Trash can budget reef build

[bigkamp]

So I’m 42 now always wanted a reef... never bothered because everything is a 1000$... got a free 135g bout 7 years ago at first was even afraid to fill it to leak test it so it was a dessert reptile enclosure for 5 years or so saw snakes and uromastyxs(lil dinosaurs lol) moved and carried the heavy old prick up my many long stairs lol to her forever home... grew some balls softer the last lizard left earth...had great luck with fresh running two bio mechanical can filters had a red tail, an arrowana, gsp’s(now in a Species only heavy brack tank) the the red tail decide to knock over granite boulders and killed himself arrowana was a victim too... so I emptied cleaned and blacked out the back asked my daughter(lil helper) what’s next she said Nemo and dory so here we are at the start of our soon to be reef... live sand, dry rock in shipping now, reef lights found waiting to figure out logistics... still running two cans... I know I’m bout to get trashed but I can take it... I’m here to show what I can do with a zero budget or as close to that as I can keep it... (already 220 deep but got a 107 refund so yeah!) lol anyway so we are gonna get probably two if not three pair(dif variants) of clowns a single “baby dory” (he’s I know they are monsters... if I can handle a red tail... lol I’m goodies lol) and then I’m I’m going dragonets three or for variants... will be finishing cycle in a day or two rocks will be sculpted bact added copepods added... I’m display refugin macro algae’s and two mangroves basically every most put under the tank is going in mine then I’ll add more fish that will not bother my dragons and I only want bright crazy odd ****... but a fully self sustaining tank minus adding food and calcium by hand... I’m not in to robots controlling my water or anything Siri better back her butt up off my reef lol stay tuned I’m sure I’ll asked a bunch of stupid questions then do it my way anyway lol

 

[bigkamp]

So I’m 42 now always wanted a reef... never bothered because everything is a 1000$... got a free 135g bout 7 years ago at first was even afraid to fill it to leak test it so it was a dessert reptile enclosure for 5 years or so saw snakes and uromastyxs(lil dinosaurs lol) moved and carried the heavy old prick up my many long stairs lol to her forever home... grew some balls softer the last lizard left earth...had great luck with fresh running two bio mechanical can filters had a red tail, an arrowana, gsp’s(now in a Species only heavy brack tank) the the red tail decide to knock over granite boulders and killed himself arrowana was a victim too... so I emptied cleaned and blacked out the back asked my daughter(lil helper) what’s next she said Nemo and dory so here we are at the start of our soon to be reef... live sand, dry rock in shipping now, reef lights found waiting to figure out logistics... still running two cans... I know I’m bout to get trashed but I can take it... I’m here to show what I can do with a zero budget or as close to that as I can keep it... (already 220 deep but got a 107 refund so yeah!) lol anyway so we are gonna get probably two if not three pair(dif variants) of clowns a single “baby dory” (he’s I know they are monsters... if I can handle a red tail... lol I’m goodies lol) and then I’m I’m going dragonets three or for variants... will be finishing cycle in a day or two rocks will be sculpted bact added copepods added... I’m display refugin macro algae’s and two mangroves basically every most put under the tank is going in mine then I’ll add more fish that will not bother my dragons and I only want bright crazy odd ****... but a fully self sustaining tank minus adding food and calcium by hand... I’m not in to robots controlling my water or anything Siri better back her butt up off my reef lol stay tuned I’m sure I’ll asked a bunch of stupid questions then do it my way anyway lol

 

[MohrReefs]

You should type up a build thread on here and link it to your profile so others can see the progress or even help out if need be.

 

[ZX6Reef]

love the wu-tang frame

 

[MNFish]

I am working on setting up a tank with my daughter, and it has been a blast. It is fun to share my many failures and occasional win with her. Good luck and keep us posted with updates!

 

[MohrReefs]

I am working on setting up a tank with my daughter, and it has been a blast. It is fun to share my many failures and occasional win with her. Good luck and keep us posted with updates!

An occasional win is more than anyone could ever ask for in this hobby lol.

 

[Weasel1960]

Welcome to R2R keep us posted on your progress.

 

[bigkamp]

Here’s a peak at how we live lol we have all the waters one cold fresh one tropical fresh one brackish now the reef u can see the last set up on the big tank after the red tail demo it lol was gonna do another ray always wanted a black diamond... but Nemo and dory won I was out voted lol

 

[MohrReefs]

Here’s a peak at how we live lol we have all the waters one cold fresh one tropical fresh one brackish now the reef u can see the last set up on the big tank after the red tail demo it lol was gonna do another ray always wanted a black diamond... but Nemo and dory won I was out voted lol

I want a freshwater tank bad. Are they tricky at all?

 

[bigkamp]

I want a freshwater tank bad. Are they tricky at all?

Super easy... just like anything else the pet sores will sell u a bunch of crap u don’t need get a can filter off Amazon I got a no name it’s literally a sunsun or something like that can use their parts in it came in with a I’ve light transformer brace busted but still works they sent me a second one free both rated 75g I have a 135 so slightly over clocked only using the media provided and I’ve literally never touched it in a year no live plants just sand from my snake tank and lizards didn’t do much but rise it with tap h2O I had monsters that poop ALOT... other then wiping off algae from my u def water led and the glass near them I just feed my fish and topped off with tap water dechlored... water changes only if something died usually the one store I get stuff from went down hill so I’d be quick to do a partial and add a few drops of medicine... my I always use tap... it’s hard water 300s so I’m gonna test the reef tank before I add life.... but do it bro super easy like insane easy compared to this stuff... hang on filter work for small tanks just sucks fish are blah... discus have color but they cost the same as reef fish... but there is a lot of cool stuff u can do in fresh just not super colorful...

 

[MohrReefs]

Super easy... just like anything else the pet sores will sell u a bunch of crap u don’t need get a can filter off Amazon I got a no name it’s literally a sunsun or something like that can use their parts in it came in with a I’ve light transformer brace busted but still works they sent me a second one free both rated 75g I have a 135 so slightly over clocked only using the media provided and I’ve literally never touched it in a year no live plants just sand from my snake tank and lizards didn’t do much but rise it with tap h2O I had monsters that poop ALOT... other then wiping off algae from my u def water led and the glass near them I just feed my fish and topped off with tap water dechlored... water changes only if something died usually the one store I get stuff from went down hill so I’d be quick to do a partial and add a few drops of medicine... my I always use tap... it’s hard water 300s so I’m gonna test the reef tank before I add life.... but do it bro super easy like insane easy compared to this stuff... hang on filter work for small tanks just sucks fish are blah... discus have color but they cost the same as reef fish... but there is a lot of cool stuff u can do in fresh just not super colorful...

I'll look into it. Thanks!

 

[WirelessMike]

Love the story, the budget build, and the Wu Tang on the wall! Lol wu tang is forever! Make sure to set up a build thread we can follow!

 

[fishlover1478]

I'll look into it. Thanks!

look up aquarium co op on youtube I would say the best channel for a beginner
also join forums they are incredibly helpful which you probably know since your on r2r

 

[bigkamp]

Dry live rock came in!!! They already are scaped and epoxied and placed! Def getting more later once I get a few things growing right! I’m stoked! Finally some color in there lol

 

[MohrReefs]

Did you cure the rock by chance?

 

[Soren]

Did you cure the rock by chance?

Unless it is different than the source I checked out when researching rock for my setup (eBay: pickyouraddiction), the rock is dry, not live, rock and would not need to be cured.

 

[MohrReefs]

Unless it is different than the source I checked out when researching rock for my setup (eBay: pickyouraddiction), the rock is dry, not live, rock and would not need to be cured.

Dry rocks need curing because dead organics get trapped in it and they'll decomp in the tank. He'll just have some phosphate leeching, not the end of the world. Just asking.

 

[Soren]

Dry rocks need curing because dead organics get trapped in it and they'll decomp in the tank. He'll just have some phosphate leeching, not the end of the world. Just asking.

This is true for all dry rock? It does not look like this source provides reef rock that is dried, but rather mined aragonite limestone. I thought this type of rock did not need curing, but I may have to do more research. I have seen comments about phosphate leaching, but was not aware this was an issue in the common dry rock.

@MohrReefs
Edit: Not sure if the no-leaching comment is true since I have no experience, but here are the claims from the above-linked eBay seller's page toward the bottom:

• Will not leach undesirable contaminants or affect the aquarium nitrogen cycle
• Harvested on land in a Florida rock quarry so no damage comes to natural coral reefs

 

[MohrReefs]

This is true for all dry rock? It does not look like this source provides reef rock that is dried, but rather mined aragonite limestone. I thought this type of rock did not need curing, but I may have to do more research. I have seen comments about phosphate leaching, but was not aware this was an issue in the common dry rock.

@MohrReefs
Edit: Not sure if the no-leaching comment is true since I have no experience, but here are the claims from the above-linked eBay seller's page toward the bottom:

• Will not leach undesirable contaminants or affect the aquarium nitrogen cycle
• Harvested on land in a Florida rock quarry so no damage comes to natural coral reefs

Not sure about that rock or their claims. I just know when I got my dry rock I pulled numerous dead organic matter from mine. Maybe that one is different idk. Is that what he used?

 

[bigkamp]

Did you cure the rock by chance?

Was dry rock expensive butt dry rock painted rock at that lol but I like it no curing needed live sand seeded and fast cycled now a fish cycle starting I just grabbed a couple guys