Natural System

[Jas139]

Hi all

I currently have a 60 gallon reef set up which is filtered using two external cannister filters.

I am, however, considering setting up a separate 30 gallon reef tank so I can keep some different species which may no mix too well with my current tank inhabitants e.g a different species of clown.

My thoughts are that I would like to set the system up as natural as possible, but I havent got space for a sump.My thoughts are that I could use an in tank plenum with live rock, live sand, etc. or possible look at utilising miracle mud in the main tank with a covering of sand. I know with the latter the lighting cycle plus potential occupants would prohibit the growth of caulerpa, therefore, does this reduce the benefits of using this type of system? In both cases would the covering rockwork also reduce the effectiveness?.

Any help would be much appreciated, the key thing for me is to somehow create a natural system without using a sump or manufactured filter device. All the threads I have looked at so far in relation to natural systems seem to involve the use of a sump.

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO you're better off keeping things simple. Live rock and live sand in combination with a good protein skimmer and plenty of circulation is all you really need. You can use a hang-on refugium if you want to grow macros, but personally I wouldn't bother, especially in a tank that size where it's easy to just do a large water change periodically.

I'd recommend against putting macros directly in the display tank and I wouldn't bother with a plenum. A live sand bed directly on the tank bottom is all you need IME.

JMO/JME...

 

[Jas139]

Thanks for the advice, sounds fairly straight forward. In terms of the live sand, any thoughts on the % of sand I would need to import in order to seed any new sand I put in or does all of the sand need to be live sand. Also, any idea of quantity of live rock I will need for a 30 gallon set up?

 

[liquid]

Check this out re: Miracle Mud: http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=28

Shane

 

[Jas139]

Thanks for the thread liquid. Is anybody aware of anyone who has had any success with setting up a miracle mud system in the main tank rather than in a sump. Would this be preferable to using live sand?

 

[ChrisRD]

Would this be preferable to using live sand?

My suggestion is to just stick with what has worked for decades (meaning live sand, live rock, skimmers, water changes, etc.).

As a general rule, I avoid any product with the word "Miracle" in the title or product description...

JMHO of course.