Celebrating low tech tanks
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MixedFruitBasket
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My frag tank has a HOB filter and one wave makers. Basket of denitrate rock in the bottom. 
T5 lights.
T5 lights.
Olde 12g nano with just a return pump, heater, analog thermometer, DIY lighting and ATO (no chem or mech filtration):
Used to run my old 55g the same way for nearly a decade.
Used to run my old 55g the same way for nearly a decade.
Auquanut
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I love this thread! Got a lot of respect for the low tech crew.
Magellan
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Love the ricordeas!Olde 12g nano with just a return pump, heater, analog thermometer, DIY lighting and ATO (no chem or mech filtration):
Used to run my old 55g the same way for nearly a decade.
Good job see how it’s not crudded up with walls of periphyton and algae + dark bits in the sand, or at the sand rock interface, it’s just all clean
That’s the telltale sign of a OTS proof system. It’s accessible should some hitchhiker show up, but that’s not likely due to every space being a coral mouth or coralline. Old nanos aren’t lucking into it, they’re doing similar actions but they don’t have to be exact. Basic real estate command is most important, control of detritus makes a nano self regulate forever we don’t have to recharge the biome it just runs forever / as long as supports continue. They self regulate given basic import and export, not with retail purchases.
That’s the telltale sign of a OTS proof system. It’s accessible should some hitchhiker show up, but that’s not likely due to every space being a coral mouth or coralline. Old nanos aren’t lucking into it, they’re doing similar actions but they don’t have to be exact. Basic real estate command is most important, control of detritus makes a nano self regulate forever we don’t have to recharge the biome it just runs forever / as long as supports continue. They self regulate given basic import and export, not with retail purchases.
Here is grandpa of pico reefs update, the old man is hoarse and winded but he has brute strength like lift a car off you if needed.
This planted bowl below is my number one #1 focus design for a self sustaining ecosystem. This bowl is solely ran by two spotlights, no heat no circ. Window light handled it 18 mos one time easily
You can stop feeding it seven years, it runs the same. Warm in summer. 60 at times in winter for months. You can feed it lightly and sustain a resident pod of mountain minnows and mixed cherry shrimp, same outcome either way.
There is about 3 pounds of laterite powder at the bottom. Some soil, and fluorite chips mixed in because they do not break down over time, they prevent compaction and maintain channeling even in the perpetual storage condition. I believe the system can live 200 years or better, test is on. It’ll need light top siphoning to control substrate level but it’s designed to go years with no access other than topoff, ferts occasionally if you want zero burnt tip perfection
Next generations task is either stick it near a window or shine new wave plasma lighting at it, same outcome as 2003. Even if change water or not changed, it just doesn’t matter the system should be able to weather most home conditions given a little hardware luck such as no collapsed stand etc
This planted bowl below is my number one #1 focus design for a self sustaining ecosystem. This bowl is solely ran by two spotlights, no heat no circ. Window light handled it 18 mos one time easily
You can stop feeding it seven years, it runs the same. Warm in summer. 60 at times in winter for months. You can feed it lightly and sustain a resident pod of mountain minnows and mixed cherry shrimp, same outcome either way.
There is about 3 pounds of laterite powder at the bottom. Some soil, and fluorite chips mixed in because they do not break down over time, they prevent compaction and maintain channeling even in the perpetual storage condition. I believe the system can live 200 years or better, test is on. It’ll need light top siphoning to control substrate level but it’s designed to go years with no access other than topoff, ferts occasionally if you want zero burnt tip perfection
Next generations task is either stick it near a window or shine new wave plasma lighting at it, same outcome as 2003. Even if change water or not changed, it just doesn’t matter the system should be able to weather most home conditions given a little hardware luck such as no collapsed stand etc
Fish Tank bowls & Aquarium Supplies at FantasyBowls.com
www.fantasybowls.com
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jeffchapok
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My homemade PVC overflow
Siphoning ATO with simple float valve. Replaced the cup with a larger Rubbermaid container -- this was just the prototype. Sump is a repurposed acrylic tank.
Return line plumbed into HOB
After adding a real ATO
The DT
Siphoning ATO with simple float valve. Replaced the cup with a larger Rubbermaid container -- this was just the prototype. Sump is a repurposed acrylic tank.
Return line plumbed into HOB
After adding a real ATO
The DT
I currently have just 3 things plugged in to this tank. One powerhead, one heater and the led lights. I occasionally run a power filter to polish the water.
Pntbll687
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Marineland "reef" Lights, skimmer, return pump, heater. Doesn't get much simpler.
Well, maybe my frag tank is a little simpler with two powerheads and a heater.
The fanciest I get is that both systems have an ato on them
Kellie in CA
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Here's one of my systems maintained w/ tapwater. No skimmer, reactors or fuges. Dosing is sporadic and only consists of bicarb and sometimes calcium
And here's a system I started in 1997.
www.reef2reef.com
And here's a system I started in 1997.
Large Build - Skimmerless since 1997
Better late than never, right! :D Here's a current video of a system I set up in 1997. Initially it was in a 110 gallon, moved to a 200 in 2000, moved to a new location in 2007 and moved to a 240 gallon in 2009. Animals that are from the first year it was set up include a green brittle star...
www.reef2reef.com
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hey that's great. there was a guy on here today running a fine anemone setup on tap water, things looking fine as well, I hadn't seen such lush coral growth under tap but I knew it was possible, tap is nice in some regions.
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MixedFruitBasket
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I did my tank for almost five years on well water. Just added a RODI recently to see if it helped with an algae issue. Of course it didn't and I just got smart and got a sea hare who ate the issue in a couple days.
I'm only a few months in, 1x Tunze, 1x return, 1x heater, 1x generic white Led. All in one set up no sump fuge etc, live rock, filter floss, carbon and rowaphos for filtering. I don't plan on adding anything else fancy bar maybe a new light.
najer
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13 G aio, return pump and a heater, stock leds of blue or blue and white, no water changes unless required / emergency.
The twins look complicated, one tank divided with a swim through hole for the fish and creatures.
The right side is a display refugium and I have a sump refugium.
Two sets of drains and returns, skimmer, heater and 2 powerheads in the display and 1 in the right side.
No water changes unless required and manual dosing and top off.
550 L water volume.
The twins look complicated, one tank divided with a swim through hole for the fish and creatures.
The right side is a display refugium and I have a sump refugium.
Two sets of drains and returns, skimmer, heater and 2 powerheads in the display and 1 in the right side.
No water changes unless required and manual dosing and top off.
550 L water volume.
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MixedFruitBasket
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I am a total sucker for macro algae tanks. Love them
13 G aio, return pump and a heater, stock leds of blue or blue and white, no water changes unless required / emergency.
The twins look complicated, one tank divided with a swim through hole for the fish and creatures.
The right side is a display refugium and I have a sump refugium.
Two sets of drains and returns, skimmer, heater and 2 powerheads in the display and 1 in the right side.
No water changes unless required and manual dosing and top off.
550 L water volume.
Najer I see what that oxydator did for your cyano issue, that’s perfect balance
I don’t recall seeing plants like that what are those really want to try one sprig
I don’t recall seeing plants like that what are those really want to try one sprig
najer
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The tall one is prolifera, it wafts like kelp in the flo, it's very soothing to look at!
