hinnenkm Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 After almost 3 years in the saltwater hobby, I am finally to the point where I am proud enough to show my tank off. Before putting any pics up or before I get to talking about my Mr. Aqua, I want to quick give some background info...I have always wanted a fish tank, but when I was younger only had bettas because my mom said an aquarium was too much work. Fast forward to July of 2011 and I got a 20L with live rock and water from someone who downsized his 180 gallon. In that tank, I stocked it with a normal clean up crew as well as a false percula, green chromis, and clown goby. In November of 2012, I made the decision to get a mandarin dragonet and finally had my dream fish. I also had added a sea urchin to my tank inhabitants.I spent a fair amount of money on pods and by mixing pods with frozen mysis, I was able to train my mandarin to eat just frozen. There was also a decent population in my tank to keep him satisfied.Fast forward again to the summer of 2013. I bought a used biocube off Craigslist because I wanted a bit more room for my tank inhabitants, but was going to move to a new place myself and because of that, I was waiting to just transfer everything as I was moving. Well, the transfer to the biocube happened sooner than planned because the 20L started leaking (thankfully I was home as it was happening). I still don't know why the leak started....?!So, I quickly got everything into the biocube - even though it was sitting on the floor in my apartment.About a month later, I moved into the new place and the tank move went smoothly as well!The cube stayed until this past February when after a lot of thinking and looking at various tanks, I decided to downsize and go for a cleaner/easier/smaller set-up. While everything was in the cube, I purchased a female mandarin to pair with my male. I bought her in November and also got her trained on frozen (this process was a lot faster because I think she learned from the male). She is still doing great!As mentioned, in February my Mr. Aqua arrived and shortly after, I made the tank transfer. Most of the inhabitants went into my 17 gallon, but some live rock and my chromis went into another 20L that I have set up in a different room. I am so happy with this new set-up and spend way too much time staring at my tank! I wanted to finally start a thread to share my tank and also to get opinions on it as well as suggestions to make it even better. Thanks for reading! Link to comment
SquishyFishy Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 What a sweetie pie of a Mandy! He's blowing us a kiss! I really wish I had one , but couldn't get up the nerve to try. Until one of my other fish succumb or I get a larger tank with sump, I will not But I can watch yours Keep posting!! Link to comment
Scorched Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looks great Katie. The hammer looks good, is the nem wedged in the middle rock? Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looks great Katie. The hammer looks good, is the nem wedged in the middle rock? Thanks! Yes, that is the nem - well part of it because it split last week. The larger half I've got in my 20L. This one is attached to a small piece of rock leaning against another, but not smooshed at all. Thanks again for the pieces - hope your tank is doing well! Link to comment
Bella's Reef Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looking good so far! I am in the process of putting together a low iron 17.1 gallon tank myself. Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted April 2, 2014 Author Share Posted April 2, 2014 Looking good so far! I am in the process of putting together a low iron 17.1 gallon tank myself. Thank you I'd love to see how yours turns out - it's a great size tank and it's nice seeing what different people do with it! Link to comment
Nanofreak79 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 I like your pics. I have the same tank. I wish mine would hurry and grow out. Your tank is really cool. Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 I like your pics. I have the same tank. I wish mine would hurry and grow out. Your tank is really cool. Thanks, I have been reading your thread - they are great looking tanks. Yours will be incredible when it all grows out! Link to comment
Nanofreak79 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Hopefully sooner than later. Lol Link to comment
aviator300 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I had to come over and check out yours...WOW, i hope mine looks half as good in a few months..Nice. Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 I had to come over and check out yours...WOW, i hope mine looks half as good in a few months..Nice. Thank you!! I appreciate that - definitely a work in progress, but what a great hobby Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 I was gone from the tank for a little over a week, but it's doing good!When I got back, I noticed that the clownfish is finally hosting one of the nems Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 I haven't updated this thread for awhile. To be honest, I hadn't been very happy with my tank and really didn't know which direction I wanted to go with it. Long story short is that quite awhile back, the water had been kind of cloudy and so I put phosphate remover into the back of my filter. Well, that made the zoas pretty angry and for the life of me, I couldn't make the connection between the two. Fast forward a couple months and now my water is clear, I have a new small protein skimmer, my zoas are happy (and starting to grow!), and my tank is getting back to where I would like to have it We also had our local frag swap and I picked up some cool new pieces. Hope you enjoy - and please feel free to leave comments/suggestions! Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 This tank has now been up and running for just under a year and a half Through that time, there have been many, many changes and it's finally getting to a point where I am comfortable with the stability of this system. My goal is to keep this set up simple. There is no sump, I have a hang on back aqua clear filter and I am running chemipure, I have a cheap powerhead, and every once and awhile I run a small skimmer. As far as lighting, I am running a nanobox duo that I got in April of this year. Tank inhabitants include a pair of clowns, a male mandarin dragonet, and a red banded pipefish. Hopefully you enjoy, and please leave any comments/questions, as I am always looking for ways to improve!! Now for an almost full tank shot: Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Clowns: Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr My dragonet: Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Various shots: Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Saltwater by katieh4002, on Flickr Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 So the reef has gone through quite a few changes and a move as well since the last update.To keep it simple, the tank now houses my red banded pipefish, a pair of clowns, and a pair of ruby red dragonets who have now been spawning nightly! The mandarins that I had in here are now in my 30 gallon and enjoying their extra space. Here's a few pics, thanks for looking… IMG_7096 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_7284 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_7661 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_7892 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_7893 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8066 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8070 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8069 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8072 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8163 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8166 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_8162 by katieh4002, on Flickr Link to comment
teenyreef Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Wow, how did I miss your thread? This is a beautiful tank! Great job on the pictures, too What is the critter on the powerhead? Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Wow, how did I miss your thread? This is a beautiful tank! Great job on the pictures, too What is the critter on the powerhead? Thank you!! I don't update this too often, but post a lot more on Instagram (KMORRIS0686). The animal on the powerhead is a gold ring cowrie and one of my favorite animals because they eat most kinds of algae, especially hair algae, really quickly. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Thank you!! I don't update this too often, but post a lot more on Instagram (KMORRIS0686). The animal on the powerhead is a gold ring cowrie and one of my favorite animals because they eat most kinds of algae, especially hair algae, really quickly. Thanks! I will remember that for a future tank Link to comment
blizzardscout2 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Agreed, very beautiful. That Cowrie is cool looking. I think one of my LFS had one like it a few years ago. How long have you had it? Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted July 20, 2016 Author Share Posted July 20, 2016 Agreed, very beautiful. That Cowrie is cool looking. I think one of my LFS had one like it a few years ago. How long have you had it? They're fun animals and I don't know exactly how long it's been... Several months? I've got a couple in other tanks too and just recently purchased a strawberry cowrie for my classroom tank! Link to comment
blizzardscout2 Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 I just looked up a picture of the strawberry cowrie, wow! Are they at risk around anemones? Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Beautiful pictures! Love to see more updates! Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted August 1, 2016 Author Share Posted August 1, 2016 I just looked up a picture of the strawberry cowrie, wow! Are they at risk around anemones? I'm just now seeing this, sorry!! It has been one of the coolest inverts I've had yet, but I don't know how it would be with anemones (if you've got bubble tips). I do have it with a couple rock flowers though and nothing has happened. Hasn't bothered anything else either... Beautiful pictures! Love to see more updates! Thank you! That means a lot because I've really admired all your tanks and pictures! I need to get better at updating this thread and always have good intentions to do so. I definitely post more on Instagram just because of how easy it is, but maybe I'll update here tomorrow. Link to comment
yoshii Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Wow beautiful pics! This tank has some really cool critters I'll be following your insta for more updates Link to comment
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