I have to ask this...

[tangy-tang]

Is there anyone here that has a reef tank and just an aquarium. I mean is anyone here doing a reef without chillers, sumps, refuges, and all the other stuff. Just a plain tank with good water and the right lights?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[yellow ace]

I was planning on doing this...is it not ok?
-Ace

 

[tangy-tang]

I dont know... I have a big problem....I dont have the room for a refugium and all. I was just wandering if it was common to do a reef without all the professional stuff!

 

[yellow ace]

Yeah, I can't have a reef if you need all the fancy stuff b-c I don't have room for anything!
-Ace

 

[kpatrick]

You can have a successful tank without all the additional items however the additional items do make things easier. Before I got my sump and in sump skimmer I ran my 125g with a skimmer that hung on the back of the tank and some powerheads and it did fine for several years.

 

[konrade]

I know a woman who has over 2 pounds of lr per gallon and powerheads and nothing else and has a perfectly healthy reef.

 

[njfish77]

its not a good idea.in the long run especially youll regret it.if your going to get into this hobby do it right and dont be cheap

 

[tangy-tang]

I have a family, a home, and a lot of bills off of a tiny pay-check. Not to mention that I dont have the room for all that fancy stuff. Does that mean I shouldnt do what I can? :notsure:

 

[nyfisherman]

Buy the book Aquarium corals, great book, it will tell you everything you need and want to know. The author says their is no wrong way or right way to do it. Corals need six conditions
1. unpolluted water
2. active water flow
3. light
4. food
5. bicarbonate
6. calcium
I have a 55g reef with only a protien skimmer, two power heads, LR and some Macro algae. Copied it from the LFS.

 

[g13]

It's worked for me (2 yrs running, still kind of early)....45 gallon tank with.....60lbs of LR and LS
- Skimmer (Aqua C Remora HOB skimmer for up to 75 gallon tank)
- Power filter penguin 330 (not needed but use it to run carbon/phosguard and water movement)
- Enough light ( I use Aqua medic pendant with 250W DE HQI bulbs)
- Power heads for water movement.
Only thing that sucks about not having a sump or refugium is that everything seems to be HOB (Hang on back of the display tank).

 

[pbienkiewi]

they sell hang on back refugiums and what about a tank under the stand for a fefugium. The plumbing is not expensive. The most costly thing will be a overflow box. If a tank will not fit under you can make your own sump out of plexyglass and Weld On #4. I made one to fit under my 30gal I am starting up. It fits awsome and does not leak. Which is a good thing.

 

[viper_930]

The only filter I have on my 36g (other than LR) is a CPR Bakpak skimmer. I can't imagine having my tank (with SPS and clams) without a skimmer, the nutrient levels would be way too high.

 

[tangy-tang]

I have a skimmer and yes, even a HOB filter. I just wanted to know if Reef tanks can be succesful without all the other gadgets.
I have:
skimmer
HOB filter
30 Pnds of LR
25 Pnds of base rock
60-70 Pnds of LS
In a 55 gallon

 

[fishieness]

i have a 40 breeder reef with a HOB skimmer, HOB filter, and a powerhead. plus i have about 40 pounds of live rock. it is definatly possible, but if you had room, i would still recomend getting a refuge. im trying to convince my mom to let me add the extra water wieght to my second floor bedroom.

 

[bigb]

Just wondering, those that say they don't have room, what is under your stand? Chillers are not a necessary item, depending on your conditions. Even the simplest fuge/sump can fit beneath your tank and not only makes for better filtration but also alleviates the amount of maintenace that other filters require. my $.02

 

[tangy-tang]

Thats just it, I dont have the room under my tank. It was a walmart stand and it just wasnt made for n e thing to go under but some food and nets,etc. I just dont belive there a way to make room. I just wanted to decide if I shouldnt do a reef tank.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[promisetbg]

Originally Posted by Tangy-Tang
It was a walmart stand and it just wasnt made for n e thing to go under but some food and nets,etc. . I just wanted to decide if I shouldnt do a reef tank.
Thanks,
Mark
Make sure this stand is not particle board!It will not be strong enough to hold a SW tank.Remember that water weighs about 8 LBs. per gal.+ rock + sand+ weight of lighting~canopy.

 

[sundance1]

I have a 125 reef with 160 pounds of live rock and 240 pounds live sand and no refugium(although I am adding one soon) and all I have now is a ehim caninster and 4 powerheads and a protein skimmer.

 

[oreo12]

Originally Posted by BigB
Just wondering, those that say they don't have room, what is under your stand? Chillers are not a necessary item, depending on your conditions. Even the simplest fuge/sump can fit beneath your tank and not only makes for better filtration but also alleviates the amount of maintenace that other filters require. my $.02
I have a 75 gal fish only tank on top of my stand with 4 power heads a power filter for carbon and a hang on the back skimmer under the stand which I built myself sits my 29 gal soft coral tank I left the front of the stand open and made the 29 gal look like it would built into the wall I have a skimmer 2 poer heads and a power filter for carbon on it I have lots of live rock in both tanks the corals are growing nisely and I use no sump or refuge. If I needed a place to keep a fish from being picked on I have one of the hang in the tank like a cage I could use but have not needed to yet. I get complemtns on my setup all the time.

 

[oreo12]

bump