Low Cost Reef For Parents?

cm11599ps · 04/15/2011, 10:14 PM

My parents wanted to take an old 10 gallon I have and start a freshwater tank. They still haven't done anything.

I was toying with the idea of setting up a reef tank for them. I have an empty 29 gallon and could use the 10 as a sump.

For equipment I have some hob filters and a hob skimmer. I would only use the hob filter if I kept it a fowlr.

There is no lighting right now. I'd like to keep this on the extreme low end if possible. A fowlr isn't out of the question so if I can't go low end lighting and easy coral then a fowlr it is.

For stocking, maybe a pair of clowns or something.

Can I go low end reef or should I stick with a fowlr?

tkeracer619 · 04/15/2011, 11:08 PM

Whatever you do make it easy for them to learn on. Set it up as a fowler and get them interested. I would run the skimmer on it. Get them started on chemistry. Once you get them hooked convincing them they need this and that will be much easier.

stevie-o · 04/15/2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Whatever you do make it easy for them to learn on. Set it up as a fowler and get them interested. I would run the skimmer on it. Get them started on chemistry. Once you get them hooked convincing them they need this and that will be much easier.

+1 put reef safe fish in it just in case they switch over than you would only really need to upgrade lighting if they do coral

jeepin_girl4ya · 04/16/2011, 12:22 AM

I didnt know this hobby was low cost, lol...a few thousand $$$ later

stevie-o · 04/16/2011, 08:40 AM

Quote:

I didnt know this hobby was low cost, lol...a few thousand $$$ later

lol it costs as much as you wanna spend if i could drop a few grand in a tank I would

04/15/2011, 10:14 PM	#1
cm11599ps Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY Posts: 1,413	Low Cost Reef For Parents? My parents wanted to take an old 10 gallon I have and start a freshwater tank. They still haven't done anything. I was toying with the idea of setting up a reef tank for them. I have an empty 29 gallon and could use the 10 as a sump. For equipment I have some hob filters and a hob skimmer. I would only use the hob filter if I kept it a fowlr. There is no lighting right now. I'd like to keep this on the extreme low end if possible. A fowlr isn't out of the question so if I can't go low end lighting and easy coral then a fowlr it is. For stocking, maybe a pair of clowns or something. Can I go low end reef or should I stick with a fowlr? __________________ LIRA Member Current Tank - 55 gallon. Custom CLF1 sump, fuge, overflow & SVS2-24 skimmer from Lifereef. 4x54 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 4 Lunar LEDs. 2 EcoTech MP40's, 70lbs assorted

04/15/2011, 11:08 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Whatever you do make it easy for them to learn on. Set it up as a fowler and get them interested. I would run the skimmer on it. Get them started on chemistry. Once you get them hooked convincing them they need this and that will be much easier. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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04/16/2011, 12:22 AM	#4
jeepin_girl4ya Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kansas city Posts: 51	I didnt know this hobby was low cost, lol...a few thousand $$$ later