As little equipment as possible?

[sixftsam]

Hello there. I've read a lot of information about skimmerless systems, and using a deep sand bed and live rock to set up a small but self sustaining eco-system.

This got me thinking, how much equipment would it be possible to *NOT* use in a single set up aquarium, and that equipment which is vital, what grade could you get away with using?

First things first, this is hypothetical... I want to use the example of a 30g ish tank, without any sump (we are trying to use as little equipment as possible after all). Skimmerless has been done, so lets assume that we arent going to be using a skimmer.

Bio-mass would be a problem of course, so im going to pose the question, what could you get away with in a tank like this? Nothing isnt the answer i want to hear, so dont try it! Would an invert only tank be best, a couple of fishes?

Lighting would try and be kept to a minimum too, none of this MH with reflectors. Without any coral etc, would lighting just be needed so the owner could see inside, or is there other reasons too? Would bulbs similar to a FW set up be good enough, and if so why not?

In my mind im thinking filter of some sort, something to create more current, and basic lighting.... Could you really set up a self sustaining eco-system with just this?

Feedback is more than welcome, as i siad, its just seeing what can be done and giving me ideas... This will hopefully answer a lot of peoples questions about why things are needed, if they are just advisable but not essential, and what is just baggage!

 

[BIGgourami]

hypothetically all you'de need is a few powerheads

in a large, heavily rocked, lightly stocked, (ideally) not fed system

without coral and other photosynthetic orginisms lighting is an aesthetic isssue, anything would work, though some would cause massive algea blooms (halogens, 6-8,000K, etc)



on a side note:
"Nothing isnt the answer i want to hear, so dont try it!"

you could look to make a lot of enemies talking this way... especially among the fish you keep

sometimes the answer you WANT to hear isn't the answer you NEED to hear

 

[sixftsam]

thank you for taking the time to reply! Its interesting that powerheads are the only needed thing in reality, would a filter not be needed then if the LR was more than enough to cope with the bioload?

I was just joking about the nothing thing, its hard to convey that online. If it cant be done, it cant be done... well, it can, will just need a higher minimum equipment list! But if with a couple fo powerheads all you can keep are some little ugly worms that no one would want, so be it, at least it would answer the question! No offence was meant, and i hope none was caused.

I wouldnt place fish into a system like this if it wouldnt handle them, i thought it might suit more as an invert tank, possibly just a clean up crew only as the centre piece, but its mainly a hypothetical exercise to see what is really needed

Again, thank you for the reply!

 

[Ricko]

+1 to bigG's response.

sixftsam when i was building my new tank, i also built a holding tank(160lt approx) for my fish (regal tang, few clowns) and all it had was LR and 2 powerheads for circulation. The fish lived happily like this for a few mths until the new tank was ready.

 

[skene]

When asking the questions what you fail to realize is that sometimes simplicity works, as long as you are willing to provide the proper equipment to use.
While it is true that there is not much needed to sustain a SW tank, the only requirements to keep it going are.... filtration, oxygenation and like stated lighting may be needed for part of that filtration.
Live Rock/Sand - If any type of research was done, you would know that the beneficial part of this is colonization of beneficial bacteria. The bacteria that you want to breakdown waste.
Oxygenation - Powerheads or a simple HOB filter with just a pad to create movement of water and introduce oxygen through that exchange.
Heat - Self explanatory.

People everyday are asking the same questions over and over again. Read the threads, it is the same questions regarding what to use. I want to convert. I don't know what I need. Etc.....

If you want a fish only system it is best to keep everything to a minimum. Start to add things like coral, then you need to incorporate other items. But SW systems can be as easy as a freshwater tank if you need it to be, or a science experiment if you choose it to be as well. It is all in what you want to keep, and if you have the ability and patience to provide the needs of the livestock you keep.

 

[peef2]

hi, i'm interested in this also.

i was wondering why coral needs more items? do they create a lot of waste? i thought they just need light and warm salt water and should be fine? i see those nano reefs and they just have powerheads, heaters, and lights. and maybe a shrimp or hermit crab.

 

[Weylin]

Here's something a friend of mine did...

2x1x1..with 10kgs of LR and Crushed coral.. Internal powerfilter..

Lighting one actinic and PL-L 8000k.. Has a few zooas and 2 clownfish that have been fine for the pas one year...

 

[Mantis411]

is cc better for maintaining a good population of pods and other small beneficial organisms then sand?

 

[BIGgourami]

is cc better for maintaining a good population of pods and other small beneficial organisms then sand?

i imagine it hold better populations of pods etc cause of all the excess food trapped in it

if you did the first 1-2 inches in a finer sand, and whatever you want below that in a coarser gravel that's be the best of both worlds

 

[devder1]

ugh salt makes my head hurt