Chris's Journey Into an Excellent Reef Experience

Zeedawg · Jun 27, 2020

What a great and challenging experience this has been for me! I started into reefing about a year ago and have learned quite a bit! I always dreamed of a reef tank since I was a kid, and always had a freshwater tank going up.....

Initial Tank Build July 2019

About 1 Year Later

Lessons Learned

Make sure there is enough flow! Even for a mixed reef
Lighting Counts. Change light intensity and kelvin slowly
Measure the PAR in your tank
Low Maintenance Automation works well, but don't rely on it
Go Sloooowwwww....
Don't Chase Parameter Numbers
Don't mess with the tank too much - Chemistry, Lighting, Etc...
Have a QT tank For new corals
Keep your hands out of the tank as much as possible
Weekly Water Testing: PO4, Alk
Bi-Weekly Water Testing: Mg, Ca
If you have fine sand and a sand-sifter goby, sand will be all over your tank. Blow sand off the live rock weekly
Change filter socks every 2-days or so
Clean the skimmer cup - it wont smell as much and seems to work better
Be patient; let the tank mature before adding sensitive corals

Display Tank Components

Tank
- RedSea Reefer 350
Lighting
- Kessil AP700
- Kessil H160 Tuna Flora
Controller
- Neptune Apex
- GHL Doser 2.1
Pumps
- Neptune CORE 15
- Neptune DOS (Auto Water Changes)
- Neptune ATK Pump
- (3) VorTech MP40
- (2) IceCap 2K
Reactors
- GPO
- Carbon
Filters
- Granulated Carbon
- Marine Depot RODI + 50Gal Storage Tank
Skimmer
- Nyos Quantum 160
UV
- Aqua UV Classic 25
Other
- Innovative Marine Gourmet Defroster
- Innovative Marine Gourmet Grazer