small sw tanks
- Thread starter andymi
- Start date
slowest is fastest
Member
No such thing as a cheap small tank setup. But if you are looking for a small saltwater tank try the CPR micro reef tank (MRT) basically it is a 12 gallon tank with a bakpak II built in. You can get it with a canopy and PC lighting for around $400.00. It is a very nice setup and with a micro chiller installed (another 150.00) it makes a great coldwater tank for catalina gobies and some low light corals and inverts.
SiF
SiF
cosmosbasement
Member
andymi-There has been a lot of talk about mini reefs lately on this BB. If you want to discuss this off the BB and through email let me know. My setup was pretty darn cheap....well whatever cheap can be in this hobby. If you're looking for cheap fish and fishtanks-go freshwater. What exactly is cheap? My email is dklesat@avaya.com. Let me know, I'll help you out.
peace
doug
peace
doug
broomer5
Active Member
Andy,
You seem to be wanting to do a fish only saltwater tank - small desktop size.
It can be done - but as slowest is fastest said - not real cheap if you want to do it right.
As long as you take care of the water, bio, chemical and mechanical filtraion, you can certainly set one up. Maybe a couple of very small fish only and that's that.
Do what YOU want to do - and have fun doing it.
Brian
You seem to be wanting to do a fish only saltwater tank - small desktop size.
It can be done - but as slowest is fastest said - not real cheap if you want to do it right.
As long as you take care of the water, bio, chemical and mechanical filtraion, you can certainly set one up. Maybe a couple of very small fish only and that's that.
Do what YOU want to do - and have fun doing it.
Brian
b_ball12_99
Member
If you go with a small tank do a FO.
slowest is fastest
Member
I would not recommend an eclipse for a destop FO or reef tank. IMHO it simply doesn't provide adaquate filtration for long term success. One of the only reasons I mentioned the MRT is because it has a built in skimmer that is basically rated for a 65g tank. With a few pieces of large live rubble rock I believe it overcomes alot of the nano reef problems with instability, skimming alot of the wastes and organics before they become a problem. (hmmm sounds alot like the berlin method on a small scale) A light bioload is key however which means a few small fish like gobies and maybe a mushroom or featherduster to finish things off. The MRT also make a fantastic QT.
SiF
SiF
cosmosbasement
Member
Hey gang-I agree with SiF. I don't think eclipse tanks make good saltwater minis for long term success. The filtration is not enough and plus once you do get a FOWLR mini going you're going to want to move up to a mini reef. I did. Just speaking from experience. If you get the eclipse it limits you to what lighting you can fit plus there may not be enough room to use a skimmer. The best thing I believe is to get yourself a 10 gallon all glass aquarium and work from scratch putting the pieces together to fit the needs of the critters in your tank. Just my .02 cents.
peace
doug
peace
doug
dhe420
Member
What ever you do do what you like. I agree the eclipse are not suitable for your needs. It is very hard to keep a micro reef stable uless you have some experience and time to tkae care of it. My first tank was a tenecor 12 gallon acrylic reef with the simplicity plus wet-dry filter built in. Definetly a little expensive but a great tank if you keep it up. I personally like the simplicity plus system but some people would beg to differ with me but 99% of the time they are repeating what someone else told them and not speaking from experience. Also if you search ---- for nano reef there is a 6 10 and i think 12 gollon reef tank. If the auction is not still going check completed auctions. Although i have not heard anything about this sytem it looks awsome and i might get one for my office... Well just my 2 cents.....Dave
@knight
Member
i have an eclipse, the filtration seems to be adequate at best, but you cant do much with it. Had I known I would have bought a different tank.
In hindsight, I have learned to NOT listen to the people at my LFS cuz theyre out to make a quick buck.
BUT--
if youre going to buy something like that, you can pick up an identical product for about 20 bucks less at Wally-World.
In hindsight, I have learned to NOT listen to the people at my LFS cuz theyre out to make a quick buck.
BUT--
if youre going to buy something like that, you can pick up an identical product for about 20 bucks less at Wally-World.