So I started doing reef after seeing a giant reef display at a east coast LFS, and from that point on, I went salty from freshwater and there's no returning since then ( and that was 15 years ago )
I've pretty much had tanks from 20g to 120g ( not reef ready ). and after a tank crash in the office ( i was away for a 3 week trip in tibet, my co-worker forgot to add water to my top off reservoir ) I pretty much got depressed and stayed away for a while.
so fast forward 10 years, and a wife later, I wanted to start a tank again, but the wife knows how expensive it is, she just veto the idea, so I told her that I can keep the cost to minimal or free, with that, I began to look for free tanks on Craigslist and a long time friend pointed me to here and joining the BAR community and boy I was so happy that I found you guys. so fast foward a year later, I have my 55g long with customized hood and diy lights, 30g long sump and mostly free or cheap. I will get to my frugal gears soon.
here's the oveall shot of my tank ( im going to add the photo on iPhone through tapatalk, somehow the desktop site wont let me add photos )
Hardware:
Corals:
Live stocks:
In the beginning before there were sand ( cycle ) and never get that point of sale powerhead, it's cheap but it breaks faster than you can image ( returned to amazon )
And the a lot of LRs/sands later
After lights change
and once again, thanks goes to those who gave out free frags and equipment !! without you, I wont have a tank this nice today.
I've pretty much had tanks from 20g to 120g ( not reef ready ). and after a tank crash in the office ( i was away for a 3 week trip in tibet, my co-worker forgot to add water to my top off reservoir ) I pretty much got depressed and stayed away for a while.
so fast forward 10 years, and a wife later, I wanted to start a tank again, but the wife knows how expensive it is, she just veto the idea, so I told her that I can keep the cost to minimal or free, with that, I began to look for free tanks on Craigslist and a long time friend pointed me to here and joining the BAR community and boy I was so happy that I found you guys. so fast foward a year later, I have my 55g long with customized hood and diy lights, 30g long sump and mostly free or cheap. I will get to my frugal gears soon.
here's the oveall shot of my tank ( im going to add the photo on iPhone through tapatalk, somehow the desktop site wont let me add photos )
Hardware:
- Tank : 55g glass reef ready [ from boun11 -> travis ]
- Sump: 30g long glass [ from xcaret ]
- Rock + sand [ craigslist free ]
- Hood [ craigslist free wood + diy ]
- Light: 4x30w LED Flood Light, 5x10w SMD LED [ used 2 from my old terrarium and got 2 from amazon reward + aliexpress for the LED chip ]
- Skimmer: EuroReef RS80 [ from xcaret]
- Return pump: Jebao DCS-9000 [ amazon reward points ]
- Wavemaker: Jebao PP-20 [ amazon reward points ]
- diy ATO with TOM lifter pump [ amazon reward points for TOM, and aliexpress for the float switch ]
- 20g bucket with RO/DI reservoir, with shutoff valve once water is full ( ATO gets water from here, so I never have to worry about filling it up ) [ from Cymen ]
- 15g salt mix bucket [ ericflynnster ]
Corals:
- green palys [ spurgeon.eric ]
- Blue Clues Zoa
- Rasta Zoa
- Alien eyes BPE Zoa
- Blue Tubs Zoa
- Indonesian toadstool
- Rose BTA [ Newjack ] [ committed suicide in my circulation pump after a tank move ]
- Rose BTA [ Zach S ]
- Green Leather toadstool [ Zach S ]
- Palau Nephthea [ RandyC ]
- Vamp in Drag [ RandyC ]
- Mohawk [ RandyC ]
- Coco's Pink Paly
- Blue Clues Zoa
Live stocks:
- Single OC clown [ boun11 ]
In the beginning before there were sand ( cycle ) and never get that point of sale powerhead, it's cheap but it breaks faster than you can image ( returned to amazon )
And the a lot of LRs/sands later
After lights change
and once again, thanks goes to those who gave out free frags and equipment !! without you, I wont have a tank this nice today.