HMInskeep
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2011
- Messages
- 26
Kay so I've been into fish for a while now and have finally crossed over to the reef side. This Is my new Frank-in-tank. So called because it is pieced together from random parts and a hand built canopy.
I started with a used 50 g seaclear system two tank. The only problem was it was missing all the plumbing; hence the 25$ price tag. After researching the tanks online I discovered all I needed was
- return pump 350g/hour
- bio balls
- a media tray ( sold by sea clear for 25$)
- a pre filter holder and filter sleeve ( also available from sea clear for a combined cost of about 50$, with three filters.
-live rock and sand which I had already in my beginners 36 fowlr.
- and some tubing to connect it all.
I know this is not a hobby to get into when ur low on cash, but I was determined to find the solution.
So I found a used 350 gph for twenty bucks at my lfs, bout some light diffusing panels for the filter, some coralife filter media sheets I cut to size. And two gallons of bio balls ( the mist expensive piece I had, at 24.99)
I had some acrylic in my garage which I cut to fit the bio chamber and drilled holes to match the seaclear counterpart.
Total investment so far is about 95$, not bad for a tank that sells for around 400$.
I still need to get a protein skimmer and I'm in the process of building my hood for the completed tank to hide the lights. My fowlr had an original DIY light fixture consisting of an old tripod with braided steel cable and a coralife pc with a 10 k and an actinic. I will post pictures iof progress soon. I'm looking for suggestions on a protien skimmer for this build. I've heard horrible things about the seaclear version and was wondering if anyone had an opinion or suggestion for a DIY version.
The tanks been up and running for a month now, everything seems fine, water is stable, fish and the few corals : frogspawn, leather, brain, and Hollywood stunner all seem to be doing great. There's s guy near by me that feats these dipper cheap and has a very well established 125 g that I have seen. Even still I did put the corals in my 36 g in qt for about a week, just to make sure I dident have any hitch hikers. My fish: clown goby, Colombian shark, scooter blenny, and three damsels have all adapted well the new new rockscape and show no signs of sickness. I'm wondering if a protien skimmer is even necessary. Due to my DIY prefilter, the water is pretty crystal clear when it gets to the bio balls. I would appreciate any input you have or suggestions in what I can do better in this " junkyard build" . I do a 10% wc every week, and a 30% once a month. It always gave good results in the fowlr.
Now some pics of my progression from beginners fowlr to beginners reef.
The original fowlr 36g.
One month later with lots more rock
Now another few weeks with new DIY light hood
The used. Seaclear in my garage with no plumbing.
New tank up and running with the DIY parts. ( I dident take a picture of the back before I filled it, sorry. I'll add a pic from the top of the tank soon. )
Putting the finishing touches on the hood today, hope to have it on by tomorrow.
.
I started with a used 50 g seaclear system two tank. The only problem was it was missing all the plumbing; hence the 25$ price tag. After researching the tanks online I discovered all I needed was
- return pump 350g/hour
- bio balls
- a media tray ( sold by sea clear for 25$)
- a pre filter holder and filter sleeve ( also available from sea clear for a combined cost of about 50$, with three filters.
-live rock and sand which I had already in my beginners 36 fowlr.
- and some tubing to connect it all.
I know this is not a hobby to get into when ur low on cash, but I was determined to find the solution.
So I found a used 350 gph for twenty bucks at my lfs, bout some light diffusing panels for the filter, some coralife filter media sheets I cut to size. And two gallons of bio balls ( the mist expensive piece I had, at 24.99)
I had some acrylic in my garage which I cut to fit the bio chamber and drilled holes to match the seaclear counterpart.
Total investment so far is about 95$, not bad for a tank that sells for around 400$.
I still need to get a protein skimmer and I'm in the process of building my hood for the completed tank to hide the lights. My fowlr had an original DIY light fixture consisting of an old tripod with braided steel cable and a coralife pc with a 10 k and an actinic. I will post pictures iof progress soon. I'm looking for suggestions on a protien skimmer for this build. I've heard horrible things about the seaclear version and was wondering if anyone had an opinion or suggestion for a DIY version.
The tanks been up and running for a month now, everything seems fine, water is stable, fish and the few corals : frogspawn, leather, brain, and Hollywood stunner all seem to be doing great. There's s guy near by me that feats these dipper cheap and has a very well established 125 g that I have seen. Even still I did put the corals in my 36 g in qt for about a week, just to make sure I dident have any hitch hikers. My fish: clown goby, Colombian shark, scooter blenny, and three damsels have all adapted well the new new rockscape and show no signs of sickness. I'm wondering if a protien skimmer is even necessary. Due to my DIY prefilter, the water is pretty crystal clear when it gets to the bio balls. I would appreciate any input you have or suggestions in what I can do better in this " junkyard build" . I do a 10% wc every week, and a 30% once a month. It always gave good results in the fowlr.
Now some pics of my progression from beginners fowlr to beginners reef.
The original fowlr 36g.
One month later with lots more rock
Now another few weeks with new DIY light hood
The used. Seaclear in my garage with no plumbing.
New tank up and running with the DIY parts. ( I dident take a picture of the back before I filled it, sorry. I'll add a pic from the top of the tank soon. )
Putting the finishing touches on the hood today, hope to have it on by tomorrow.
.
