Hello Everyone!
So I'll start with some quick backstory, then jump right into it. This all started when I got the idea that I wanted to start keeping live jellyfish. Anyway, it turns out that my DIY tank setup was not quite precise enough for that particular organism. I realized some fleeting success, and quickly came to the conclusion that it was time to pivot a bit. I decided that I wanted to try to grow/breed live coral and marine organisms instead.
I'll outline my tank setup below, and provide you with any advice, and money-saving tricks I've picked up along the way -
-65 Gallon Hexagonal Glass Tank:
Let me start by stating that I HIGHLY recommend you check out local thrift stores, or Craigslist* before buying new. Not only is this much better for the environment, but aquarium supplies tend to be exorbitantly expensive.
I managed to get this tank for $40! Be sure to check for, and/or, seal any leaks with aquarium sealant.
Hopefully I don't need to say this, but please practice precaution when utilizing Craigslist or any such service.
-T-8 Light Ballast from the thrift store, and two blue reef lights ~$40
-Tetra 60 Gallon Whisper Filter: Found this one at the thrift store for $3.99
-Powerhead/Submersible Pump (not sure on the model): This was around $20 at a local aquaria shop.
-Submersible Heater: set at ~76 degrees (F) in my particular configuration.
-Wavemaker: I bought this new for about $25, which is a bit steep for one of these cheap-o clip units, but I my experience, these are absolutely essential for coral growth and tank circulation. This made a massive difference for me.
-Saltwater/Reef Test Kit: Again, this one is quintessential. It is not worth it to go through the potential loss of aquaria in order to avoid paying the extra cash. I started with the test strips, but quickly moved up to the liquid test kits. Test strips (in my experience) are inaccurate, and your water tests will be much cheaper in the long run with a good liquid test kit (despite the ~$50 upfront cost).
-Medium/Decorations: Ideally you will get a decent amount of "live rock" and coral sand, generally available at local aquaria shops. Don't spend too much on this though; I prefer to get a water-conditioning tank started, and insert rocks/minerals gathered locally, which are later transferred to my main tank.
There's a plethora of supplements,etc, and more odds and ends, but that is the gist of my setup so far.
Without further adieu, the fish: There are four fish in the tank currently. Two Ocellaris Clownfish, One Striped Pipefish, and a Pleco. There are also a couple of live coral specimens which I purchased online (I can highly recommend liveaquaria.com).
Though many people don't recommend this, I purchased the Clownfish from a local Petco chain, and hopefully I will be able to get them to breed. Without going too in depth, Clownfish have very interesting biology, and will actually change sex based on various conditions. Anyway, I had them grab the largest, and the smallest fish from the tank, with the hope that this will make them easier to "bond".
So far they appear to be taking quite well. No fighting over food, and they seem to be preparing a rock for eggs. Fingers crossed!
Thanks so much for looking, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll continue posting pictures as the tank progresses. If you can, please help to ensure that these fragile creatures (corals, invertebrates, etc.) can continue to exist, with their natural habitats being destroyed at a dumbfounding rate.
Cheers!
-Seth