Reef Spotlight REEF OF THE MONTH - September 2021: Vitaliy's Stunning 300-Litre Mixed Reef

I love what Vinny is doing here. He is doing something that our hobby needs and that is highlighting a different option to those who don't want to take the heavily one-sided golden child approach that many in the industry highlight. Thanks Vinny. You're aquarium is amazing and a living testament to the quality of alternative solutions in this hobby. I hope you start sharing your reef via videos soon.

I love the tank and the interview! I agree with a lot of what you had to say. I like that you made it a point to say that you believe numbers do matter along with being consistent. great tank I can't wait to see the new build.

Beautiful tank!

The images of the tank look stunning, as do all Tanks of the Month. But the accompanying description of the tank build and and the reefing method will raise some eye brows.

First, this tank uses the current epitome of European and American equipment, chemistry and microbiology. There isn't much "old school" about the tank, unless you count live rock. On the other hand, I recognized that all but a few (and maybe all) of the products and equipment used appear online in the American market. With sufficient motivation, time, funds and luck one could duplicate this tank. Which is the point of a Tank of the Month.

Second, I appreciate the dedication to following the "numbers," i.e., the testing. This illustrates that hobby level tests have progressed to the point of indispensability. The old rubric,"Don't chase the numbers [instead] pay attention to your tank." no longer applies if it ever did. We may not have the same sophisticated instruments they provide to pilots for zero visibility flying, but our kits have improved about to the level of a high school chemistry lab. Plus why can't one follow (hopefully accurate) scientific test results about a reef tank AND watch the tank. Is there some secret handshake rule?

Finally, this beautiful Russian tank brings to mind both the positive and negative implications of the expanding "internationalization" of the reef keeping hobby. Plainly, if this tank is representative at all, then Moscow stands in the forefront of hobby technology. History has shown that the greater the participation in this hobby the faster the science has advanced. That's good for everyone.

On the other hand, when will the supply of harvested fish and corals run out? I'm sure Europeans and Australians asked the same question when Americans started actively participating. But nobody has answered it. And we (meaning the whole world) haven't demonstrated much ability to reasonably cooperate regarding fisheries issues . Just saying. Maybe a world wide lottery, like De Beers used to distribute diamonds, only honest.