Old School Setup

J

jdizzle1000

AC Members
Sep 10, 2005
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
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
 
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