After a 4 year break, getting back into this hobby

[Anonymous]

Well, looks like the bug has bitten me again. I've found myself reading topside threads again, trying to get a handle on any new techniques since I last kept a reef. Also finding myself on retail sites looking at all the new equipment.

As far as I can tell, everything is the same as far as reefkeeping goes. Strong lighting, deep living sand beds, skimming, strong current.

Are there any new developments in the last 4 years that I should know about?

 

[Anonymous]

Deep sand beds are losing their popularity a bit.

My new 300G is a bare bottom tank.

See thread in my sig if you are interested in reading about my setup.

WB to to the hobby!

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

No much new development, AFAIK. Maybe there are more products out there for wavemaking, and better pumps, and more nano and LED type of thing, but that's about it.

 

[Anonymous]

I was out for 3 years until June when I jumped back in and I am running mine exactly the same as I did back in the old days...you know way back in 2002. Like they said, more LED lights and stuff, but the same principles that were there in yesteryear are still here today. Good luck. Doesn't that bug suck. I tried to shake it and fill my time with other stuff....but here I am. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Louey,

Help me out a bit. I don't feel like reading through all the pages of that thread. Are you doing anythign in place of a DSB? Refugium?

 

[Anonymous]

Ranger,
Yeah, the bug sucks. I'm trying to think of ways to setup a tank using all my old equipment that's lying around.

 

[Len]

There's been a lot of new metal halide brands that have hit the market, and some interesting circulation devices as well (Ocean Motions, Ecotech's Vortex, Tunze products). Husbandry itself has been pretty much the same, although as mentioned, DSBs have lost their luster these days. You'll see more mention of bare bottom and starboard instead of the conventional substrate.

 

[Anonymous]

Reading through the boards, I don't see anything about DSB's losing their popularity. Is there a reason for this? I did read that article in AA that compared DSB's to plenums. Is there anything that compares DSB's to bare-bottom or shallow beds?

 

[Anonymous]

Chris,

I glued sand to marine starboard using PVC glue. There are threads here on how to do that. The only reason to do so is to give your BB tank the look of sand on the bottom.

I will eventually bring a 75 fuge online.

To me a refugium is a must if you have room for it. Whether or not you have a DSB doesn't matter.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Well, since I've had very successful reefs in the past, I'm thinking of going small this time so I can keep it in my office at work. Like a 20g or something. Not much room for a fuge there. Probably skip a sump too.

However, once I'm back into the swing of things, I'm going to design my life's final tank (hopefully), since I own a house these days. Thinking of something in the 200g cube tank range, with a fuge and all. My goal is to build it into the corner of my living room, to make it appear like a part of the house. I think I'm done with the furniture look my past tanks have had.