Jestersix

Office Oasis (1G "Budget" Build 2025)

steeve

Supporting Member
Tank Started: 1/29/2025
Tank: PNW Small-in-One 1 Gallon Rimless Glass Aquarium

My main tank is a Reefer 300XL that I've had running for about 2 years - my goal is to bring a small bit of it out to my home office where I work from home 2 days/week.

This setup is mostly from PNW Custom - they make everything fit together so nicely and this was easy to set up. To jump-start the cycle, I added a snail shell from my main tank, as well as some of the existing filter media and water.

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Equipment (Initial Set-Up):
Tank: $149
Live Sand: $8
Cooling Kit: $20
Rock Decor: $40
ATO: $100
Heater: $20
MarinePure Gems: $14

Total Start-up Cost: $351

I've attached the invoice and I did not include the wifi controller in my cost yet as it didn't ship with the order and I never received it. I anticipate needing this for the summer though, when my office gets warm and the cooling kit will help keep temperatures under control.
 

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Love it! Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

The cooling kit is interesting. I'm wondering if I'm going to need something similar for my 3g pico in summer... I should have spent the extra $ on the inkbird that has both heating and cooling control.
 
Week 1 Update

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After a week, I’ve seen some brownish red diatoms appear on the sand bed and rocks. I still haven’t added much life - only a small bumblebee snail, a tiny clipping of macro algae, and a tiny blue mushroom from my main tank to see how they do.

Have done two water changes so far and dealing with a leaky ATO reservoir (need PNW to replace this) that is currently sitting in a mixing bowl:

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I’m considering adding some GSP from my main tank because I have an abundance of it there and hoping to establish a pod population here as well (will siphon some out of my main tank’s sump).
 
Week 1 Update

View attachment 65653


After a week, I’ve seen some brownish red diatoms appear on the sand bed and rocks. I still haven’t added much life - only a small bumblebee snail, a tiny clipping of macro algae, and a tiny blue mushroom from my main tank to see how they do.

Have done two water changes so far and dealing with a leaky ATO reservoir (need PNW to replace this) that is currently sitting in a mixing bowl:

View attachment 65652

I’m considering adding some GSP from my main tank because I have an abundance of it there and hoping to establish a pod population here as well (will siphon some out of my main tank’s sump).
You can probably repair the seams yourself with some acrylic cement (after drying it out) to save time on shipping.
 
Beautiful setup! And I love your desk. The ATO was almost as much as the tank. Sucks it's leaking, but they should replace it and offer a discount for the trouble. I had not seen the cooling kit before. I may need to check that out for my wife's tank. I'm glad you joined the exhibition.
 
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