Hi,
Anyone successfully using standalone 10g tanks for bloodstock? I tried this a couple years ago, and got lucky. I remember doing a lot of algae scraping and 50% water changes. This time I was thinking about incorporating one of
these, plus small pump, and putting in chaeto to keep the nitrates down a bit so I can do smaller water changes. I'd probably need sand in there, too, and then I'm running out of space. Is that even worth it?
It seems as if it's quite difficult to use a bare bottom tank, no rocks, no sand, and keep nitrates down at the same time.
Also doing tons of water changes is daunting and wasteful$$. I was considering taking some live rock and chaeto, and simply feeding a large tub my dirty clownfish water, and then once the nitrates drop, I could use that water for water changes. I don't think is advisable, because water changes are not only for nitrate. Does anyone think this is a good idea, waste of time, etc?
I was setting up a plumbed system, and just couldn't stand the waterfall noise, and 10G tanks crack to easy. I think my plumbing was far too big too. I had 3/4" returns with 1.5" drains. Overkill I think, but I wanted to be able to lift out tanks and clean them. I guess I sacrificed sound quality for convenience. What are the ideal sizes for plumbed setups? (I have so much plumbing supplies left over, I don't know what to do with it!)
15G would be ideal I think for plumbed system, but those are priced at premium, and a little rare to find used. I do have a 40G breeder that I could partition up, to avoid cracking the thin glass of a 10g. I was finding 20GH and 20L to take up too much space height and lengthwise respectively.
I also like the QT component of separate tanks. Less worry of disease.
Right now, I have 3 10g tanks going separately. Each has a whisper 45 filter, a sponge filter, and 1 has the Refugium. I have a couple of pairs, but I'm not confident about maintaining the water quality that I think I need to get them to start spawing. Keeping the tank floors clean is proving difficult.
Sorry for the rant, but I'm finding that I can go in several different directions here. Back to my original question, and I'll revise it a bit, what are people's bloodstock setups looking like?