thinking about it...

Moonstream · 05/20/2011, 11:42 PM

right now, my only tank is a 40breeder that has been running fallow while I treated my fish for ich. corals are growing well, new additions are acclimating quickly, my snails are breeding like mad, and the five motile inverts besides the snails and hermits are looking well (pair of skunk cleaners and three bristle stars).

now, I've all but decided to setup a second tank, and my only limitations are that it must all run for less than $100. I have quite a few extra tanks and lights and filters in my basement, most of which were at one point used as well-running system. I also have quite a bit of extra rock and extra (dry) sand.

among those extra tanks are a pair of cubes- a BC29 with stock hood and a NC24 that I run with a 24" 2 bulb T5HO fixture. A thought occured to me to set both up- one on either side of the 40- and use each tank for a different focus.

my question is, what do people think about the amount of added work? my plan would be to have both tanks run mostly stock- nothing more than soft corals and low light LPS for either tank, and the 40 would be a home for higher flow/light corals.

my thought is that I could use one day every other week (or every week if needed) to do a waterchange on all three, and do any needed maintence. feeding would be quick, all three would get the same thing (some pellets daily, some frozen every other day for those who dont eat pellets). top-offs could be done before I left for school in the morning.

what say you all? am I serious underestimating the amount of work needed? I'm thinking I will take advantage of the summer and use it to get the tanks 'broken in' if you will, since I find that the first few months are the hardest on a tank.

05/20/2011, 11:42 PM	#1
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	thinking about it... right now, my only tank is a 40breeder that has been running fallow while I treated my fish for ich. corals are growing well, new additions are acclimating quickly, my snails are breeding like mad, and the five motile inverts besides the snails and hermits are looking well (pair of skunk cleaners and three bristle stars). now, I've all but decided to setup a second tank, and my only limitations are that it must all run for less than $100. I have quite a few extra tanks and lights and filters in my basement, most of which were at one point used as well-running system. I also have quite a bit of extra rock and extra (dry) sand. among those extra tanks are a pair of cubes- a BC29 with stock hood and a NC24 that I run with a 24" 2 bulb T5HO fixture. A thought occured to me to set both up- one on either side of the 40- and use each tank for a different focus. my question is, what do people think about the amount of added work? my plan would be to have both tanks run mostly stock- nothing more than soft corals and low light LPS for either tank, and the 40 would be a home for higher flow/light corals. my thought is that I could use one day every other week (or every week if needed) to do a waterchange on all three, and do any needed maintence. feeding would be quick, all three would get the same thing (some pellets daily, some frozen every other day for those who dont eat pellets). top-offs could be done before I left for school in the morning. what say you all? am I serious underestimating the amount of work needed? I'm thinking I will take advantage of the summer and use it to get the tanks 'broken in' if you will, since I find that the first few months are the hardest on a tank.