Jimbo’s CDA 250
- Thread starter Jimbo327
- Start date
Story time about how I got the rocks in my tank. 
About 10 years ago, I was basically out of the hobby and I only had a 6 gal nano. Another reefer was exiting out of the hobby and breaking down his 180 gal. I checked it out, and the tank was acrylic and I wanted glass. So I didn't get the tank. He was rushing to move out soon and draining the tank as I was there. He was selling his 1/4 hp chiller for $100 and said to take all of his live rocks for $100. Say less...I bought both. My wife was not happy I came home with a mountain of rocks with no tank. She thought I was nuts. Little did I know, with kids and work, it would be in storage for 8 years LOL, and I was finally able to pull out and use both chiller and rocks in this current build. The live rock were huge pieces of real ocean rock, and enough to fill a 55gal barrel when I bleached it.
After I set up my current tank, I went to the local OC Coral Show to get some corals. I put in $20 in the raffle, and somehow won a box of QM ecoscape rocks. In future shows, I learned that I wasn't supposed to get the whole box. It was the 1st time QM sponsored the show, and the rocks were supposed to be raffled individually to multiple people...but there was some misunderstanding and they raffled the whole box. LOL. Lucky me.
So I basically spent only ~$100 to stock my whole tank with rocks. Looking at today's rock prices and no real access to live rock, I saved a fortune.
About 10 years ago, I was basically out of the hobby and I only had a 6 gal nano. Another reefer was exiting out of the hobby and breaking down his 180 gal. I checked it out, and the tank was acrylic and I wanted glass. So I didn't get the tank. He was rushing to move out soon and draining the tank as I was there. He was selling his 1/4 hp chiller for $100 and said to take all of his live rocks for $100. Say less...I bought both. My wife was not happy I came home with a mountain of rocks with no tank. She thought I was nuts. Little did I know, with kids and work, it would be in storage for 8 years LOL, and I was finally able to pull out and use both chiller and rocks in this current build. The live rock were huge pieces of real ocean rock, and enough to fill a 55gal barrel when I bleached it.
After I set up my current tank, I went to the local OC Coral Show to get some corals. I put in $20 in the raffle, and somehow won a box of QM ecoscape rocks. In future shows, I learned that I wasn't supposed to get the whole box. It was the 1st time QM sponsored the show, and the rocks were supposed to be raffled individually to multiple people...but there was some misunderstanding and they raffled the whole box. LOL. Lucky me.
So I basically spent only ~$100 to stock my whole tank with rocks. Looking at today's rock prices and no real access to live rock, I saved a fortune.
I added a bunch of CUC last night from the Socali Reefer Meetup group buy. Not sure where they all went, but I got:
- 10 blue leg hermit crabs
- 10 astrea snails
- 4 emerald crabs
- 1 decorator crab
- 10 cerith snails
- 2 turbo snails
- 1 cowrie snail
I'm also waiting for my CB yellow banded pipefish to be delivered next week. I know, a pipefish in a mixed reef is going to be iffy. But I've seen a janns pipefish in a SPS dominant tank, so I know it is possible.
My #1 concern is actually the other big fishes and if they will accept the weird looking new guy. My PBT is psycho, and I never fully trust any new inhabitants with the flame hawkfish. Those googly eyes!
I think it'll be able to handle the flow as there is plenty of rocks to hide and duck into. I'm not worried about the food because I have tons of pods, and it should be able to learn to eat frozen since it is captive bred.
My #1 concern is actually the other big fishes and if they will accept the weird looking new guy. My PBT is psycho, and I never fully trust any new inhabitants with the flame hawkfish. Those googly eyes!
I think it'll be able to handle the flow as there is plenty of rocks to hide and duck into. I'm not worried about the food because I have tons of pods, and it should be able to learn to eat frozen since it is captive bred.
Here's the guy Jimmy is getting (not this exact one, he's mine) when our Dr Reef order finally ships.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vh7t71zLUdzEjfZ39
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vh7t71zLUdzEjfZ39
