Apartment budget build

clem1975 · Nov 1, 2017

Well gonna try my hand at a sumpless 20 gal standard tank. This will be mostly bare bone with hob filter, AI prime hd, Jebo power head & Reefglass skimmer off my Nuvo 10. I will be using 20lbs of life rock and dry sand to start. My goal will be a mixed reef leaning heavy on montipora, with some lps. Tank and stand were purchased today used for 40$, I will be resealing the tank and painting the stand this weekend. More updates to come.

EriksOasis · Nov 1, 2017

Good start. I like the barebone idea as my first tank was a 55 gallon with aquaclear hob filter reef octopus hob skimmer and aqua illumination Vegas with a couple Koralia powerheads. The tank thrived for a couple years before transferring everything to a new tank.

ReefRyan · Nov 3, 2017

Hey I'm in a apartment budget as well. I have a nano tank and I didn't go with the sump but I used a hang on the back refugium. Have you thought about a hang on the back refugium?

clem1975 · Nov 3, 2017

ReefRyan said:
Hey I'm in a apartment budget as well. I have a nano tank and I didn't go with the sump but I used a hang on the back refugium. Have you thought about a hang on the back refugium?

I have one now on my Nuvo 10gal. After some more research I'm thinking a 10gal sump with a hang on overflow but the sump will be 90% refugium with no skimmer.

ReefRyan · Nov 4, 2017

Ah ok I see. Well update us when you can with pictures

thaitopher · Nov 4, 2017

I had a twenty gallon bare bones. Just be really consistent with water changes it should work fine. I

clem1975 · Nov 4, 2017

thaitopher said:
I had a twenty gallon bare bones. Just be really consistent with water changes it should work fine. I

I have a Nuvo 10 now and do 1gal 2xs a week. Tank is not thriving but I like to tinker so I'm getting the nutrients down to zero as much as I can. I don't mind water changes, I am going to use a 10gal sump so not 100% bare bones but I'll be posting allot of pics with updates.

clem1975 · Nov 8, 2017

Update 2 and 3. Stand painted ordered 20lbs of life rock. Painted back black and bottom white. Rock scape is done used around 12lbs of the rock so I can clean easily.. going bare bottom that will eventually be carpeted by gsp. Next step will be water and a circulation pump to start cycle. Then filter and light. Leaning towards kessil a160. Sorry about the pic lighting is a bit off.

thaitopher · Nov 9, 2017

clem1975 said:
Update 2 and 3. Stand painted ordered 20lbs of life rock. Painted back black and bottom white. Rock scape is done used around 12lbs of the rock so I can clean easily.. going bare bottom that will eventually be carpeted by gsp. Next step will be water and a circulation pump to start cycle. Then filter and light. Leaning towards kessil a160. Sorry about the pic lighting is a bit off.

I really like the GSP carpeting idea. I am trying to carpet the back side of my tank with GSP. Still hasnt moved from the frag to the back wall yet.

DBH2017 · Nov 9, 2017

thaitopher said:
I really like the GSP carpeting idea. I am trying to carpet the back side of my tank with GSP. Still hasnt moved from the frag to the back wall yet.

What is GSP? Sorry if it is a stupid question.

JoshH · Nov 9, 2017

GSP or Green Star Polyp....

greenstarpolyps_10__10627.1416848322.380.380.jpg

clem1975 · Nov 9, 2017

DBH2017 said:
What is GSP? Sorry if it is a stupid question.

Green star polyps

clem1975 · Nov 9, 2017

thaitopher said:
I really like the GSP carpeting idea. I am trying to carpet the back side of my tank with GSP. Still hasnt moved from the frag to the back wall yet.

It will I had a bc16 with the entire back wall covered.

clem1975 · Nov 9, 2017

Any other ideas on lighting? Kessil A80 maybe? Gonna have some monti cap and birds nest way up but everything else will be low light requirement. Trying to stay in budget mode but want a nice light.