Making your own is for sure the way to go, especially if you have a spare tank laying around. I had to buy a used tank, but even so my total build cost including plumbing was only around $150 bucks ($60 for used 30 gallon tank). It's a total benefit especially if you plan on housing fishes like Mandarins who thrive on pods. Natural filtration is the way to go. I've got a deep sand bed, chaeto and pods running in mine now. I've never seen my water look so clear. I was not predrilled so I use a 800 gph over-flow box with 1" supply and a mag 9.5 with a 3/4" return. She runs like a champ!
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Marty
72g Bow Front, 2x250w MH (10 hrs), 4x65 Act (14 hrs), 6xDual Moonlights (10 hrs), 300 gph from cannister filter and powerhead, Prizm hang-on protein skimmer, 50 lbs LR, CC Bed
Yellow Tang, 2 Clowns, Bubble Tip Anemone, 2 Yellow Tail, Humbug, White Spot, Ornate Goby, Emerald Crab, Sally Lightfoot Crab, 2 Blue Legged Hermits, 15 Scarlet Hermits, +Snails with no names (margaritas, turbos, astraeas) |