This is more or less just a photo diary of my latest saga; the purchase and setup of a 180 gallon aquarium. The main problem is that I'm currently unemployed 
and as such, am doing this all on a tight budget over time, and nearly everything will will be DIY that can be. So before you ask "where is the money coming from" , the answer is: money that I have been setting aside for the better part of a year, and money that I made during my breeding stint. The sale of the bulk of my breeding equipment (tanks, heaters, filters, and livestock) paid for most of this.
Here is my current largest tank: standard 125 gallon long that I picked up from a friend. It's an old Perfecto but holds water and is currently cycling. It came with a set of hoods, (6) 36" T8 strips, a steel stand, and a new Rena XP4 filter for $100. I sold the light strips (made all my money back) and bought a used Perfecto 72" T8 hood from a LFS for $20. All I had to add were some heaters. This will be the growout tank for my stock list, and as an emergency tank if things get ugly.
Also left over is a 55 gallon tank and (3) 20 gallon long tanks that I can use if needed. I know how aggressive fish can be, so I've made arrangements in the event that I need isolation, hospital, or quarantine tanks.
and as such, am doing this all on a tight budget over time, and nearly everything will will be DIY that can be. So before you ask "where is the money coming from" , the answer is: money that I have been setting aside for the better part of a year, and money that I made during my breeding stint. The sale of the bulk of my breeding equipment (tanks, heaters, filters, and livestock) paid for most of this.Here is my current largest tank: standard 125 gallon long that I picked up from a friend. It's an old Perfecto but holds water and is currently cycling. It came with a set of hoods, (6) 36" T8 strips, a steel stand, and a new Rena XP4 filter for $100. I sold the light strips (made all my money back) and bought a used Perfecto 72" T8 hood from a LFS for $20. All I had to add were some heaters. This will be the growout tank for my stock list, and as an emergency tank if things get ugly.
Also left over is a 55 gallon tank and (3) 20 gallon long tanks that I can use if needed. I know how aggressive fish can be, so I've made arrangements in the event that I need isolation, hospital, or quarantine tanks.
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