kcharm
Well-known member
While trying to scrounge a whopping 2 pounds of LR somebody mentioned they'd like to see this come together so, I'll attempt to be diligent about maintaining a thread.
First though, the philosophy behind this tank. I have had a few reefs in my past and worked or volunteered for a couple public aquariums. With my tanks I never had the cash I thought was necessary to make them perfect and eventually gave up. This tank will be made from as many spare parts and scrounged stuff as possible. Additionally, one of the expenses I was bad at was buying (and using) test kits. I will NEVER test the water in this tank. I will monitor the temp, that's it. Because I will be purchasing my SW premixed at the LFS, I will have them test their salinity and that will be as close as I get to monitoring any chemical parameter.
To counter my lack of monitoring, I will be doing at least weekly water changes. I figure at about .2 gallons per water change, they won't take too long.
My livestock is designed to deal with my philosophy. I'll have about 2 pounds of LR, a couple of astrea snails, a couple of sexy shrimp (maybe up to 4), star polyp, and a small goby or blenny that will be cool with a bare bottom.
Filtration will come from an overflow that I added to one side which will house a huge mini-jet 404 and the chaeto. I also have a little HOB which will run for a few hours per day with carbon in it. I should be able to clean the filter media once or twice per week to make sure it's helping and not hurting things.
No skimmer, there's no space. Besides, with all the good that skimmers do, they do remove some stuff I don't want removed. With so little water, I just assume do more water changes and replenish what's been used by the inhabitants as a way of exporting nitrates.
Lighting is fancy too. I have a swingarm desklamp with a 10 watt 50/50 screw in PC bulb. With my livestock, I can't imagine I'd need more. If so, there's always the 20 watt bulb! But with star polyp, even with the lid on to minimize evaporation, I can't imagine I'd need more than 10 watts.
That's it. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Heck, tell me I'm nuts for trying to set up a tank that I won't test chemistry on, just do so constructively (or humorously).
Here's a pic. The light you see behind the tank is not the light that will end up there. I think the pic was tank prior to investing in my $16 lighting system.
Which reminds me, here's the breakdown on what I've spent...
I had the tank, mini-jet, heater, and desk lamp
I paid $0.54 for the piece of acrylic
$5 for the silicone
~$5 for plumbing bit and pieces (a rubber grommet, an elbow, and a foot of 1/2" tubing)
$16 for the light bulb
$5 for the 5 gallons of water
That's it, about $30 and this thing is ready for livestock.
I have a couple folks willing to help me out on that front, so I'll update as it comes along...
Ken
First though, the philosophy behind this tank. I have had a few reefs in my past and worked or volunteered for a couple public aquariums. With my tanks I never had the cash I thought was necessary to make them perfect and eventually gave up. This tank will be made from as many spare parts and scrounged stuff as possible. Additionally, one of the expenses I was bad at was buying (and using) test kits. I will NEVER test the water in this tank. I will monitor the temp, that's it. Because I will be purchasing my SW premixed at the LFS, I will have them test their salinity and that will be as close as I get to monitoring any chemical parameter.
To counter my lack of monitoring, I will be doing at least weekly water changes. I figure at about .2 gallons per water change, they won't take too long.
My livestock is designed to deal with my philosophy. I'll have about 2 pounds of LR, a couple of astrea snails, a couple of sexy shrimp (maybe up to 4), star polyp, and a small goby or blenny that will be cool with a bare bottom.
Filtration will come from an overflow that I added to one side which will house a huge mini-jet 404 and the chaeto. I also have a little HOB which will run for a few hours per day with carbon in it. I should be able to clean the filter media once or twice per week to make sure it's helping and not hurting things.
No skimmer, there's no space. Besides, with all the good that skimmers do, they do remove some stuff I don't want removed. With so little water, I just assume do more water changes and replenish what's been used by the inhabitants as a way of exporting nitrates.
Lighting is fancy too. I have a swingarm desklamp with a 10 watt 50/50 screw in PC bulb. With my livestock, I can't imagine I'd need more. If so, there's always the 20 watt bulb! But with star polyp, even with the lid on to minimize evaporation, I can't imagine I'd need more than 10 watts.
That's it. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Heck, tell me I'm nuts for trying to set up a tank that I won't test chemistry on, just do so constructively (or humorously).
Here's a pic. The light you see behind the tank is not the light that will end up there. I think the pic was tank prior to investing in my $16 lighting system.
Which reminds me, here's the breakdown on what I've spent...
I had the tank, mini-jet, heater, and desk lamp
I paid $0.54 for the piece of acrylic
$5 for the silicone
~$5 for plumbing bit and pieces (a rubber grommet, an elbow, and a foot of 1/2" tubing)
$16 for the light bulb
$5 for the 5 gallons of water
That's it, about $30 and this thing is ready for livestock.
I have a couple folks willing to help me out on that front, so I'll update as it comes along...
Ken
