ittybittypilot's Fluval Spec V "build-on-a-budget" thread

[ittybittypilot]

Another member here encouraged me to "bite the bullet" and do a build thread for my pico. I have been hesitant as I already got criticized by someone here when I mentioned I'm pretty low-income. I have pretty thick skin, though, and this is my DREAM to have a reef tank (I've had freshwater/tropical/planted tanks all my life) so I found a Fluval Spec V on sale and hit Craigslist.

 

I think what I can contribute here is for those folks ALSO in a "financial pickle" and show it can be done crazy cheap, just need to do more research and be creative.

 

I choose the Fluval Spec V because of it's footprint. It fits nicely on my kitchen counter and doesn't rob me of valuable space in my small rental. It also is well under their "10 gallon max" in my rental agreement.

 

 

I set this tank up in March.

[ittybittypilot]

Here is the tank after cycling for 2 weeks.

 

 

 

Live rock purchased off Craigslist for $1/lb

Sand is Used CaribSea Arag-Alive sand (12 lbs)

Instant Ocean in Distilled water from grocery store.

 

Livestock to cycle tank/keep tidy

2 red legged hermit crabs

2 small turbo snails

an and INCREDIBLE variety of hitch hikers (bristle worms, 3 star fish, tiny feather dusters, etc).

 

 

Coral

1 Xenia (came with live rock)

 

 

Equipment

STOCK! Everything is currently stock. Going to try and keep it that way and add livestock that will tolerate lower flow, lower lighting, minimal filtration as I slowly upgrade over time.

 

[fishfreak0114]

I cant wait to see how this turns out! Looking great so far. I considered the fluval spec but went bigger. I tried to do it on a budget, but I keep seeing corals and being like OMG I need that. Dont worry about lo income, im sure itll be fine. Good luck

[righttirefire]

Hey hey! It's a start. Now the fun begins. I personally find it awesome and impressive to be reefing on a budget. I have some LITTLE blue mushrooms, low flow low light.

[ittybittypilot]

And here is the tank today.....

 

I joined a local reef keepers facebook group and bought frags off someone locally for $5/frag. A few are a bit more "fussy" about lighting than I planned for now, but for $5 I had to try! So I am still researching and watching them to make sure they are happy with their level of light/flow. A few have been moved around a bit until they opened up.

 

 

Filtration and lighting still stock.

Corals

 

Green Candy Cane

Frog Spawn

Duncan (who happily opened up the first evening I had him)

Acan Lords

Kenya Tree (took overnight to open up)

Green Star Polyp (2 days to open up, now very happy)

Xenia (Heteroxenia I think) and he's pulsing away

 

 

Food

Marine Snow 1x week

Rod's Frozen Herbivore Blend - 2-x plus using for target feeding

San Francisco Bay brine shrimp (already had on hand for FW tank)

 

 

[ittybittypilot]

My tank is now 2 months old. I did "blow the budget" and by a Tail Spot Blenny. He is thriving!

2 of my corals are already splitting. I need to glue some of these frags now that I know where to place them. I wanted to make sure they are happy before I made any commitments. LOL

 

Parameters

SP - 1.025

Temp - 75

pH - 8.4

kH - 8

NO3 - 10

 

 

The water is crystal clear, the corals are open and feeding. I'd like to start upgrading my filtration but I'm sorta not wanting to mess anything up. Everything is going very well and I do believe in the old "if it ain't broke don't fix it" addage. Thoughts?

 

I am currently shopping for lighting. I might grab a $199 dimmable that's been offered to me. Outta budget but sometimes you gotta treat yourself (and your corals)

 

 

[righttirefire]

Wow in 20 minutes you went from an empty tank to a full tank. Where can I find that $5 frag group?

[ittybittypilot]

I started back in early March. Just now created this thread. :-D

 

The $5 frag was a local guy who responded to a facebook post looking for local frags (don't want to pay $40 to ship, and there no LFS here).

 

 

 

I highly recommend joining a Facebook group for Reefers in your region/city. VERY often people are posting free or cheap frags as their own corals over grown their tank. Also find great deals on used equipment.

[righttirefire]

I'm in your area... I could throw a clump of pulsing xenia to your house. Lol. But I hate facebook.

[ittybittypilot]

yah, I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. It is what you make it. LOL I just like it for the groups. Don't care about someone's kid doing something in some game

[righttirefire]

You don't have an fish do you? Do you think you're getting good results from feeding your coals

[Kijho]

Hey dude, you're off to a quick start which is looking good but I would strongly encourage you to get rid of the white LED stock Fluval light. That light does absolutely nothing for your corals, in fact they will die fairly quickly without a proper coral light.

 

You've got a ton of soft corals in there that are all photosynthetic - your frogs, acans, etc. You also mentioned above that your frog took 2 days to open. Mine opened within about an hour of being in my tank. These corals need proper light to survive.

 

Although you mentioned you would try it simply because the frags were only $5 ea, this hobby is definitely more than just money to many of us reefers' here on Nano Reef. Corals are living organisms just like you & me.

 

Please buy a light, before it's too late. You can find some relatively cheap options online, or if you have a stead hand you could give building your own with LED's a try.

 

Best of luck in your future with this tank and I hope everything works out.

[ittybittypilot]

As stated above, I am shopping for lighting, and I have posted on multiple threads about lighting. :-)

I agree with you 100%. Lighting is my current project. Just deciding on which one to get in the next week or 2.

 

 

It was the GSP that took 2 days to "open". The Frog opened up that evening. I target feed 2x week.

[ittybittypilot]

Here is the sole fishy. My Tail Spot Blenny named "Lenny" (yah, original).

 

He's a character. I'm totally in love.

[fishfreak0114]

So cute! Would recommend getting a tailspot? (I'm considering one for my biocube)

[Tamberav]

Looks like you are off to a good start

 

A cheap lighting solution would be buying a used par38 (maybe from our hardware for sale thread). I have had great luck with Ledtric, and Coral Compulsion over some of my tanks. A used one should run you about 50-60 bucks shipped.

 

While reefing can be expensive, it can also be inexpensive. I don't think money is a good reason to push someone away from the hobby. There are reef tanks on this forum made from glass jars or vases that don't demand fancy equipment. Controllers, ATO, dosers, skimmers, are helpful convenience items but not requirements, especially with easy keeper corals.

 

I think you will be very happy when you find a new light, it will bring out the great colors in your coral. Just be sure to research any light well before purchase as there are many 'reef capable' lighting options that are not worth the money.

[Halo_003]

Really neat little tank, don't worry about the budget, I'm on a college student budget so believe me I know how it is. Being on a tight budget can actually be an advantage because it forces you to stock slowly.

[ittybittypilot]

Well yah'll can calm down over the "stock" lighting that I never intended to keep for long. LOL

 

mamma just upgraded!

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CURRENT-USA-ORBIT-MARINE-LED-AQUARIUM-FIXTURE-18-24-WIRELESS-RAMP-TIMER-PRO-/111232782286?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e5fd8fce

 

Couldn't beat the price.

And yes, I absolutely can recommend a TS Blenny for a Nano. I did alot of reading and asking around before I decided on the TS. They prefer to perch and mine dug a cave. He's very curious and alot of personality. If you are going to get one fish, this is a good choice. They are very timid so give them a week to warm up to you, then they are very personable. Not cheap, tho. I drove over an hour to get one for $35....to me...that's an expensive fish. And get a lid. They JUMP! Already had one die jumping out.

[righttirefire]

Awesome deal! You're going to be a rock star soon!

[ittybittypilot]

TANKS! I'm excited about my new "toy". I have planted tanks and I am fussy about my lighting for them...but they are MUCH easier to run to LFS and get a better T5 for a classic hood.

 

I'm a Vet School dropout (I sooo wanna come up with new lyrics from "Beauty School Dropout" for myself...LOL) tanks to a divorce. So I'm a veterinary technician and reptiles and marine life have been an area of interest for me. I am fascinated with corals and microbial life. Since I don't have SPS and I don't plan on getting any "high light/high flow" species (unless someone has another $5 deal...LOL) this light fixture should be idea for my 5g tank. 18W is plenty. I'll post pix when I get it in. I'm really excited.

 

Next project will be to upgrade the pump and prob ditch the giant sponge filter and place with ceramic and floss. Any tips/ideas?

[ittybittypilot]

Just installed and playing with the settings on my new Current USA Orbit 18" 18W LED

 

LOVE it. After a few hours already noticing my corals are more open and colors are much brighter! I knew there would be a big difference over stock lights, but WOW! Can't even IMAGINE what a better, more expensive system would look like!

 

I'm pleased. This is plenty of light for this tank and these corals. I can always add another bar if I think I need more light.

 

 

[ittybittypilot]

Playing with intensities a bit.

[righttirefire]

I don't know much about intensity. But be careful. I always buy my corals at the end of the day from my LFS so I know they have full cycle. And my lights are less intense than theirs so acclimating to less intensity. Seems "safer" than raising the intensity. But your a smart gal, I'm sure you know more about the subject than I do.

[ittybittypilot]

LOL....actually the engineers who designed this light are smarter than I....there is an "acclimation" program built in!

[righttirefire]

Engineers... just because it works in their computer world or on paper doesn't mean it works in reality. I mean awesome. Enjoy! Im battling a mushroom melt down. Hope your corals are loving the new light