Tank build

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

I've seen posts of people documenting their tank builds and I thought it seemed like it might be fun to try haha. Definitely not my first reef tank, but there's nobody irl that I can share this stuff with, so I figured i'd do that here. :smiling-face-with-tear::face-with-tears-of-joy:

I recently bought a 7 gallon Deskmate Mariana used (very scratched, but its okay). I thought about polishing it up, but decided not to as it's not super noticeable when it's filled with water.

I added 9.5# of Caribsea life rock and about 9# of their Fiji pink live sand. I bought a Sicce Syncra nano pump 110 Gph and the 30w jolly preset heater (that I'm not too sure is strong enough) I'm using one of my Ai Prime 16hd lights that I've had for a while from other tanks and a basic water bottle ATO that came with the tank.

I started the tank on March 10th and I'd say I'm around halfway through my cycle. I live in Florida, so I got water from the beach (I'm not going miles offshore, at that point it would be easier to make my own haha) I used a whole bottle of Fritz 900 and have just been ghost feeding every other day.

Right now, my parameters are:
Ph: 7.8
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 2ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 75-76 (might get a bigger heater)

But I just thought it'd be fun to share the life of this tank with people that might be interested haha

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I always love seeing what people can do with these deskmate tanks! Following along!

 

[Wonkabar]

Following, this is going to end up being a cool one!

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

Following, this is going to end up being a cool one!

I always love seeing what people can do with these deskmate tanks! Following along!

Thank you!

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

I got tired of going through over a gallon of fresh water per week and decided even though I don't like them, I'm going to make a lid haha. I'm making my own and i'm trying to make it as non-noticeable as possible. It's completely flat, with a couple tiny "tracks?" (not the right word, but I can't think of the correct word right now) to keep it exactly in place. I have to get another piece, because of the two I bought, the backside is wider than these pieces, so I used one of them to make a filter insert for the back chamber. There isn't much space in there, so I want to utilize it as best as possible. It's just a super simple one I threw together, I cut the plexiglass and super glued it and added a hole to each shelf to maybe make the circulation through it a tiny bit better.

Still regularly feeding every other day. I have 3 tiny blue leg hermits and two nassarius snails that're also tiny. I collected them out of the lagoon nearby. I'm thinking about getting one or two more of each one in the near future, being as they're so small (which is the perfect size.)

Parameters, because why not? haha

Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrate- 20ppm
Nitrite- 1ppm
pH- 8
Phosphate- 0ppm
Sg- 1.026
Temp- 75f

 

[kevgib67]

It blows me away how people have success and make such beautiful reefs in these little tanks.

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

It blows me away how people have success and make such beautiful reefs in these little tanks.

Hopefully I can make something decent out of it :grinning-face-with-sweat:

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

Haven't posted in a bit and I've been forgetting to post my recent additions haha. April 1st I added a tail spot blenny and a red head goby, they've been practically best friends since the first day and they're always together, which is great. I do plan on adding one more fish, but I haven't decided on exactly which one would fit best. I'm just looking for something that will use the water column, since these two are perching fish and especially without corals, you might think the tank is empty at first glance :grinning-face-with-sweat:

 

[kevgib67]

Haven't posted in a bit and I've been forgetting to post my recent additions haha. April 1st I added a tail spot blenny and a red head goby, they've been practically best friends since the first day and they're always together, which is great. I do plan on adding one more fish, but I haven't decided on exactly which one would fit best. I'm just looking for something that will use the water column, since these two are perching fish and especially without corals, you might think the tank is empty at first glance :grinning-face-with-sweat:

You’ll love them both ( I’m sure you already do)!

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

You’ll love them both ( I’m sure you already do)!

Definitely! It's even better that they purposely make sure to be around each other and are almost always hanging out in the same spot!

 

[Grant_J]

Haven't posted in a bit and I've been forgetting to post my recent additions haha. April 1st I added a tail spot blenny and a red head goby, they've been practically best friends since the first day and they're always together, which is great. I do plan on adding one more fish, but I haven't decided on exactly which one would fit best. I'm just looking for something that will use the water column, since these two are perching fish and especially without corals, you might think the tank is empty at first glance :grinning-face-with-sweat:

The build is looking good! Thanks for sharing. It's cool those guys are true tank buddies!

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

The build is looking good! Thanks for sharing. It's cool those guys are true tank buddies!

Thank you! I’m hoping to add a coral or two this evening. Hopefully have enough time to get to the lfs before they close haha

 

[kevgib67]

Thank you! I’m hoping to add a coral or two this evening. Hopefully have enough time to get to the lfs before they close haha

Pictures will be a must once they are in the tank and settled!

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

Pictures will be a must once they are in the tank and settled!

Got some pink zipper zoa's and gsp! I glued the gsp to the back wall and hopefully it takes off soon!

 

[kevgib67]

Got some pink zipper zoa's and gsp! I glued the gsp to the back wall and hopefully it takes off soon!

Those are great zoas! I don’t have them but I do have pink playboy bunny zoas. Gsp is bulletproof, you’ll have a green wall in no time.

 

[Saltybumfuzzle_]

Those are great zoas! I don’t have them but I do have pink playboy bunny zoas. Gsp is bulletproof, you’ll have a green wall in no time.

Yeah these ones are cool and I'm ready for it to grow on the wall, but not for when I have to keep trimming it when it starts to over grow :grinning-face-with-sweat: