Michael White
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2019
- Messages
- 153
- Reaction score
- 173
Scenario:
I left reef keeping when I shut down my 270 gallon earlier this year after keeping heavily stocked reef tanks for 19 years in 4 different homes. I have a few challenges to rejoining Reef keeping, and would like ideas to work out if I want to return to the hobby.
Challenges:
1- My family members hate the blue cast from the Bright LED lighting, they get headaches from it - and I respect the issue.
2- I cannot do regular water changes
Explanation:
1: Self explanatory - the light has to be white enough to not cause a blue/purple cast when taking photos in the room, or any discernable blue cast to the eye while living day to day. Also would have to be completely enclosed in a hood to prevent any direct bright light to someone observing the tank.
2: Water Changes - I have a septic system. The past 5 years of reef keeping has salt poisoned some Pin Oak Trees in my yard. They look terrible. This is likely because of the high amount of clay in our soil in AL. I explored the idea of transporting the wastewater somewhere else, but it is impractical. Tank size is the contributor to this challenge, in that I like big tanks - 120 to 180gal being the smallest I'd want. I tried methods to reduce water changes but it made things so complicated that I no longer enjoyed the hobby.
My initial thoughts:
-Fully enclosed canopy with corals that have good color under white lighting
-much lower bioloading than is commonly kept in modern reefing
-only animals that can thrive on a dry pellet only diet
-roller mat, chaeto, and protein skimmer for export. Carbon in a reactor as needed.
-Only do basic testing
-Bare bottom
-NAS scape for easy access, drilled for pegged colony discs
-Pegged large grow out discs/plates for coral access and colony maintenance
-As few pumps as possible(reduced maintenance)
-ICP testing and follow the prescribed adjustments, no more playing chemistry wizard on my own.
-Use three part dosing
Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
I left reef keeping when I shut down my 270 gallon earlier this year after keeping heavily stocked reef tanks for 19 years in 4 different homes. I have a few challenges to rejoining Reef keeping, and would like ideas to work out if I want to return to the hobby.
Challenges:
1- My family members hate the blue cast from the Bright LED lighting, they get headaches from it - and I respect the issue.
2- I cannot do regular water changes
Explanation:
1: Self explanatory - the light has to be white enough to not cause a blue/purple cast when taking photos in the room, or any discernable blue cast to the eye while living day to day. Also would have to be completely enclosed in a hood to prevent any direct bright light to someone observing the tank.
2: Water Changes - I have a septic system. The past 5 years of reef keeping has salt poisoned some Pin Oak Trees in my yard. They look terrible. This is likely because of the high amount of clay in our soil in AL. I explored the idea of transporting the wastewater somewhere else, but it is impractical. Tank size is the contributor to this challenge, in that I like big tanks - 120 to 180gal being the smallest I'd want. I tried methods to reduce water changes but it made things so complicated that I no longer enjoyed the hobby.
My initial thoughts:
-Fully enclosed canopy with corals that have good color under white lighting
-much lower bioloading than is commonly kept in modern reefing
-only animals that can thrive on a dry pellet only diet
-roller mat, chaeto, and protein skimmer for export. Carbon in a reactor as needed.
-Only do basic testing
-Bare bottom
-NAS scape for easy access, drilled for pegged colony discs
-Pegged large grow out discs/plates for coral access and colony maintenance
-As few pumps as possible(reduced maintenance)
-ICP testing and follow the prescribed adjustments, no more playing chemistry wizard on my own.
-Use three part dosing
Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
