Reefin’ on a Budget

[grizfyrfyter]

Lots of success in this hobby was reached on a road of bones.

You're not the only one that went through these struggles and you won't be the last.

Reefing on a budget while learning is hard. The first year is full of flare ups anyhow so at least your past that part and have some nice mature rock now!

 

[grizfyrfyter]

Awesome! Glad to see there are people here in my neck of the woods. Have you checked out Canela Pet Shop over on Kansas?

I haven't even heard of it. I'll check it out.

 

[AndynotDrew]

I haven't even heard of it. I'll check it out.

From my understanding they’re pretty new. Prices are hit and miss but still nice to have a local shop that has some corals. Picked up some reef roids tonight and they were $2 less than Amazon, win! lol.

 

[Invictus]

Welcome! Great to have you join us.
I don’t think I saw any mention about you having three clownfish. If that’s still the case, it’s usually not the best idea. I would keep the two that seem to be a pair and rehome the third.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

From their Google maps page. Lmao

 

[Darkxerox]

A fun old timer note: your thread title harks back to a famous local "Reefer on a Budget" back in the early 2000s who had some really cool montipora. https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/roab-digi-fresh-cuts.28241/

 

[AndynotDrew]

Welcome! Great to have you join us.
I don’t think I saw any mention about you having three clownfish. If that’s still the case, it’s usually not the best idea. I would keep the two that seem to be a pair and rehome the third.

I lost one of the originals and replaced it with the white one. In the near future I’ll be converting a 30gal freshwater tank I have to salt so I can move the nem out of this tank. Undecided if they’ll be coming too or if I’ll get another pair. These ones aren’t hosting it or any of the other corals.

 

[AndynotDrew]

From their Google maps page. LmaoView attachment 53534

Seems like dogs are the money maker. Especially the bully breeds that an owner might put something like that on lol. Kind of a lot crammed into a small space. I have mixed feelings on the place, but can appreciate their efforts.

 

[AndynotDrew]

A fun old timer note: your thread title harks back to a famous local "Reefer on a Budget" back in the early 2000s who had some really cool montipora. https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/roab-digi-fresh-cuts.28241/

That’s pretty cool! Gonna check out the whole thread in a bit, but looks like I might have to find some of that montipora.

 

[Invictus]

I lost one of the originals and replaced it with the white one. In the near future I’ll be converting a 30gal freshwater tank I have to salt so I can move the nem out of this tank. Undecided if they’ll be coming too or if I’ll get another pair. These ones aren’t hosting it or any of the other corals.

Ahh I see.
Hosting isn’t something that’s guaranteed. Semantically, it’s actually the clownfish that are being hosted.
Really just comes down to having a coral or anemone that the clownfish take a liking to. I know there are certain ways to try and force it to happen, but I wouldn’t allow that to be a deciding factor in whether you keep them or not.

 

[AndynotDrew]

Ahh I see.
Hosting isn’t something that’s guaranteed. Semantically, it’s actually the clownfish that are being hosted.
Really just comes down to having a coral or anemone that the clownfish take a liking to. I know there are certain ways to try and force it to happen, but I wouldn’t allow that to be a deciding factor in whether you keep them or not.

True I guess they’re the hostees lol. They’re staying either way, I just haven’t decided whether they’ll move to the new tank when it’s up and running or stay in this one.

 

[grizfyrfyter]

I have had a lot of success with matching clownfish and anemones.
I feed the tank lightly for a few days, make everyone hungry. I only feed mysis shrimp in the anemones tentacles. Eventually the clownfish figure out that they can get the food while other fish avoid them. Once they feel that pillow goodness, they usually figure it out.

This works better with large anemones and it doesn't work very well in tanks with lots of food aggressive fish.

 

[BAYMAC]

A fun old timer note: your thread title harks back to a famous local "Reefer on a Budget" back in the early 2000s who had some really cool montipora. https://www.bareefers.org/forum/threads/roab-digi-fresh-cuts.28241/

Super nice guy, Alex. He had an amazing collection. He and TUBS!!!!

 

[AndynotDrew]

Couple shots of the whole tank and a better look at my diy above tank filtration. Don’t judge too hard keep the title of this thread in mind lol!

It’s a 7gal trash can, with two smaller ones stacked inside. The intake is a capped L shape with bunch of holes drilled into the bottom. I have some coarse sponge wrapped around it in a media bag. The first can has a more fine filter floss. Both of these get changed regularly. The second can is packed with ceramic bio blocks and flows into the main can that has a few more ceramic blocks and some rock it. Drains out of three 3/4” pipes back into the tank. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s getting me by for now, and was honestly a fun little project.

Beneath the tank I keep some of my supplies, another can for water changes, and some salt. Been doing 10% water changes weekly.

 

[MichaelB]

Couple shots of the whole tank and a better look at my diy above tank filtration. Don’t judge too hard keep the title of this thread in mind lol!

It’s a 7gal trash can, with two smaller ones stacked inside. The intake is a capped L shape with bunch of holes drilled into the bottom. I have some coarse sponge wrapped around it in a media bag. The first can has a more fine filter floss. Both of these get changed regularly. The second can is packed with ceramic bio blocks and flows into the main can that has a few more ceramic blocks and some rock it. Drains out of three 3/4” pipes back into the tank. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s getting me by for now, and was honestly a fun little project.

Beneath the tank I keep some of my supplies, another can for water changes, and some salt. Been doing 10% water changes weekly.

Looks kinda intriging to be honest. I'd definitely watch a utube video about it if you ever made one. You have some good "MacGyver type skills."

It’s kinda hard to tell from picture but my initial concern would be it seems to be resting on your tanks rim from picture?

I would be worried about possible stress over time and potentially cracking the glass. Maybe consider rigging up some kind of shelf or support brackets so that your tank isn't what’s holding it up. Forgive me if my assumptions are wrong only going by what I can make out from the pictures.

 

[AndynotDrew]

Looks kinda intriging to be honest. I'd definitely watch a utube video about it if you ever made one. You have some good "MacGyver type skills."

It’s kinda hard to tell from picture but my initial concern would be it seems to be resting on your tanks rim from picture?

I would be worried about possible stress over time and potentially cracking the glass. Maybe consider rigging up some kind of shelf or support brackets so that your tank isn't what’s holding it up. Forgive me if my assumptions are worng only going by what I can make out from the pictures.

Thank you! You and I are on the same page. That was an after thought of mine and plan to add some kind of bracket(s).
Before putting any weight into it I lifted it a hair off the tank and drove a few screws through it into the wall thinking that would help somewhat. Probably doesn’t but made me feel better lol.

 

[MichaelB]

Thank you! You and I are on the same page. That was an after thought of mine and plan to add some kind of bracket(s).
Before putting any weight into it I lifted it a hair off the tank and drove a few screws through it into the wall thinking that would help somewhat. Probably doesn’t but made me feel better lol.

To start, I'm no reef tank veteran by anymeans, probably a novice by personal assesment. You don't want screws metal in contact with saltwater, it will rust and then that will leak Into the water. It won't rust right away as in tomorrow but a fairly short amount time (days to a week or two) it can cause your tank to go south quickly. Also your screw holes Create more places for potential leaks. Main concern is the metal screws. Salt water is extremely corrosive to metals.

 

[AndynotDrew]

To start, I'm no reef tank veteran by anymeans, probably a novice by personal assesment. You don't want screws metal in contact with saltwater, it will rust and then that will leak Into the water. It won't rust right away as in tomorrow but a fairly short amount time (days to a week or two) it can cause your tank to go south quickly. Also your screw holes Create more places for potential leaks. Main concern is the metal screws. Salt water is extremely corrosive to metals.

True. They’re at the top so not worried about leaking but rust is already there. Maybe brackets will be one of this weekends projects.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

What prevents the trash can “sump” from falling in the terrible event of an earthquake?
Is there a platform on top of the tank?
Of is it sitting directly on the tank?

An observation, from where I sit…

 

[ReyDeFarts]

True. They’re at the top so not worried about leaking but rust is already there. Maybe brackets will be one of this weekends projects.

Those screws were the first thing I noticed when I saw the pics. The potential of splashing/condensation and then having those bits of rust dripping into the water, would be my concern.

In my mind though, it doesn't seem like it would be enough to cause a problem in the short term. But if it was in constant contact with the water and leeching, then I would definitely be concerned. But brackets seems like a better play either way.