Is it possible? Minimalist Set-ups?

[sarahdae]

I have a 90 gal with the following:

Lights (halides)
2 seio pumps
Remora pro skimmer


Occasionally use a power filter w/carbon after water changes/stirring up the tank.

No refugium, no sump, no overflows, no reactors, no dosers, no top-off devices, not even a heater. I live in AZ and it never gets cold enough to use a heater. My water has always been between 78-81 degrees.

I do use RO water and do large water changes monthly, and I top off a few times a week with RO water. I use a 2 part supplement every day or so (b-ionic) but no other supplements.
All parameters look great, and so does my livestock. I have a mixed tank, and I have a moderate/heavy bioload of fish.
I am a firm believer that water changes are key in a minimalist set-up, as well as blowing off your rocks & removing detrius.
The only thing I would like is a refugium some day. But I truly enjoy how simple it is.

 

[sebwin]

You may be suprised to hear about my second tank (prepares for gasps).

It is a 8 gallon biorb tank!

Livestock: 2 x dwarf seahorses, 2 x hermit crabs, 1 x tiny cleaner shrimp, a reasonable amount of live rock and macro algae, including calpura prolifica

Equipment: I have one very small powerhead in the bottom to provide gentle water movement, the biorb air stone, biorb heater, and the 10 Watt Biorb halogen light... and that's it !!!!!

No sump, no protein skimmer, no fuge. Water changes of around 10% performed every other week, never had an algal bloom (except during initial cycling).

As if to prove the low light coralline theory, I kid you not, the rock is significantly more encrusted than any rock in my main tank, and the macro algae still grows steadily (although significantly slower than in my main tanks refugiarium, and much less deep down in the biorb).

It has always provided stable water parameters, and while I battle nitrates in the big tank, they are usually only just detectable in this one. I think the key was the cycling time. I cycled it with live rock (a huge amount for the tank size, and balanced not stacked = no dead areas), for a period of over 5 months! (admittedly I put the two hermit crabs in after 3 months)

I wanted it completely stable and for a good population of copopods etc to have established before I added any major livestock. The seahorses have always been happy and are plumper than when I got them!

 

[jvetter]

sarahdae,

Your tank sounds really interesting. Can you post some pictures and/or give more details about what critters are in there.

A tank without any external plumbing sounds really attractive. Not sure I could go without a sump though.

Thanks.

 

[sarahdae]

Yeah, unlike many reefers, I am not excited by plumbing and extra equipment. To me it sounds like more to worry about, mess with, clean etc.
I cant count how many times I've read about someone's tank crashing because of dosers, ozone, reactors, even simple things like a plumbing clog. Other times I read of tanks flooding, overflowing, leaking etc...and normally that is due to a sump, overflow, pipe, or protein skimmer. My skimmer has been designed so it won't overflow, so I essentially have no risks of flooding...period. And low risks of mishaps should equipment fail. To me, that was a huge bonus of the minimalist design. I have a new home, with new carpet, and I guess I had to make a well-rounded decision when it came to my tank. For me, and my household, I think the risk and hassle of a complicated system out-weighed the benifits.
I am not saying that I don't totally admire those sha-bang set-ups out there with miles of plumbing, separate rooms, and automatic everything...they're awesome. I just decided I would take the simple route, and try to compensate for my simplicity with great husbandry and maintenence. Which as I stated earlier...is key!

 

[REV]

The old saying may be true: K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple stupid! It is cool to see that there is a setup like yours sarah, but most of us are sickened by poeple like you!! :lmao: Why can I be satisfied with less!!! I need more! More, I said!

 

[jvetter]

Hey Rev,

Were you not just preaching that simple is better?

Jim

 

[REV]

I am ashamed... hehe

 

[clkwrk]

This was my old minimal equipment 75

2 powerheads a heater and a conopy skimmer, besides 4x65w pcs.

Later I found out that setup wouldn't work for sps . So the whole game has change.

 

[REV]

So maybe if we stop learning..... Eureka! It's this blasted knowledge thing to blame for my sickness! I knew I would find a way to pass the buck sooner or later! :twitch:

 

[clkwrk]

I agree...........The more I learn the more I spend :lol:

And really it is the desire to provide my creatures with the best I can as they deserve no less.

 

[REV]

Hmmm... so my obsession is really based on compassion for life... I might really be able to live with that! Though, it seems to me that the best for these creatures might actually be to leave them in their natural environment to begin with... Dangit!

 

[abreefer]

My setup of a 33 gallon semicube is very minimalist. My Coralife Aqualight pro is the fanciest equipment I own. I have no skimmer, no RO/DI unit, no sump. I run a Fluval containing Chemipure, and a Seio 620. Lots of live rock, and a sandbed. I almost never change water.
For fish I have a Royal Gramma, a Herald's Angel, a Yellow Clown Goby, an Ocellaris Clown, and a Mandarin. For Corals I have a small colony of Staghorn, Hydnophora, Digitata growing on the glass, Toadstools, Organpipe, Zoanthids, Ricordia, GSP's, Candycanes, Xenia, and encrusting Colt.
This setup is approximately five years old.

 

[clkwrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6839084#post6839084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REV
Hmmm... so my obsession is really based on compassion for life... I might really be able to live with that! Though, it seems to me that the best for these creatures might actually be to leave them in their natural environment to begin with... Dangit!

I agree..........on a side note there are tons of tank raised fish and corals available so one doesn't need to put the demand on the wild stuff. Or as heavy of a demand.

There are many corals on my won't buy list because the should have never been collected. Elegance corals are the best example. For fish its the hard to keep but beautiful anthias and Morish Idol for examples.

 

[geris]

I've always been a minimalist

I've always been a minimalist

I've had 3 reef tanks and all have been minimalist, one I upgraded and the other one I sold. Right now I've had this one for a year and a half and its been great.

Specs:
30L gal
400 Emperor Filter
Seaclone Skimmer (the only thing I will change, just because its slow, but it has worked fine)
Live sand
Live rock
1 Maxijet for circulation
PC Orbit fixture w/3 moonlights

The only real trouble I've had was high phosphates at some point but that hasn't happened again, and I battled I bit of red algae but that also has gotten extremely better. This photos are from Christmas 05.