Lee
Member
My story started out how many stereotypical SW newbies do: "I have an idea, how about an SW fish tank! Great idea, I can spare $300 no problem." Lee gets real excited and starts researching fish. Once Lee reaches the point where he wants an aquarium so much that there's no turning back, he buys a book on Marine tanks. "Holy crap, looks like that $300 estimate isn't going to cut it. Well, I'm too emotionally invested now, gotta go all the way!" $1,700 later and I'm still ready to spend more...
So I planned out my project roughly according to the protocols from various marine aquarium newbie books. 75 gallon with a custom built stand. I built the stand and canopy myself. The stand is built with 2x4's and is strong enough to hold several elephants. (My uncle the carpenter revised my plans at the very last minute) The base is covered with a beautiful 3/4" birch plywood and solid oak trim, as is the canopy. The canopy was constructed with housing a light fixture in mind. But as I've recently upgraded from standard output fluorescents to power compacts, heat has become a serious ssue and I need to open up and/or ventilate my canopy big time.
Anyway, here are some finalized construction shots:
During the next week, I got it home, put in about 100 pounds of live sand and a few big hunks of live rock, and a handful of yellow tail damsels. From that point on, spending money on the tank was actually an enjoyable thing. It was no longer "ouch, $6/pound for live rock???" Now it was "YES, more live rock for the tank! Take my money, just give me all your rock!" After a 2-3 week damsel cycle, they came out, and the Chromis/Clown group went it.
Here's a shot of the tank in my living room, (Picture taken 5 months ago, Tank age: 1 month)
Next, I got my quarantine tank set up, which housed a nice baby yellow tang for a couple of weeks. Here is a full tank shot at around 1-2 months while Mr. Bubbles the yellow tang (yes, I name my fish all totally unoriginal names) was in QT.
Over the next several months, I got a lot more live rock, researched lots of different fish, complained that my uncle's base design didn't leave me room for a sump, wished I hadn't been such a cheap ass when buying a skimmer and lights, and other things. I also added a couple fish. Mr Bubbles went in the display tank, I found a Tahiti Flame Angelfish locally for only $60, got a cleaner shrimp, and a Bangaii cardinal pair, one of which failed to adapt to his new home and bit the bullet. I know I probably moved a little faster than an experienced reefer would have. 6 months and I have a Tang and an angel already. All I can say about that is that I'm not an experienced reefer, so I'm probably going to make some mistakes.
I am learning more and more everyday, and listening to the LFS less and less everyday
Inspired by Frank's chronicle's, I recently re-arranged my rock to the two-tower style: (picture taken last week, tank age 6 months)
Left side:
Right Side:
Whom once were enemies are now friends:
The clowns (they're camera shy)
Mr Grumpy Pants (he has been frowning since the day I bought him)
Ninja Shrimp hanging inconspicuously from a rock poised to launch a stealth attack on Mr Bubbles:
My tank hasn't gotten a lot of love lately, but there's a good reason for it. (besides the fact that its post Christmas, and I'm broke) We have a new family member who has gotten the vast majority of my attention lately. My christmas gift to my girlfriend: (aren't I nice?)
So I planned out my project roughly according to the protocols from various marine aquarium newbie books. 75 gallon with a custom built stand. I built the stand and canopy myself. The stand is built with 2x4's and is strong enough to hold several elephants. (My uncle the carpenter revised my plans at the very last minute) The base is covered with a beautiful 3/4" birch plywood and solid oak trim, as is the canopy. The canopy was constructed with housing a light fixture in mind. But as I've recently upgraded from standard output fluorescents to power compacts, heat has become a serious ssue and I need to open up and/or ventilate my canopy big time.
Anyway, here are some finalized construction shots:
During the next week, I got it home, put in about 100 pounds of live sand and a few big hunks of live rock, and a handful of yellow tail damsels. From that point on, spending money on the tank was actually an enjoyable thing. It was no longer "ouch, $6/pound for live rock???" Now it was "YES, more live rock for the tank! Take my money, just give me all your rock!" After a 2-3 week damsel cycle, they came out, and the Chromis/Clown group went it.
Here's a shot of the tank in my living room, (Picture taken 5 months ago, Tank age: 1 month)
Next, I got my quarantine tank set up, which housed a nice baby yellow tang for a couple of weeks. Here is a full tank shot at around 1-2 months while Mr. Bubbles the yellow tang (yes, I name my fish all totally unoriginal names) was in QT.
Over the next several months, I got a lot more live rock, researched lots of different fish, complained that my uncle's base design didn't leave me room for a sump, wished I hadn't been such a cheap ass when buying a skimmer and lights, and other things. I also added a couple fish. Mr Bubbles went in the display tank, I found a Tahiti Flame Angelfish locally for only $60, got a cleaner shrimp, and a Bangaii cardinal pair, one of which failed to adapt to his new home and bit the bullet. I know I probably moved a little faster than an experienced reefer would have. 6 months and I have a Tang and an angel already. All I can say about that is that I'm not an experienced reefer, so I'm probably going to make some mistakes.
I am learning more and more everyday, and listening to the LFS less and less everydayInspired by Frank's chronicle's, I recently re-arranged my rock to the two-tower style: (picture taken last week, tank age 6 months)
Left side:
Right Side:
Whom once were enemies are now friends:
The clowns (they're camera shy)
Mr Grumpy Pants (he has been frowning since the day I bought him)
Ninja Shrimp hanging inconspicuously from a rock poised to launch a stealth attack on Mr Bubbles:
My tank hasn't gotten a lot of love lately, but there's a good reason for it. (besides the fact that its post Christmas, and I'm broke) We have a new family member who has gotten the vast majority of my attention lately. My christmas gift to my girlfriend: (aren't I nice?)
