Old School Setup

[jdizzle1000]

Here are my plans for my new 10 gallon reef aquarium.
It will be filtered with an air driven undergravel filter.

I am going to place a fine screen over the filter plate and cover it in 1.5 inches of sand.

I hope that my large macroalgae plant will take care of the denitrification (nitrates), and phosphates.

My lighting will consist of simple fluorescent lights... 1, maybe 2 15 watt tubes. From my experience, soft corals will have enough light if I place them close to the surface.

This setup will cost under $75 for EVERYTHING (tank, stand, heater, filter, air pump, etc.). If the going gets tough, then I'll buy a cheap air driven protein skimmer (like the Red Sea Berlin Air-Lift 60).

I am going total old school on this one... please give me suggestions on what old schoolers used to do to keep their simple tanks healthy.

[dorkfish]

Let me know how this goes - it would be nice to know if this works or not before doing it mysaly in future setups.

To back you up on your plans - tropicorum in romulus, MI has almost all there tanks running on air driven UGF's, and they grow all thier own hard and soft corals.

[jdizzle1000]

Lend me some hints on the following:

1. Is one 15 watt (50/50) fluorescent tube enough for easy soft corals if they are very close to the surface? I've seen this done before, but I never followed up to see if the corals survived...

2. Protein skimming... what a dilema. I want this setup to be so old school that it doesn't have a skimmer... but I am having thoughts about buying an air-driven one. Opinions?

P.S. I'll post pictures of my tank so that everybody can marvel at my ignorance of modern technology.

[dorkfish]

1. It's les then ideal, but IME the corals will still grow in less than ideal light (I've got a 36w T5 light over a 29, I'm getting growth, nothing amazing, but still - growth).

2. I would wait and see how it works out without one. I can't really help you out with an air driven skimmer - I don't really research the individual products as good as I probably should.

[4.6stanggt]

A skimmer is not needed on that small of a tank. Just do a 2 gallon water change one a week or so. I have a 10 gal with a 28 watt coralife CF light. Only about $60. Maybe an upgare for later. But seriously, that light will be cheaper than the corals you will have, so why rish it?

[Lorna]

Just remember that there is a reason they call it "Old School"

Doesn't mean it won't work just that it isn't as efficient and requires a lot more work from you to ensure your animals longevity.........

I hope you budgeted test kits into your budget as you will need them