zygote2k April 22, 2009 Share April 22, 2009 This is my 40 gallon that I started 9 months ago. I decided to run it without a skimmer just to see what happens. As of today, my nitrates are between 2-10 ppm, alkalinity is at 4meq/l, calcium is at 450ppm, and ph is at 8.15. It is lit by a 400w 10k MH and 2) 32w PC's. The 'fuge is lit by a 6500k 42w CF bulb. I run the refugium on the RDP cycle and also employ a medium depth DSB in the main sump. I do bi-weekly water changes and add 30ml each of Brightwells Reefcode A and B daily. I also add 3 drops of Lugols every day. I have 5 fish, an Emerald Crab, a mantis shrimp, some jumbo Nass. snails, and an assortment of hermits and other types of snails. I feed 3 types of food daily and have zero nuisance algae or cyano in the DT. There is a little cyano and nuisance algae in the 'fuge, but nothing to worry me. I'll post some pics leading to the present, but here is one from today: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhunter April 22, 2009 Share April 22, 2009 Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhunter April 22, 2009 Share April 22, 2009 How much are your water changes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefmontalvo April 22, 2009 Share April 22, 2009 That looks good. My 20g right now has no sump and no skimmer. It's being used right now as a purple up tank and a copepod tank. I currently have two clowns and a scooter blenny keeping things in check along with a small cleanup crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind April 22, 2009 Share April 22, 2009 That is a very nice and clean looking tank you have there. It proves you can have a nice looking, low cost, low tech tank if you pick the right things to put in it and set it up right. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k April 22, 2009 Author Share April 22, 2009 (edited) How much are your water changes? Total system is about 80 gallons and I do about 15-20g w/c. I believe that anyone can set up a tank like this for less than $500 and have a tank just as nice as those that have spent far more. I look at it this way- the money that I've saved on un-necessary equipment, is money that I've spent on nice corals. I've also noticed that this system grows corals much faster than conventional systems. I've stuck mostly to softies and zoas, but since I've gotten my calcium, alk, and ph stabilized, my montiporas are growing just as rapidly. I believe with more frequent w/c and a little less fish food, an all SPS version of this tank could be realistically done. Edited April 22, 2009 by zygote2k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvhopak April 23, 2009 Share April 23, 2009 That is inspired - I am now rethinking my skimmer purchase lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvhopak April 24, 2009 Share April 24, 2009 I've also noticed that this system grows corals much faster than conventional systems Actually, this reminds me of the all-natural Aquapod at Aquarium One in Rockville - their frogspawn has just grown out of control and taken over the tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khalid April 24, 2009 Share April 24, 2009 Tanks looking great Rob! Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k April 24, 2009 Author Share April 24, 2009 Thanks Khalid. If anyone is interested in setting one of these up, I'll be glad to donate some macro. Dragons' Breath (Halymenia) is almost ready to give away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkey18 April 25, 2009 Share April 25, 2009 Wow, very inspiring. Do you have a pic of the refugium? Does it have a dsb? What types of macro? Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k May 3, 2009 Author Share May 3, 2009 pix from today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k May 21, 2009 Author Share May 21, 2009 Anyone interested in setting up a similar system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan May 21, 2009 Share May 21, 2009 I'd be interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHUBAKAH May 21, 2009 Share May 21, 2009 Anyone interested in setting up a similar system? I wouldn't mind trying out some Dragons' Breath to see how it does. I am setting up a new remote fuge and have typically done just cheato. Let me know if some becomes available. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoozilla May 22, 2009 Share May 22, 2009 Nice setup with very healthy looking specimens. Btw, that toadstool is a monster. Look at that thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan May 22, 2009 Share May 22, 2009 Anyone interested in setting up a similar system? Did I misunderstand this question or did I miss the reply? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k June 25, 2009 Author Share June 25, 2009 Big leather on left going to Fragfest. Sinularia on right will go in its place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveoutlaw June 25, 2009 Share June 25, 2009 (edited) Rob- I'm very interested in turning my current 40g breeder into a skimmerless softie tank with just a refugium once I get my cube running. Any chance you could save a frag of the green sinularia and the leather for me? Also, I was going to experiment with PC lighting on the softie tank.......do you see any issues with that? Steve Edited June 25, 2009 by steveoutlaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k June 26, 2009 Author Share June 26, 2009 PC's are great lights. I used to use them back in the day as a close alternative to halides. I think they are as good as T5's or better. I've never cut the Sinularia. You can get a piece from Chip. As far as the big leather goes, get a piece at FF. I'll be setting up an ATS (algal turf scrubber) with a dump bucket that empties on the top right of the tank soon. I'll still have the refugium too. I'll try to grow Dragons Breath exclusively in the ATS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 16, 2009 Author Share August 16, 2009 Things are growing and some things went to other tanks. I'm trying to maintain sps quality water and grow more sps. I absolutely love my Neon Green Sinularia from Flowerseller. I've had it for over a year now. No need for the ATS scrubber either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan August 16, 2009 Share August 16, 2009 Anyone interested in setting up a similar system? My 2.5 is chaeto powered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 August 16, 2009 Share August 16, 2009 That's a lonely picture without that massive leather coral! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan August 16, 2009 Share August 16, 2009 That's a lonely picture without that massive leather coral! +1 That leather was very cool. The sinularia doesn't have as much bulk to fill the space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k October 25, 2009 Author Share October 25, 2009 As of today, my SPS are growing steadily and my params are 0ppm NO3, 0ppm P04, 450 ppm cal, 3.5meq/l alk, 8.19 ph. Absolutely no need for a skimmer. No nuisance algaes or cyano either. They said it couldn't be done- I now have proof that says otherwise. I encourage more people to try this simple system because it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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