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Author Topic: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus  (Read 3256 times)

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Offline ghurlag

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Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« on: February 09, 2019, 13:19:28 »
Hi everyone!  Some of you may remember me from the 2010-2014 era when I had a couple nano tanks (29g, then 40g breeder).  Life came along and I got out of the hobby for a bit.  I'm now looking to get back in, and have a lot of lessons learned from back then.

Currently, I'm looking to set up a pico/nano between 10 and 30 gallons.  I'm scouring sites looking for pricing to set a budget so I can set aside the right amount.  I've determined not to put water in a tank until I have everything at hand and am ready to go.

Coral-wise, I think I'll be shooting for softies/LPS mainly.  I had some luck with SPS back in the day, but I need to maintain a healthy life balance. 

I'm also interested to see how the hobby has changed and grown in the last 5 years since I've been active.  I'm looking forward to the new adventure!

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2019, 15:09:04 »
So I can either piece together a shallow reef in a 20L I have in the basement, or I can try my hand at the following:



https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/10-nuvo-fusion-aquarium-innovative-marine.html

I'd really like the 20-nuvo fusion, but I think that's going to be outside the budget for now. 

Offline ohioreef

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2019, 16:18:46 »
Welcome back!! I've also recently jumped back into the hobby after a hiatus.

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2019, 16:42:58 »
@ohioreef - yeah, I think you were already on hiatus when I joined up in 2010.  Welcome back to "the life", yourself!

Offline ohioreef

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2019, 17:55:12 »
@ohioreef - yeah, I think you were already on hiatus when I joined up in 2010.  Welcome back to "the life", yourself!

I was still in “the lifestyle” in 2010. I left when my son went into the army a few years later, 2014, maybe.

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2019, 18:43:52 »
Ah, gotcha!

Offline Steve

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2019, 20:00:26 »
Welcome back.

Offline Trini 2D Bone

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2019, 21:10:28 »
Welcome back man.

Offline Warhawk937

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2019, 23:58:54 »
Welcome back YouTube inappropriate reefer he built a nano tank for 260$ 10 gallons I’m going to fallow the same model when I build my sons this summer

Offline Warhawk937

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2019, 23:59:37 »
Correction $160

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2019, 11:26:00 »
Thanks, Warhawk937,  I'll check it out!

Offline lazylivin

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2019, 09:28:07 »
Welcome Back :)

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2019, 09:56:40 »
So as I’m studying up, I think my pico will be based on at least the following:

NUVO Fusion 10
Kessil a80

I’ve been seeing some mentions of upgrading the return pump.  Not sure that will be necessary if I’m only doing LPS and softies.

Pretty excited to be getting back in the game, and looking forward to maxing out the possibilities on a small scale here in the coming months!


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Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2019, 14:42:59 »
The purchases have started.  I've decided to go with a NUVO 10g with Kessil a80 for my first pico/nano reef.  Today I ordered everything other than the light and tank:

10 lbs MarcoRocks Key Largo Dry Rock
ViaAqua 50-Watt Quartz Glass Submersible
Century Heavy Duty Mechanical Timer Dual Outlet (for light)
Hydor Koralia Nano Pump/Powerhead - 240 GPH
Boyd Chemi-Pure Blue Nano Aquarium (5 Pack)
Carib Sea Ocean Direct Natural Live Sand for Aquarium, 5-Pound
DrTim's Aquatics One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria

I have a sale pending on some networking equipment that will fund the next couple of phases: tank, light; livestock

I'll start posting pics, because we all know pics are king, as soon as things start arriving.

Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2019, 17:33:33 »
Congrats for jumping down the rabbit hole. The addiction is worse than the addicts will tell you!

Nice list of goodies there!

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #15 on: February 16, 2019, 18:12:46 »
Congrats for jumping down the rabbit hole. The addiction is worse than the addicts will tell you!

Nice list of goodies there!

Thanks!  I always knew I’d be back.  Tech has progressed enough for me to do a pico and keep my budget reasonable and hopefully still scratch the itch. 


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Offline SweetReefOH

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #16 on: February 16, 2019, 19:31:43 »
I wish you much success!

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #17 on: February 17, 2019, 17:52:16 »
Once I actually get all the bits together I'll start a build thread, but until then I'll keep adding info here.  Following is what I plan on putting inside the box:

Livestock:
Court Jester Goby (aka Rainford's Goby)
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Pom Pom Crab

Coral Options:
Zoanthids
Candy Cane coral
Blastomusas
Duncans
Pulsing Xenia (I've dealt with it before, know how to prune it back/isolate it, and the public just loves it)

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2019, 18:23:13 »
First shipment has arrived.




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Offline Warhawk937

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2019, 20:36:58 »
Good luck

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #20 on: February 23, 2019, 18:07:10 »
While I’m waiting on things to arrive for the pico reef, I thought I’d post a pic of my 20H f/w planted tank.  Enjoy!




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Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #21 on: February 26, 2019, 20:56:50 »
After a couple more small orders, and moving some money around, I ordered the NUVO 10g last night, along with all new guts for my RODI unit.  It's quite possible there could be water in a glass box by this weekend!  I'll be starting a build thread in honor of the occasion.

Offline Steve

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2019, 13:07:29 »
Love the fw planted tank. Wish I had room for a large tank to do discus or angels with neon tetras and live plants.

Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2019, 13:27:02 »
Love the fw planted tank. Wish I had room for a large tank to do discus or angels with neon tetras and live plants.
I’ve dreamt of doing both over the years.  The small school of tetras in my 20H are fun to watch.  Imagine a larger school in a huge tank... wow!


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Offline ghurlag

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Re: Returning to Hobby after 5-year hiatus
« Reply #24 on: February 28, 2019, 20:55:50 »




So the tank arrived today!  Looks great.  I’ve already swapped the return pump for a Sicce Micra Plus. 

More to come this weekend!


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