the do-it-yourself reef tank
hi, im a very mechanically inclincined(not to good on spelling) person..i have always wanted to have a reeftank but due to the crazy cost of starting one up has always detered me… until recently when i started to do research on starting one up. my current tank is a 75 gallon display tank(25.00) with a 30 gallon(10.00) fuge. now i used live sand from the beach collected at low tides, and i use real ocean water in the tank. i got a great deal on live rock threw craigslist, 95 pounds $25.00 fully cured fiji rock with some hanger on-ers, i built my own protein skimmer using pvc and a powerhead and 2 air pumps and a pepsi bottle. this really impressed some local pet store owners. i also made my own fuge from a 30 gallon tank and some plexi-glasss. some sponges, and egg grate. i also built my own overflow out of pvc. and my return from a old pond pump and pvc. i put some heaters in the fuge as well as a aqua- clear (50 gallon).for kicks. stock the fuge with about 5" of sand from the beach,bought this mangrove powder stuff and some plants from a great shop called "reef to reptiles" they have been very helpful to me on this project. i also pick up some snails and hermit crabs which are doing great, i also have a crab i picked up at the beach which has been doing great since i started actually running the tank five weeks ago, i also have about 4 power heads makin some nice current in the tank. as far as lighting i have two t-8 50/50 bulbs in a homedepot fixture i bought for $8.00. and i have two blue actinic 24" bulbs over the tank too.the crab is doing great almost a month later, the first week i got no readings of amonia, nitrate or nitrite, the second weeek a little spike but the last to weeks no readings. and the crabs and hermits and snails are doing good, plus some algae growth on glass and rocks.
now for some questions..
1. how long must my tank run before i add some fish?
2. what are the real disadvantages of using real ocean water and sand?(besides the marketing and lost of a needed product?)
3. when can i start adding some coral?
4. how often are water changes in a saltwater tank?
5. is brown algae good or bad?
any help would be good.
now for some questions..
1. how long must my tank run before i add some fish?
2. what are the real disadvantages of using real ocean water and sand?(besides the marketing and lost of a needed product?)
3. when can i start adding some coral?
4. how often are water changes in a saltwater tank?
5. is brown algae good or bad?
any help would be good.
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the do-it-yourself reef tank