Over the past two years I’ve assembled the various components of this system. This past march I finally had it running… I’m working out some kinks but I’m almost ready to start adding corals. The goal is for a mixed reef.
Aquarium Profile and Equipment
- What type of saltwater aquarium is this?
- Mixed Reef
- Total Water Volume
- 100
- When did you start this tank?
- Mar 21, 2025
- What is your aquarium made of?
- Glass
- Aquarium Length (inches)
- 36
- Aquarium Width (inches)
- 24
- Aquarium Height (inches)
- 20
- Aquarium Overflow/Drain
- External Overflow
- Aquarium Sump
- YES
- Sump Water Volume
- 29
- Aquarium Stand
- ABS aluminum from Innovative Marine
- Aquarium Controller
- YES
- Aquarium Controller Make and Model
- Apex A3
- Protein Skimmer
- YES
- Protein Skimmer Make and Model
- LifeReef VS24
- Aquarium Reactors
- None
- Return Pump
- Simplicity 1600
- What types of equipment are you using for water flow and circulation?
- Powerhead
- Surge Device
- Water Flow and Circulation Equipment List
- Hyger gyre and AI Nero 5
- Aquarium Lighting
- LED
- Lighting Equipment List
- 4 -36” quanta helix combo
- Lighting PAR and Goals
- 300 top , 100 bottom
- Dosing Equipment
- Calcium
- Alkalinity
- Magnesium
- Dosing Equipment Detail
- Red Sea 4 part is the plan… but I’m ready for ICP if needed
- Auto Top Off or ATO
- YES
- Aquarium Heating and Cooling
- I am using a heater or heaters
- Water Temperature
- 76
- Heating and Cooling Equipment Detail
- Controlled via apex
Aquarium Water Chemistry and Parameters
- pH Level
- 7.8
- Specific Gravity
- 1.025
- Nitrate or NO3
- 50
- Phosphate or PO4
- 0.55
- Calcium
- 450
- Alkalinity
- 8.1
- Magnesium
- 1180
- Salt Brand
- Reef crystals
- Trace Element Dosing
- Red Sea 4 part- not using it yet though
- Water Chemistry Detail
- My pH sux. Using an external air pump and bringing air into skimmer from the outside … yes I drilled a hole in my wall…
Aquarium Natural and Mechanical Filtration
- Substrate
- Sand
- Substrate Level
- Shallow
- Live Rock
- 80
- Live Rock Type
- Marco live rock from old tank , most in cryptic refugium
- Nutrient Export
- Refugium
- Protein Skimmer
- Water Changes
- YES
- Water Change Details
- 1 gallon per day via Apex Neptune DOS
- Nutrient Export Details
- Water changes , eventual coral, and biological from rocks and substrate
Aquarium Tank Inhabitants (fish, coral, invert etc.)
- Fish List
- Chromis
- Hawkfish
- Wrasse
- Total Fish
- 5
- Coral List
- Other
- Total Corals
- 0
- Invert List
- Anemone
- Crabs
- Starfish
- Snails
- Urchin
- Total Inverts
- 20
- Livestock Quarantine
- No Quarantine
Aquarium Nutrition (fish, coral, invert etc. feeding)
- Fish Feeding Frequency
- One Daily Feeding
- Coral Feeding Frequency
- One Daily Feeding
- Fish and Coral Feeding
- Flake
- Pellet
- Frozen
- Auto Feeder
- NO
Additional Aquarium Information
- What do you think are the keys to your success in reefing?
- It’s not successful yet… still a work in progress
