Bare minimum equipment?

[reefer024]

Who thinks you can get away with bare minimum in mix reef/fish aquarium? Using only live sand/rock, heater, hang over back filtration, t5 lighting..

 

[cshouston]

I’m sure a lot of folks do just that. I’ve found that the amount of work you have to do to maintain a tank is inverse to how much money you’re willing to invest. It’s doable with the bare minimum, but needs more effort and knowledge to do properly.

 

[Bnutz]

I have frag qt system running. 20 gal tank, aquaclear 70 filter, heater, live rock, Hydor 425, and kessil a160we

 

[Kinjirra]

Watch the previous series Budget Saltwater tank for the basics...then this series to see the upgrades for a reef. Really answers alot of questions at least for me, plus gives a good breakdown on basic equipment and upgrades as well.

 

[mexi757]

Honestly my is about basic as it gets. I have a fax 5 canister with live rock in it a reef octo 200 hob 2 2k ice caps two no name brand power heads 3 black box vipraspectra’s and two heaters. Do 20% w/c every two weeks( home made salt water mixed with Red Sea coral pro salt and lfs R/o). Have a mix of mushrooms anemones zoas monti hammer frog spawn polyps and a couple others with 9 fish and a good clean up crew. Have no problems all perimeters are within in what I want. Is it a lil more work yes. But also a lot cheaper on my pocket.

 

[reefer024]

The reason I'm asking is because that's exactly how Ive been doing it for years. And from my experience it's not much work to keep up on. It seems some is overdone

 

[reefer024]

Honestly my is about basic as it gets. I have a fax 5 canister with live rock in it a reef octo 200 hob 2 2k ice caps two no name brand power heads 3 black box vipraspectra’s and two heaters. Do 20% w/c every two weeks( home made salt water mixed with Red Sea coral pro salt and lfs R/o). Have a mix of mushrooms anemones zoas monti hammer frog spawn polyps and a couple others with 9 fish and a good clean up crew. Have no problems all perimeters are within in what I want. Is it a lil more work yes. But also a lot cheaper on my pocket.

Nice, I have a 60 cube, t5 lighting, 110 aqua clear running clearmax, carbon, sponge and bio stones, roughly 60lbs of live rock and use r/o with reef crystals. Deep sand bed, 2 hydor wave makers. My favorite invertebrate is my pistol shrimp and orange spotted goby.

 

[F i s h y]

I run my tanks with lights and heaters. No skimmer in my sump. Just lots of actual live rock. Lots of diversity. With routine water changes, not needing a sterile looking tank, its definitely doable.... I run dirty tanks that grow lots of stuff really well.... I dont mind a little cyano I don't mind algae, my fish are super happy my corals grow....

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Who thinks you can get away with bare minimum in mix reef/fish aquarium? Using only live sand/rock, heater, hang over back filtration, t5 lighting..

Your overdoing it! You don't need the sand or hob filter! Might be able to ditch the heater too...

 

[F i s h y]

No sump... just a heater and power heads in my small frag tank... I know my tanks arent perfectly clean but I really don't mind...

 

[reefer024]

Your overdoing it! You don't need the sand or hob filter! Might be able to ditch the heater too...

I don't think my pistol shrimp and goby or nassarius snails would be happy if I didn't have a nice sand bed.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I don't think my pistol shrimp and goby or nassarius snails would be happy if I didn't have a nice sand bed.

They'd also be happier in a 10k gallon tank with perfect apex/trident controlled parameters. I thought we were talking bare minimum?

Sigh my wife always says people don't get my sense of humor. I'm out!

 

[Jeffcb]

You can do it. Yrs ago had a 20gal long with just 4 small pwr heads, Small Sanders lime wood protien skimmers, 4 20w tubes and 20lbs of Florida live rock. No sand. Ran for about a yr.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I had a system comprised of nothing more than sand, rock, heater, rubbermaid bin, black box led and a small powerhead.

Numerous inverts and an eel for months, grew coralline like mad.

My display only adds a proper tank, aquaclear 110, and recently an HoB skimmer.

 

[reefer024]

My addiction