How expensive are SH tanks, easy or not?

[ReefNutPA]

No benefit of the moon sand...except since this tank is in a retail store it stays much cleaner looking if any diatom algae or such starts growing on the sandbed. Normal sand gets a rusty brown color, whereas the black sand still looks black.

Skimmers are a personal preference. Some abhor them (and I'm sure pledosophy will state his abhorance shortly ) while others love them. Just make sure the are no microbubbles entering the tank if you use a HOB skimmer. I use a whisper filter pad on the output of my skimmer to break any bubbles before they enter the tank. Others rig up different things (nylons, sponges, etc) to stop the bubbles from entering the tank.

Tom

 

[pledosophy]

180 gph comes from the Fluval. That is the amount of flow.

I love skimmers. They are great. Best place is in a sump but if you tune your awesome. If you have frequent GBD problems, I'd take it off. JMO

What I like more then skimmers are refugiums, bigger the better. Do the job of skimmers by absorbing DOC's but also add food for the tank. A refugium DIY setup will be cheaper then a good skimmer IME.

I use an Aqua C Remora. Have good things to say about it.

 

[Brent Burton]

The remora does rock indeed. As well as their in sump version the urchin. I also agree on the refugium, I wouldnt dream of running my reef or horse tank w/o one. It's amazing to see all of the life blossom w/no predators. I started my refugium w/ 10g tank, 20# LR rubble, and amix & match special from indo pacific sea farms.
the only livestock i have added is some amphipods. everything else just sprung up from the LR. now there are swarms of amphipods, copepods, mysid shrimp, spagetti worms, bristle worms, and snails. Hooray micro bio-diversity