My take on keeping a reef tank.

[atoll]

I try to run my tank as close as I can to how nature does not just filtration, feeding or lighting but by my choice of fish and how I keep them. I am known for my controversial views ( cue @Paul B ) and how I run my reef aquarium. Am not100% sure why as there can be little doubt mother nature knows best and certainly more than any expert that I know. BTW mother nature never QTd a fish in her life but I digress.

Anyway, that's not what I am here to talk about. What I like and believe is we should try and keep our fish as they are found on the reef. Not 100% possible I know for a variety of reasons, far to many to go into here but most will know anyway.

However, there are many things we can do to get as close as possible to mother natures ways after all she has had millions of years to perfect her ways and very successful she is at it. I have been lucky to duve and snorkel in the RedSea and observed fish close up. Observation is a good way to educate yourself.

Most of what I do with my reef I have been doing for around 40 years with a bit of tweaking here and there but basically the same. For instance, I found a simple way to culture pods outdoors in quantity. I reported my pod culture set up and how to on here quite some time ago now. If you want to know more your going to have to search for it, sorry.

One aspect I firmly believe in is keeping fish in groups or pairs as found in nature. I believe if fish are found on the reef in pairs then they are far happier kept that way, same with groups or shoals.

As an example I have a pair of common clowns in their anemone (clowns are never found on the reef without a hosting anemone) I have 4 fireball angels, pair of citron gobies, firefish, royal grammas and 7 blue damsels. I do have 2 fish I keep singular, a copperband and a mimic tang. These two are there to do a job. Keep aptasia at bay and mower any algae that might apppear. You won't see any of those in my tank, aptasia or undesirable algae not the fish. Actually, am not sure there is such a thing as undesirable algae but perhaps not in the DT hey.

I believe fish are not only happier but are healthier due to reduced stress and well being when.keptvas they are found on thevreef. Fish are also chosen with compatability in mind, they cost far to much to put fish that will eat or terrorise the existing tenants am sure you will agree.

My fish get fed food that they are most likely to find on the reef, again, or as close as possible. I feed live pods I culture, rotterfers, brine shrimp and the likes. No dry foods here. Most my fish live long trouble free lives and often spawn. I also feed frozen and fresh foods, live then frozen mussels are a favourite of a number of my fish.

This has been a very condensed version of how I keep my reef fish. I have been keeping my reef tanks this way for around 40 years and it's worked for me. I am not alone as I know others keep their reef tanks in a similar manner. Have I had problems? Yes of course but not disease wise. EG, I tried introducing another fireball dwarf angel to my exisiting 4, I should have known better but I didn't. I still make mistakes unfortunately but fortunately they rarely cause a major issue. May all your mistakes be little ones.

Many will disagree with me and my methods, thats fine, this is just one way and my way perfected over those 40 years. Am a lazy reefer, I admit it so don't like problems with my reef tank so I keep it quite simple, I like it that way and so do my fish it seems.

My pods culturing station, more interesting than my fish....maybe.

 

[Evil1]

My belief is whatever works for you! Always has been always will! Good for you and anyone who doubts your methodology I say too bad, so sad, bye bye!

 

[atoll]

My belief is whatever works for you! Always has been always will! Good for you and anyone who doubts your methodology I say too bad, so sad, bye bye!

Yep, I admit there is more ways to run a successful reef tank. However. I'm not fan of automation. My.lights ATU and thermostat are the only things I have automated on my tank. I of course have other equipment running.

 

[56longroof]

Yep, I admit there is more ways to run a successful reef tank. However. I'm not fan of automation. My.lights ATU and thermostat are the only things I have automated on my tank. I of course have other equipment running.

Im from the same school of thought. The only thing I do different is raising live food. I just dont have the time. I do have some white worms but but everything else.

 

[atoll]

Im from the same school of thought. The only thing I do different is raising live food. I just dont have the time. I do have some white worms but but everything else.

Believe me culturing pods outside couldn't be easier. Couple of plastic boxes, old seawater,small piece of banana skin, allow to go green, add some pods and leave them to multiply, what could be simpler.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Hey man, whatever works. My concentrations have been all about stocking utilitarian lifeforms as much as possible as well as maintaining compatability. I don't believe I'll ever put up a system that is perfect along those lines, but I'm all about the effort. Your methods seem solid and you obviously care about what and how you proceed with your ecosystem. Keep up the great work!

 

[atoll]

Hey man, whatever works. My concentrations have been all about stocking utilitarian lifeforms as much as possible as well as maintaining compatability. I don't believe I'll ever put up a system that is perfect along those lines, but I'm all about the effort. Your methods seem solid and you obviously care about what and how you proceed with your ecosystem. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, appreciate it.
A reef tank can be both utilitarian and attractive with a bit of thought. I have to admit am no fan of the minimalistic approach to building the reefscape.
I believe lots of rock and things like empty barnacle shells can be both practical and attractive in the reef tank.
Barnacle shells are light, have little in the way of water displacement, are both great hiding place and a nest site for many small fish.

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

Im from the same school of thought. The only thing I do different is raising live food. I just dont have the time. I do have some white worms but but everything else.

Believe me culturing pods outside couldn't be easier. Couple of plastic boxes, old seawater,small piece of banana skin, allow to go green, add some pods and leave them to multiply, what could be simpler.

I tried your method and got none of the above. Water turned brown, no algae or phyto growth, copepods died. Maybe because it gets close to 100°F here for weeks at a time (I gather you’re in the UK?). Anyway, not dissing your method, just saying it’s not *always* that simple. ;)

 

[56longroof]

Believe me culturing pods outside couldn't be easier. Couple of plastic boxes, old seawater,small piece of banana skin, allow to go green, add some pods and leave them to multiply, what could be simpler.

It gets pretty warm here in the summer. It might work from May to July but I'd imagine they would bake after that.

 

[atoll]

Seems most people or at least those classed as experienced reefers run a lot of tech on their reef tanks. I admit it kind of frightens me. I am old school of course with 45 years in the hobby so perhaps no surprise there.

I like to be hands on and have little in the way of automation, lights, wavemakers and an ATU. I am not knocking the Tech guys on here, I can see the advantages but I can also see the negatives, cost being one failure being another.

Yes I know failure can work with both systems. I guess as always whatever works for you and esp your animals.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I try to run my tank as close as I can to how nature does not just filtration, feeding or lighting but by my choice of fish and how I keep them. I am known for my controversial views ( cue @Paul B ) and how I run my reef aquarium. Am not100% sure why as there can be little doubt mother nature knows best and certainly more than any expert that I know. BTW mother nature never QTd a fish in her life but I digress.

Anyway, that's not what I am here to talk about. What I like and believe is we should try and keep our fish as they are found on the reef. Not 100% possible I know for a variety of reasons, far to many to go into here but most will know anyway.

However, there are many things we can do to get as close as possible to mother natures ways after all she has had millions of years to perfect her ways and very successful she is at it. I have been lucky to duve and snorkel in the RedSea and observed fish close up. Observation is a good way to educate yourself.

Most of what I do with my reef I have been doing for around 40 years with a bit of tweaking here and there but basically the same. For instance, I found a simple way to culture pods outdoors in quantity. I reported my pod culture set up and how to on here quite some time ago now. If you want to know more your going to have to search for it, sorry.

One aspect I firmly believe in is keeping fish in groups or pairs as found in nature. I believe if fish are found on the reef in pairs then they are far happier kept that way, same with groups or shoals.

As an example I have a pair of common clowns in their anemone (clowns are never found on the reef without a hosting anemone) I have 4 fireball angels, pair of citron gobies, firefish, royal grammas and 7 blue damsels. I do have 2 fish I keep singular, a copperband and a mimic tang. These two are there to do a job. Keep aptasia at bay and mower any algae that might apppear. You won't see any of those in my tank, aptasia or undesirable algae not the fish. Actually, am not sure there is such a thing as undesirable algae but perhaps not in the DT hey.

I believe fish are not only happier but are healthier due to reduced stress and well being when.keptvas they are found on thevreef. Fish are also chosen with compatability in mind, they cost far to much to put fish that will eat or terrorise the existing tenants am sure you will agree.

My fish get fed food that they are most likely to find on the reef, again, or as close as possible. I feed live pods I culture, rotterfers, brine shrimp and the likes. No dry foods here. Most my fish live long trouble free lives and often spawn. I also feed frozen and fresh foods, live then frozen mussels are a favourite of a number of my fish.

This has been a very condensed version of how I keep my reef fish. I have been keeping my reef tanks this way for around 40 years and it's worked for me. I am not alone as I know others keep their reef tanks in a similar manner. Have I had problems? Yes of course but not disease wise. EG, I tried introducing another fireball dwarf angel to my exisiting 4, I should have known better but I didn't. I still make mistakes unfortunately but fortunately they rarely cause a major issue. May all your mistakes be little ones.

Many will disagree with me and my methods, thats fine, this is just one way and my way perfected over those 40 years. Am a lazy reefer, I admit it so don't like problems with my reef tank so I keep it quite simple, I like it that way and so do my fish it seems.

My pods culturing station, more interesting than my fish....maybe.

awesome... people can disagree with your methods, but 40 years of reefing speaks for itself. You should write some articles if you havent already.

 

[jimk60]

Great write up! I believe that too much automation leads to too little hands on and more problems than it's worth. ATO, temp controller, and lighting timer is all I use.

 

[atoll]

awesome... people can disagree with your methods, but 40 years of reefing speaks for itself. You should write some articles if you havent already.

Thanks, I wrote many in the past. Some for Practical fishkeeping many for the long gone B.M.A.A. The British Marine Aquarists Association. That was before or in the early days of the interweb.

I just write or reply to people now as and when. If people have questions I will reply. However, I am finding it more and more having to defend my ways from those who poo poo my methods.

Paul B on here gets similar. Sometimes we defy the science of the day but what science says today can change tomorrow.
I let my results speak for themselves.

Latest tank video.

 

[Subsea]

Thanks, I wrote many in the past. Some for Practical fishkeeping many for the long gone B.M.A.A. The British Marine Aquarists Association. That was before or in the early days of the interweb.

I just write or reply to people now as and when. If people have questions I will reply. However, I am finding it more and more having to defend my ways from those who poo poo my methods.

Paul B on here gets similar. Sometimes we defy the science of the day but what science says today can change tomorrow.
I let my results speak for themselves.

Latest tank video.

Beautiful! Nice video. Tank speaks for itself.

 

[atoll]

awesome... people can disagree with your methods, but 40 years of reefing speaks for itself. You should write some articles if you havent already.

Actualy 45 years. The first 5 years were a learning curve. That was before I took a step back and re evaluated how I was keeping my fish.

Played Russian roulette people said with my fish and to a certain extent that was true. However, I soon proved the gloom and doom boys wrong. The black plague and many more diseases didn't materialise.
I had the usual outbreak of itch during those first 5 years. Few people QTd back then and medications were very limited to copper and little else.
Now I simply do what I do but still tweak and try the odd thing mostly with my kit than my DT.

 

[Subsea]

Seems most people or at least those classed as experienced reefers run a lot of tech on their reef tanks. I admit it kind of frightens me. I am old school of course with 45 years in the hobby so perhaps no surprise there.

I like to be hands on and have little in the way of automation, lights, wavemakers and an ATU. I am not knocking the Tech guys on here, I can see the advantages but I can also see the negatives, cost being one failure being another.

Yes I know failure can work with both systems. I guess as always whatever works for you and esp your animals.

Atoll,
As an instrument technician & subsea engineer for 30 years in deep water offshore drilling, I cautioned design engineers to not overcomplicate our control systems. Additional hardware means more failure points and when you are drilling in 10K’ of water, you don’t want a failure point on the bottom.

 

[atoll]

Atoll,
As an instrument technician & subsea engineer for 30 years in deep water offshore drilling, I cautioned design engineers to not overcomplicate our control systems. Additional hardware means more failure points and when you are drilling in 10K’ of water, you don’t want a failure point on the bottom.

Which is what I have maintained more or less for quite some years. More tech more failure points. Over complication of simple process. I get the "well I work away all week" issue.
I regularly read about some tech or failing and over dosing or switching things off or on that shouldn't be. Again there is much money to be made in the latest tech to have many of which is a want not a need IMO.