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Hello everyone! We wanted to spotlight one of our members, @MegabiteOG, and his 180g tank! Orly has been in this hobby for 20 years, but just recently started this tank after having to shut his previous tank down in 2010. If you want to learn more about this tank and follow more of @MegabiteOG's incredible progress, be sure to check out his build thread HERE
To start, can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Orly. I’m married and the father of three grown kids. I also have three beautiful grandchildren. We’ve moved around a bit, but I grew up in Miami, and my family also had a place in the Florida Keys. My dad always had a boat, so I grew up fishing and diving all over South Florida and the Keys and loving everything about it. I’m also a very hands-on person, so a reef tank is great for me because I love fiddling with things.
Lobstering in the Keys.
How did you get into the hobby:
When I moved to Orlando and away from being in the ocean all the time, I really missed it. I happened to go by an LFS that had saltwater fish and some corals, and the rest was history. I picked up my first tank the following week, along with some live sand and rock. In the 47 years of living in Orlando, before moving again for work, I went through 7 or 8 tanks, usually running 3 at a time. It quickly became an addiction.
What do you love about the hobby:
I love the beauty of it and the work it requires to be successful. It’s very fulfilling to have a reef tank full of life, thriving and healthy. The other thing I REALLY like about the hobby is this tight-knit community. I enjoy being on R2R, sharing, learning, and having fun with new friends. I’m on here all the time, whether it’s posting about whatever I’m doing or cruising the latest posts by others to either learn or offer up help if I can.
Talk to us about planning your tank: What did you want in it, what kind of equipment, that sort of thing.
I really didn’t plan to have another tank at all, but my wife convinced me to get one for my birthday last year. I picked up an RS170 as I wasn’t sure how into it I would be again, so I figured I’d start small. Wife said, “You’re going to get bored with it in no time, just go BIG now”. See, she’s much smarter than I am. Loved the tank and was back into reefing like an addict. Of course, she was right, and I bought a bigger used RS350 to run next to the 170. Then I bought a new RS425 because I wanted more width than the 350. The WHOLE time, my wife continued to tell me that I was wasting money as I was going to end up getting a bigger tank anyway. Of course, she was right, and now we have the WaterBox 230.6.
At the end of the day, what I wanted was a big enough tank to have some tangs, other fish, and plenty of room for corals. A mixed reef is what I like, but geared towards SPS. Also, live rock and sand were a must. As for equipment, there wasn’t much pre-planning, but I wanted quality and equipment that would cut down on maintenance time to an extent, a controller to monitor things remotely, and some automation was important as I was traveling a lot.
The automation I did was simple, consisting of an auto water changer via Neptune QD, a 4-head Red Sea doser for my 3-part, and a Neptune Trident. This equipment wasn’t only to cut down on some maintenance time, but more importantly, to help keep my parameters stable. For example, if my alkalinity consumption was rising via Trident readings, I can simply up the alkalinity dosing via the Red Sea app from anywhere. With this equipment, my parameters have been rock solid, along with cutting down maintenance time.
You've had a tank before your current one. What happened to that one?
Yes, I had reef tanks from about 2006 to 2010 in Orlando, FL. Had to give it up to moving out of state, and sold all the livestock and the tank to Victor at WWC. He and his team came over to pick it up. Many of the corals in there were from his shop anyway.
Some of me previous tanks
Was it harder than you thought to start a reef tank?
Not at all, as I knew what to expect, for the most part, and having this R2R community to refresh my memory on how to do things again, and learning new things along the way. But when I started my first reef tank years ago, I was completely new at it and had no idea what I was doing. I was at the mercy of the LFS I bought my tank from for all my guidance. Although the info provided wasn’t all bad, it was truly limited. I went through all of the issues and problems most new reefers go through. It only started getting better once I started reading books on reef keeping and joined a forum, much like R2R back then, to learn from other reefers and ask questions. Ultimately, I ended up with some beautiful and healthy tanks, solidifying my love for the hobby. Because I learned so much from the first time around, this time was much easier with less stress, and I have had a healthy and beautiful tank with minimal issues from the get-go.
Talk to us about your dosing routine for your tank. What are you doing, the frequency, etc.?
It’s pretty straightforward. I’ve been pharma balling from the start with soda ash, calcium chloride, and Tropic Marin part C with added Tropic Marin A and K elements. I recently switched from soda ash to sodium hydroxide for the pH boost. This Works great. I also dose some vodka to help with the nitrates. Another important thing to note (it’s not really dosing) is that I do daily AWC.
My current daily dosing is:
ALK – 190ml (demand keeps growing with the pH boost)
CAL – 165ml
Part C – 155ml
Vodka – 6.5ml
AWC – 2.43 gallons a day (10% volume per week)
Some of your close-up photos really stand out! Tell us about how you take photos of your tank.
I use both a DSLR and my iPhone. My best photos are usually with the DSLR, although you can take some pretty nice shots with a phone as well. Setup is the most important. Clean glass and clear water. If your equipment can shoot RAW format, use it. I also avoid most auto settings and use manual with a lens filter. What helps the most to get a great picture is having a great lens. I shoot most shots with a Canon 100mm 2.8 macro L series lens on my old Canon 7D body. The other trick is having a good program to process those photos. I use Lightroom, and it’s awesome for cleaning things up and color correction. Lastly, take a LOT of pictures because most of them just don’t look that great. My goal when taking pictures is to capture what I see and never enhance or morph colors. It doesn't always work out, but as a complete amateur, I’m getting better at it.
You have some amazing corals in there. Tell us about some of your favorites.
I really love almost all corals, but my favorites are the acros and torches. I love the torches for the colors and the movement they provide in the tank. It’s mesmerizing to sit there and watch them flow back and forth. As for acros, there are so many types, structures, and colors that it’s mind-blowing. I love the challenge they can be, and watching them grow when you get things right. My favorites are any of them that are fuzzy or colorful and grow well.
Do you have any funny or memorable stories from the build?
Not really. The whole setting-up thing is my favorite part. One thing that was kind of funny is when I was setting up the 180, and getting ready to transfer the livestock from the 120, my wife said, “Well, see you in a couple of days, as I know you will not stop until you’re done”. She was right. I worked on it all day and through the entire night until about 11 AM the following morning with no sleep.
What do your family and friends think about the tank?
My family loves the tank. Every day I grab my 7 month old granddaughter and say, “Where’s Dori” and she instantly turns her head towards the tank. We then stand by it, watching the fish move around as I explain what's in there. Start them early, right? But my #1 supporter and fan is my wife. She’s always encouraging me to do more and participates in just about everything I do with the tank.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced with your tank?
Besides buying too many smaller tanks at the beginning, I stopped buying corals and fish until I got this one, and let the tank mature. I’m not a very patient person, and waiting kills me. So, I spend my time tweaking, organizing, taking pictures, printing 3D stuff for the tank, and sharing on R2R as the tank grows and matures. I’ve been fortunate so far with this tank and haven’t had any major issues to report.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of having a reef tank?
Caring for the livestock as they grow. When I look in my tank and see that my fish and coral are healthy and happy, it is very satisfying. The other thing that is very rewarding is being on this reefing adventure with this group on R2R. Every day I look forward to what’s going on here along with sharing my latest pic or what I’m doing to the tank.
Do you have any regrets about your tank?
No, none at all. I love just about everything about it. The only thing I wish is that it could be a little cheaper.
What's one bit of reef-keeping wisdom you would like to share with the community?
Stay on top of your tank! Create routines to maintain your tank with the goal of keeping its inhabitants healthy and looking beautiful. IMO, the less attractive your tank looks, the less likely you’re going to do the tasks required to keep a healthy ecosystem. Ask questions if you don’t know what’s going on.
Are there any other questions you wish I had asked?
Yes. Is a Yellow Wrasse and a Coris Wrasse the same thing? The answer is no. Many here on R2R will get it. LOL!
Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
Thank you all for this great platform for us to be on, and to the many friends I’ve made here in the last year. Happy reefing!
To start, can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Orly. I’m married and the father of three grown kids. I also have three beautiful grandchildren. We’ve moved around a bit, but I grew up in Miami, and my family also had a place in the Florida Keys. My dad always had a boat, so I grew up fishing and diving all over South Florida and the Keys and loving everything about it. I’m also a very hands-on person, so a reef tank is great for me because I love fiddling with things.
Lobstering in the Keys.
When I moved to Orlando and away from being in the ocean all the time, I really missed it. I happened to go by an LFS that had saltwater fish and some corals, and the rest was history. I picked up my first tank the following week, along with some live sand and rock. In the 47 years of living in Orlando, before moving again for work, I went through 7 or 8 tanks, usually running 3 at a time. It quickly became an addiction.
What do you love about the hobby:
I love the beauty of it and the work it requires to be successful. It’s very fulfilling to have a reef tank full of life, thriving and healthy. The other thing I REALLY like about the hobby is this tight-knit community. I enjoy being on R2R, sharing, learning, and having fun with new friends. I’m on here all the time, whether it’s posting about whatever I’m doing or cruising the latest posts by others to either learn or offer up help if I can.
Talk to us about planning your tank: What did you want in it, what kind of equipment, that sort of thing.
I really didn’t plan to have another tank at all, but my wife convinced me to get one for my birthday last year. I picked up an RS170 as I wasn’t sure how into it I would be again, so I figured I’d start small. Wife said, “You’re going to get bored with it in no time, just go BIG now”. See, she’s much smarter than I am. Loved the tank and was back into reefing like an addict. Of course, she was right, and I bought a bigger used RS350 to run next to the 170. Then I bought a new RS425 because I wanted more width than the 350. The WHOLE time, my wife continued to tell me that I was wasting money as I was going to end up getting a bigger tank anyway. Of course, she was right, and now we have the WaterBox 230.6.
At the end of the day, what I wanted was a big enough tank to have some tangs, other fish, and plenty of room for corals. A mixed reef is what I like, but geared towards SPS. Also, live rock and sand were a must. As for equipment, there wasn’t much pre-planning, but I wanted quality and equipment that would cut down on maintenance time to an extent, a controller to monitor things remotely, and some automation was important as I was traveling a lot.
The automation I did was simple, consisting of an auto water changer via Neptune QD, a 4-head Red Sea doser for my 3-part, and a Neptune Trident. This equipment wasn’t only to cut down on some maintenance time, but more importantly, to help keep my parameters stable. For example, if my alkalinity consumption was rising via Trident readings, I can simply up the alkalinity dosing via the Red Sea app from anywhere. With this equipment, my parameters have been rock solid, along with cutting down maintenance time.
You've had a tank before your current one. What happened to that one?
Yes, I had reef tanks from about 2006 to 2010 in Orlando, FL. Had to give it up to moving out of state, and sold all the livestock and the tank to Victor at WWC. He and his team came over to pick it up. Many of the corals in there were from his shop anyway.
Some of me previous tanks
Was it harder than you thought to start a reef tank?
Not at all, as I knew what to expect, for the most part, and having this R2R community to refresh my memory on how to do things again, and learning new things along the way. But when I started my first reef tank years ago, I was completely new at it and had no idea what I was doing. I was at the mercy of the LFS I bought my tank from for all my guidance. Although the info provided wasn’t all bad, it was truly limited. I went through all of the issues and problems most new reefers go through. It only started getting better once I started reading books on reef keeping and joined a forum, much like R2R back then, to learn from other reefers and ask questions. Ultimately, I ended up with some beautiful and healthy tanks, solidifying my love for the hobby. Because I learned so much from the first time around, this time was much easier with less stress, and I have had a healthy and beautiful tank with minimal issues from the get-go.
Talk to us about your dosing routine for your tank. What are you doing, the frequency, etc.?
It’s pretty straightforward. I’ve been pharma balling from the start with soda ash, calcium chloride, and Tropic Marin part C with added Tropic Marin A and K elements. I recently switched from soda ash to sodium hydroxide for the pH boost. This Works great. I also dose some vodka to help with the nitrates. Another important thing to note (it’s not really dosing) is that I do daily AWC.
My current daily dosing is:
ALK – 190ml (demand keeps growing with the pH boost)
CAL – 165ml
Part C – 155ml
Vodka – 6.5ml
AWC – 2.43 gallons a day (10% volume per week)
Some of your close-up photos really stand out! Tell us about how you take photos of your tank.
I use both a DSLR and my iPhone. My best photos are usually with the DSLR, although you can take some pretty nice shots with a phone as well. Setup is the most important. Clean glass and clear water. If your equipment can shoot RAW format, use it. I also avoid most auto settings and use manual with a lens filter. What helps the most to get a great picture is having a great lens. I shoot most shots with a Canon 100mm 2.8 macro L series lens on my old Canon 7D body. The other trick is having a good program to process those photos. I use Lightroom, and it’s awesome for cleaning things up and color correction. Lastly, take a LOT of pictures because most of them just don’t look that great. My goal when taking pictures is to capture what I see and never enhance or morph colors. It doesn't always work out, but as a complete amateur, I’m getting better at it.
You have some amazing corals in there. Tell us about some of your favorites.
I really love almost all corals, but my favorites are the acros and torches. I love the torches for the colors and the movement they provide in the tank. It’s mesmerizing to sit there and watch them flow back and forth. As for acros, there are so many types, structures, and colors that it’s mind-blowing. I love the challenge they can be, and watching them grow when you get things right. My favorites are any of them that are fuzzy or colorful and grow well.
Do you have any funny or memorable stories from the build?
Not really. The whole setting-up thing is my favorite part. One thing that was kind of funny is when I was setting up the 180, and getting ready to transfer the livestock from the 120, my wife said, “Well, see you in a couple of days, as I know you will not stop until you’re done”. She was right. I worked on it all day and through the entire night until about 11 AM the following morning with no sleep.
What do your family and friends think about the tank?
My family loves the tank. Every day I grab my 7 month old granddaughter and say, “Where’s Dori” and she instantly turns her head towards the tank. We then stand by it, watching the fish move around as I explain what's in there. Start them early, right? But my #1 supporter and fan is my wife. She’s always encouraging me to do more and participates in just about everything I do with the tank.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced with your tank?
Besides buying too many smaller tanks at the beginning, I stopped buying corals and fish until I got this one, and let the tank mature. I’m not a very patient person, and waiting kills me. So, I spend my time tweaking, organizing, taking pictures, printing 3D stuff for the tank, and sharing on R2R as the tank grows and matures. I’ve been fortunate so far with this tank and haven’t had any major issues to report.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of having a reef tank?
Caring for the livestock as they grow. When I look in my tank and see that my fish and coral are healthy and happy, it is very satisfying. The other thing that is very rewarding is being on this reefing adventure with this group on R2R. Every day I look forward to what’s going on here along with sharing my latest pic or what I’m doing to the tank.
Do you have any regrets about your tank?
No, none at all. I love just about everything about it. The only thing I wish is that it could be a little cheaper.
What's one bit of reef-keeping wisdom you would like to share with the community?
Stay on top of your tank! Create routines to maintain your tank with the goal of keeping its inhabitants healthy and looking beautiful. IMO, the less attractive your tank looks, the less likely you’re going to do the tasks required to keep a healthy ecosystem. Ask questions if you don’t know what’s going on.
Are there any other questions you wish I had asked?
Yes. Is a Yellow Wrasse and a Coris Wrasse the same thing? The answer is no. Many here on R2R will get it. LOL!
Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
Thank you all for this great platform for us to be on, and to the many friends I’ve made here in the last year. Happy reefing!
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