MeganTheProfishional

Thanks for the feedback! I mostly was prepared to rule out RS for budget concerns entirely, especially since I'm hesitant about anything secondhand. I'm not against Nuvo again, since I can't predict what might have caused it between the tank's age and the move. I wouldn't be against getting my hands on a RS that's the right size, I know the lids can be well-fitted, and I do have room for a stand (and could maybe add a sump later which would be nice). Just gotta see if I can get lucky. Thankfully I didn't open my live sand up yet, my rocks are still in buckets (which will be getting bubblers now that there's no immediate new home for them), and the livestock is still away at summer camp. Still, want to get things up and running ASAP.

Well, it's happened again and I think I've learned my lesson. After going through all the trouble of moving my NuVO 38 from Manassas to Maryland, I finally started filling today...and saw water pooling underneath. Given the tank's shape, weight and age, I don't feel comfortable taking a crack at trying to find the leak and re-seal the entire tank. It's impressively heavy, and while I am in larger space it's just not a feasible project right now. So, I'm once again in the market for a tank. This time I'm saving up and buying new (or secondhand if I can manage to find something opened but not set up), since I'm two for two on being burned by used AIOs now. But I've been away from the hobby for a bit and need some recommendations. Only planning on small reef community fish and low-maintenance softies for this system. My requirements: -30-40 gallon range -AIO strongly preferred, unless it's something pre-plumbed with a sump. -Must be able to be FULLY COVERED, no mesh lids (I've lost too many little guys to jumping through holes that should be impossible to get out of) -Preferred no hoods or built-in lights, as I still want to use my Kessils -Does not need additional hardware included, I have pumps, powerheads, potentially media baskets and things like that on hand already. -Because this is a bit of a surprise purchase, I am on a budget. No Red Sea-level suggestions.

Wow, tanks for the feedback everyone! I'll ha've to do some research but this is a perfect jumping off point

After The Incident (tank cracked) my husband has brought up the idea of getting a camera to watch my fish tank wall remotely. Even if it's just for peace of mind while we're away I think it might be a good idea. Has anyone done something like this or have any recommendations? I'm trying to stay as budget as possible.

If a bicolor doesn't work for you, coral beauties tend to have the best track record for not picking at corals. Captive bred would be the most foolproof option imo

I'm thinking about trying to get a single/pair/group of the Hybrid Cleaner Gobies produced by ORA, but I can't for the life of me find them for sale. Does anyone have experience with them, or know where I could get my hands on some? I've checked out our wholesalers but never seen them, only the standard neons and very rarely the figaros.

I've personally been very happy with the ceramic Aqueon Pros, been using them for a while now with no issues or complaints. I have a curse with glass heater coils breaking on me, so I've never tried a jager, but I know plenty of people like them. Same with the neotherms, but they're just out of my budget range lol

So I've figured out the cause of my mystery stings has to be Euphyllia...which is a shame because we have lots of it at the shop. I wear gloves now whenever I handle it for any period but that isn't always foolproof. Anyone else have this issue and got any suggestions for helping them go away? Or at least stop itching so darn much lol

Well I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get my hands on another one of these setups, let alone just the tank, so right now it's undecided.

Big update posted. I might put some pictures of the tank as it was up here, just so everyone can see how far it came from scratch. Still a little too soon for me, though.

Apologies if this is the wrong board to ask, I figured general was a safe bet. AquaSD is having a sitewide 30% off sale today, and there's a single frag I really want but have trouble justifying the shipping. Figured it was worth seeing if anyone else was ordering from them today and I could possibly slip that frag in their order and pick it up locally, in exchange for sharing the shipping cost. My coworker might also be interested in frags from them, so the shipping could potentially be thirded as well. If anyone is doing this and willing to work something out, please text me (2403970506) since I won't have the chance to check here as often today. Big thanks in advance y'all!

Ooh, good to know about this! I usually get by with my TLF nano mag but I suppose that thing isn't strong enough for coralline or other tough stuff.

Thanks y'all! I've only ever been around gyre pumps of any sort in the shop, which has kind of a baseline dull roar of filter noise, so judging sound hasn't been easy.

Anyone have thoughts on how the IceCap gyre pumps stack up against the maxspects? those seem to be the only two of that style of powerheads I've seen

Interesting read, especially the historical side, although I feel like there were a lot of points that were rather cherry-picked to fit his argument. My main issue is when people see problematic things in a hobby they just suggest "well stop doing that hobby" rather than trying to propose ways to make changes for the better. Pushing for more sustainable and ethical practices from larger businesses (looking at you PetCo/Smart) and at the collection level seems much more productive. Over the few years I've been part of the fishkeeping world I've definitely seen an increase in support for captive breeding, ocean-friendly materials, and better catching practices, and while I dont have data to fall back on I imagine that's been just as beneficial as collection bans and the like (note I'm not fully against moratoriums on collecting, I get why they can be beneficial, but full lockdowns seem counterproductive i.e. Indo ban). While it sounds nice to say we should just stop keeping fish in captivity, there are two big things standing in the way of that goal. First, regardless of the aquarium hobby's impact on the environment, the greatest threat to the oceans is widespread human-caused climate change and habitat destruction, which is happening on a scale that the entire fishkeeping industry could probably never manage. While we should prioritize the health and safety of what's left, there is also a case that some of these organisms and ecosystems may be better off preserved in captivity rather than see them be wiped out in nature. The second obstacle is that so long as enough people are profiting from it, the hobby will never truly go away. Therefore I think it's a much better mindset to improve the hobby we have rather than try to eliminate it entirely. It will require a bit more personal investment from all of us to try and change some of the culture in the aquarium hobby, but it's very likely the only way forward.