Simple systems? Anyone with minimal equipment?

Chihuahua6 · 09/19/2008, 09:53 PM

I'll go first. I have a 29 gallon tank with live rock, 1/2" of shallow coarse sand, 1 Maxi-jet powerhead, 1 AquaClear filter (for carbon), a heater and a Coralife clip on light. That's it. There is no sump, no skimmer, no reactors.

It houses Bubble Tip Anemones and four fish: Flame Hawkfish, Yellow Tang (temporary home) and two Yellow Tail Damsels. I do weekly water changes of 20-30% and vacuum the detritus from the sand and blow it from the rocks to remove as much of it as I can along with the removed water. I only need to clean the glass once per week.

The fish are fed well but in small amounts throughout the day. Everything that is put into the tank gets eaten. The Anemones are fed 2-3 times per week. The tank contains no snails or crabs.

The whole thing including live rock cost me about $300. The light was purchased used from a fellow RC member. The tank sits on a small accent table that we already had so I didn't include that with the price. It actually fits the table perfectly which is why I chose that size tank.

So here's an example of simple reefkeeping on a small budget. If someone could help me post pics I would truly appreciate it. I could email them to you. I don't have them hosted on an account yet but I'm working on it.

Does anyone else have a simple system they can share?

egdevilboy · 09/19/2008, 10:41 PM

In the process of me setting up my 30 gallon with all the trimmings I ended up with enough equipment to setup a simple 29 gallon which now my buddy owns. Which I tested his water today and he had perfect perameters.

His setup:
29g tank
2x65 PCs
4.5g HOB refugium w/ 9w light

He got his live rock free from a friend and was given freebie corals from local hobbiests.

All he has is some nice mushrooms, some pumping xenia, a few small anemones, and some NGSP.

His water is crystal clear, his nitrates at O, phosphates at 0.5, ph at 8.3, calcium at 440, DKH at 10...

even better than my tank with denitrator, phosphate reactor w/ carbon and phosban, HUGE skimmer, and 250w MHs.

Zegg · 09/19/2008, 11:09 PM

My 24gal aquapod (64w?pc model) run stock with 1 nano kolias and only a small media bag of carbon and 1 sponge.

Clean glass once a week, remove sponge every 2 days. carbon change once a month.

But i do do 2L (approx 1/2 gallon) water change EVERY day. I use a measured 2 liter scoop to remove and just gravity drip the new 2Liters or new water before i go to work.

I keep pumping Xenia, Colt coral, Toadstool, torch, mushrooms, some different zoas, candycane, greenstar polyps, donut coral. Firefish and recently moved the plate coral, tongue coral and tiger gobie to my 90gal.

reeftanktime · 09/20/2008, 01:51 PM

I just downgraded from a 58 full reef with halides and all to a 20H with pc lighting and a maxijet. Hopefully this will do forr a few years while I save for the dream tank.

InsaneClownFish · 09/20/2008, 02:01 PM

You might be interested in my 8foot tank build that will only use a projected 240w of continual power: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1474765

sixspeed · 09/20/2008, 02:09 PM

I have a very similar tank to yours Chihuahua6.

29 gallon tank,
AC500 that has been converted to a fuge,
1 koralia #3,
Coralife clip on MH fixture.

Livestock:
~20lbs of LR
less than an inch of sand
Tomato Clown
Yellow coris wrasse
GBTA
Purple Birdnest
Green digi
Crocea clam
Frogspawn
Hammer coral
A few different zoa's

everything seems very healthy, i do water changes as often as i can usually around every 2-3 weeks. I like simple systems, but maybe that is because of my budget.

DrBegalke · 09/20/2008, 04:01 PM

try image shack for free image hosting.

i used to have a similar system, but now I run a biocube/nano cube.

Mark426 · 09/20/2008, 05:09 PM

30 gallon with 3 maxijet 900's hidden behind a false wall ...thats it

Well..almost..a heater, high quality T5 lights and liverock..lots of live rock. Works well for me. My tank is stuffed full of LPS and Zoas. They are thriving and grow well with good color. 25% water change each week. Works for me.

Mark

p.s. I stock very lightly with fish, one Tailspot Blenny and one Yellow Assessor. The usual CUC

Chihuahua6 · 09/23/2008, 10:49 AM

Thanks for contributing guys.
Insane ClownFish I checked out your build thread. It looks amazing. I love softies. They're so much more interesting than sps and allow the bold colors of the fish to stand out. I can't wait for updates.

Anyone else have a simple tank?

pledosophy · 09/23/2008, 12:24 PM

Wow I thought I had minimal equipment but you guys have me beat.

I have a 34g with a 25g refugium. I do have a closed loop and a powerhead. Also have HQI lighting and an ATO unit. But that's it.

Here is a pic that needs to be updated. I fought the hair algae with it and won.

DamnPepShrimp · 09/23/2008, 01:03 PM

On my old 110 (6ft, had to take down due to a move) I had T5/VHO lighting, my return pump/two koralia 2s for flow, heater and a halfassed refugium. It had over 200lbs of LR and was a bare bottom tank. No skimmer, CL, tunze, etc. There was no fish either but it was packed with corals that grew tremendously when it was up and running.

09/19/2008, 09:53 PM	#1
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Simple systems? Anyone with minimal equipment? I'll go first. I have a 29 gallon tank with live rock, 1/2" of shallow coarse sand, 1 Maxi-jet powerhead, 1 AquaClear filter (for carbon), a heater and a Coralife clip on light. That's it. There is no sump, no skimmer, no reactors. It houses Bubble Tip Anemones and four fish: Flame Hawkfish, Yellow Tang (temporary home) and two Yellow Tail Damsels. I do weekly water changes of 20-30% and vacuum the detritus from the sand and blow it from the rocks to remove as much of it as I can along with the removed water. I only need to clean the glass once per week. The fish are fed well but in small amounts throughout the day. Everything that is put into the tank gets eaten. The Anemones are fed 2-3 times per week. The tank contains no snails or crabs. The whole thing including live rock cost me about $300. The light was purchased used from a fellow RC member. The tank sits on a small accent table that we already had so I didn't include that with the price. It actually fits the table perfectly which is why I chose that size tank. So here's an example of simple reefkeeping on a small budget. If someone could help me post pics I would truly appreciate it. I could email them to you. I don't have them hosted on an account yet but I'm working on it. Does anyone else have a simple system they can share? __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/20/2008, 02:01 PM	#5
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	You might be interested in my 8foot tank build that will only use a projected 240w of continual power: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1474765 __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

09/20/2008, 04:01 PM	#7
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	try image shack for free image hosting. i used to have a similar system, but now I run a biocube/nano cube. __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

09/23/2008, 10:49 AM	#9
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Thanks for contributing guys. Insane ClownFish I checked out your build thread. It looks amazing. I love softies. They're so much more interesting than sps and allow the bold colors of the fish to stand out. I can't wait for updates. Anyone else have a simple tank? __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/23/2008, 12:24 PM	#10
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	Wow I thought I had minimal equipment but you guys have me beat. I have a 34g with a 25g refugium. I do have a closed loop and a powerhead. Also have HQI lighting and an ATO unit. But that's it. Here is a pic that needs to be updated. I fought the hair algae with it and won. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

09/19/2008, 10:41 PM	#2
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	In the process of me setting up my 30 gallon with all the trimmings I ended up with enough equipment to setup a simple 29 gallon which now my buddy owns. Which I tested his water today and he had perfect perameters. His setup: 29g tank 2x65 PCs 4.5g HOB refugium w/ 9w light He got his live rock free from a friend and was given freebie corals from local hobbiests. All he has is some nice mushrooms, some pumping xenia, a few small anemones, and some NGSP. His water is crystal clear, his nitrates at O, phosphates at 0.5, ph at 8.3, calcium at 440, DKH at 10... even better than my tank with denitrator, phosphate reactor w/ carbon and phosban, HUGE skimmer, and 250w MHs.

09/19/2008, 11:09 PM	#3
Zegg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Laguna Hills Posts: 785	My 24gal aquapod (64w?pc model) run stock with 1 nano kolias and only a small media bag of carbon and 1 sponge. Clean glass once a week, remove sponge every 2 days. carbon change once a month. But i do do 2L (approx 1/2 gallon) water change EVERY day. I use a measured 2 liter scoop to remove and just gravity drip the new 2Liters or new water before i go to work. I keep pumping Xenia, Colt coral, Toadstool, torch, mushrooms, some different zoas, candycane, greenstar polyps, donut coral. Firefish and recently moved the plate coral, tongue coral and tiger gobie to my 90gal. __________________ SCRK Member Current Tank Info: 400 FOWLR

09/20/2008, 01:51 PM	#4
reeftanktime Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Twin cities, MN Posts: 60	I just downgraded from a 58 full reef with halides and all to a 20H with pc lighting and a maxijet. Hopefully this will do forr a few years while I save for the dream tank.

09/20/2008, 02:09 PM	#6
sixspeed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 416	I have a very similar tank to yours Chihuahua6. 29 gallon tank, AC500 that has been converted to a fuge, 1 koralia #3, Coralife clip on MH fixture. Livestock: ~20lbs of LR less than an inch of sand Tomato Clown Yellow coris wrasse GBTA Purple Birdnest Green digi Crocea clam Frogspawn Hammer coral A few different zoa's everything seems very healthy, i do water changes as often as i can usually around every 2-3 weeks. I like simple systems, but maybe that is because of my budget.

09/20/2008, 05:09 PM	#8
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	30 gallon with 3 maxijet 900's hidden behind a false wall ...thats it Well..almost..a heater, high quality T5 lights and liverock..lots of live rock. Works well for me. My tank is stuffed full of LPS and Zoas. They are thriving and grow well with good color. 25% water change each week. Works for me. Mark p.s. I stock very lightly with fish, one Tailspot Blenny and one Yellow Assessor. The usual CUC

09/23/2008, 01:03 PM	#11
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	On my old 110 (6ft, had to take down due to a move) I had T5/VHO lighting, my return pump/two koralia 2s for flow, heater and a halfassed refugium. It had over 200lbs of LR and was a bare bottom tank. No skimmer, CL, tunze, etc. There was no fish either but it was packed with corals that grew tremendously when it was up and running.