SPS and a Bare tank questions....

[addicted_2_reef]

What kind of cycle could I expect if I was to run a smaller tank(39g) with just a skimmer? No substrate or LR. I soon may have(in a year) a room with water and a drain to build a large tank in.....my "Man Cave"... So I was think of just setting up a tank to grow a few pieces of coral so that I will have them for the "big build".

 

[Coral Addict]

No LR, why?

 

[addicted_2_reef]

Just trying to keep it simple.

 

[29reef]

Live rock is the substrate for bacteria to live in/on, these bacteria are responsible for the nitrogen cycle. You will need some rock somewhere in the system otherwise your looking at failure IMO.

 

[boodlefish]

i understand the not wanting to have a "rock wall" type set up but you should have at least one piece of LR in there for the good bac to populate in.

 

[Alex_P]

Why does it have to have live rock ? I thought bacteria would colonize any surface where there was enough oxygen/nutrients. If you dont want rock, why not use some bio-balls or something similar (for more surface area). Personally I would just get one large piece of rock and put all my frags onto it. That would be simple.

 

[2006]

I tried this but with a few pieces of live rock, a skimmer and two small fish. Most of the SPS ended up looking pale and didn't grow. Changed to shallow sand bed, more live rock and added two more fish. SPS are coloring up and growing.

 

[Hdhuntr01]

Like it or not you will need live rock. As far as I know, nobody has been successful in a reef aquarium with out Live Rock either in the display tank or in a remote tank. You can get away without sand but you won't get far without the live rock....