Old school reef tanks (1 Viewer)

[Carrie Jo]

Okay, I have heard people say some people do their reef tanks "old school." Could anyone please elaborate on what "old school" reefing is? Or refer to a link that goes into detail about it. Or even a great book if such one exist?

I am just starting and honestly I would like to hear more about this to see what way I would like to go. Personally I think there is a lot of things I would like to do without not only for money reasons but because I wonder if they are really necessary to have a thriving tank. Less is more type of thing and the good old keeping things simple.

Also is 92 gallons big enough for an old school method?

 

[Diesel]

Old school reefing............. I remember that still from kindergarten all thought that's 47 years ago, not sure if that will be old school enough
I think nobody runs regular Philips light bulbs any more, better yet are these illegal now?
No kidding what old school is to some is high grade to others.
The basics is a more better question IMO even that can be complicated, similar as I was looking under a hood from a '64 Mustang not that long ago and all looked like a real engine to me vs the 2016 mustang cobras now days............ not much different than if I open up my laptop, only difference is the cobra has a bigger battery
Coming back to your question, old school......... tank, sand, rock, lights, some what of a sump maybe a trickle filter with or without a skimmer, return pump and lots of water changes.
You might want to add to that a wave maker but I'm not far off.
As I must say it's still working but you need to be from that same old school if not you're be better of to stick with todays technology.

Here a link from a good friend Paul B (that's his real name and he loves super models and fish and corals and...........) I just realized my reef is 44 years old this month. | REEF2REEF Saltwater and Reef Aquarium Forum

 

[frankc]

I have a 90 gallon that has been running with minimal changes for 25 years, so I guess by definition that is "old school". It basically refers to not using the latest technology. This tank does not have a sump - it uses a hang-on-back protein skimmer which uses an airstone, and a hang-on-back wet/dry filter. It even has an under-gravel filter, although I haven't run that in years. The lighting is T8 and compact fluorescent - very old school and no one in their right mind uses those anymore.

I have had fish live as long as 14 years in this tank, and a carpet anemone lived 12 years, and routine spawning of damselfish, so you can definitely be successful with a minimalist system like this. That being said, the only corals in this tank are a Lobophyllia, some mushrooms, sun coral, and a Favia that wasn't doing well in the reef tank. I would not ever try any SPS in this tank.

One technology I would not skip is a RODI filter. I switched from using tap water to RODI water 3 years ago, and I still have not managed to get the phosphate down to a reasonable level.

 

[Carrie Jo]

Well darn I was wanting to hold off on the RODI filter! I swear between trying to figure out the sump and now a RODI filter might be another year before I get this thing going! I was going to get a reverse osmosis filter eventually but just noticed that this one you are talking about is a de-ionization also. Not even sure what that is! And I just got the stand and canopy replaced! LOL

Is it bad to leave a used tank empty for a while?

 

[Diesel]

No it ain't bad as some tanks sit empty for a year or two or more at some LFS.
But if you don't want it to leave it empty why don't you buy saltwater by from a maintenance company in Houston that specific installs and clean tanks.
I used Dave from UA (Urban Aquatics) for my tank to fill it with 250 gallon of salt water and my frag system for 300 gallons, and he delivers.
After it is filled only thing you do is buy salt water from one of our sponsors to do your weekly or bi-weekly changes, cost maybe $0.75 per gallon.
Or you can buy my old school RO/DI it's just two years old and considered high rated.

Here's a link:

Chloramine Special RODI - Buckeye Hydro

75 Gallons per Day MAXR
It doesn't have any filters but Buckeye can help you out on that one.

 

[Carrie Jo]

Those are both great ideas! I need to get my head wrapped around the sump design and get it done! So I can connect it all test for leaks and such!

 

[jqsquared]

No it ain't bad as some tanks sit empty for a year or two or more at some LFS.
But if you don't want it to leave it empty why don't you buy saltwater by from a maintenance company in Houston that specific installs and clean tanks.
I used Dave from UA (Urban Aquatics) for my tank to fill it with 250 gallon of salt water and my frag system for 300 gallons, and he delivers.
After it is filled only thing you do is buy salt water from one of our sponsors to do your weekly or bi-weekly changes, cost maybe $0.75 per gallon.
Or you can buy my old school RO/DI it's just two years old and considered high rated.

Here's a link:

Chloramine Special RODI - Buckeye Hydro

75 Gallons per Day MAXR
It doesn't have any filters but Buckeye can help you out on that one.

Did you just have urban aquatics come and fill you up so you didnt waste filters? Less time? Do they have a big truck or what? Interesting.

 

[Diesel]

Did you just have urban aquatics come and fill you up so you didnt waste filters? Less time? Do they have a big truck or what? Interesting.

I didn't mind wasting my filters, I was more like a time issue.
When I had to redo my tank and was ready for water I called Dave, he came with 250 gallon saltwater and with in a hour I had my tank up and running.
Added the Dr Tim one and only, 4 hours later 100ml pee (almost the same as Ammonia but it does the trick too) in the tank and 5 days later I was cycled.
No worries about mixing, storing, I believe he charge me $350 but just think about that you need 2 buckets of salt and lots of storage bins for water not to mention filters and water if you concerned about that, all water was pumped in the tank and sump.
All I had to do is turn on my pump................ no brainer to me.

 

[jqsquared]

You seriously used pee?

 

[Jason]

Diesel's secret is out! He does peepee in his tank!

 

[malira]

If that's what it takes, I'm game.

 

[reefling]

I would say keep it simple, as mentioned earlier. The only stuff that happens fast in this hobby is bad stuff.

Keep your fish bio load light for a while and start out with easy stuff to keep. If you need help with an RO/DI system and I am closeby, let me know and I will help you set it up. I have done 4 of them, minimum.

 

[Carrie Jo]

thanks!

 

[reefling]

If you want to see my setup and make it to the south side, let me know. I am between pearland and Missouri city.