Is it possible? Minimalist Set-ups?

[REV]

Okay, I know we all want more... but, is there anyone running a set-up without 3 sumps (1 fuge), 5 skimmers, 6 dosers, 7 overflows, 8 top offs with 24 float switches, 10 closed loops, 15 reactors, 22 wavemakers, 24 timers, 53 controllers, a 73 stage RO/DI, 214 powerheads, 2,500 lbs. LR, and 2,000,000 watts of MH/VHO/PC/LED/Incandescent/Mercury Vapor/High Pressure Sodium/Candle light? I know virtually everyone starts out kinda minimally, but anyone running a barebones set-up for any length of time? Sucessfully? Just wondering how much money I don't really need to spend. lol.

 

[SaltyNovice]

Good question, I'm anxious to see the answers!!!

SaltyNovice

 

[JxMetal]

I got PC lights, a CPR Bak-Pak skimmer, 2 MJ's and a heater. Been running great for 6 months now.

 

[REV]

But the question is Jx, will you still be running that another year from now? "After I get my _______ I'll be fully set-up. Hahahahahahahahahah!

 

[JxMetal]

Yeah I will, I'm in college. You think I have money?

 

[carolina reefer]

Enough light for what you want to keep and a Skimmer that is enough for the tank you have. Water changes and manual limewater additions for evaporated water. These are the basic minimums.

 

[KDodds]

Ran a 20 Reef for years with 2 fish, softs. Equipment was 2 PHs and a heater. ~20lbs LR, 3" sand, and a 2x65W PC fixture. Everything was great until broken down (due to lack of maintenance on my daughter's part) about 6 months ago maybe.

 

[mg426]

What you keep as far as livestock Fish/corals. What type, how many is most likey going to determine you needs in regard to gear.

 

[REV]

Okay. Let me clarify... I'm set-up. I know what the needs are, not really looking for advice. But I think I am probably alot like most of you out there. I WANT MORE! This hobby seems to me to be such a "check out how cool mine is" hobby. I'm just wondering if anyone has set up a tank with JUST the essentials and isn't selling plasma in order to upgrade or add...... Do you understand the words that are commin' outta my ... cpu.? Hoping some will see some humor in the beginning of this, but I'm still interested in knowing if there are any long term minimalists out there??

 

[Kinetic]

I just setup a small pico tank for fun in my bedroom

Looks simple and minimalistic here:

But just to keep softies I need this craziness:

that includes an auto topoff module, ato pump and airlines, two float sensors, 50watt heater, minijet 606, 1/2" locline system, coralife aqualight, etc etc.

it's hard to be minimalistic on equipment =(

 

[REV]

HAHA! That's a great pic! I'm actually luaghing out loud!

 

[Kogo]

check out the nano forum. alot of guys there have tanks runing with no equiptment other than lights, rocks, and circulation.

regular water changes and minimal fish (if any) are key to this method.

 

[Rcarruth]

Our 20 gallon is pretty minimal. Two PC lights and a sump/fuge. We have one of those powerheads that moves back and forth.

No dosers
No controllers
No reactors
No other filtration
No monitors

In the tank we have:
Fish:
1 False percula
1 Six-line wrasse

Corals:
Clove polyps
Ricordia
Candy Cane coral
Frogspawn
Green Star Polyps
Encrusting Gorgonian
Pearl Coral
Cynaria
Various Zooanthids
Various Shrooms
Various Palyzoas

The only thing we have lost in the 6 months or so it has been running is a Royal Gramma who got killed by the Clown.

-Clark

 

[Kinetic]

My 32g M-Tank is pretty simple:

70watt HQI, 55 watt actinic PC
Auto Topoff System
Heater, small fuge

That's about it.

 

[brians_224]

I saw a 150 this weekend with 3 mj1200s, and a prism skimmer - thats it for flow. No sump, no fuge, no reactors, no Tunze. 3 x 250 watt mh. Corals(soft and SPS) and fish growing very well!! Tanks is over 12 months old.

 

[REV]

hmmm... And we would all probably be telling them "Increase your flow! Add a fuge." Over a year old and doing well. Hmmm...

 

[minimalist]

10g BB

70W 14000k HQI
AquaClear 50/200
Maxi Jet 600
Jager 50W heater

I don't ever want any more than that. 4 power cords is plenty.

 

[loyalty]

from an equipment standpoint, my2 yr old 29 is pretty simple;
PC lighting
HoB fuge
3 powerheads
i splurged and got a digital thermometer haha

no sump, skimmer or heater

 

[acroporid23]

i consider my 65 sps tank to be pretty near minimalist for a sps tank i run a marineland350 biowheel for my carbon i run a sump of course coralife skimmer and three poweheads thats about it no calc reactor or special controllers real simple

 

[minimalist]

Minimalist is the way to go. Having tons of jumbled power cords makes me shudder. *shrug*