My first 3 months

caution long read and plenty of typos.


It has been 3months to the day, and I would like to take a moment to
reflect and share my experiances.


The day i brought my equipment home and began setting it up was somewhat
stressful, I had made a considerable with drawl from the savings
account, and a wife to answer too. I had to explain to her that this
was the bulk of the expense and i had just about everything i needed.

The next day I am ready too get my LR
and water, it was 3 trips to the store in order for me to 12 5gal
buckets of water and the LR but we
made it, got the tank filled, sat back and began to stare in awe,
dreaming of all the life i had just put into my living room and how I
cant wait to see it.


About 2 weeks later im getting itchy, Iam seeing algae grow, a few bugs
running around, but I was ready for more action. All my water test have
come out fine, my living rock wasnt out of water for more then 45
minutes, I must be one of those lucky guys that wont get a cycle right?
Off too the LFR for a CuC, 20 some crabs 10 misc snails and 2 cleaner
shrimp should hold me over. And it did, for 3 days. My CuC is doing
great, no change in water params,lets throw a coral in there. this is
the day i brought home a super sweet GSP, I mean wow these green flowing
tenticals waving around and it is easy to keep? Just the thing. It is
now 1.5 times bigger today.


Not long after that I got my first fish. a pair of percs and a potters
angel i mean come on everything is thriving what can go wrong now. These
fish died in 3 days. Crap what I do?


Over the next few weeks I had more success, Found a local reef club,
GIRS, learned some patience, got some great info from the various
forums, and things once again started looking good.


I would have to say the second month was probably the hardest for me. i
made a lot of mistakes, and lost a lot of livestock some due to not
taking my own advice, others just out of bad luck.

I nearly threw everything in the garage and walked away I had already
spent 3 times more money then I had initially. Remember that part where I
told my wife i had almost everything i needed?

between livestock losses, and spending money on things i didntt need, it
added up fast.


It has been 3 months now and my tank has never looked better. All the
frustration, headaches, and sleepless nights has been worth it. Sure
there are things i wish i had done differant, but i made do with what I
had and made it work.


Anyway thanks for reading I know its long.

Speacial thanks too

ReefBuilders.

G.I.R.S.

Reef Central

Aquatic Enviroments


and all the people i have met and helped me along the way.


Mike.


55Gal sumpless reef tank.

 

hey thanks for reading, one of the most important things I have learned through all this is to take my time and research everything from equipment to livestock.

As iam in the planning stages of my next tank atm, I am hoping i do things a little better this time around, and cheaper.