Astromatix
New Member
- Review score
- +0 /0 /-0
Pacific Northwest Reefers
Build Thread Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2021
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 66
- Review score
- +0 /0 /-0
- Location
- North Vancouver, Canada
Hi fellow reefers!
I'm new here and thought I'd get a builder thread going to track and share my journey through this hobby. I had a 55G FOWLR about 14 years ago, and wow, have things ever changed!
Now that we are all spending so much more time at home I got re-inspired to start up this hobby...I wonder how many others are starting in this hobby due to COVID.
Anyway, I have this weird built-in cabinet area I always wanted to do something with and figured that a tank and sump might work in there. My aim is a mixed reef tank for endless gazing while I contemplate the meaning of life. I digress - but the intention is important, right?
At first, I wanted to do everything DIY and custom build my own tank to fit perfectly but I ended up buying a cheap 29G tank kit plus another 20G tank from Petsmart during the holiday sales to get me going.
So here is where I'm at today...
Equipment:
Next steps...
Test, monitor, go slow, save money, enjoy the process, refugium light & macro algae, protein skimmer (height is an issue for my clearance), add more fish, and add some easy starter corals. Very interested in stocking ideas for fish, inverts, and corals to get me to a breathtaking slice of the ocean in this little 29G. Comments, suggestions, questions, and chit-chat welcome.
I look forward to growing and learning in this hobby by tapping into the knowledge and experience of this awesome community.
And here are some pictures to document the journey so far...
I'm new here and thought I'd get a builder thread going to track and share my journey through this hobby. I had a 55G FOWLR about 14 years ago, and wow, have things ever changed!
Now that we are all spending so much more time at home I got re-inspired to start up this hobby...I wonder how many others are starting in this hobby due to COVID.
Anyway, I have this weird built-in cabinet area I always wanted to do something with and figured that a tank and sump might work in there. My aim is a mixed reef tank for endless gazing while I contemplate the meaning of life. I digress - but the intention is important, right?
At first, I wanted to do everything DIY and custom build my own tank to fit perfectly but I ended up buying a cheap 29G tank kit plus another 20G tank from Petsmart during the holiday sales to get me going.
So here is where I'm at today...
Equipment:
- 29G display tank (30" L X 12" W X 18" H) w/ DIY drilled overflow (Eshopp Prodigy M) and return
- 20G sump with (30" L X 12" W X 12" H) w/ DIY FijiCube Sump Baffle Kit (20G long)
- AI Nero 3 powerhead
- 2x AI Prime 16HD lighting
- Current USA eFlux 1050 return pump
- Inkbird Wifi Controller and 1x BRS 200W heater, 1x 100W backup heater (the one that came with the PetSmart kit)
- 30lbs of Marco Rock which I aquascaped dry with Marco Rock Cement (this took me forever but I was very inspired by negative space aquascaping (NSA / HNSA) and loved every minute of it - let me know what you think!)
- 20lbs Caribsea Special Grade sand (live)
- 2 Black Photon Clowns (Yes, I cycled with them and MacroBacter XLM - no issues)
- 1 Cleaner Skunk Shrimp
- Clean up crew (1 Red Scarlet Hermit, 3 Blue Hermits, 5 Astrea, 4 Trochus, 4 Nassarius)
Next steps...
Test, monitor, go slow, save money, enjoy the process, refugium light & macro algae, protein skimmer (height is an issue for my clearance), add more fish, and add some easy starter corals. Very interested in stocking ideas for fish, inverts, and corals to get me to a breathtaking slice of the ocean in this little 29G. Comments, suggestions, questions, and chit-chat welcome.
I look forward to growing and learning in this hobby by tapping into the knowledge and experience of this awesome community.
And here are some pictures to document the journey so far...
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