Low maintenance - Socks, fleece, something else?

[BubblesandSqueak]

Totally get that, i felt insane thinking I’d dump 200 on a sump then overnight considering $600 for one with a fleece roller that looks nice.

My only mindset is getting the right gear now, so I’m not having to replace equipment when I want to upgrade — or decide I hate doing something.. like filter socks, I don’t see myself wanting to deal with them. Which leaves me questioning each piece of tech lol

$25 a month for a replacement filter roller or $60 for a dozen socks to last a year (or longer). Or nylon mesh. Just pull them out and drop in a bucket every 4 days then run through the wash, let dry and repeat. just get enough socks to carry you 3-4 weeks.

 

[LosGatosMax]

is this the back up to Monterey Bay?

Ha! Not even close. These are the beast protein skimmers MBA runs.

 

[VintageReefer]

I often wonder the difference of people with dirty sumps vs clean. I couldn’t tell if it was beneficial or lazy lol. I do love the look of a clean sump but hate cleaning so I guess I’ll see how that goes

I don’t know where I fall

 

[NancyFish]

I don’t know where I fall

Did I see you post in a no water change thread? I know I saw your tank somewhere, I screenshotted the torch mix because I loved the colors together

 

[JCH]

What’s your overall maintenance look like, like how often hands on?

Love the reef diapers! I use them in the rear sock hole of my water box sump and a klir 4inch drop in fleece roller in the front sock hole . My tank is crystal clear. Yeah I hate washing socks !

 

[NancyFish]

Love the reef diapers! I use them in the rear sock hole of my water box sump and a klir 4inch drop in fleece roller in the front sock hole . My tank is crystal clear. Yeah I hate washing socks !

That sounds great, how often are you changing everything out?

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

chocolate chip star?

 

[NancyFish]

it just totally dawned on me where you're from....Did you do that on purpose?

Did I do what on purpose?

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I don’t know where I fall

chocolate chip star in the sump?

 

[VintageReefer]

chocolate chip star in the sump?

Never had them before but Had to get them today, there’s two.

Harlequin food. Almost ran out of those tiny white starfish. Found the harlequin on the sand bed today acting sluggish. Knew this day would come. Now I have to start buying starfish to feed him which I’m not thrilled about but I’m not going to let him starve. I knew what I signed up for

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Did I do what on purpose?

no one from CT (including me) ever pronounces the "c".

 

[VintageReefer]

Did I see you post in a no water change thread? I know I saw your tank somewhere, I screenshotted the torch mix because I loved the colors together

Correct, I don’t do water changes, I don’t run socks or any mechanical filtration, and I don’t run a skimmer

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Never had them before but Had to get them today, there’s two.

Harlequin food. Almost ran out of those tiny white starfish. Found the harlequin on the sand bed today acting sluggish. Knew this day would come. Now I have to start buying starfish to feed him which I’m not thrilled about but I’m not going to let him starve. I knew what I signed up for

yeah, I just threw in the towel for GHA. Dolabella on the way. Better than chemicals. Will have to re-home later.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Socks, fleece, something else - what’s your preference?

Looking for the lowest possible maintenance that’s still high success for beginners.

I was potentionally looking at the Fijicube and trigger with the fleece rollers but heard conflicting reviews - any thoughts?

Over a decade of using socks and they never let me down

 

[VintageReefer]

yeah, I just threw in the towel for GHA. Dolabella on the way. Better than chemicals. Will have to re-home later.

My filtration methods eliminate gha and prevent its return

Fixed my scrubber, broken air pump…
17 days later roughly 90% improvement.

That was 2 years ago I haven’t had more than the occasional spot of Gha appear since then and if it does, it dies off in a week

 

[VintageReefer]

Did I see you post in a no water change thread? I know I saw your tank somewhere, I screenshotted the torch mix because I loved the colors together

Pick two contrasting color babies and start with that and you can have something amazing in 6 - 8 months

Even just two can be stunning!

Then I recently added two more

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

My filtration methods eliminate gha and prevent its return

Fixed my scrubber, broken air pump…
17 days later roughly 90% improvement.

That was 2 years ago I haven’t had more than the occasional spot of Gha appear since then and if it does, it dies off in a week

I was manageable till about the past 2 months. Maybe it’s the spring time brightness through the room. I also do not have the skimmer on it. That was just too much to clean every few hours.

 

[darrick001]

This tank was set up on 2-27-24. No skimmer, or mechanical filtration. A Refugium is the only filter.

 

[VintageReefer]

I was manageable till about the past 2 months. Maybe it’s the spring time brightness through the room. I also do not have the skimmer on it. That was just too much to clean every few hours.

I took my skimmer offline over a year ago, I view them as a special need once in a while device for things like removing medicine. Otherwise, they are just taking coral food from the water column

 

[VintageReefer]

This tank was set up on 2-27-24. No skimmer, or mechanical filtration. A Refugium is the only filter.

That’s beautiful, I applaud your methods and success.

My pico was also setup in February (7th). I’ve had to rearrange / replace things in it due to growth. Hence why some torches got moved into my main tanks “garden”

Zero water changes here also and no skimmer or mech filtration