One thing you did that NOTICEABLY IMPROVED your reef tank?

[jhook]

The answer is yes for me!!! There are so many things I can tell you guys that have really helped my tank, the first and biggest thing I did for my reef tank that drastically improved everything was switching from a China black box light to a kessil Ap9x!!! It’s like night and day difference, I couldn’t imagine my reef tank without a good light now.

What lighting schedule are you using? I just got mine and am currently using the default TB one, but it’s really, really blue to me.

 

[chandavi]

The best thing I ever did was leave things alone and let my tank stabilize a bit.

 

[Sleepingtiger]

Let time take care of the tank. Basically i got busy with work and family. The tank flourished. LOL

 

[sphinx15]

Recognized I wasn't going to stay on top of testing and added a Trident.

 

[bruno3047]

We all want a better reef tank! We want it to look better, be healthier and grow faster. As reef keepers we sometimes make mistakes that deter us from that goal but other times we make a good move that improves our reef tank. Some of the things we do has also worked for others, while other things might not work as well. What was it for you? Let's talk about it today!

What was one thing you did that NOTICEABLY IMPROVED your reef tank?

TELL US ABOUT IT!

Image via our Reef Of The Month @Bacon505

Started thoroughly cleaning my substrate regularly.

 

[squirrelbaffler]

1. Removed my skimmer.
2. Bought two cheap plastic strainers from Walmart. Use the heavy loft poly for making pillows and quilts as a detritus filter.
3. dose diy NoPox (vodka and vinegar) 4 times a day
4. Added automatic feeder.
5. Bare bottom… removed all sand.

My reef is on Auto Pilot. Wasted so many years with water changes, water testing, etc. keep
It simple stupid.

 

[squirrelbaffler]

Best filter ever. Simple to replace filter media.

 

[DanTheReefer]

Waited for the 18 month long dry rock/ bare bottom cycle to pass. Had a deep sand bed with established live rock 15 years ago, was amazing from 2nd month. Got back into it 2 years ago, first 6-12 months were awful - all of the horror stories we always hear now. Past 6 months have been great - same routine, same equipment, same salt. Of course BRS changed course on the bare bottom / dry rock discussion right as my issues were resolving lol

 

[Arego]

Another one I thought of is cleaning your return. Anytime I see algae accumulating I clean my return pump. Odds are your pump has slowed down and you're not turning the water over enough.

I have literally had outbreaks, did this and they went away without a single reaction beyond cleaning the pump and return line itself. I do it every 2 months as part of routine. I swear by this assuming you don't have other issues you're dealing with.. it certainly can't hurt anything.

 

[McPuff]

Most recently... was adding back a refugium. Definitely went too long without and paid the price.

 

[NanoBoxes]

Just over a year now I have cut out adding aminos and other dosing additives besides 3-part and only add PNS ProBio purple non-sulphur bacteria product. My tank has had very noticeable changes for the better! I run barebottom and the amount of detritus on the bottom has decreased significantly, as well as in the back chambers of my AIO IM 40g the deep piles of collected detritus that I would normally need to siphon out every few months have literally disappeared, its gone, none back there, having been broken down by the bacteria. My corals are much happier as well and look full and well fed.

 

[Nachopapa]

Double checked my Apex salinity probe with a refracto and found it was out of whack. Got my salinity down to earth and things greatly improved

 

[NY_Sea]

ATO, Going bare bottom and dosing kalkwasser on a doser helped my reef a lot!

 

[Cool tangs]

Stopped testing as much and chasing numbers, along with more water changes instead of relying on dosing. Corals never looked better

 

[ColdWafflez]

Changing from decent dual Marine 3.0 lights to the top of the line XR15's made one of the biggest and fastest changes that I've seen in my tank so far. Results have been absolutely amazing in coral growth and I'm currently only at 20% power

 

[SilkySifaka]

I got an inkfish temp controller. It keeps the tank at a constant temp and sets an alarm if it falls outside of the set values. No more relying on cruddy heater thermostats. Peace of mind and stability

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I added some nitrate and phosphate! First time ever did that in over 30 years and wowww do the LPS love it.

What product are you using?

 

[Roli's Reef Ranch]

Tropic Marin hydrometer

 

[reefsaver]

Adding carbon was always so surprising. But I think I noticed a bigger difference after doubling the size of my aquarium system by adding a sump. Mainly I just try to apply what Than from Tidal Gardens practices hehe.

 

[ewoolpert]

Keeping things simple has helped me. Don’t overstock rock and coral, feed less often, let the tank be. Only been in the hobby a little over a year but the first 6-8 months I was doing way to much and too often. A tank needs to be allowed to run itself and it doesn’t help to chase things or always be adding or pulling stuff in and out.