my cheap reef!!

[AndyB4784]

good idea with the construction paper. Painting seems like a pita on a full tank....

[Tate]

I got some solid-color gift wrapping paper from Walmart for $2.50 and taped it to the back of my tank for a background.

A lot easier than painting and looks just the same.

[HBtank]

Painting looks better than any taped on background... JMO

Even when I do use a background (like some on FW tanks) it looks much better when sealed to the back with something and all the airbubbles are removed. Just taping it on looks the worst..

[Rue]

I hate doing anything permanent to my tanks...so far I've been taping the run-ofthe-mill backgrounds on the back of my tanks...

...by the time the tank is full of stuff, you don't see much of the background anymore anyway...

All I can say is that ANY background looks better than none...

[20reefer]

Thats what happen to me, always there are air bubbles so how I seal it??...sorry for my english.

[Pattylucylaura]

Use some petroleum jelly (vasaline) I don't know how it is done exactly never done it but I think you just put some on the background press it against the tank then smooth it out with a credit card.

[20reefer]

Thanks Pattylucylaura the vaseline rally works jaj here is the pic:

[IMG][/IMG]

I will post close up pics tomorrow!!

[Frick-n-Frags]

darned if that tank back isn't exactly the same size as a playboy foldout!!!!!! wow!! who would have thought?

[HBtank]

What kind of angel is that?

[20reefer]

Rock beauty Holacanthus tricolor, dificult to keep needs sponge on his diet. Have not touch any corals thanks God, is very beautiful and have blue eyes.

[10" Red Devil]

Yeah that is sexy! Although I think Black would look better. So you actually collected those zoos from the local waters? Dang I did not realize they had such nice zoos in the caribbean.

[20reefer]

Here is a uptade, I remove the angel an give it to my friend 75g reef. Tomorrow I will bring home the new refugium that my friend made with a 20g long, so I wll post pics later. I need a water pump so the tank will have new filtration maybe for next week.

Fishes: tomato clown, royal gramma, small puddingwife wrasse, bridled goby and 2 dusky jawfishes

[IMG][/IMG]

[Nicholas89]

Lookin' Good, I really like your choices on coral.

[thor32766]

yeah sweet looking tank, the background looks sweet.

[20reefer]

Thanks Nicholas and Thor, I will post pics tomorrow from the great work of my riend on the new refugium. Finally I will take out the power filters and skimmer from the back of the tank, but the most important thing, I continue cheap because was free LOL.

[yellowwatchmen]

So what is the final amount you have spent not including fish, corals,and invert?

[20reefer]

tank- $70

2 power filters- $45

192w pc with fans and moonlights- $130

skimmer with gen-x needlewheel pump- $85

new refugium coming today- free

corals, sand, water, fishes- free

total- $330

[lilreefer1975]

Man I wish thats all I spent!
I think my light fixure was just a lil less then that! Nice tank though good job, the background makes a huge difference

[yellowwatchmen]

Wow! That is cheap. You can have a nice tank with out spending a bunch.

[barjam]

Get some 5% static limo tint, apply it with water (soapy works better, gotta be careful) and squegee out the the water. If that isn't dark enough you can then put cardboard or whatever you want behind that. The problem with just sitting something behind is that it shadows.

[Steven0000]

yeah underoath!

[frederickk]

Nice tank 20reefer

[20reefer]

Well here is an update:

total: $330 + $50 (magdrive pump for the fuge)= $380
fishes: tomato clown, gramma, 2 dusky jawfissh and chainlink moray

tank
[IMG][/IMG]

chainlink moray
[IMG][/IMG]

gramma:
[IMG][/IMG]

[Icefire]

Be prepared to loose all your invert. a morray will eat them all.

[20reefer]

she already ate all crabs but no the hermits, but I get thems free