who has been in the industry over 20 years...and 2 years in...with a tank he purposely neglected is doing awesome
I did research SaltwaterAquraiam.com, BRSTV.com on YouTube along with many others to form an adult decision, along with researching R2R also..
Just to start, I decided to go with a Budget Reef Build Type of Setup....I say Budget Build because I am trying some different things that are a tad cheaper, but LULZ at a budget build Saltwater Tank.. once you get into it...you know! Your Budget goes out the Window!
40B Petco $56.00
Lid $36.00 Petco all on sale.
Stand/Cabinet Never on Sale $220.00
35lbs. Life Rock $225.00
30lbs Fiji Pink Aragonite $40.00
Fluval Marine 3.0 36" 46watt Light $256(LFS said would not grow Corals) WRONG!
Aquaclear 3 Chamber silent cannister filter $130.00
Filter Media = Phos Ban, Chemi Pure Blue, Marine Bio Balls, Ceramic Media, Aquachar, Poly Filter Pads, Regular Filter Floss = $110.00
2 Slim Pro 1200's wavemakers, DC controls, Syncable $149.00 each.
APC Battery Backup $125.00
100W Heater $30.00
Livestock =
2 Black Clowns
1 Midas Blenny
1 Scooter Blenny
(Used to have a gigantic midget ***** Yellow Devil Damsel) literally had to remove all Rock to get the scumbag out of the tank.
Never Ever Ever Never Ever Ever put one of these turds in your tank...you will regret it. He was systematically abusing my Clowns...but he Gone Now...going back to LFS Tomorrow!!
I knew better, believe me...but whatever!
Wave Hi at him and wish him luck!!
Corals =(mostly Frags) and all are doing great 2 weeks in.
1 Florida Recordia
1 Red and Green Blasto
1 Purple Tip Frogspawn
1 Double Neon Green Trumpet
3 Zoas, 1 Panda, 1 Bam Bam 1 unknown (red with Yellow Center) I am trying a Zoa Garden.
1 Hollywood Stunner Chalice
1 big ol GSP on its own rock in back of tank next to Glass.
I'm sure I'll regret, but will remove soon..1 Kenya Tree and Pulsing Zenia on its own rock away from main rock
Here's how it Started.
Here's how it went(used Brightwell Aquatics Bacteria Starter and Later added Dr. TIMS.
Here's how it's Going...
Will maybe add 1 more fish and 1 more Zoa, then let sit until Reefpalooza in Orlando, I plan on finding an awesome Hammer there.
(side note) moved to Melbourne FL last year after being born and raised in Orlando. We have 2 decent LFS Saltwater stores, but I now Realize how spoiled I was in Orlando with WWC in my backyard..I always visited original location, then new locations...and Man...wish I was in the hobby back then...but WWC is only a 50 Minute Ride, plus they will be at Reefpalooza in Orlando
Update, so after adding 2 of the Slim Pro 1200's, saw a dead spot in back of tank, added Sicce 1200 Nano to bottom of Right tank, added about 13 CUC members and a Cleaner Shrimp.....did a 5% water charge, running Carbon in tank
....water is now Crystal!
Still getting Diatoms.. .but whatever !
Yes, I have Snorkel and Dived all over the Caribbean.. Roatan, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Belize, Bahamas etc...and not just on a cruise ...we typically rent a house for 1.5 weeks in said locations...so I am thrilled to actually start a SW Tank.
I have a converted 125 Salt Water Tank for my S. American Cichlid/ Mixed Community Tank, and its doing great...I now sometimes wish that I should have kept the sump and not plugged the overflows, but all together it is my best and biggest FW tank ever. Its acrylic BTW..
Also have 2 Planted Betta Tanks, 2.5 gallons.
I've researched SW setups for over 6 years, but was always cautious about actually doing it. These are the big things that convinced me to pull the trigger....also been a lurker on R2R for years, never setting up an account until now.
1. I watched literally hundreds of Videos, read hundreds of articles over the years...although controversial, Reefbuilers and Jake Adams really convinced me to pull the trigger with his 1 day 20G Nano Tank build.
I figured I would use his method and apply it to a 40B tank.
I lol'ed at all the reefers telling him it was impossible to do what he did without cycling, no dosing, and he only did 6 water changes in 2 years...people absolutely lost their minds...and yet this is someone who has been in the industry over 20 years...and 2 years in...with a tank he purposely neglected is doing awesome
I did research SaltwaterAquraiam.com, BRSTV.com on YouTube along with many others to form an adult decision, along with researching R2R also..
Just to start, I decided to go with a Budget Reef Build Type of Setup....I say Budget Build because I am trying some different things that are a tad cheaper, but LULZ at a budget build Saltwater Tank.. once you get into it...you know! Your Budget goes out the Window!
40B Petco $56.00
Lid $36.00 Petco all on sale.
Stand/Cabinet Never on Sale $220.00
35lbs. Life Rock $225.00
30lbs Fiji Pink Aragonite $40.00
Fluval Marine 3.0 36" 46watt Light $256(LFS said would not grow Corals) WRONG!
Aquaclear 3 Chamber silent cannister filter $130.00
Filter Media = Phos Ban, Chemi Pure Blue, Marine Bio Balls, Ceramic Media, Aquachar, Poly Filter Pads, Regular Filter Floss = $110.00
2 Slim Pro 1200's wavemakers, DC controls, Syncable $149.00 each.
APC Battery Backup $125.00
100W Heater $30.00
Livestock =
2 Black Clowns
1 Midas Blenny
1 Scooter Blenny
(Used to have a gigantic midget ***** Yellow Devil Damsel) literally had to remove all Rock to get the scumbag out of the tank.
Never Ever Ever Never Ever Ever put one of these turds in your tank...you will regret it. He was systematically abusing my Clowns...but he Gone Now...going back to LFS Tomorrow!!
I knew better, believe me...but whatever!
Wave Hi at him and wish him luck!!
Corals =(mostly Frags) and all are doing great 2 weeks in.
1 Florida Recordia
1 Red and Green Blasto
1 Purple Tip Frogspawn
1 Double Neon Green Trumpet
3 Zoas, 1 Panda, 1 Bam Bam 1 unknown (red with Yellow Center) I am trying a Zoa Garden.
1 Hollywood Stunner Chalice
1 big ol GSP on its own rock in back of tank next to Glass.
I'm sure I'll regret, but will remove soon..1 Kenya Tree and Pulsing Zenia on its own rock away from main rock
Here's how it Started.
Here's how it went(used Brightwell Aquatics Bacteria Starter and Later added Dr. TIMS.
Here's how it's Going...
Will maybe add 1 more fish and 1 more Zoa, then let sit until Reefpalooza in Orlando, I plan on finding an awesome Hammer there.
(side note) moved to Melbourne FL last year after being born and raised in Orlando. We have 2 decent LFS Saltwater stores, but I now Realize how spoiled I was in Orlando with WWC in my backyard..I always visited original location, then new locations...and Man...wish I was in the hobby back then...but WWC is only a 50 Minute Ride, plus they will be at Reefpalooza in Orlando
Update, so after adding 2 of the Slim Pro 1200's, saw a dead spot in back of tank, added Sicce 1200 Nano to bottom of Right tank, added about 13 CUC members and a Cleaner Shrimp.....did a 5% water charge, running Carbon in tank
....water is now Crystal!
Still getting Diatoms.. .but whatever !
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