Raising the bar

Mouse · #1 01/10/2008, 12:40 AM

I first became interested in reef aquaria 10 years ago, 20g tank with a few leathers and some fish. I was hooked, and wanted a big tank

I got the 'main' necessary equipt, 125g tank, recirc pump and a skimmer. A few financial issues put my plans on hold, a year later I returned to the forums to pick up my dream only to find that my 'top of the line' skimmer was now a piece of junk no one in there right mind would think of using on a tank 1/2 the size.

This series of events has unfortunately repeated itself over the years. At one time we were all able to keep tanks with a few powerheads and VHO lighting, now if anyone was to suggest a UGF { besides Paul B

} they would be flamed right out of the forums.

Is there an end in sight or will the machine eventually require us to spend hundreds of dollars to keep mushrooms ?

nano mania · #2 01/10/2008, 12:55 AM

I think everyone needs to set their own bar. I for one, kept SPS in a 15 gal, w/ a HOB and a PC. Everything was happy and beautiful for two years.

barjam · #3 01/10/2008, 01:16 AM

I have a 20 year old 75 gallon tank with a couple of powerheads and a 120 dollar skimmer up until a few weeks ago I ran 4 T5 bulbs which basically is the same as VHO (I upgraded to MH). I have SPS/LPS and everything is doing just fine. Just because someone has something better than you doesn't make what you have worthless.

This wouldn't be much of a hobby if you could speend 100 bucks and 20 minutes and have the best of everything now would it? There has to be someone at the top pushing the envelope to give us something to strive for.

Paul B · #4 01/10/2008, 07:28 AM

As low tech as my tank is it was better when it was even lower tech. My corals grew better with VHO lighting then they do with MH. I also only have a couple of powerheads for circulation and a homemade skimmer and I believe I have fewer problems than most people with high tech tanks.
Of course I only keep LPS corals. I just like them better.
You don't need thousands of dollars to be successful in this hobby. A $12,000 PT Cruiser can get you to the same place just as fast as a $40,000 SUV. I have both and prefer the Cruiser.