Main Reef
DFW TX
Background
this is my main reef tank. I have been keeping fish for over 20 years, and enjoy the hobby quite a bit. I have always wanted to have a dedicated fish room with a reef tank built in from the ground up, and this is it.
I spent roughly a year planning, designing it, and collecting materials for this one. Almost all aspects of this build are DIY, as I feel I have a better understanding and pride in the equipment if I build it myself. this allows me to wrap most of my diverse hobbies and interests into one large project.
Unfortunately i really enjoy the fish and corals, so i tend to get distracted from other aspects of the project. I will get around to finishing the rest one day...
I spent roughly a year planning, designing it, and collecting materials for this one. Almost all aspects of this build are DIY, as I feel I have a better understanding and pride in the equipment if I build it myself. this allows me to wrap most of my diverse hobbies and interests into one large project.
Unfortunately i really enjoy the fish and corals, so i tend to get distracted from other aspects of the project. I will get around to finishing the rest one day...
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Filtration
1)filter sponge on main intake for large particulate material (also suppresses sound), rinsed every other day.
2)protein skimmer. cup cleaned every other day, or as needed. removes fine sludge and some dissolved solids.
3) Cheato in refugium. i cull the dirty or pale growth every week, keeping the cheto to about 1/4 the volume of the refugium (about 1.5 gallon volume)
4) phosorb or phosphate sponge is added on occasion to sump when there is issue. carbon has been run on occasion in the same manner, but is not needed most of the time.
this seems to be doing the trick, perhaps a bit too well, as nitrates have been undetectable for months.
2)protein skimmer. cup cleaned every other day, or as needed. removes fine sludge and some dissolved solids.
3) Cheato in refugium. i cull the dirty or pale growth every week, keeping the cheto to about 1/4 the volume of the refugium (about 1.5 gallon volume)
4) phosorb or phosphate sponge is added on occasion to sump when there is issue. carbon has been run on occasion in the same manner, but is not needed most of the time.
this seems to be doing the trick, perhaps a bit too well, as nitrates have been undetectable for months.
Lighting
running full LED. light at the top is not much more than further down according to par meeter (about 20% less at substrate).
i am regretting the inclusion of the red and UV LED's as they seem to only increase the amount of brown, vs just blue and white LED's.
The penetrating power of the LED's is impressive, but it is a bit problematic as i do not have enough lower light zones in the tank to support the corals i have. I expect this to be less of a problem as the top corals grow out and provide more shade.
photo-period is currently 12hrs blue, 8 hrs white (simultaneous with blue).
light controller is under construction, so i will have more dimming and variability at a later date. current situation is 100% on or off, using basic timers - this is not ideal.
i am regretting the inclusion of the red and UV LED's as they seem to only increase the amount of brown, vs just blue and white LED's.
The penetrating power of the LED's is impressive, but it is a bit problematic as i do not have enough lower light zones in the tank to support the corals i have. I expect this to be less of a problem as the top corals grow out and provide more shade.
photo-period is currently 12hrs blue, 8 hrs white (simultaneous with blue).
light controller is under construction, so i will have more dimming and variability at a later date. current situation is 100% on or off, using basic timers - this is not ideal.
Magnesium
Nitrate
Calcium
Alkalinity
Temperature
Phosphate
Salinity
pH
Potassium
Iodine
Iron
8 Fish
50 Corals
61 Invertebrate
15
mini brittle star
Amphiuridae family
3 Plants
Equipment
Heater
Skimmer
Sump
Other
Feeding See more
all corals custom blend and brine shrimp · tank live daphnia · tank microworms · tank frozen mysis · frozen brine shrimp · live daphnia · live BBS · corals frozen brine shrimp · greenwater/phyto · all corals custom blend · nori on a clip · bloodworms and krill · microworms · baby brine shrimp · krill · cyclops · phyto plancton · frozen cyclops · live baby brine shrimp · gonifood · live rotopher\plankton · frozen mysis · shaved krill and mysis · frozen krill · white worms · nori · shaved mysis · large daphnia · custom blend to corals (spot fed) · whiteworms · frozen brinshrimp · flightless fruit flys · cherry shrimp · frozen bloodworms · phytoplancton · custom blend to coralsMaintenance
ideal maintenance includes:
ro water top off 2x day (until ATO is added).
Kalkwasser solution 2x a day, about 2 TBS a week.
clean skimmer cup and filter sponge every other day.
15g water change each week.
test parameters and dose as needed.
ro water top off 2x day (until ATO is added).
Kalkwasser solution 2x a day, about 2 TBS a week.
clean skimmer cup and filter sponge every other day.
15g water change each week.
test parameters and dose as needed.
On average you perform a 15.4% water change every 91 days.
0% total water change in September.