Student Newbie

mejamis · 06/03/2014, 10:55 PM

Good Day/Evening!

I stopped being involved in the hobby last August because I cannot handle both the hobby and schoolwork together. I kept a 5 gallon FOWLR for about 5 months but poor water quality (from Store-bought Natural Seawater) and equipments breaking down caused me to stop and throw in the towel. At present, I am an incoming college student here in the Philippines and yes I'll have to admit I can't get out from this wonderful hobby. I am planning to set-up another 5 gallon tank and this time I'll take it slowly and surely to avoid the tank from crashing. I will be using an HOB Filter rated at around 90gph and a small powerhead for circulation. I want to make this tank as cheap as possible because as what I have mentioned I am an incoming college student. I'm going to buy 3lbs of live rock to seed the dry rocks that I will be putting in the tank. Live rocks would be my main filter and I plan on doing 10% water changes two times a week. My biggest problem now is lighting. Any suggestions/comment to keep initial lighting costs would help.

Thanks!

acabgd · 06/04/2014, 06:19 PM

I was running a 7g nano with a cheap Chinese hybrid led amd growing SPS. I think it's your best and cheapest option.

ReefingWerewolf · 06/04/2014, 06:21 PM

Dont go that small. Just save up like I am

Pife · 06/04/2014, 07:29 PM

What do you plan on putting in this tank?

mejamis · 06/08/2014, 09:47 PM

Macroalgae and softies only

thegrun · 06/09/2014, 07:17 AM

You should be fine with a single 10% weekly water change. Two 10% changes seems like more than needed. On the plus side, you should be able to get RO/DI water from any of the Lab Buildings on campus.

ThisGuy12 · 06/09/2014, 08:56 AM

5 gallon tank will require much much more maintenance than a larger tank (55ga +) why you ask? Evaporation is much larger, swings in the water parameters, need for water changes every couple days to maintain good water quality, etc.

These reasons are why a friend of mine broke down his 5gal tank. It needed constant topping up and maintenance.

Best way to learn is to go big up front while it seems counter-intuitive to other hobbies that is the best way I've heard in this one.

arthurnotthekin · 02/07/2020, 07:15 AM

I've been searching for the classroom projects by Brandon Rutherford, elementary teacher. I know the Stratton Elementary School Reef Project was featured on *********, but I can't open the podcasts link from this page:

Where can I find Brandon's teaching materials, lesson plans or the reference to the site?

mcgyvr · 02/07/2020, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthurnotthekin

I've been searching for the classroom projects by Brandon Rutherford, elementary teacher. I know the Stratton Elementary School Reef Project was featured on *********, but I can't open the podcasts link from this page:

Where can I find Brandon's teaching materials, lesson plans or the reference to the site?

@arthurnotthekin I found this through google..
https://www.reef2rainforest.com/2015...onal-aquarium/

The "rules/management decisions" of this site do not allow us to discuss that other reef site you linked to so we can't really help you there..

Here is a link to Brandons vimeo page
https://vimeo.com/user28704363

There is a site dedicate to it here..
http://mrrutherfordisawesome.weebly....ef-system.html

and TONS more links with a bunch of information available..
Just google "Brandon Rutherford aquarium project"

06/03/2014, 10:55 PM	#1
mejamis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 16	Student Newbie Good Day/Evening! I stopped being involved in the hobby last August because I cannot handle both the hobby and schoolwork together. I kept a 5 gallon FOWLR for about 5 months but poor water quality (from Store-bought Natural Seawater) and equipments breaking down caused me to stop and throw in the towel. At present, I am an incoming college student here in the Philippines and yes I'll have to admit I can't get out from this wonderful hobby. I am planning to set-up another 5 gallon tank and this time I'll take it slowly and surely to avoid the tank from crashing. I will be using an HOB Filter rated at around 90gph and a small powerhead for circulation. I want to make this tank as cheap as possible because as what I have mentioned I am an incoming college student. I'm going to buy 3lbs of live rock to seed the dry rocks that I will be putting in the tank. Live rocks would be my main filter and I plan on doing 10% water changes two times a week. My biggest problem now is lighting. Any suggestions/comment to keep initial lighting costs would help. Thanks!

06/04/2014, 07:29 PM	#4
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	What do you plan on putting in this tank? __________________ Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~

06/04/2014, 06:19 PM	#2
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	I was running a 7g nano with a cheap Chinese hybrid led amd growing SPS. I think it's your best and cheapest option.

06/04/2014, 06:21 PM	#3
ReefingWerewolf Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 358	Dont go that small. Just save up like I am

06/08/2014, 09:47 PM	#5
mejamis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 16	Macroalgae and softies only

06/09/2014, 07:17 AM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You should be fine with a single 10% weekly water change. Two 10% changes seems like more than needed. On the plus side, you should be able to get RO/DI water from any of the Lab Buildings on campus.

06/09/2014, 08:56 AM	#7
ThisGuy12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 822	5 gallon tank will require much much more maintenance than a larger tank (55ga +) why you ask? Evaporation is much larger, swings in the water parameters, need for water changes every couple days to maintain good water quality, etc. These reasons are why a friend of mine broke down his 5gal tank. It needed constant topping up and maintenance. Best way to learn is to go big up front while it seems counter-intuitive to other hobbies that is the best way I've heard in this one.

02/07/2020, 07:15 AM	#8
arthurnotthekin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 2	I've been searching for the classroom projects by Brandon Rutherford, elementary teacher. I know the Stratton Elementary School Reef Project was featured on *********, but I can't open the podcasts link from this page: Where can I find Brandon's teaching materials, lesson plans or the reference to the site?