Acropora/ SPS growth with No Dosing

[IntrinsicReef]

I want to share a reef I have maintained over a decade. This 100 gallon cube is super simple and is maintained with water changes only. I don't dose anything. No 2 part, no traces, no carbon source. 15 gallon water changes every two weeks, a skimmer, and some mechanical filtration. Coral growth rate is slow but no coral health issues at all. The largest Acropora colony is about 12" across. I'm sure there are many minerals and elements that are limited or non existent in-between water changes. But the corals keep good health and color, and seem to grow when the building blocks are available.

There are fish in the tank, but hid when I shut off the pumps for pictures. Tomini Tang, Flame angel, scopas Tang, 6 Line Wrasse, and 2 clowns.
Corals includes Acropora, Montipora, Galaxea, Caulastraea, Echinophyllia, Euphyllia, Fimbriaphyllia, Discoma, Sinularia, and lots of GSP. I trim out the softies when the overgrow, and I think this acts as a nutrient export.

 

[UMALUM]

What kinda salt you dumping in that thing?

 

[IntrinsicReef]

What kinda salt you dumping in that thing?

Reef Crystals at 1.027 give or take

 

[UMALUM]

Reef Crystals at 1.027 give or take

Very interesting

 

[PR_nano]

How much does alk fluctuate in 2 weeks?

 

[IntrinsicReef]

How much does alk fluctuate in 2 weeks?

Honestly, I have not tested anything in this tank other than salinity for at least 5 years. I will test before and after water change Calcium/ Alkalinity when I am there again in 2 weeks ( I serviced today). I am guessing the alk/ pH is low enough to dissolve calcium carbonate from the rock and sand to buffer between water changes.

 

[Gtinnel]

Beautiful tank. I would think that if the pH was low enough to dissolve calcium carbonate it would have a negative impact on the living corals, which it clearly isn’t.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I want to share a reef I have maintained over a decade. This 100 gallon cube is super simple and is maintained with water changes only. I don't dose anything. No 2 part, no traces, no carbon source. 15 gallon water changes every two weeks, a skimmer, and some mechanical filtration. Coral growth rate is slow but no coral health issues at all. The largest Acropora colony is about 12" across. I'm sure there are many minerals and elements that are limited or non existent in-between water changes. But the corals keep good health and color, and seem to grow when the building blocks are available.

There are fish in the tank, but hid when I shut off the pumps for pictures. Tomini Tang, Flame angel, scopas Tang, 6 Line Wrasse, and 2 clowns.
Corals includes Acropora, Montipora, Galaxea, Caulastraea, Echinophyllia, Euphyllia, Fimbriaphyllia, Discoma, Sinularia, and lots of GSP. I trim out the softies when the overgrow, and I think this acts as a nutrient export.

An amazing looking tank! Crazy you don’t dose anything, yet your corals are that healthy looking!

 

[ReefSauce]

 

[IntrinsicReef]

An amazing looking tank! Crazy you don’t dose anything, yet your corals are that healthy looking!

Thanks! It's amazing to me how adaptable corals are and I really like seeing systems that utilize different techniques, so I wanted to share. This tank is the very opposite of some other systems ( high pH, latest technology, fast growth) that I maintain.

 

[DJF]

You had me at 100g cube. :) Good stuff, inspiring. Agree on coral adaptability; I believe that an answer to it surviving warming oceans could live in coral that has adapted in a closed system.

 

[billyocean]

Frequent water changes go a long way if the consumption isn't massive for sure. Looks great!

 

[ninjamyst]

Amazing tank!!

I think your success can also be attributed to the tank maturity and corals already at colony size which makes them much more resilient to changes. Nothing beats letting nature do its thing and balance itself out.

 

[twentyleagues]

This is crazy! It looks great.
15g every two weeks really wouldnt be adding much of anything. Wow.

 

[exnisstech]

Beautiful tank. Thanks for posting this. This should be an example to people coming into the hobby that all the magic potions are not necessary for success and in fact some can be detrimental regardless of what all the marketing states.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Frequent water changes go a long way if the consumption isn't massive for sure. Looks great!

I think the consumption here could be massive. The hammers, Acropora, Monti cap here are all the fastest growing varieties. I keep them in many different systems and they are Alk/ Calcium gluttons when I give it to them. But they also take up other minerals and traces in lockstep which can quickly be depleted.

 

[CHSUB]

Amazing. What do you use for top off?

 

[IntrinsicReef]

Amazing. What do you use for top off?

Just RO water

 

[billyocean]

I think the consumption here could be massive. The hammers, Acropora, Monti cap here are all the fastest growing varieties. I keep them in many different systems and they are Alk/ Calcium gluttons when I give it to them. But they also take up other minerals and traces in lockstep which can quickly be depleted.

RC is pretty high in whats needed so the replenishment at every 2 weeks is nice. I suppose it's gradual enough and enough on schedule to be just fine. 'Massive' consumption is all relative I suppose.. agree that the monti is a thirsty one! However it works is cool.

 

[CHSUB]

I’m thinking corals can survive and thrive at levels of calcium, Alk, and mag well below natural sea water levels?