Old dogs new tricks

[Harold Green]

After realizing there are so many people using the latest and most expensive tech out there (and have the tanks to show it) I'd like to hear from those who created a successful reef on a realistic budget. I'm from a time (forty years with marine tanks) when the lfs carried very little for a marine tank so in most cases you ended up building what you needed. I've built tall counter current skimmers at the dawn of the age of skimmers, acrylic wet dry sumps when they weren't available from the lfs. I imagine most hobbyists have never seen a marine tank running with only an undergravel filter and air pump and yet it was the basic method that people had success with. Today there are great forums telling us how to use the latest tech but is it really necessary equipment to have a fantastic reef tank? Do you have the low cost lighting, skimmers, pumps and diy equipment thats doing an excellent job of providing a display at a minimal expenditure? Are you satisfied that your basic build is doing as well as it would be with all the bells and whistles simply because of your tank maintenance and technique.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I have a very KISS attitude. So, far after 12 years, I have been doing quite well with many smaller systems run very simply. My 40gal system has only skimmer and UAS. I do water changes and prodibio additives. My 20g has skimmer only. My large system has more (skimmer, ca rx, apex, carbon, UAS) but that is it (will be adding feeding system for NPS) . I have gravity top offs that I have to monitor and I do all manual water changes.

I just feel more in tune with the tanks that way. I go into zen mode when cleaning and water changing. It is my break from the stress of the week, day, month, whatever.