Dorm Tanks? New Orleans? (1 Viewer)

[PicassoClown]

Hey guys!! I know it’s been a long time since I made a post but life has been crazy. I’m going to college this summer at Tulane in New Orleans (yay!) and I was wondering if any of y’all had/have dorm tanks? How’re y’all doing it? What brands do you like? I’m guessing AIO is really the only way to go.

I’m planning on a biology major with a minor in marine biology!!! Figure I can’t possibly be a marine biology student without a sick reef tank

Also if anyone has good LFS recommendations for the NOLA area I’d be very appreciative!!

 

[MurseJB]

Had a clown trigger and clownfish in an eclipse tank in the dorms.... was cool back then a long time ago lol. You're lucky to have way more options now. I think an acrylic AIO 5-20g would be easy and convenient. Oceanbox designs made some cool ones, but they seem to be out of stock right now. Congrats and have fun at Tulane!

 

[PicassoClown]

Thanks! I had my first orientation today and I’m super excited! Currently the plan is a 10-15 AIO (probably fluval, IM, or waterbox and acrylic if I can) with either clowns or inverts only. If I go inverts it will probably be zoas & rockflowers (maybe a large softie for height) with a bonded pair of coral bandeds or arrow crabs.

If anyone has a better/cooler/more unique idea then I’m all ears! Just looking for something low maintenance cause I’m taking a 19 hour per semester pathway

 

[decimal]

Congrats on Tulane.. reef tanks, idk how you would do it. I have heard about ppl keeping nanos in extreme fashion (even as small as a jar) but that’s a different ballgame altogether. So really it just comes down to what kind of challenge you want to take on.

 

[frankc]

Congrats and good luck!

I had a tank in my dorm, but that was long before you were born, and a saltwater tank was just a pipe dream. I had a 20 gallon with about 14 baby angelfish that I had bred and was raising.

I have never tried them, but you might consider a goby/pistol shrimp pair for your tank.

 

[PicassoClown]

I’ve had a couple responses on R2R, it seems like a couple of people have had success with very simple systems. No skimmer, no UV, just filter floss, pump, light. I think stuff that likes “dirty” water would work pretty well like nems, zoas, leathers, RFA, etc. I looked up the limitations and it’s one 10 gallon tank so I gotta make it good!

 

[RobbyeD]

Hey guys!! I know it’s been a long time since I made a post but life has been crazy. I’m going to college this summer at Tulane in New Orleans (yay!) and I was wondering if any of y’all had/have dorm tanks? How’re y’all doing it? What brands do you like? I’m guessing AIO is really the only way to go.

I’m planning on a biology major with a minor in marine biology!!! Figure I can’t possibly be a marine biology student without a sick reef tank

Also if anyone has good LFS recommendations for the NOLA area I’d be very appreciative!!

Reef Coral @ 12442 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 was a nice LFS that I visited a couple of years ago... That is the closest store to NOLA that I have personally visited. Congrats on Tulane!!!

 

[MurseJB]

Thanks! I had my first orientation today and I’m super excited! Currently the plan is a 10-15 AIO (probably fluval, IM, or waterbox and acrylic if I can) with either clowns or inverts only. If I go inverts it will probably be zoas & rockflowers (maybe a large softie for height) with a bonded pair of coral bandeds or arrow crabs.

If anyone has a better/cooler/more unique idea then I’m all ears! Just looking for something low maintenance cause I’m taking a 19 hour per semester pathway

Thanks! I had my first orientation today and I’m super excited! Currently the plan is a 10-15 AIO (probably fluval, IM, or waterbox and acrylic if I can) with either clowns or inverts only. If I go inverts it will probably be zoas & rockflowers (maybe a large softie for height) with a bonded pair of coral bandeds or arrow crabs.

If anyone has a better/cooler/more unique idea then I’m all ears! Just looking for something low maintenance cause I’m taking a 19 hour per semester pathway

a ton of RFAs and a whole mess of sexy shrimp would be cool and super easy. Can even add some shrooms and zoas if you're bored

 

[PicassoClown]

Reef Coral @ 12442 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 was a nice LFS that I visited a couple of years ago... That is the closest store to NOLA that I have personally visited. Congrats on Tulane!!!

Thanks!! I’ll try to check them out on my way home tomorrow

 

[PicassoClown]

a ton of RFAs and a whole mess of sexy shrimp would be cool and super easy. Can even add some shrooms and zoas if you're bored

Pretty tank!! Where do you source your RFAs? They’re gorgeous!

 

[paradizecityz]

Congrats on Tulane! My sister went there many years ago when we lived in New Orleans. Whenever you come back, can you bring me some beignets!?!? lol

Most likely a good AIO is the best bet for dorm room. Can probably rig up some type of RODI unit to make water too lol

I think I've seen New Orleans have some Frag Swap shows every now and then? Be sure to hang out at Audubon Aquarium as well!

 

[Cody]

Hey guys!! I know it’s been a long time since I made a post but life has been crazy. I’m going to college this summer at Tulane in New Orleans (yay!) and I was wondering if any of y’all had/have dorm tanks? How’re y’all doing it? What brands do you like? I’m guessing AIO is really the only way to go.

I’m planning on a biology major with a minor in marine biology!!! Figure I can’t possibly be a marine biology student without a sick reef tank

Also if anyone has good LFS recommendations for the NOLA area I’d be very appreciative!!

I had a 20 gallon without the AIO while I was teaching in Korea for a couple years (small apartment). Nano tank for you, for sure. Also, water changes are your friend. That’s the quickest and easiest way to regulate a nano considering the water volume is so low.

Having said that, don’t get a reef tank until you get your own place. Living in a dorm is like living in a small hotel room with another person. Bringing an aquarium with the noise and smell into that tiny place is going to make a fast enemy out of your roommate, and rightfully so. Take a break from the hobby for a year, travel around, have fun. What are you going to do with the tank while you’re home for a week?

 

[decimal]

Lol with a 10g or less, you can use a gallon of Distilled water for wage changes and top off. But I wager Cody is right (you don’t hear that too often) what will you do when u go on spring break or whatever. Here is a 1/2g Pico

 

[-AnThOnY-]

Thanks!! I’ll try to check them out on my way home tomorrow

There was another one that was good near the intersection of Williams and the interstate in Kenner. I don't recall the name but it was solid.

Edit: I quit being lazy and actually looked it up. It is Aquatic Specialties.

 

[PicassoClown]

Congrats on Tulane! My sister went there many years ago when we lived in New Orleans. Whenever you come back, can you bring me some beignets!?!? lol

Most likely a good AIO is the best bet for dorm room. Can probably rig up some type of RODI unit to make water too lol

I think I've seen New Orleans have some Frag Swap shows every now and then? Be sure to hang out at Audubon Aquarium as well!

I went to the aquarium! It was pretty nice, I think FJW might have more corals than them lol. I love to see those big fish we can’t really keep in home aquariums though. Just signed up for my pre-reqs to take marine biology next semester!

 

[PicassoClown]

I had a 20 gallon without the AIO while I was teaching in Korea for a couple years (small apartment). Nano tank for you, for sure. Also, water changes are your friend. That’s the quickest and easiest way to regulate a nano considering the water volume is so low.

Having said that, don’t get a reef tank until you get your own place. Living in a dorm is like living in a small hotel room with another person. Bringing an aquarium with the noise and smell into that tiny place is going to make a fast enemy out of your roommate, and rightfully so. Take a break from the hobby for a year, travel around, have fun. What are you going to do with the tank while you’re home for a week?

I was just gonna drain 25%, Saran Wrap the top then stick it in a big plastic bin and put it in the car for holidays. My dad is still going to maintain my tanks at home so I figured I’d just take it home and bring it back. My roommate is also a fish geek and has tanks at home so she was in love with the idea of a saltwater tank (she only has fresh right now but they’re very nice high tech planted tanks). Definitely going to wait till at least 2nd semester to really commit to this though

 

[PicassoClown]

Lol with a 10g or less, you can use a gallon of Distilled water for wage changes and top off. But I wager Cody is right (you don’t hear that too often) what will you do when u go on spring break or whatever. Here is a 1/2g Pico

I just saw BRS’s new reef jar on Instagram, gotta say it looks enticing….

 

[PicassoClown]

There was another one that was good near the intersection of Williams and the interstate in Kenner. I don't recall the name but it was solid.

Edit: I quit being lazy and actually looked it up. It is Aquatic Specialties.

Added it to the list!! I’ve got about 3 or 4 that look pretty good so hopefully one (or more) can help me out

 

[paradizecityz]

You selling any of your old corals before leaving? I'm looking for cheap SPS and torches/hammers right now lol

 

[oguzman]

I'd say do the jar that someone linked above, that looks like fun! Do a daily water change and house it with some nano fish. There's a part of me knowing how college was that would tend to fear to a 30gal due to the neglect that'll likely occur but that's more my personality projecting on the situation. Let us know how it turns out!!