fishwood
New member
Greetings everyone. Years ago I was interested in saltwater tanks, though I never got to be much of an expert.
About two months ago I was dropping a bunch of junk off at my city's recycle/reuse center, and there was this filthy old aquarium there. It looked like it had been used for frogs or something. It was ugly wood laminate and as dirty as I have ever seen a tank. However, it was a great cube shaped tank.
I took it home and scrubbed it for an hour, then painted the wood laminate black and lo-and-behold, it looks brand new. I measured it and it's exactly 12'' x 12'' x 12'', so the water volume is right around 7.5 gallons. I'll try to post a photo soon.
This tank has inspired me to do a saltwater setup again. But I've been out of the loop for so long that I don't know what the best configuration would be. I don't want to spend a ton and would like to keep it relatively simple, at least in the beginning. It seems like a few years ago a lot of people were taking an aquaclear HOB filter and stocking it with live rock rubble and using power compact fluorescent fixtures. Is that still a popular method? Should I be thinking LEDs instead of CFs? T-5 HOs? And what's the best filtration system without spending a ton?
Here's what I am thinking as far as inhabitants:
1 fish - probably an ocellaris clown or maybe a single chromis or damsel (I know everyone says damsels need 30g but I had great luck keeping a nano tank with a single yellow tail for years and years).
Corals - I've never done SPS. I might try it at some point but not in the beginning. I'm thinking mushrooms, zooanthids, and maybe some frogspawn.
Other animals - maybe 1 or 2 hermit crabs, and I've always wanted to try a shrimp (never did one before).
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance for any assistance or tips.
About two months ago I was dropping a bunch of junk off at my city's recycle/reuse center, and there was this filthy old aquarium there. It looked like it had been used for frogs or something. It was ugly wood laminate and as dirty as I have ever seen a tank. However, it was a great cube shaped tank.
I took it home and scrubbed it for an hour, then painted the wood laminate black and lo-and-behold, it looks brand new. I measured it and it's exactly 12'' x 12'' x 12'', so the water volume is right around 7.5 gallons. I'll try to post a photo soon.
This tank has inspired me to do a saltwater setup again. But I've been out of the loop for so long that I don't know what the best configuration would be. I don't want to spend a ton and would like to keep it relatively simple, at least in the beginning. It seems like a few years ago a lot of people were taking an aquaclear HOB filter and stocking it with live rock rubble and using power compact fluorescent fixtures. Is that still a popular method? Should I be thinking LEDs instead of CFs? T-5 HOs? And what's the best filtration system without spending a ton?
Here's what I am thinking as far as inhabitants:
1 fish - probably an ocellaris clown or maybe a single chromis or damsel (I know everyone says damsels need 30g but I had great luck keeping a nano tank with a single yellow tail for years and years).
Corals - I've never done SPS. I might try it at some point but not in the beginning. I'm thinking mushrooms, zooanthids, and maybe some frogspawn.
Other animals - maybe 1 or 2 hermit crabs, and I've always wanted to try a shrimp (never did one before).
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance for any assistance or tips.
