TSwift Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Updated FTS (1-23-2012) Hardware: -Aqueon Evolve4 tank. 4 gallons. -Left rear compartment: carbon filter -right rear compartment: Hydor mini heater, stock power-head Rock and Sand: -3.5 lbs Live Rock -3.5lbs Argonite Sand Clean Up Crew: -2 Red Leg Hermits -2 Astrira Snails -1 Nassarius Snail Coral: GSP Purple Mushroom Toadstool Leather Ricordia Green Zoanthids Orange Zoanthids Hello again! So my first post here was in 2006 with a 20 long tank saltwater tank with crushed coral substrate and stupid plastic rainbow decor. Because of the patience and amazing advice from the people on this forum, I was able to turn it into a pretty decent tank with sand, fish, corals, and live rock. Regardless, I was 13 years old and eventually, the entire tank crashed. No surprise there. Fast forward to spring of 2011 and I had a wonderful JBJ 12 gallon tank (also a thread on this forum) with clownfish and corals. It was turning out to be lovely, but funds got low (college) and I was given an opportunity to sell it for way more than it was worth (yay! $$$). Also, I don't want to talk about hauling 2 5gallon buckets up stairs because my stupid dorm had no elevator. Stupid dorm. Never again. A year later, here we are! I live in an apartment now with a steady income. Decided to look at some tanks out of the blue a couple days ago and saw that Petsmart had the Aqueon Evolve4 with LED lights for only $65! After some research, I bought it yesterday and ran to my favorite LFS who gave me some sand out of an opened bag (so I dont buy 20lbs of it), cycled water (from one of his amazing tanks!), and some cycled live rocks to put into my tank for minimal cost. I got lucky! Even though I have a part-time job with a decent income, I am still in college, so this entire tank will be based around being economic. I'm talkin cheap! So we will see how it turns out! Everything I bought: Yep, that's it. Loving the size and look. Really modern and everything is hidden in the back chambers. Night-time! You can see the plastic cover in this pic. Nice to have for evaporation. LED's: 2 blue, 18 white. Very bright. Link to comment
TSwift Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Everything except from the sand was from another, larger tank, including the water. I tested for nitrates and they are at about 5ppm right now. I will check again tomorrow. Maybe going to the LFS tomorrow to see what kind of corals they have now-a-days and their prices. Thinking about adding mainly polyps/mushrooms at the moment. Any thoughts on my sand bed? I only got about 3 pounds of it... but it looks sort of deep to me now that I think about it. It's probably around 1.5-2 inches deep. Any suggestions on any other corals or fish? I have a few goby species in mind, but anyone have favorites for picos? Link to comment
newb2nano Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I like what you've done and I have buyers remorse after seeing that tank at my local shop today. It's slick! Good luck with everything. I just joined the forum today - I have a 6 gallon Fluval and, while I love the look of it, the small opening is already bugging me. Link to comment
CLR Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 If ur looking into gobies then u might want to look into a clear cover of some sort. They jump a lot and replacing fish can get expensive. But I think the sandbed, and the aquascape too, look good to me Link to comment
TSwift Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Thank you Andynco and newb2nano! I could not pass it up... and I know it might seem like an impulse buy, but I felt like I had enough knowledge from my last successful nano to go ahead and get it. Good luck with your Fluval! I really like the looks of those and they seem to becoming more and more popular. CLR: The tank actually does come with a plastic cover which I have right on it right now to help control evaporation (I don't plan on getting an auto top-off). It has a small hole to feel the fish, but I can always rig it I guess. I was actually looking into the yashi goby and pistol shrimp pair. 2 problems: Price and space. I have to do some more research, but I don't think my 4 gallon will not be big enough for them. Link to comment
TSwift Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Just went to the LFS and got my first coral! Its a zoa frag of 3 different types. About 13 heads ($12). Also got 2 Astria snails and 1 Nassarius snail. Link to comment
TSwift Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Just went to a local hobbiest's apartment and he sold me a couple of frags, all only $5! Joining the local forum which is exciting. I got: 1 Ricordia 1 Purple Mushroom 1 GSP rock 1 Toadstool Leather Will post pics tomorrow when they open up Link to comment
TSwift Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Here's the new corals I got from a local reef-lover! The mushroom is mad at me since I tried supergluing it to a rock... and I failed, so I am leaving it be. The snail walked over my leather coral and now none of it will open... other than that, corals are good! A polyp of my zoas fell off, so i put it on the top right. Its so cute!!! Updated FTS (1-23-2012) Link to comment
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