It's the 12 Year Anniversary of Our Natural Sun-lit Reef

[jdpiii3]

It's the 12-year anniversary of Our Natural Sun-lit reef. Here's some past, and current pictures of our always changing always developing reef.

Several new additions were added, including our Sohal Tang, Desjardini Sailfin Tang and the Japanese Swallowtail/ Spotbreast Angelfish all fabulous additions to our reef.

During this 12th year our reef was nominated and chosen as reef of the month for October 2022. Thanks again Reef 2 Reef!

I was able to spend time with a few of the very special people from Reef to Reef at Reefapalooza - Orlando. Great seeing you again David, and meeting Daniel for the first time.

This 12th year also marked the 10-year anniversary of my beloved wife Kelly's passing, no day goes by that I don't still think about her. The Reef will always be a living testament to the joy she showed developing our reef.

I also lost my faithful companion Stella this past year.

There have been many a times that I have contemplating tossing in the towel, I continue to push through and try to better myself each day. I know in the end it will all be worth it.

Blessings,

Joe

 

[blaxsun]

Very nice - happy anniversary! The counter/stools are a great idea.

 

[Lebowski_]

Incredible!

 

[taricha]

Lovely.
I know most people try to avoid sunlight on their tanks, but I think that's a shame. Morning sun coming in is my favorite view of my tank.

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

Now I want a sunlight tank! That is so cool and was it cheaper than a reef light?

 

[jdpiii3]

Lovely.
I know most people try to avoid sunlight on their tanks, but I think that's a shame. Morning sun coming in is my favorite view of my tank.

Thanks so much. Sunlight gets a bad rap, All lighting will cause an algae issue if you don't know how to control your nutrient import and export.

From sunrise to sunset there's something always different going on with the lighting. Early morning you watch the fish come out of there little crevices to explore the Reef. Then is the sun starts to set you watch all the fish find their areas and they hover around them until the sun sets. It really is amazing to watch the tank throughout the day.

 

[jdpiii3]

Now I want a sunlight tank! That is so cool and was it cheaper than a reef light?

Yes the sunlight system was considerably less than running a full halide or LED setup. $1500.00 12 years ago and all I do to maintain them is polish the domes quarterly and clean the tubes about once a year.

 

[jdpiii3]

Very nice - happy anniversary! The counter/stools are a great idea.

Thanks I really like the bar around the tank as well, I eat just about every meal in front of the fish tank.

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

Yes the sunlight system was considerably less than running a full halide or LED setup. $1500.00 12 years ago and all I do to maintain them is polish the domes quarterly and clean the tubes about once a year.

What do you do when it’s cloudy out have a back up lift system?

 

[jdpiii3]

What do you do when it’s cloudy out have a back up lift system?

I don't do anything, Even on cloudy days I get decent par readings, the light is just more diffused.

 

[archercorals]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Wow just wow. So is acrylic holding up ok in the sun?

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

I don't do anything, Even on cloudy days I get decent par readings, the light is just more diffused.

Ahhh you live in Florida that would never work in Oregon most likely

 

[jdpiii3]

Ahhh you live in Florida that would never work in Oregon most likely

yeah, i do get quite a bit of sunny days, i have to filter the sunlight during the peak summer months.

 

[jdpiii3]

Wow just wow. So is acrylic holding up ok in the sun?

yes it's held up very well, no crazing at all. I did do a complete refinishing last year to clean up the years of scratching from cleaning and scraping coralline.

 

[19Mateo83]

That is an incredible tank and very cool that you could harness the natural light for your tank. The photo of your wife in the tank is awesome too, I’m sorry for your loss… you gotta know she’s proud of you for pushing through it to keep a little piece of her passion alive.

 

[k2-]

This is incredible - wow ! Just wow ! Wish I can see it in person !

 

[jdpiii3]

That is an incredible tank and very cool that you could harness the natural light for your tank. The photo of your wife in the tank is awesome too, I’m sorry for your loss… you gotta know she’s proud of you for pushing through it to keep a little piece of her passion alive.

Thanks so much. She really did enjoy the hobby as much as I do. I remember it like it was yesterday, waking up one Saturday morning, I greeted my beloved wife at the dining room table for coffee and I began my pitch. "I have an idea!" She looks at me with the "oh my God, here we go again" and says “okay… let's hear it..." I get up and walk to the entry wall and point and say, “I want to tear down this wall! Cut holes in the roof for sunlight to come in! Then build a 400 gallon fish tank that fills this whole wall!" She looks and is quiet for a moment. She asks one question, "Do you think you can build that?" I look back at her and say, “I know I can!” And her response (as we already know) was, "Let's do it!"

 

[jdpiii3]

This is incredible - wow ! Just wow ! Wish I can see it in person !

thanks so much, at times it blows my mind that I built it. I love seeing my friend reactions the first times they see it; it still puts a smile on my face. The neighbor kids always ask can we see Mr. Joe's fish tank again?

 

[AstroCoral]

Incredible tank but an even a more incredible story behind the tank. The use of natural Florida sunlight is peak awesomeness! Do you get any moonlight into the tank?