Are We Overthinking This?

[reefmaniac]

I don't know the exact 100% sure fire answer to this question. This is what I can tell you, I ran a 90 gallon tank for 10 years with no sump, only using 2 H.O.T Magnum filters. One ran with Carbon the other only the Micron filter. I did a 50% water change every 6 months. The tank had a dozen SPS corals the grew regularly and need trimming. I had a Pygmy angel,flame angel and a powder blue in there for the 10 years as well. Feeding was every other day for the fish and nothing was ever dosed into the tank. The lighting was a 150W MH and 2 actinic bulbs. I also had 2 Maxi Jet 1000's for flow. Never had a problem once, never lost a coral or fish in that system and ran no skimmer either. My tank today is much different and most of those corals are now in this tank. I have noticed a difference in some of the corals, some good some bad. So I don't think there is a 100% sure answer. But steps forward are needed, especially when talking about breeding fish, instead of capturing wild ones.

 

[Mattl22]

U kept dozen sps and didn't dose ca or alk in 6 months?

 

[AlohaTropics]

It's all about how you want your tank. Simple and basic gives you simple and basic results. Take this tank for example, you don't get results like this without some serious analyzing and money and husbandry. Complex thought and complex systems give you beautifully complex displays.

 

[strgazr27]

It's all about how you want your tank. Simple and basic gives you simple and basic results. Take this tank for example, you don't get results like this without some serious analyzing and money and husbandry. Complex thought and complex systems give you beautifully complex displays.

Bingo

 

[reefmaniac]

U kept dozen sps and didn't dose ca or alk in 6 months?

Nope I added nothing at all, I was using Tropic Marin salt at the time. The only thing ever added was fish food.

 

[AlohaTropics]

How did SPS grow and create calcareous skeletons without Calcium? Hmm...

 

[reefmaniac]

How did SPS grow and create calcareous skeletons without Calcium? Hmm...

I didn't say they had a ton of growth I said regular, And over a 10 year period. Never said they were monster examples of SPS. I guess I have to give more info and go into depth about what I mean next time.

 

[AlohaTropics]

Lol, I'm just messin with u.

 

[Mattl22]

Felix is that ur tank?

 

[AlohaTropics]

Matt, I only wish. This is hobbyist from Israel. He's pretty well known in the Zeovit community. It's one of the most gorgeous systems I've known to be in a hobbyists home.

 

[reefmaniac]

Matt, I only wish. This is hobbyist from Israel. He's pretty well known in the Zeovit community. It's one of the most gorgeous systems I've known to be in a hobbyists home.

that's a 450 that guy has running, I saw his build thread. Very nice set up

 

[JT101]

Whether or not one is "over-analyzing" things or not absolutely 100% depends upon your POV and your experience level.

For a brand-new newbie, who is afraid of making multi-thousand dollar mistakes, EVERY SINGLE DECISION seems ominous.

As experience and "time in the game" accrues, you slowly learn what really matters, what is sort of important, and what is purely junk science and urban legend.

I would say that I am MODERATELY experienced having had an AquaPod AP24 for 3 years and only within the last few months am slowly setting-up an "upgrade" (yeah right :happysad 46 gallon bowfront.

To just say "we" overanalyze things is far too general a statement.

Case in point:

I bought an Aqueon ProFlex Model 3 sump for my 46. I didn't know what light to get for the little window in the refugium section of the sump, so I looked around and found that little Coralife Mini Light. According to some websites, it is "perfect" for my sump. Well, I bought it, and I was told today that it's probably underpowered. How was I to know? Maybe it's not a big deal, but when someone who knows more than me tells me something like this, I'm bound to think I made an error, ergo it's a "big deal" to me...!

 

[NYreefNoob]

if you got the dual 9w pc i think it is, it should be enough, personally i bought a bulb and shop light from hd for $15 all together and works and is 65w

 

[bigbris1]

To just say "we" overanalyze things is far too general a statement.

No, fam. I posed a question to the community; Are we overthinking this? If you don't think you are, cool. I just don't want to be remembered for not much else than having a awesome tank that I spent so much time and money on, in hindsight I never really got to enjoy it.

 

[molodets]

You want to have healthy tank? don't be cheap. Buy good stuff, skimmer, sump, lights, ph, etc... you'll be good. cheaper you go, the more problems u WILL have!

 

[Paul B]

I really don't know how so much money is spent on this hobby. I think I spend maybe $200.00 for the entire year not counting electricity. I keep mostly LPS but I do have 5 SPS that have been growing well for quite a few years. Some of the fish are over 16 and many of them are spawning. I never find a dead fish, (not since maybe 1995, but I can't remember the last one) Don't have any disease problems, don't have to quarantine, don't need a hospital tank or medications. I have no sump or reactors, no refractometer, no LEDs or dosing pumps. I only dose 2 part calcium which is Dow Flake ice melter (about 50 cents a year and baking soda, another two or three bucks a year, and some Epsom Salts) I change some water 5 or 6 times a year. Also no test kits.
Food is mysis, newborn brine shrimp, fresh clam (50 cents a month) and live blackworms which is probably my biggest expense at about $4.00 a month.
I have about 5 powerheads, they are all over 15 years old, some 20.
I built about 20% of my rock for practically free and the rest I collected.
I still use a reverse UG filter as that is what the tank was started with in 1971, I am not going to change it now.

Keeping a crap tank is easy but if u want a pristine tank healthy for many years it's not easy and requires alot of time money and effort!

I certainly don't have the best tank on here and I am not trying to as it is not a contest, but I don't think it is very crappy.
It is also quite old. As for time and effort, I don't do much except run a magnet glass cleaner over the front glass every day, put in some food and once a week or two I clean the top of the DIY skimmer. Oh I forgot I hatch brine shrimp, but that is almost automatic and the eggs are cheap.
The internet is the cause of all the money spent and making this so much more complicated than it has to be. :smile:

 

[JT101]

if you got the dual 9w pc i think it is, it should be enough, personally i bought a bulb and shop light from hd for $15 all together and works and is 65w

Actually I have the dual 6W 9" bulbs so it's only 12W.

 

[JT101]

I really don't know how so much money is spent on this hobby. I think I spend maybe $200.00 for the entire year not counting electricity. I keep mostly LPS but I do have 5 SPS that have been growing well for quite a few years. Some of the fish are over 16 and many of them are spawning. I never find a dead fish, (not since maybe 1995, but I can't remember the last one) Don't have any disease problems, don't have to quarantine, don't need a hospital tank or medications. I have no sump or reactors, no refractometer, no LEDs or dosing pumps. I only dose 2 part calcium which is Dow Flake ice melter (about 50 cents a year and baking soda, another two or three bucks a year, and some Epsom Salts) I change some water 5 or 6 times a year. Also no test kits.
Food is mysis, newborn brine shrimp, fresh clam (50 cents a month) and live blackworms which is probably my biggest expense at about $4.00 a month.
I have about 5 powerheads, they are all over 15 years old, some 20.
I built about 20% of my rock for practically free and the rest I collected.
I still use a reverse UG filter as that is what the tank was started with in 1971, I am not going to change it now.



I certainly don't have the best tank on here and I am not trying to as it is not a contest, but I don't think it is very crappy.
It is also quite old. As for time and effort, I don't do much except run a magnet glass cleaner over the front glass every day, put in some food and once a week or two I clean the top of the DIY skimmer. Oh I forgot I hatch brine shrimp, but that is almost automatic and the eggs are cheap.
The internet is the cause of all the money spent and making this so much more complicated than it has to be. :smile:

I can PERSONALLY testify that I have seen Pauls' reef tank over the winter and it is very nice. Very clean and hard to believe that it's decades old.

 

[Imbarrie]

The internet is the cause of all the money spent and making this so much more complicated than it has to be. :smile:

No doubt there are alternatives to spending tons of money but I also feel the Internet is a great place to avoid spending heaps of money in this hobby. Especially if you like DIY projects.

 

[Paul B]

Like all hobies you can spend all you want, after all, it is your money.
But it is not necessary unless you are a gadget guru.
My tank would definately look better if I threw more money at it, maybe fill it up to the top with corals or install LED lights. (I am waiting for the time to build those)
I really don't want it to look like that or that is what I would do.
I had a guy working for me once and he showed me his watch. Now this was a large construction site in Manhattan and it was hard, dirty work.
I said nice watch. He said, you don't understand, this is a $7,000.00 Rolex.
I said "John, you are not impressing me if you are wearing a $7,000.00 watch to a construction job. You are just impressing me by how stupid one man can be"
My $14.00 plastic Timex keeps the same time and when it breaks, I throw it out and buy another one.
I can also buy a $7,000.00 watch but displaying that thing on my wrist would also tell the world how stupid I am.
I can buy a lot of things but I choose not to.
One of my cars is a PT cruiser, I love that thing, I could buy a Lamborgini, but I don't see the need.
(Of course I would have to live in the thing and eat my fish)