My First Tank Ever Setup In Sept 2016

Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
Hello all, I'm new to this hobby and still learning a ton! I've wanted a saltwater tank for the last 20 years so in September of last year I decided it was as good a time as ever to start. I went and purchased a 29 gallon marineland kit thinking it would save me a bit of $$ off the get go....I was wrong! Turns out that the only part of the kit I'm actually using is the tank.
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This was the original set up. I thought it was great. I went with advice from a local big lfs. Turns out as helpful as the people wanted to be there was alot of wrong advice given. I was told after a week to put a yellow tail damsel in to help with the cycle :/.
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Poor guy made it through though! I was also told I could use any substrate I wanted...I knew nothing about live sand or aragonite and my kids really liked the look of crushed coral so we bought that only to take it out a few weeks later to switch to live sand. We went with the sugar sized sand...another mistake...lol. Extremely difficult to not have that blown around and have a sand storm in the tank. After 5 weeks we added a pair of clowns
As time progressed we added a toadstool leather as our first coral
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Since then we have added a bunch of stuff honestly I don't remember the names of everything but there is a frog spawn, an anenome, an open brain, a few zoas, some acans, a chalice, a monti cap, a new acro that I just put in last week, a clam, a ricordia mushroom, and a piece of green encrusting thing that got stung by something but is making a comeback finally.



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Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
I built a sump/refugium in December and got that up and running
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I'm still working on getting everything set up properly in there but it seems to work great so far.



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ColbytheClown

Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Location
Mississauga
Beautiful tank, amazing corals. I've been in the same situation as you as my LFS recommended that I put an anemone, two fish AND 4 corals in my tank on the second week. Though obviously had good intentions, set me back a ton.
 

Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
Sounds like you've been doing your research. What light and skimmer did you go with? Sump?

I bought the skimmer based on a few ppl on REEF2REEF I bought the tunze 9004. For lighting I purchased a 180watt maxspect rzr420. I'm still trying to figure out a proper lighting schedule. I've been going to Marinescape in Ottawa those guys have been a great help!


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Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
Sounds like you've been doing your research. What light and skimmer did you go with? Sump?

As for the sump...I bought a 20 gal long tank and made my own. There are a few things I would change about it in hind sight but for now it does the job.


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Last edited:

Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
Beautiful tank, amazing corals. I've been in the same situation as you as my LFS recommended that I put an anemone, two fish AND 4 corals in my tank on the second week. Though obviously had good intentions, set me back a ton.

Unfortunately I don't feel I have the right to "blame" them for the set backs. The kids were all just trying to help. I could have done more research in advance and been a more educated buyer. But it seems this hobby is all about trial and error, no matter what we read or hear there are as many opinions as there are questions. We do the best we can and go from there.


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Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
Whys your heater in the tank and not the sump?

Great looking tank! Congratulations great job.

I had it in there before I made the sump. I got a 65 gallon tank for Christmas that I have to set up yet, the rock makes it difficult to get the heater out so instead of disturbing everyone and everything twice I'll move it when I do the tank swap.


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ColbytheClown

Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2016
Location
Mississauga
Unfortunately I don't feel I have the right to "blame" them for the set backs. The kids were all just trying to help. I could have done more research in advance and been a more educated buyer. But it seems this hobby is all about trial and error, no matter what we read or hear there are as many opinions as there are questions. We do the best we can and go from there.


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Agreed :)
 

Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
I lost my Job in October so $$ has been tight to get the new tank up and running. There are a few things I want to get to make sure it gets set up properly so it's on hold till $$ flow is up and running again. Till then just little minor tweaks here and there.


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Ducati283

New Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2017
Location
Ottawa
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My flame angel (Steve) just came out of quarantine on Thursday and is getting used to his new home and tank mates.
Royal Gamma (Gamma)
Purple Firefish (Foxy)
Clowns (Coral and Nemo...of course)
Pyjama Cardinal (PJ)
Porcelain Crab (Porky)
Cleaner Shrimp (Alfie)
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Marcie

New Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Location
Stratford
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My flame angel (Steve) just came out of quarantine on Thursday and is getting used to his new home and tank mates.
Royal Gamma (Gamma)
Purple Firefish (Foxy)
Clowns (Coral and Nemo...of course)
Pyjama Cardinal (PJ)
Porcelain Crab (Porky)
Cleaner Shrimp (Alfie)
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I totally love that you named all the fish :) that is my kids favourite part!! Everything looks great. Best of luck.
 
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