220 Gallon SPS Reef Build

[JonoH]

Another quick update as I took some pics of the tank the other day.
Grafted Cherry Blossom Frag is branching out now - have been keeping this in the frag tank as ideally I want to get a few frags from it (plus I have not found space for it in the main tank!)


Same with my Grafted Digi - both these frags I find need a bit more lower light than normal Acro, so living in the frag tank atm.


Whole tank set up as of last week - Have got some shades coming for the lights over the frag tank, so hopefully that will help fix the glare on the wall there - otherwise i'll make an angled bracket for it.


And pics from around the main display



I fragged a bit before Christmas and have sold off quite a bit of this from my frag tank in the last couple of weeks...also managed to secure a Hot Mess Hammer which will fill in the space at the top of my hammer garden nicely.

 

[DarkReefer]

I have one of the flippers and it works ok for me? Do you have the largest size, it may be that you need the one with the stronger magnet.
Actually have one of the long handle ones also for cleaning the back wall, and attempted it the other week but the coraline is so thick on there the blade broke! Planning on getting an industrial scraper for that part!

Yeah I don't mind the coraline on the back tbh but the hair algae was what I was focused on lol.
My flipper is the biggest one I think and I feel like it just doesn't glide smoothly or anything, possibly too much friction from the magnet?

 

[JonoH]

Yeah I don't mind the coraline on the back tbh but the hair algae was what I was focused on lol.
My flipper is the biggest one I think and I feel like it just doesn't glide smoothly or anything, possibly too much friction from the magnet?

Interesting, I was actually thinking of going to the larger one, as sometimes mine takes a fair bit of work to scrape off the hard algae build up!
Mine is the smaller dual blade model.

 

[DarkReefer]

Interesting, I was actually thinking of going to the larger one, as sometimes mine takes a fair bit of work to scrape off the hard algae build up!
Mine is the smaller dual blade model.

Yeah I think mine is called the Edge Max, has the two blades on it for memory and I find the same thing, it just takes too much work to work efficiently. Unless you're cleaning on the daily if there's any decent build up you're kinda screwed.

One day I'd like to try those Tunze ones, with the narrow design I feel like it'll be easier to get in around the MP40s etc.

Also... what did you mean when you said the rubbers on the mp40s in one of your previous posts?
Ever since I've had the mp40s, one thing that's really ticked me off is how the protective cage around the fan constantly twists itself off with the flow, is there something I've missed that prevents this from happening? I don't recall noticing any rubber on them.

These days it seems to happen less thanks to the coraline build up, but every now and then one might let go when it's hit with the glass cleaner or removed for GHA clean up.

 

[JonoH]

Yeah I think mine is called the Edge Max, has the two blades on it for memory and I find the same thing, it just takes too much work to work efficiently. Unless you're cleaning on the daily if there's any decent build up you're kinda screwed.

One day I'd like to try those Tunze ones, with the narrow design I feel like it'll be easier to get in around the MP40s etc.

Also... what did you mean when you said the rubbers on the mp40s in one of your previous posts?
Ever since I've had the mp40s, one thing that's really ticked me off is how the protective cage around the fan constantly twists itself off with the flow, is there something I've missed that prevents this from happening? I don't recall noticing any rubber on them.

These days it seems to happen less thanks to the coraline build up, but every now and then one might let go when it's hit with the glass cleaner or removed for GHA clean up.

Yep, my MP40's do the same thing, twist themselves off from time to time!
I believe the rubbers on the back of the cage are just perished so they are not sealing it tight as much as they used to.
Mine always seem to fall off when I am away for a few days, and have a good habit of landing on the nicest coral!

Mine is also the flipper edge, just not the Max, my glass is only 12mm, so that may be playing a part with yours. You would need the Tunze Care + for the thicker glass, but I have not used this one to compare (for the cost of them you really want to try it out first!)

 

[JonoH]

In the last 2 weeks, the colours of my coral have really being popping.
There are 2 things I can put it down to -
1) Nutrient levels have dropped down (Nitrate is sitting at 10, and phosphate is under 0.1 now)
2) I have been dosing Coral Essentials CV+ regularly (managed to be able to bulk buy this at the wholesale price which has made it sooooo much more affordable)

Video below for appreciation, even my Pink Digi is actually pink now!

 

[JonoH]

 

[JonoH]

Update from this previous weeks tests.
Nitrates have been stable around 10ppm now - this is a lot lower than what my tank has always sat at over the last 2 years (generally 20-40ppm).

There is some concern it will keep dropping, so having to monitor this, can only assume this is due to the growth of the corals, and this being consumed more.

 

[JonoH]

From my Scoly Fragging thread -

Been a bit slow updating this - but here is the Late January update (about 6 months roughly since starting)

Original Scoly is fully healed - (in fact the colours on this are actually better than they were originally)


And still continuing to Bud more Babies (another 2 on it currently), its amazing the colours vary also from green to stark orange on these.


Cut head is mostly healed, albiet still growing into its shape -


3 Babies I have previously removed from the skeleton are tiny, but alive and feeding.

 

[JonoH]

Was looking through my spreadsheet that tracks the coral growth, and man the Goldenrod Anacropora has been doing well.

This is July 2025


And this is as of yesterday Jan 2026 (about 6 months growth)

 

[JonoH]

So after 2 years I finally decided to scrape my back wall and overflows!
Took about 30mins, as most of the Coralline came off in large pieces - its a bit of a mess at the rear of the tank now, so will need to try and siphon some of that out later, but figured I would let it break down a bit in the tank first.

Pic below from afterwards!

And a screen grab from a video of a new Hot Mess Hammer that I managed to pick up from Only Reef Aquatics!

 

[DarkReefer]

what made you go for the scrape? just wanted that clean look or something else?

 

[JonoH]

what made you go for the scrape? just wanted that clean look or something else?

I'm currently dosing about 130ml a day of Alk to keep it stable, so just trying to reduce that down a bit. Apparently the Coralline can consume quite a bit...havent seen a difference yet though!

I'm not sure if i prefer it or not...the jury is out!
Going by how fast its growing in the frag tank though, I reckon it'll come back fast!

 

[DarkReefer]

I'm currently dosing about 130ml a day of Alk to keep it stable, so just trying to reduce that down a bit. Apparently the Coralline can consume quite a bit...havent seen a difference yet though!

I'm not sure if i prefer it or not...the jury is out!
Going by how fast its growing in the frag tank though, I reckon it'll come back fast!

Ah right, that's a lot of alk to be dosing!
Understandable choice to give it a shot at least. Maybe it's still drawing nutrients by being scattered around the rockwork, might notice more of a difference once that's sucked out... but who knows!

 

[JonoH]

Ah right, that's a lot of alk to be dosing!
Understandable choice to give it a shot at least. Maybe it's still drawing nutrients by being scattered around the rockwork, might notice more of a difference once that's sucked out... but who knows!

Yep that's what i'm thinking, going to have to get a net in and scoop most if it out...another job for this weekend!

Should munch it up and sell it for others to seed their tanks!

 

[JonoH]

Finally putting up some of the frags that I picked up in Victoria over Christmas, lost 2 (also have a few more that I didnt photograph like Jellybean Chalice, Rainbow Chalice, Lighthouse Psammacora, Dustins Cousin and Little Red Ferrari)

Sunset Acropora


Pink Cadillac


Aeroplane Jelly Acropora


Zappo Acropora


Paletta Pink Tip


Pink Panther


Ghost Drop


These are all settled in nicely now, and starting to grow.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Great looking sticks!

 

[JonoH]

Been a while since I did a proper update, Tank has been running great other than having a bit of low Alk as my consumption has been through the roof (even after scraping the back wall).
I wonder if scraping the back wall actually caused the coralline to spike its growth as its all coming back now.

Added in some new fish, a baby Convict Tang in the frag tank (about the size of a 20 cent coin) which has been great for cleaning the plugs!
Added a Blonde Naso Tang into my display, has been a wish list fish for ages, and there seems to be a whole stack avaliable at the moment. Fingers crossed it eats and goes ok (they can be finicky).
Also added in 2 small Green Coral/Clown Goby's yesterday, I reckon it'll be a while till I see these guys again since they were only about 30mm long, but a cool looking fish regardless.

Have been updating my Instagram with reels pretty regularly, so lots of images there (need to take some more normal pictures!)

 

[DarkReefer]

Tank's looking awesome as always mate.
The Blonde Naso is such a great looking fish, was one I had to add to my tank also. I'm pretty sure I had one previously but it didn't last, I don't think it was eating for memory and died off. Current one has been in there for 6-12 months or something now I think and seems to have settled nicely and quickly growing! Wish you luck with yours.

 

[JonoH]

Been a minute - spending too much time posting reels to instagram instead!
Have had a few updates, mostly new corals and lots of fragging.
Thought I would at least share an updated full tank shot from last night.