Well back at the hobby. Been away for a while now. Moved home to Alaska and plan to be putting roots down for good. So getting back into the hobby with the plan to breed some different fish for local aquariums and possibly online sale. I have been given a zero dollars budget due to a baby that will be here any moment. Wife has said "unneeded expenses" are strictly regulated for now lol. So was given a 30gal, filter and heater. Also came with one lava rock and some pink gravel. Sneaking a little here and there I have bought two packs of plastic plants and one silk plant. Normally don't do fake plants but don't have lighting and stuff I need to live. So like I said working on a tiny budget. I have several pieces of cottonwood I collected from the matanuska river near where I live. Yesterday I collected glacial sand from biglake also near where I live. Boiled and cleaned both sand and wood thoroughly. Wood has been in the tank for weeks now as well as my brothers 50gal. Sand was added just yesterday so water still clearing a little. Also why the DIY pre filter pad on my intake tube. But for a no budget tank (max $100 spent on everything including fish & food) it came out really nice I think. What about you?? Lol. Thanks for looking I'll post a series of pics below.