It's been a long time dream of mine to start a saltwater tank, but I always feared the cost of setting up a tank, so I've stuck with freshwater up until now. A couple weeks ago I decided to upgrade my 10 gal freshwater instead of setting up a saltwater, so I bought a 55 gal and moved all of my fish in to it. Now that I found this forum and realized people were doing small reef tanks I decided I wanted to try it too! So I've been dropping hints to my fiance to see if I was going to get in trouble if I started a reef tank (because we are trying to save money to pay for our wedding in August of this year). Yesterday we went to the pet store just to "look at prices" and she told me if I wanted to do it then I might as well get the stuff to start it... so I did =) The position of my tank was really a crappy decision so first thing this morning we drained my 55 gal (FW) down to be able to move it and relocated them away from the window, got the 55 gal (FW) filled back up and started setting up my (10 gal) reef tank.
Not much yet, just filled the tank with RO/DI water and mixed in my instant ocean. I have my HOB filter running (with no media) just to help stir it. I have some sand that I'll add later tonight once the salt seems to be stirred good. I'm still waiting for some other equipment that I'll need, as I just ordered my powerhead, hydrometer, digital thermostat, and reef test kit from Amazon, so hopefully that will all be here towards the end of this week and I'll be able to take the next step to set up my tank.
Just thought I'd start my own thread with pictures as I go step by step. This will be a learning opportunity for me since I've never done a saltwater tank before and I'm doing a small tank so we'll see how it goes!
Tank discontinued as of Jan 2014. Upgraded to 40B tank, see http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/2-40b-builds-214883.html for new tank set up.
Updated 11/9/13:
Color coded... original content, later added content, discontinued content
TANK SPECS:
-10 gallon tank (started 4/21/13)
-5 gallon sump (added 9/11/13 - discontinued due to overflow failing, then found a crack in the sump)
-Maxi-jet 400 powerhead in DT (added 4/28/13, discontinued 11/13 due to too much flow)
-Maxi-jet 1200 (added 9/11/13) moved from sump to DT, running on 295gph mode since 11/13
-DIY 3/4" PVC Overflow (added 9/11/13 discontinued because I think it clogged and before I got around to unclogging it I noticed a crack in my sump)
-20 lbs CaribSea special reef grade live sand
~20 lbs live rock
-150W heater
-Stock hood lights + DIY LED lights (started 4/21/13, discontinued 6/28/13)
-Compact Fluorescent lights in stock hood (started 6/28/13, discontinued 9/11/13)
-(55) 3W Bridgelux LED fixture (120W) (added 9/11/13)
FISH:
- currently no fish, my fish died during week long power outage 12/13
INVERTS:
-(1) Cerith snail (added 5/18/13)
-(3) Trochus snails (added 9/12/13)
-(1) Tiger pistol shrimp (added 6/14/13)
-(1) Peppermint shrimp (added 6/28/13)
CORALS:
-(1) Disco mushroom (hitchhiked 5/18/13)
-(1) Green ricordea florida (added 7/23/13)
-(1) Small colony of Zoas/palys (added 7/23/13)
-(1) Umbrella mushroom (added 11/7/13)
-(1) Candy cane coral with 5 heads (added 11/7/13)
Not much yet, just filled the tank with RO/DI water and mixed in my instant ocean. I have my HOB filter running (with no media) just to help stir it. I have some sand that I'll add later tonight once the salt seems to be stirred good. I'm still waiting for some other equipment that I'll need, as I just ordered my powerhead, hydrometer, digital thermostat, and reef test kit from Amazon, so hopefully that will all be here towards the end of this week and I'll be able to take the next step to set up my tank.
Just thought I'd start my own thread with pictures as I go step by step. This will be a learning opportunity for me since I've never done a saltwater tank before and I'm doing a small tank so we'll see how it goes!
Tank discontinued as of Jan 2014. Upgraded to 40B tank, see http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/2-40b-builds-214883.html for new tank set up.
Updated 11/9/13:
Color coded... original content, later added content, discontinued content
TANK SPECS:
-10 gallon tank (started 4/21/13)
-5 gallon sump (added 9/11/13 - discontinued due to overflow failing, then found a crack in the sump)
-Maxi-jet 400 powerhead in DT (added 4/28/13, discontinued 11/13 due to too much flow)
-Maxi-jet 1200 (added 9/11/13) moved from sump to DT, running on 295gph mode since 11/13
-DIY 3/4" PVC Overflow (added 9/11/13 discontinued because I think it clogged and before I got around to unclogging it I noticed a crack in my sump)
-20 lbs CaribSea special reef grade live sand
~20 lbs live rock
-150W heater
-Stock hood lights + DIY LED lights (started 4/21/13, discontinued 6/28/13)
-Compact Fluorescent lights in stock hood (started 6/28/13, discontinued 9/11/13)
-(55) 3W Bridgelux LED fixture (120W) (added 9/11/13)
FISH:
- currently no fish, my fish died during week long power outage 12/13
INVERTS:
-(1) Cerith snail (added 5/18/13)
-(3) Trochus snails (added 9/12/13)
-(1) Tiger pistol shrimp (added 6/14/13)
-(1) Peppermint shrimp (added 6/28/13)
CORALS:
-(1) Disco mushroom (hitchhiked 5/18/13)
-(1) Green ricordea florida (added 7/23/13)
-(1) Small colony of Zoas/palys (added 7/23/13)
-(1) Umbrella mushroom (added 11/7/13)
-(1) Candy cane coral with 5 heads (added 11/7/13)