Calling all small tank, no sump sps keepers!

[S.O.S.]

Anybody keep a small (33gal or less) tank without a sump for sps? What kind of setup are you using? I'm interested in hearing success stories and what you're using for lighting, filtration, livestock, maintenance, additives...etc. Thanks alot!

I want to set up my 27gal for sps. Right now I have a couple but it's a mixed tank and I want to make it an all sps tank.

[Rick O]

I have a 20 gal SPS frag tank but I'm not too happy with the current setup. Without a sump or a skimmer I get an oily film on the surface which I'm constantly scooping out. I have VHO over it which will grow SPS but the don't retain their colors under it. My plan for the near future is to upgrade to a 30 gal breeder tank and put a 250 watt MH pendant over it. Then I'll use the 20 as a sump and put a Myreef skimmer in it. I dose B-Ionic right now and will continue with that in the new setup.

Sorry this isn't the success story you were looking for but maybe this will inspire you not to do some things that aren't working for me.

[GSM]

Well it's not under 33g, but I have a sumpless 45g with some (hardy) SPS.

My setup- single 150w HQI pendant, BakPak skimmer (with preskimmer box- no slime on surface!), lots of LR, 4" sandbed, caluerpa for nutrient uptake (slow growing red variety).

I am new to SPS, but so far I have been having dramatic polyp extension, and already seeing small amounts of growth!

I do a monthly 10% or so water change (sometimes biweekly if I'm not too lazy).

The only additives I add are 20ml of each part B-Ionic each morning.

My lighting is a bit low for SPS, so I don't think I'll go all out with them, but I do enjoy the few that I have. HTH!

[seahawkjohnny]

Originally posted by GSM
Well it's not under 33g, but I have a sumpless 45g with some (hardy) SPS.

My setup- single 150w HQI pendant, BakPak skimmer (with preskimmer box- no slime on surface!), lots of LR, 4" sandbed, caluerpa for nutrient uptake (slow growing red variety).

I am new to SPS, but so far I have been having dramatic polyp extension, and already seeing small amounts of growth!

I do a monthly 10% or so water change (sometimes biweekly if I'm not too lazy).

The only additives I add are 20ml of each part B-Ionic each morning.

My lighting is a bit low for SPS, so I don't think I'll go all out with them, but I do enjoy the few that I have. HTH!

Hello GSM, and Rick, how do you like the Bionic?, I have been thinking about going with it, is it the only suppliment you need to use?

[Rick O]

On a small tank B-Ionic is great. It's the only thing I put in the tank other than food. B-Ionic can get expensive with a larger tank though. For that I would go with a ca reactor.

[seahawkjohnny]

Originally posted by Rick O
On a small tank B-Ionic is great. It's the only thing I put in the tank other than food. B-Ionic can get expensive with a larger tank though. For that I would go with a ca reactor.

Rick.....


What do you consider small, I have a 20 gal with 20 lbs marshall island live rock, and a remora skimmer/mj1200, and how much do you use/how often?

[Rick O]

To me it wouldn't be worth the expense of a ca reactor on any tank smaller than 55 gal. I got good results with B-Ionic and it doesn't cost a fortune on a tank that size. I was using B-Ionic when i first set up my 120 at a rate of about 50 ml per day of each part. I forget exactly how long it took to go through a gallon but I seemed to be buying that stuff all the time. Right now I dose about 7 ml per day of each part in a 20 gal tank.

[Sand Reef]

I have a 20 gallon tank, no sump, but unfortunately, I dont have SPS. I wish I could. There are no fish, only some snails and a peppermint shrimp. I do however have VHO lighting. If its not good enough for SPS, how about other corals?

v

[Rick O]

VHO is excellent lighting for most corals. You can grow SPS under VHO if you have enough of it but they probably won't show their true colors.

[Shack]

i have a 30. ihave 4 vhos with a cooling fan. My evaporation is about a gallon a day, so im always topping off. i have an awful wet/dry with hang on skimmer. it stinks. im going to upgrade soon. i have 30 pounds of fiji and 5 pounds of tonga. im using a deep sand bed. lots and lots of snails. as far as sps i have a green ricordia shroom, a caulestrea, a branching green hammer, and some brown button polyps. the polyps are doing great, the caulestrea is questionable, the hamer is doing ok, and the ricordia is growing rapidly. i use b ionic everyday. i was using coral vital but it was killing my snails. i really think sumps are over rated.

[S.O.S.]

Originally posted by Shack
i use b ionic everyday. i was using coral vital but it was killing my snails. i really think sumps are over rated.

Thanks for the info Do you find that you need to dose every day to keep your ph, alk, Ca levels up?

[Sue Truett]

I have a 29g. frag tank that is all sps corals. I have a single 250w 65k iwasaki in a pendant hanging over the tank. I have the frags on eggcrate and they have nice brilliant colors. I have a MJ1200 for circulation. Now the only difference is it is plumbed to my 120. It is an ecosystem mud bed and has no skimmer and I only add kalk. dripping it 24/7. The 120 is an sps tank too.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html
www.marshreef.org/members