hello all.
My name is Doug, and this is my tank, start to finish.
(mr_X is my name on an online FPS game...it kinda stuck)
i chose a different approach then most everyone else: i did everything the absolute cheapest way i could. mainly because i am not rich, and i am very impatient
i will list approximate costs as i go, so maybe at the end, i'll go back and say "crap, i shoulda did it right the first time!"
or maybe i'll say "see, all those guys threw their money away!"
either way...here goes----->
first let me say that i have been a freshwater enthusiast up until now, and i just got downright bored with the hobby. so some friends suggested i give saltwater a try.
so i start with a clean undrilled 75 gallon perfecto, and my old rena xp3 mechanical filter.
i added 2- 20 pound bags of live sand (figi something or other...don't remember) in hindsight, i wish i atleast doubled that.
then live rock, mostly figi, a few pieces at a time.
2 aquaclear "50" powerheads.
now for lighting-- i couldn't bring myself to spend $600 or more for lights so i went as cheap as i could and ended up with
1- 400mh with external ballast and plain-jane reflector, which i thought was 20,000k but it just can't be cause it's yellowish hue tells it's tale. $137.00
1-125watt compact flourescent which was about the same price- $130
and in the existing hood, which housed 2-40 watt basic aquarium bulbs, i put 2 actinic blue bulbs. 15 bucks each i think.
i have enclosed pics of the crazy lights, and the tank, at various stages, algae cycle...rock additions...and i will keep adding as i go, as well as give updates on mechanical components.
My name is Doug, and this is my tank, start to finish.
(mr_X is my name on an online FPS game...it kinda stuck)
i chose a different approach then most everyone else: i did everything the absolute cheapest way i could. mainly because i am not rich, and i am very impatient
i will list approximate costs as i go, so maybe at the end, i'll go back and say "crap, i shoulda did it right the first time!"
or maybe i'll say "see, all those guys threw their money away!"
either way...here goes----->
first let me say that i have been a freshwater enthusiast up until now, and i just got downright bored with the hobby. so some friends suggested i give saltwater a try.
so i start with a clean undrilled 75 gallon perfecto, and my old rena xp3 mechanical filter.
i added 2- 20 pound bags of live sand (figi something or other...don't remember) in hindsight, i wish i atleast doubled that.
then live rock, mostly figi, a few pieces at a time.
2 aquaclear "50" powerheads.
now for lighting-- i couldn't bring myself to spend $600 or more for lights so i went as cheap as i could and ended up with
1- 400mh with external ballast and plain-jane reflector, which i thought was 20,000k but it just can't be cause it's yellowish hue tells it's tale. $137.00
1-125watt compact flourescent which was about the same price- $130
and in the existing hood, which housed 2-40 watt basic aquarium bulbs, i put 2 actinic blue bulbs. 15 bucks each i think.
i have enclosed pics of the crazy lights, and the tank, at various stages, algae cycle...rock additions...and i will keep adding as i go, as well as give updates on mechanical components.
