The Little Tank that Shouldn't...

[Reefd Up]

Over the past 1.5 years, my quarantine tank turned to a rescue-coral tank to my only tank...so I decided it needed its own profile.  This tank has beaten all odds...and was done on the cheap.  

10g drilled tank:  $5
10g sump (used acrylic baffles):  $10 (including the acrylic and silicone)
Mini 404 pump:  Free at frag swap (is used as a return pump)
Plumbing:  $10
HOB filter:  $5 (on clearance...used as a carbon/phosphate reactor)
Sand:  Free
Live Rock:  Free with purchase at a LFS
Metal Stand:  $5 (I think...the previous owner might be able to correct me)
Koralia 3:  I had a gift certificate...so I think I only paid a couple of bucks
Tunze 9002 skimmer:  $135  purchased for the 40g, but moved it over a couple days ago
2x70W MH:  $75 for both plus $20 eBay bulbs
Controllable Heater:  Had a gift certificate
Flood Lamp:  $15
Mag-Float:  $5
Auto-topoff system:  Free...won in a raffle

So, for a little over $250, I have a pretty awesome "QT-Rescue-All in One Tank

[Reefd Up]

It's ugly, but this is an amazingly stable system:



These are outdoor flood lamps that you can convert to 70W MH lamps


HOB Carbon/Phosphate reactor:


DIY Sump:

[Reefd Up]

There are close to 150 frags...and colonies in the tank.  Most of the colonies were rescued...almost dead when I purchased them...and with good care, they came back to life. 

Rescue:




This is my "Crown Jewels"/"Dragon Soul" Favia...rescued it from a pretty much non-existant state...and it colored up into this:


Coral when I first got it...and then a picture of it several months ago:


It's taking up too much room, so it'll probably have to be sold soon. 

[jd]

Neat story Nikki! I love the flood lamps. Where did you find a ballast?

[Reefd Up]

I actually bought them pre-made from Sean D down in Cincy, but here's a link on how to make the lights...I think it tells where to get the ballasts:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91165

[jd]

Awesome, thanks.

[chromiumlux]

Nikki,
You are truly a great steward within our hobby. Thanks for sharing.

[Reefd Up]

LOL...just thought I'd share my ghetto-rigged tank.  Figured someone else could use the ideas to make another inexpensive setup.  QT's don't have to be uber expensive (or pretty).

[ghurlag]

I never knew "awesome" came in so many flavors    I was originally going to set up a 10g with a 10g sump - I don't know why exactly - as a small, simple nano.

[Reefd Up]

Lol, thank you!

[HUNGER]

looken good

[Rayman]

that is great thanks for sharing, i tried to find this the other day and failed. i would have set a fire extinguisher next to it just for laughs .

[Reefd Up]

Ya know, come to think of it, a fire extinguisher is probably a pretty good idea...   

[Rayman]

lol i have been reading about the diy light fixture all night, nice pics of the corals btw they look amazing.

[Reefd Up]

Thanks!  I'll have to update soon.  Those pictures are from back in Sept....lot has changed since then.  This tank is now MUCH more SPS heavy than it previously was.  I'm gradually moving the corals over to my 55g tank so this tank can become a true QT tank again.  I've become quite attached to this little tank...it has really beaten all odds.