Healthy Aquarium -- What is Needed?

[7237689918]

I mean absolutely no disrespect.

My goal is to have an aquarium that is pretty easy to maintain but, most importantly provides a great habitat for growing awesome corals and fish.

I read and research a ton, on this sight and others, and see aquariums that are literally engineering marvels. It truly is impressive and way beyond what I could do even if I wanted to.

My question is, how much of that is really necessary? Is the aquarium itself driving the fun to build the incredible plumbing, monitoring, etc.?

I'm still on the fence on a Red Sea Reefer 170/250 vs. Max (AIO) 170/250 and largely can't decide due to the limitations on gear for the AIO. And then I see beautiful AIO tanks and know it must be possible to achieve.

Anyway, just looking for opinions the "upgrade/source" plans and how much really contributes to a great aquarium.

Thx!

 

[NickC]

Personally, I would highly recommend a tank with a true sump. In my opinion stability is the single most important thing that a reef tank needs, and a sump will help tremendously. Not only will the added volume help with stability, but maintainence will be much easier and therefore done more frequently (stability). Evaporation will be easier to manage, and much easier to install an ato. You’ll have room for a proper sized skimmer, and a place to hook up reactors as the tank matures and starts to consume ca and alk.

There are many more benefits to having a sump as well, I doubt you will regret it.

 

[the new reef kid]

first off a canister or hob filter is enough for most tanks just get a good canister filter and an hob protien skimmer and you can have very clean water if you get a big enough canister filter. you dont need a refugium or a uv steralizer or a carbon reacter. just use a canister filter to dose and filter and a hob skimmer both will cost you around two hundred and then you will be ship shape

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I had a thriving heavily stocked 40G with a Fluval 305 on it for nearly two years. No skimmer, just ran BioHome ultimate media in the bottom two trays and two 11oz pouches of Chemi-Pure Blue and two pouches of Purigen that I replaced and regenerated every month. I'm running that same setup on a 20g dwarf lionfish tank now and I wish my 75g has water that clear...

The most important thing is keeping the water chemistry stable and keeping the nutrient levels in line.

 

[hart24601]

A lot of it has to do with stocking IMO. It's very easy to run a reef with minimal fish. Even if you have a tiny bioload you can just feed the corals if nutrients are too low. Now heavily stock a tank with a great deal of nutrient addition a day and then large export systems are needed. Particularly if one stock heavy with juvenile fish and they grow and really push the system capacity. Note I said minimal fish, not no fish!


Pico reefs can be very easy and have almost no equipment, but have no fish at all (generally, some do but the challenge increases).


Of course there are exceptions, but in general as bioload increases complexity increases.

 

[the new reef kid]

I mean absolutely no disrespect.

My goal is to have an aquarium that is pretty easy to maintain but, most importantly provides a great habitat for growing awesome corals and fish.

I read and research a ton, on this sight and others, and see aquariums that are literally engineering marvels. It truly is impressive and way beyond what I could do even if I wanted to.

My question is, how much of that is really necessary? Is the aquarium itself driving the fun to build the incredible plumbing, monitoring, etc.?

I'm still on the fence on a Red Sea Reefer 170/250 vs. Max (AIO) 170/250 and largely can't decide due to the limitations on gear for the AIO. And then I see beautiful AIO tanks and know it must be possible to achieve.

Anyway, just looking for opinions the "upgrade/source" plans and how much really contributes to a great aquarium.

Thx!

What kind of tank do you have in mind

 

[7237689918]

What kind of tank do you have in mind

Hi.

I'm looking at a Red Reefer 170/250 or Red Sea Reefer Max 170/250.

 

[7237689918]

A lot of it has to do with stocking IMO. It's very easy to run a reef with minimal fish. Even if you have a tiny bioload you can just feed the corals if nutrients are too low. Now heavily stock a tank with a great deal of nutrient addition a day and then large export systems are needed. Particularly if one stock heavy with juvenile fish and they grow and really push the system capacity. Note I said minimal fish, not no fish!


Pico reefs can be very easy and have almost no equipment, but have no fish at all (generally, some do but the challenge increases).


Of course there are exceptions, but in general as bioload increases complexity increases.

That makes sense.