bennerkla's 5.5 AGA Nano Reef Diary (Lots of PICS!!!)

[slave-of-rock]

Also I have a quick question, How much did it cost you to start the tank up? Hardware wise. Id like to start one up myself, I can take rock and sand from my existing tank(s) and go from there. Thanks.
-Kyle

 

[bennerkla]

*Laugh* My $150 budget has gone completely downhill. I will outline my expenses here...

(Prices are approximated)
-5.5 AGA tank - $12
-Carib-Sea reef sand - $20
-50 watt heater - $12
-New 50 watt heater becuase old one sucked - $19
-Background - $7
-Live rock - $33 (GREAT deal here, could've easily been upper 80's)
-79 GPH powerhead (have yet to decide if needed) - $12
-AC Mini - $20
-AC 300 - $40
-Silicone, plexiglass, 13w light, chaeto for fuge, mini impeller - $44
-3 pack carbon for AC mini - $7
-2 x 18 watt lights - $43
-2 x 20 watt Mini PC - $28
-Fan w/ power supply - $10
-Auto top off relay w/ power supply - Free (lucky)
-Float switch - $9
-2 5-Gallon buckets and 1 2-Gallon bucket - $8
-Powerhead for auto top off - $10
-Sockets and cord for new screw in lights - $10
-Canopy/Base - Free DIY (VERY LUCKY, this could have cost about 80+ bucks.)
-Moonlights - $20
-2 55 gallon bags of IO salt - $20 (buy one, get one free)
-Test kit/ hydrometer - Used from previous system
-1/8" glass - $5


I think that's all, but I am almost sure I missed some stuff. Let me get out the calculator here and add this up...

Total - $389

Hmmm, well, screw it, close enough oh, I forgot the Master Card ending...

Having a coral reef in your room - Priceless

This was earlier, I've probably spent about $200 more, but probably not on hardware.

HTH

 

[leeweber85]

That just happened to me! Someone poured beer in my 75 gallon tank, I had a thread about it in Reef Discussion. lol

Hey, I think that might have happened to me last week... the day after a party my water was foggy and there was foam on the surface.

Did it harm anything?? Do you have a link to that thread?

 

[bennerkla]

I wish I could search for it but the search feature is down practically 24/7. Everything is fine, except I lost my Sebae Anemone. My goniopora is fine (thank God).

 

[delor]

That really sucks to lose livestock over other peoples carelessness. Some people just don't have any common sense. I have seen a 40gal pirahhna tank completely destroyed to "drinking with the fishes"...

Ben, how much LR do you have in your nano. I just filled mine today with water and added about 5-7# LR. It looks like WAY too much rock for a 5 gal tank....

 

[bennerkla]

I originally had 10 lbs....

Then I had 8 lbs....

Then I had around 6 lbs...

Now I'm guessing I have around 4 lbs....

Can you believe how much my tank has changed since my live rock? I don't have any original live rock in my tank now.

 

[Brooks_McClary]

I went exactly the opposite way. I started with about 8 lbs in my 10 gal...

Added 5 lbs...

then added 5 more...

I guess I like the crowed look. I just cant stop finding cool new stuff every time I get new rock in the tank.

I just found a leather coral (about 3/4" long) and 2 feather dusters (in the rock). On a piece of rock I spent $2 on.

I'm setting up a 20 gal now and I will likely have 35-40 lbs of rock in the tank.

MMMMM, critters.

 

[Jordan55]

Meeting time Ben! I hope to see you at Phishy's!

 

[delor]

I like the newer look of you tank much better Ben. I think with adding the corals, they make up for the space that the LR too up. Looks good. How often and how much do you change when you do a water change?

 

[bennerkla]

Thanks guys. Sorry I didn't make it, Jordan

I change 1 gallon every week.

 

[bennerkla]

Hey guys, here are some updated shots. I added a powerhead in the right which has been both good and bad. My xenia really isn't digging the flow, neither is my red mushroom. My green sinularia, however, loves it. My zoos were completely closed 2 days ago, so I'm hoping the flow will spruce them back up. They seem to slowly be coming out. Aquarium Adventure has a 50% off sale going on right now, so I might pick up a tiny clownfish to put in there until he's big enough for my 75 gallon. Let me know what you think, cya guys later.

-bennerkla

 

[Jordan55]

Lookin good Ben.

I saw the sale at AA. Salt is very cheap too.... I might have to go pick some up.

 

[bennerkla]

I need to take a razor blade in there and get that algae off.

 

[Buckeye ME]

How big is the red mushroom? I picked up one from Phishy this weekend that's a little over an inch. The color under moonlights is amazing.

 

[melev]

I think that was a good choice, adding the pump.

 

[clown fanatic]

you might wanna try an idea card or something of that nature instead of a razor

 

[nodbugger]

The only bad thing about using a razor is you need to dry it off immediately or it will be rusted by morning, they do a much better than than ID cards.

 

[melev]

nodbugger, toss out the razor when you are done, and do NOT reuse it. Even drying it off and oiling the blade doesn't necessarily avoid potential burrs on the blade, which WILL scratch your tank the next time you use it. I buy them 100 at a time, and use each one time.

 

[bennerkla]

Thanks for the tip, melev. Glad I learned that! I'll use an ID card for the time being.

 

[bkztrini465]

How's the Xenia liking the flow now? The zoos any better?