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I saw this website http://www.petfish.net/articles/Saltwater_And_Marine/smsalt.php aparrently he set up a 10 gallon saltwater with only a powerhead and undergravel filter. He is not using any skimmer or real filter and only does a 20% water change once a month. Everything I have previously been told contradicts this setup. He claims that it works but I am a skeptic, I was wondering what your opinions are?

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

He is only using the undergravel filter as a plenum with a deep sand bed above it for natural nitrate reduction(NNR). The actual biological filtration is being done by the live rock with water movement provided by the powerhead. I think he will run into problems long term if he doesn't find a way to employ some sort of protein skimming, especially with that huge clown in the tank. Plus I don't think that clown will be happy in that tank due to the space limitaions.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

This is probably obvious and I am just not thinking in the right direction but, What is a plenum and how does it work?
and, Could this be replaced with a high quality HOB filter?

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

its very possible to setup a SW tank with no mechanical filteration. i had a 30g with 2 power head, LR and shallow sand bed for a few years before i moved.
IMO skimming is only needed if you have medium to high bio load. that clown is diffently pushing the buck in size for that tank

So going salty could be cheap if you use low stock levels and powerhead filtration?



"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

A plenum is an area of low water flow(read next to none) where anaerobic bacteria convert nitrate into nitrogen gas for their oxygen needs. It is simply impossible to replace this with a HOB filter.

I also wouldn't go as far as to say you can do salt water inexpensively. Live rock can be pretty darn expensive. If you plan on not using a filter and using "only powerheads" it won't work. Live rock is a key element to the success in the tank you read about.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks for the definition!!

I forgot to mention live rock with the powerheads. I dont think that live rock is too expensive in my area as I have a great lfs.(though I should probably check prices before saying this )
I have just been thinking about mabye doing a small salty tank sometime in the summer(US) so I have been doing a ton of reading.
Im thinking of a 10-30 gallon with live rock powerheads and a HOB filter with mabye 1-2 (tank bred)true percula clownfish (no anenome) and some inverts.
This article just sounded too good to be true. I could probably setup his setup at near the same cost of a fresh water 10 gallon. (Cheap tanks at annual large neighborhood garage sale and $20 for heater, filter and airstone at lfs.) I have yet to find a skimmer or a diy skimmer that is under $70 and has a good reputation (if you have any plz send link).
Just considering possible new tanks any info or good links are always useful. Comments are always good!

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

Honestly you probably can't find a new skimmer for that price, save for a few airstone types. You might be able to find a used Aqua C Remora on ebay or something for $100. Those are pretty good skimmers for small tanks. I like my Urchin(similar model for in sump use) a lot so far.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What about the red sea prizm skimmers are they any good?

Do you need a predrilled tank to do a sump?


"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

You dont NEED a pre drilled tank to do a sump, but i would highly reccomend against HOB overflow and suction method for sump. they are just asking for a flooded house IMO. Some people have been fine with them for years but i really wouldnt take the risk.

This thread got me rather interested. What kind of a fish could fit in a 10 gallon tank with only a low bioload?

So far from what I have read (correct me if I make a mistake), small damsels and pajama cardinal fish would work but only 1-2. I have also read that tank bred true perculas can go in a ten gallon but I am not sure if that would qualify as low bioload or if the fish would be comfortable in such a small tank.



"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

very few fish will live comfortable their whole life span in a 10g. i would maybe just do corals, small clean up crew and buy maybe a small occ/perc and move him after a couple of months.
I use a 11g reef, for training predatory fish but their isnt ever anything in their longer than 2 months really.
Most SW fish get to big or need to much swim room for 10g

I use compact fluorescent screw in bulbs on my 10 gallon fresh and have 2.6 wpg with 2 bulbs could you use a similar setup and keep some of the low light corals? I dont want to dump hundreds in expensive lighting.

I saw on this website http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=756
they say minimum tank size 10 gallons are they wrong?



"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

Sites like liveaquaira often display false tank sizes for fish i have seen a online shop say 55g for a V. lion when it really needs a 120.

10g wouldnt be a home for life with a percula clown

Thanks,

Probably wont be going salty anytime soon though just too much $$$ for a larger tank and I dont have room for anything over a 20 gallon right now.

Happy New Year!

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons