Acropora techincal requirements

[TonyHanke]

I'm still a begginner in this hobby, and I'm still planning my first tank, but there is a question, that's bothering me. I know, that SPS corals, especially acros, like stable and specific water parameters. And I've read in few places, that those conditions cannot be acquired with every filtration setup, (I know that parameters rely very much on maintenance too). And I was wondering, if it would be possible to have thriving acros in a system with huge sump, expensive skimmer, reactors and all that stuff. For example, would it be possible in a 40g tank with small in-tank skimmer, a little ovesized Fluval HOB filter with lots of bio media, some carbon and GFO when needed, dosing AFR and with lights strong enough (and of course correct parameters)?
Thank you in advance

 

[56longroof]

Its possible but your not going to have many fish to keep nutrients manageable.

 

[TonyHanke]

Its possible but your not going to have many fish to keep nutrients manageable.

And if I run enough gfo, and have lots of space for natural denitrification?

 

[exnisstech]

Nothing but a roller in this tank for almost 3 years. I manually dosed 2 part and then AFR but eventually added a doser because I was forgetting. I still manually dose a few other tanks. I did add a skimmer several months ago but only for aeration and not for skimming. I think high tech gear driven systems aren't necessary to grow acros but many people are into the tech and it becomes a hobby withing the hobby. I've only been in the hobby for 10 years but in that time I've come to the conclusion that a tank can be as simple or as complicated as a person chooses to make it. Some like tech and gear but I like simple. I test Nitrate Phosphate and alkalinity. Calcium gets tested every few months. Never done an ICP. Never used a controller. I had a little set back recently and had a couple of pieces RTN but I did a 25% WC and added some carbon amd removed a leather that I probably never should have added and it seems to have stopped. I have been skipping water changes so I blame myself for being lazy not a failure of my simple methods.

EDIT; I only have 4 fish and nutrients have always been very low so I manually dose ammonium and phosphate to keep levels above zero.