High Tide Aquatics

6 gal Budget Build 2025

MichaelB

MichaelB

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BOD
BARcard
20250125_220222.jpg


Offically Started the tank today 01/25/25.

Layout: Borrowed (aka plagiarized from @PizzaOven) his post was awesome and easy to follow so why reinvent what works.

Tank: 6gallon Aqueon Rimless($40.91 petco sale)

Ongoing Costs: $92.88/$500
Not Included is
1) $20 - $30gas for driving to get all this stuff so far.
2) All saltwater taken from main tank during water change.

Equipment List:
Light(s): Nicrew 30 watt reef led
Aquired through coral trade (he listed $30 trade valve) light is pretty old and discontinued, I would call it $0 valve
@derek_SR

Equipment - claim for frag swap pickup

Whisper 10 Air Pump Nicrew A30 LED- @MichaelB Green killing machine - @CaseyP
www.bareefers.org
Pump(s): None
Heater(s):AQUANEAT Heater, 25W https://a.co/d/3YcqT06 ($5.99)
Wavemaker(s): Uniclife 80 GPH Submersible Water Pump ($8.99 )
Doser(s): None
Controller(s): considering a inkbird
Filtration: Nicrew HOB ($9.99)
ATO: Searching for one
Sand: Nature's Ocean 20lbs used 10lbs @Alexander1312 ($15)
Rock: PIF from @fishy408 (may add another small peice from my tanks sump)

Rock

Hi All, I am removing some rocks from my main display and have an extra rock structure to give away. The little rock structure is about 7 inches talk. My tank is pretty clean, no pests, no vermetid snails, or anything that I am aware of. The rock is currently in my sump. The rocks have holes in...
www.bareefers.org
Additional items:None

CORAL:
Bowerbanki given by @fishy408
Koji Wada given by @fishy408
BeachBum monti given by @fishy408

**Many more corals
are planned, once I determine the direction of this build.**

FISH: None planned
INVERTS:
planning for
1.) Nassarius Snails
2.) Astraea snails ×4 ($12)
3.).hermits
4.) Maybe ??? green brittle starfish from 65gallon tank
5.) Maybe??? Sexy shrimp, or other ornamental shrimp.

Proof of cost:
Screenshot_20250125_220744_Chrome.jpg
 
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Heck yah, I have some company now :p

Looks great! Starting with live rock is fun. Which mode are you running on the Nicrew? Are you planning on adding any powerheads?
 
PizzaOven said:
Heck yah, I have some company now :p

Looks great! Starting with live rock is fun. Which mode are you running on the Nicrew? Are you planning on adding any powerheads?
Click to expand...
I'm trying to research this light. It has two channels, but It only came with one plug.

In order to switch between blue channel and the white/red/green one I currently have to unplug the cord from the other channel.

I'm not certain if the light is missing something, there is also no controller of any kind with it.

In my estimation having 2 power supplies to run both channels, seems crazy even for a older light. Leading me to believe something may be missing from the light.

With no controller it also leaves me having to have two timers plugged in as well to control on and off. There is also no ability to adjust intensity output or spectrum lacking a controller.

If any one has this specific light or has had it in the past please reach outband let me know what part or wires I may be misisng. So I can try to hunt those down.
Screenshot_20250126_073026_Yahoo Mail.jpg
Edit: I was able to find what was missing. Apparently I was missing the controller. So found it on amazon it will take long enough to arrive that I will probably forget I ordered it lol.

The controller plugs into both channels and lets you pic from 3 different channels white, blue, and both. It also lets you pick intensity. There is also a light timer inlcuded with it. So would solve all the light issues once it arrives.
 
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PizzaOven said:
Heck yah, I have some company now :p

Looks great! Starting with live rock is fun. Which mode are you running on the Nicrew? Are you planning on adding any powerheads?
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention, I just got a similar the little pump to the one on yours, 80gph stuck to back glass. In the future I may add a second identical one if there seems a need. I'm not planning a actual powerhead as the nano ones are more expensive. The filter may also not be large enough being my tank is slightly larger than yours. I will probably consider a second identical filter for other side, or getting one that's slightly larger.
 
Alexander1312 said:
6 gallons is a tough size. Fluctuations in water parameters are massive and the expected level of precision needs to be at master bonsai level. Good luck and I hope this works out for you!
Click to expand...
This is true, but you're also able to do large water changes frequently without much time/effort. It takes me 5 minutes to do a 50% water change in my pico so I do them often. I use water from my RSR250 to remove the uncertainty of precise saltwater mixing.
 
Alexander1312 said:
6 gallons is a tough size. Fluctuations in water parameters are massive and the expected level of precision needs to be at master bonsai level. Good luck and I hope this works out for you!
Click to expand...
Salinity and temperature are probably the hardest to keep stable in a tank this size. I think the lid should help with salinity and a cheap water bottle ATO should last longer with the lid as well. Ink Bird or similar controller should help with temperature stability.

Luca from Quanta Lights has an interesting technique for fishless system that he has tested on a 15 gallon nano. Basically 80% water change every two weeks with freshly mixed salt water that has phosphate and nitrate added to be at .08ppm and 10ppm, and adds Tropic Marin trace elements once a week.
 
I have a inkbird available not sure if i wanna use it or not yet to increase the budget by $30 lmao. Trying to stay cheap as possible. Just started it yesterday so not really sure what my actual plan is for it at tbe moment
 
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