Is there such a thing.... small and easy salt setup?

[kitten]

Hey guys....

Well my husband has a serious thing for salt tanks.  I know very little about salt tanks (everything I know I learned from rockgarden a couple weeks ago )

I'd like to set something up but we are a little short on space.  The only really big tank we have is a 93 gallon and it's got my Red Oscar and Pleco in it at the moment... they aren't going anywhere any time soon (I enjoy my Oscar too much to get rid of him).  So in the meantime I'm hoping I might be able to create a smaller setup with the help of some of you knowledgable salt type peoples.

I'm looking at the smaller the better.  Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I've noticed a number of you guys setting up nano tanks so I figured someone on here should be able to help me out.

-S

[az]

i'd suggest you go with fish only with some live rock first, then u can slowly go coral!

its getting more and more affordable everyday!

[Julie]

I started a 20L, and purchased items new except skimmer.  Price wise a used set up which has been well cared for is a better bargain overall.  If you know the fundamentals of fresh, then salt isn't much different.

Julie

[darkdep]

Check this thread  http://ovas.ca/bridge/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6065

[93GTCANADA]

yes u should check his topic his tank is beautiful.  

[kennyman]

I have been reading about Mr. Lee Chin Eng. He kept reef tanks back in the 60's before skimers, powerheads and refugiums were dreamed up. He was the first person documented to use living rock and he understood the importnace of natural systems within the aquarium. Systems we now take for granted like the Nitrogen Cycle. I'm not saying that $500 dollars worth of equipment on a $50 aquarium is a bad thing, but Mr. Eng's method of reefkeeping seems like a very good place for me to begin my Saltwater adventures

http://www.garf.org/news6p3.html

[redbelly]

garf is an amasing site. and very well respected.
most people i know run at least a skimmer although there is a lot of talk about not needing a skimmer.
Power heads are a muth though for water flow.

[kitten]

I have been reading about Mr. Lee Chin Eng. He kept reef tanks back in the 60's before skimers, powerheads and refugiums were dreamed up. He was the first person documented to use living rock and he understood the importnace of natural systems within the aquarium. Systems we now take for granted like the Nitrogen Cycle. I'm not saying that $500 dollars worth of equipment on a $50 aquarium is a bad thing, but Mr. Eng's method of reefkeeping seems like a very good place for me to begin my Saltwater adventures

http://www.garf.org/news6p3.html

That's an excellent site!!!  lots of great info.... definitely food for thought.

[kitten]

I'm thinking perhaps I'll just keep doing research for now.  Although it makes me more optimistic that small tanks are a possibility, rather than having to go with a huge beast of tank that's going to cost more than my car to set-up.

thanks for the info.... I definitely will be picking brains when I get a little closer to putting the tank together....

[Mettle]

garf is an amasing site. and very well respected.
most people i know run at least a skimmer although there is a lot of talk about not needing a skimmer.
Power heads are a muth though for water flow.

I've heard of some people with nano setups using something like an AC500 for a 'fuge and stuffing it with liverock/rubble and then relying on it for flow.

I'm not sure if it was specifically 10 gallon tanks or smaller... But I know I've seen it on www.nano-reef.com though I stopped visiting that site because people are so snobby.

[kennyman]

I have a penguin 330 on my 10g sw. Nothing in it, but I think about the hob refuge thing once in a while too

[gator]

I have been reading about Mr. Lee Chin Eng. He kept reef tanks back in the 60's before skimers, powerheads and refugiums were dreamed up. He was the first person documented to use living rock and he understood the importnace of natural systems within the aquarium. Systems we now take for granted like the Nitrogen Cycle. I'm not saying that $500 dollars worth of equipment on a $50 aquarium is a bad thing, but Mr. Eng's method of reefkeeping seems like a very good place for me to begin my Saltwater adventures

http://www.garf.org/news6p3.html

That's an excellent site!!!  lots of great info.... definitely food for thought.

You should be aware that Lee Ching Eng is considered a crank by a lot of reef aquarists.  (what great scientist isn't though?)

[Julie]

That's rather funny, but best to go with what works.
Any update pictures GATOR??

Julie

[AdamR]

Have you seen Ron's tank?

http://ovas.ca/bridge/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5523&highlight=

no sump, no skimmer, 2 hang-on filters for circulation

[Julie]

Didn't realize ron didn't have a skimmer - his tank is awesome.  I'm still running skimmerless but might pick up a used one and turn it on occassionally.

Julie

[gator]

That's rather funny, but best to go with what works.
Any update pictures GATOR??

Julie

I'll post a couple tonight!
My new tank isn't as advanced as yours, though...I've got a few few snails and hermits, I'm running a small air-stone driven skimmer, and I'm riding out a small cyano outbreak.   I'll probably start stcking with a few zoos in January, once I'm SURE the tank has stabilized...