My Reef Fetish

[Titanwerx]

Ok, so I wanted to submit something for the zoo's contest and show how I got started, progressed and am currently at as well.

I am very new to the hobby, and started a little less than a year ago with a 14g biocube nano tank I got from my younger cousin, that was not doing much with it. This is what it looked like when I got it.

only had a couple hermit crabs and a maroon clown.

First thing I did was throw in a couple Turbo snails and the tank was clean!

- added more rock -
..
Then added still more rock and a Bangaii Cardinal...(bad idea, it died withing a week, probably the nitrates, as I said I was very new to this hobby and still am.)
.
I had this set up for a couple months when I quickly decided it was not enough and had to go a bit bigger, so I purchased a used 28g biocube from craigslist, along with another 20lbs of live sand and another 14lbs of live rock from the LFS.

 

[Titanwerx]

Now I had to stock it. After some cycling my first purchase was a pair of tru percs. a Mandarin Dragonet and a favia coral (again from craigslist )

 

[Titanwerx]

Needless to say my maroon clown was not very happy..

what was once just his was now being taken over by the perc pair additions and I discovered the next morning to my sadness they had claimed what was theirs, and my maroon had paid the ultimate price for my ignorance. ( I wont show a picture of him, it was too sad.)

 

[Justkeepswimming]

looks good but i am not so sure putting a mandarin in there was smart. They like established reefs with lots of pods because they are picky eaters. Unless you some how got one that is eating pellets, then forget i even said that. haha. I would consider selling it to a person with an established reef and get something that eats prepared food. Good luck!

 

[Titanwerx]

Picked up a few more Corals.

a couple weeks later I picked up a yellow watchman and a pistol shrimp pair.

They quickly became the center of attention for everyone in my house!

 

[Justkeepswimming]

Needless to say my maroon clown was not very happy..
View attachment 28520
what was once just his was now being taken over by the perc pair additions and I discovered the next morning to my sadness they had claimed what was theirs, and my maroon had paid the ultimate price for my ignorance. ( I wont show a picture of him, it was too sad.)

You might want to read up on saltwater before you make a lot of the mistakes reefers before and fish that already paid the price. If you are not sure ask before doing in this hobby. Someone would of told you this outcome had you mentions putting percs with a maroon. Its ok though your learning, just read, read, read and ask questions. Welcome!

 

[Titanwerx]

looks good but i am not so sure putting a mandarin in there was smart. They like established reefs with lots of pods because they are picky eaters. Unless you some how got one that is eating pellets, then forget i even said that. haha. I would consider selling it to a person with an established reef and get something that eats prepared food. Good luck!

I had heard this but the person I got it from assured me that he was trained to eat frozen..its been a couple months now and hes still going strong! I love it!!

 

[Titanwerx]

I decided I wanted a refugium to grow some pods for my mandarin even if he was trained to eat frozen.

It just barely fit inside my cabinet.. seen this done before on youtube by other more experienced reefers than myself and wanted to immitate.

 

[Titanwerx]

...So by now you probably have guessed that I am a craigslist junkie, and if not you will after you hear what I am about to tell you. One day I was searching the craigslist pages for a used still good skimmer and maybe a chiller, when I came upon an ad of someone selling their complete tank (JBJ 28g nano), coral, fish, skimmer, CHILLER, AND he was including all of his food, supplements and various other equipment at a very low price. he was getting out of the hobby and I was all too happy to pick up where he left off, I felt like I won the lottery!

anyway long story short, here is my tank today!


I transfered everything over and still kept my cabinet and sump to run along with this.

 

[Mrchong156]

Nice find man! I'm always looking for good craigslist deals as well haha. What kind of lighting did the 28g come with??


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[Titanwerx]

Nice find man! I'm always looking for good craigslist deals as well haha. What kind of lighting did the 28g come with??


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Thanks! It was just Power compacts but surprisingly very bright! I am still considering an LED mod in the near future, unless I upgrade the whole tank again. (would love a 100g+ tank)