Back From 15yr Absence - Help Me Decide

[EmeraldCoastReef]

I'm going to use a standard 48x18 stand for my new reef. That size typically holds a 75g or a 90g.
I'm mostly interested in LPS and zoas. I don't mess with SPS, leathers or nems. Lower light, lower flow, dirty water.
What is currently the "favorite" filtering method among reefers? I started in 1986 with fish only, and under gravel filters. I eventually moved to using sumps and skimmers with live rock. I always thought of that as the Berlin method. I also had DSBs and algae turf scrubbers back in the day. I had a canister that I'd occasionally fill with activitated carbon and run for a few days to polish the water, but I never left it running long term.
I'm curious to hear what people are doing today.
Are refugiums still a thing? I love the idea of a display refugium that overflows into the display.
Skimmers? Are we still skimming 24/7?
Has salt progressed at all? I used to buy Red Sea or Reef Crystals.

 

[lapin]

Salt is the same.
Fuges are still popular.
Turf scrubbers are pretty popular.
Roller mats are overtaking filter socks
Welcome back and good luck.

 

[MikeB]

Welcome back. We too just came back with a 5g nano. Cant wait to see what you do!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome back to the hobby! Plenty of people still use reef crystals and Red Sea

 

[bushdoc]

The noticeable difference is scarcity and high prices of live rock, so dry rock is mostly a base and some, including myself are adding maricultured live rock on top and perhaps some real Aussie live rock too.

 

[PPBlimpy]

In the 48x18 foot print I prefer a 60G breeder, but I like shallower tanks on a taller stand.

I prefer a sump but had had success with canister and HOB skimmer.

I run a refugium, turf algea scrubber and skimmer tech has come a long way. Salt is Fritz RPM Blue box. I still run closed loop systems and about to install 2 sea swirls on my tank. Going to mod my current skimmer to be a direct feed/recirc to help with waste export.

LED lights are great, 2 of just about any popular light would be plenty to grow what you want. Budget friendly to high end. I prefer my noopsyche out of all the LED i have used but I am trying to make the switch back to halide currently.

 

[bradreef]

I think the biggest difference today as discussed above is the lack of live rock. It's really worth buying some live rock and either seating or going fully with live rock. The lack of biodiversity has led to things like dinos and cyano. Back 20 years ago you had live rock wrapped in newspaper. Once that died off in the tank for 30 days, your biology was pretty set.

 

[hatfielj]

Agree with what others said about live rock. It's essential to a healthy biological filter IMO. If you're going to spend money on anything, spend it on some real live rock, which these days the only real live rock you can get is the Australian stuff. It's about $20-30/lbs though. Worthwhile investment IMO and for a 75 gallon tank, you wouldn't need much, maybe a 40-50lbs box would do it.
Outside of that, it's the same...skimmer, refugium if you like. Yes, you can run carbon to help remove tannins from the water. Water changes. Keep it simple.

 

[EmeraldCoastReef]

In the 48x18 foot print I prefer a 60G breeder, but I like shallower tanks on a taller stand.

I prefer a sump but had had success with canister and HOB skimmer.

I run a refugium, turf algea scrubber and skimmer tech has come a long way. Salt is Fritz RPM Blue box. I still run closed loop systems and about to install 2 sea swirls on my tank. Going to mod my current skimmer to be a direct feed/recirc to help with waste export.

LED lights are great, 2 of just about any popular light would be plenty to grow what you want. Budget friendly to high end. I prefer my noopsyche out of all the LED i have used but I am trying to make the switch back to halide currently.

Interesting that you mentioned the 60g breeder. I was actually considering using a 60g standard, which is 36x18 and then using a small tank beside it as a display refugium.

 

[PPBlimpy]

Interesting that you mentioned the 60g breeder. I was actually considering using a 60g standard, which is 36x18 and then using a small tank beside it as a display refugium.

The 60 breeder is 48x18x 16 tall
Easy to scape, good sq ft, I did a 75g and I am short. Armpit was always getting wet when I had to reach in the tank.

 

[EmeraldCoastReef]

The 60 breeder is 48x18x 16 tall
Easy to scape, good sq ft, I did a 75g and I am short. Armpit was always getting wet when I had to reach in the tank.

I'm not tall and I don't like wet armpits either.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I'm not tall and I don't like wet armpits either.

I keep a step ladder next to my new tank, but its still a nice reach.

Next tank will be 48x30x24 4' 150G

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Reef keeping today is a lot easier than 15 years ago… A good filter roller, skimmer and multi channel doser for a basic Alk, Ca & Mg will see you right… If you follow Randy’s 2 part DIY recipes on here they are cheap as chips, plus you can add in Tropic Marin trace elements.. For my 680L Acropora dominant system in the UK it costs me less than £200 a year for all Macro & trace supplementation…
For lighting you can’t really go wrong with Radion or something cheaper like the Noopsyches…
Salt wise, I love Fauna Marin… super consistent between batches and mixes up nicely to 8.5DKH quickly and cleanly every time…
Hanna testers have been a game changer too… quick, accurate testing for Nitrate, Phosphates and Alkalinity..

 

[X-37B]

I'm not tall and I don't like wet armpits either.

A 16" tall tank is only 13.5" from the bottom to the surface.
This is my old 80g-48×24×16.
Check some build threads for ideas.