syeve's JBJ 28G build

[syeve]

Hello all, thought I would try to keep a journal on this new (slightly used tank) and I also thought I would include some prices for a ground up build. I started looking for an all-in-one system about a month ago and this is what I ended up with. Used JBJ 28 with a tunze skimmer.

I want to incllude prices for a couple of reasons. 1. to help anyone who wants a ground up, start from nothing budget outline. 2. to identify if I'm over paying for anything or if I'm buying anything that I don't need.

My goal is to spend under $1,000 pre livestock.

Thanks for looking!

Thanks to JDigital for the help!
Also thanks to KennyKen for the tank!

Bought so far...
Tank/heater/thermometer/skimmer and 30lbs live rock - $550
Live Sand 20 lbs - $40
Bucket of Salt (instant ocean) - $50
Hydrometer - $20
Instant Ocean Test kits (calcium, ph, Ammonia & nitrate) - $70
Chemicals - (magnesium, Bacter booster, de-clorinator) - $55

Total so far - $785

First day

Cleaned the tank, ready for live sand



Skimmer installed and ready to go (I think??)



Hood Cleaned and ready



Live rock



First night - salinity was OK but tem was HIGH



Second day - temp and salinity good to go



Day 3 - water clearing up nicely. Took some of the rock out (I am a minimalist lol)



More to come!

[JDigital]

Nice tank! Glad it's coming together for ya. I could have probably gave you my hydrometer as I don't use it anymore, but too late. lol

[Chaloupa]

The only suggestion I would have looking at it...is to make sure that you have room on all 3 side to clean the glass. The way it looks right now (unless you haven't scaped it yet) is that rock is touching both sides....a nightmare to try to keep clean. Otherwise....looks good. Love the hood...it's an upgrade isn't it?

[Carmen]

Originally Posted by JDigital

Nice tank! Glad it's coming together for ya. I could have probably gave you my hydrometer as I don't use it anymore, but too late. lol

Ditto! If you are looking for stuff, try posting here on canreef - may be able to find something for half the price!

Looking Good! Exciting starting up a new build! It's addicting!

[syeve]

Thanks for the suggestion! I am going to move the rock around right now.

And for the prices etc. I really have no idea so I defn will post up any purchases I am going to make.

Thanks again folks!

[syeve]

Quick update...

Tank cycled like a champ. Levels are normal, CUC is in place. I went with;

2 turbo snails
6 algea crabs
6 small snails (can't remember their name)
1 rock blennie (couldn't resist)

I'm noticing dozens of other life growing in the tank; snails, pods, algea, zoo's, mushrooms etc.



This picture has 4 snails, 1 crab, rock blennie and some type of duster just to his left.




I did upgrade the cooling as I was seeing temps creep up a little high in the day so I jumped on the DIY train and fashioned a compact and quiet fan w/bracket. Total cost was under $30 and cools very well.

So far so good!

Thanks for looking!

[JDigital]

I was just thinking about your tank yesterday... Wondering how it was coming along...

Your Blenny looks like a Lawnmower Blenny. Time to start adding coral.

[fishytime]

So you are officially a reefaholic? The first step is admitting you have a problem....the second step is cutting up your credit cards.... All kidding aside welcome to the dark side and to canreef. Looking good so far.

[syeve]

Originally Posted by JDigital

I was just thinking about your tank yesterday... Wondering how it was coming along...

Your Blenny looks like a Lawnmower Blenny. Time to start adding coral.

Yah! Lawnmower...I looked at a few, got confused with the names.

I think I saw you at RC the day I got him. You were just leaving, I saw a dude with a sweet camera and the owner called you Josh. Anyways, wasn't sure if it was you.

What would be a good coral to start with? Maybe some Zoo's? Mushrooms?

Thanks for looking fishytime!

Steve

[brizzo]

Very nice! Welcome to the HQI nanocube club

Is that a 20k bulb? With it being a used setup, do you know how old the bulb is?

PS: That rocks is some nice wicked purple!