Trash can budget reef build

[bigkamp]

Bloat and Nemo have been found! Lol my daughter is thrilled dory’s butt was 35 bucks more then big ol bloat so she is still missing lol had dragonets but no love copepods said they eat brine and fed them in front of me not one touched it lol so I passed on them too for now...

 

[Soren]

When did you add the rock? Has your tank completed nitrogen cycle yet? You might be okay with hardy fish for now in a larger tank like yours, but you are setting yourself up for likely bad results if you add livestock too fast after setting up the tank. I'm not here looking forward to a "told you so" moment, but you might consider more research to avoid failures and unnecessary loss of life.

Did you add any seeding bacteria or true live rock in your tank?

I read your other thread and your response about your interactions on other sites when advice was given, but you may not realize how pretentious you might seem or why people might caution you against your approach since it seems to follow many paths on which many have failed.

The main advice I would give right now is to be patient, do not rush things, consider advice from those with experience, do more research, and do not think you are smarter than almost everyone else and will come up with a "new", cheap way to the most beautiful and colorful tank that negates the need for any of the equipment that others spend money on. I doubt many people are buying the equipment simply because they have a bunch of money to waste. If you choose a different path, that is up to you, but research the reasons for the equipment before dismissing it as rich-folk money-wasters.

I only offer this advice in the hope it can help prevent failure.

By the way, your axolotls look great. I had one for about 5 years. How long have you had yours? Did you raise them from babies or buy adults?
The Tokay gecko looks quite emaciated. I hope your care for her helps restore her health. I never had a Tokay gecko, but I have kept many different lizards and geckoes over the years and currently have bearded dragons.

 

[bigkamp]

When did you add the rock? Has your tank completed nitrogen cycle yet? You might be okay with hardy fish for now in a larger tank like yours, but you are setting yourself up for likely bad results if you add livestock too fast after setting up the tank. I'm not here looking forward to a "told you so" moment, but you might consider more research to avoid failures and unnecessary loss of life.

Did you add any seeding bacteria or true live rock in your tank?

I read your other thread and your response about your interactions on other sites when advice was given, but you may not realize how pretentious you might seem or why people might caution you against your approach since it seems to follow many paths on which many have failed.

The main advice I would give right now is to be patient, do not rush things, consider advice from those with experience, do more research, and do not think you are smarter than almost everyone else and will come up with a "new", cheap way to the most beautiful and colorful tank that negates the need for any of the equipment that others spend money on. I doubt many people are buying the equipment simply because they have a bunch of money to waste. If you choose a different path, that is up to you, but research the reasons for the equipment before dismissing it as rich-folk money-wasters.

I only offer this advice in the hope it can help prevent failure.

By the way, your axolotls look great. I had one for about 5 years. How long have you had yours? Did you raise them from babies or buy adults?
The Tokay gecko looks quite emaciated. I hope your care for her helps restore her health. I never had a Tokay gecko, but I have kept many different lizards and geckoes over the years and currently have bearded dragons.

I just don’t like the life in the sump that’s my issue with that type of set up it’s not about the equipment for me since the tank itself is the filter. I say I’m a newb but I’ve been researching for years I just like can filters cause they are easy to clean and replace. I’ve seen sooo many videos with beautiful refugs but then they close the doors... out side of a fish shop I find that weird. I get separating Marco from species that would eat a forest day one but to hide away such beautiful creature like they are just a tool is what bothers me... plus in nature they are neighbors ya know. Hope I don’t come off like a d!&$ my humor don’t transfer to text well, and even in person I get looks like he really said that lol but it’s all jokes I laugh at the bs just tryn to share what I’ve learned over the years it does transfer to day just gotta change the chemistry part... oh and that tokay is mean and a rescue I actually took in two the male was way worse and just refused to eat no matter what I did this female has eaten a little bit so i still have some hope but some people should have animals... I get stuck watching them pass tryn to keep them as well as possible I’ve saved a lot of species that lived out their lives but these geckos not coming healthy are tricky once they go south a lil it’s hard to come back... and if u do get one wear gloves lol the do not let go took three hours to get my glove back lol if it was my finger it would be a totally diff story lol and they little but aooo friggin strong as slick fast and sneaky she got out had to remove a 65” curve to get her down off the brick wall lol
Oh yeah the cycle I used live sand so it was seeded I feed the tank it’s stable I figure at 135 the puffer and a dry clown would do a nice fish cycle to a partial then a cycle and add a coral or two rise and repeat... I’m not gonna risk the animals the puffer would break my heart already we have 3 gsp puffer too in a species only brack tank running at 1.015/16 ish such happy Lil dudes now the big ol porky bloat lol so cool already called my local fresh seafood stop for live clams muscles and fresh while shrimp... going slow with adding more it’s gonna be awhile before it’s done that’s for sure. Thanks for the post this place is way better then other sites everyone’s been cool and laughed a bunch lol I’m enjoying talking to cool peoples

 

[Dark_Knightt]

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

Compared to reefing they must be pretty simple right? You basically dont have to top off, no mixing salt, just getting RO, maybe using some conditioner

 

[tsouth]

Welcome and godspeed on your journey in reefkeeping!

Would you happen to have some more pictures to share of your guitars? I'd love to see all of them!

 

[bigkamp]

Compared to reefing they must be pretty simple right? You basically dont have to top off, no mixing salt, just getting RO, maybe using some conditioner

Very easy just dechlor tap water I’ve never had a problem... now discus they are a reef tank with out salt basically they are so fragile literally need near 0ppm... if u sneeze to hard they all die lol but they are colorful... ugly but colorful lol main reason I’m in the salt now color it’s even easier if u go live plants then the hang on is just to o2 up the water and add some flow kinda like a reef with just power heads which is basically what I’m doing just adding cans for looper scoopers I have polishers in there work like a charm I’ve had fish that poop twice as big as 99% of reef fish lol I catch weird stuff around here like big ol snake heads big mouth bass pike and such predators lol we have fun with them for a while then put them back where we got them cans never let me down always clean and crystal clear...

 

[bigkamp]

Welcome and godspeed on your journey in reefkeeping!

Would you happen to have some more pictures to share of your guitars? I'd love to see all of them!

 

[Soren]

I just don’t like the life in the sump that’s my issue with that type of set up it’s not about the equipment for me since the tank itself is the filter. I say I’m a newb but I’ve been researching for years I just like can filters cause they are easy to clean and replace. I’ve seen sooo many videos with beautiful refugs but then they close the doors... out side of a fish shop I find that weird. I get separating Marco from species that would eat a forest day one but to hide away such beautiful creature like they are just a tool is what bothers me... plus in nature they are neighbors ya know. Hope I don’t come off like a d!&$ my humor don’t transfer to text well, and even in person I get looks like he really said that lol but it’s all jokes I laugh at the crap just tryn to share what I’ve learned over the years it does transfer to day just gotta change the chemistry part... oh and that tokay is mean and a rescue I actually took in two the male was way worse and just refused to eat no matter what I did this female has eaten a little bit so i still have some hope but some people should have animals... I get stuck watching them pass tryn to keep them as well as possible I’ve saved a lot of species that lived out their lives but these geckos not coming healthy are tricky once they go south a lil it’s hard to come back... and if u do get one wear gloves lol the do not let go took three hours to get my glove back lol if it was my finger it would be a totally diff story lol and they little but aooo friggin strong as slick fast and sneaky she got out had to remove a 65” curve to get her down off the brick wall lol
Oh yeah the cycle I used live sand so it was seeded I feed the tank it’s stable I figure at 135 the puffer and a dry clown would do a nice fish cycle to a partial then a cycle and add a coral or two rise and repeat... I’m not gonna risk the animals the puffer would break my heart already we have 3 gsp puffer too in a species only brack tank running at 1.015/16 ish such happy Lil dudes now the big ol porky bloat lol so cool already called my local fresh seafood stop for live clams muscles and fresh while shrimp... going slow with adding more it’s gonna be awhile before it’s done that’s for sure. Thanks for the post this place is way better then other sites everyone’s been cool and laughed a bunch lol I’m enjoying talking to cool peoples

My current running setup is a 75-gallon FOWLR with two cannister filters that I got from a co-worker. They seem to work fine for FOWLR tanks, but most experiences I read indicate that they are not as effective for reef tanks. Due to being closed loops that have to be water-sealed for siphon, they present extra difficulty with cleaning and maintenance than simple filter socks or other media in a sump that can just be pulled out and swapped for cleaning. A sump also allows for more total water volume to aid stability while also allowing more area for biodiversity that can help the system. In the end, it is a personal choice how you plan to do it. I do not think cannister filters are going to be the failure of your system, though I still prefer a sump when possible.

I am in-process right now with modifying my FOWLR into a linked system with a 90-gallon reef, 75-gallon mangrove lagoon, and 75-gallon sump. Though the system will be larger, I expect maintenance to be simpler and will have room for a reef and some not-reef-safe fish as well. The main portion in the middle of my sump will be used for growing macroalgae and will not be covered with a door. This allows for added biodiversity more similar to nature (since I like fish such as tangs and foxface rabbitfish that would eat the algae if it were in the same tank with them) and I really like how the macroalgae looks on its own merits. The sump just opens me up to more possibilities that I like to be able to consider.

My guess was that the Tokay gecko was a rescue, and I am glad to hear that is the case. Hopefully you can be successful in restoring her health and with taming her (maybe not likely with a Tokay gecko, I've heard they are almost always mean).

My experience so far with R2R has been that I find a lot of useful advice and information from a lot of great members. I'm glad your experience so far has been the same.

 

[greetl01]

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 literally fear this for myself ;Joyful what's water change day like?

 

[bigkamp]

I literally fear this for myself ;Joyful what's water change day like?

First one to catch that lol it’s not terrible but it’s a day for sure was easier before salt and brackish was two three hours with cleaning and sitting down again but with the brack and now the big tank salt... I’ll let ya know in a couple months when I dial in how I’m gonna continue this endeavor lol tweaks are coming for sure! Cause I’m not drilling these original floors to run tube or pipe I may be able to fish a hose thru a closet wall but it’s next to then over my pool table the two bigger tanks both sit literally above a 100 year old billiards (historically saved) table I have nightmares often lol seriously I wanna brace if I go bigger which I’m sure I’ll do later then sooner I want a floor to ceiling already and I don’t even have a single coral in There yet lol Houston we have a problem

 

[bigkamp]

Sorted out the lighting I now have two 4’ and one 6’ aquatic life t5 8bulb up and run I g gonna source a bunch of blue and pink bulbs eventually... if anyone has a link that would help. Got a couple mandarin dragonets in there. More rock should be here wends ish... here’s how it’s looking so far...

 

[bigkamp]

Added two Zoa frags to literally test my water lol and they opened right up!!! Stoked!!! And I might be going to work at my local fish store! Seriously! They are swamped and they guy that always helps me said please call the owner tell him he sent me and he knows I know my ish lol and I have plumbing and electrical experiance in commercial settings so I’m a triple threat lol might be become a professional hahaha!

 

[bigkamp]

looking good only been two weeks and I see some growth... only bad thing is the puffer never got better... never ate and passed... but everyone else is good and the corals I’m very pleased

 

[bigkamp]

Had amazing algae growth about to add a lot more rock it’s curing now maybe a week or so more to go... but grabbed these two beauties to clean up the excess did not expect it to happen in two days lol couple Lil piggers sail fin and powder brown tangs very cool to watch them do their thing I don’t even think I need a yellow tang at this point lol