Welcome to my (near) Zero Maintenance Reef!

[crabgrass]

At what point did you stop doing water changes?

 

[VintageReefer]

At what point did you stop doing water changes?

About 30 months ago

 

[VintageReefer]

I cleaned the glass and couldn’t get a full tank shot that looked good so I took Left, center, right photos

 

[Reef Devils]

Hello there…I’m V.R. And I haven’t been without at least 2 reef tanks running at once in the last 23 years.

Some background on me…I have been keeping coral reefs for over 20 years. I was around when leds were new, and I love to see how far they have come. I was an original investor in both reefbreeders led’s and Santa Monica turf scrubbers when they both came out. I’ve had full sps dominant reefs and grown colonies from 1” frags to football size colonies. My mixed reef was a huge hit on that other forum many years ago. Basically. Been around the block..but always willing to learn.

Most people who quit have the same common issues

• it takes too much time
• it’s too complex / costly to maintain
• or they hit a disaster and are so devastated they can’t even imagine starting over.

I’ve been through all three and that’s how my tank evolved into what it is today.
My current display tank has got to be my favorite project since I started in this hobby, the zero maintenance reef! Let’s face it, life changes and eventually you don’t have the time you used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a awesome reef!
This particular tank has been running with coral living in it in one way or another for the past 10+ years. This is the original rock and sand. It’s gone through many stages, and some near total wipe outs. I’ve learned and adapted.

In its current stage haven’t performed a water change in 2 years. I don’t test regularly. I don’t chase numbers. I don’t dose. I don’t run a skimmer or any reactor. Im very careful and particular with what I add to the tank. I anticipate growth and would prefer to wait and grow out frags into large colonies. I monitor and maintain one parameter - salinity. I add fw top off with a few squirts of All For Reef about once a week. I empty my scrubber as needed. I added berghia nudi once when I had an aiptasia explosion, and now a year later I’m starting to get more again so I think I’ll do another round.

Most of these coral colonies started as single heads or were small frags that I grew out myself over the last 1-2 years. To me, the tank is a perfect blend of value vs time. I put very little effort into it, but I’m blown away by it every day.

So what does a nearly zero maintenance reef look like after 2 years…let me know what you think

Let me know if you want any more info on my equipment, corals, clean up crew, or lessons/setbacks along the way to get here. My biggest piece of advice is take your time - wait for the tank to be established, don’t rush, don’t make too many changes or additions at once, let things grow into place. And finally, only buy from trusted/reputable sources. Enjoy!

Welcome!

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m running low on room for corals so I plan to adjust my aqua scape. I intend to move the palythoa grandis colony forward, and backfill the space with live rock to give more attachment points for coral. I can predrill some holes in key spots so it’s ready to accept frag plugs

 

[VintageReefer]

Some new pics

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!!

 

[Rocktron1]

Stunning photos

What's your secret for taking photos like that?

 

[VintageReefer]

Stunning photos

What's your secret for taking photos like that?

I use a iPhone with a Reefing Art lens kit. I find I get the best results using my light blue, dark blue, and purple channels around 40%. Red, green, and whites are at 0%. I use the orange filter from the lens kit, clamp it on my iPhone and take a picture. It comes out like this with no extra steps needed.

Sometimes I turn off all flow in the tank for the torch pictures.

 

[Rocktron1]

Excellent. I'll look into an option for android phone

 

[VintageReefer]

Excellent. I'll look into an option for android phone

https://a.co/d/7m4iHVm

This is what I use. It’s worth it

 

[VintageReefer]

Updates and macros

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello and welcome to the group

 

[WalkerLoves_TheOcean]

Welcome to reef2reef! We are glad to have you here!

 

[Roatan Reef]

Hello there…I’m V.R. And I haven’t been without at least 2 reef tanks running at once in the last 23 years.

Some background on me…I have been keeping coral reefs for over 20 years. I was around when leds were new, and I love to see how far they have come. I was an original investor in both reefbreeders led’s and Santa Monica turf scrubbers when they both came out. I’ve had full sps dominant reefs and grown colonies from 1” frags to football size colonies. My mixed reef was a huge hit on that other forum many years ago. Basically. Been around the block..but always willing to learn.

Most people who quit have the same common issues

• it takes too much time
• it’s too complex / costly to maintain
• or they hit a disaster and are so devastated they can’t even imagine starting over.

I’ve been through all three and that’s how my tank evolved into what it is today.
My current display tank has got to be my favorite project since I started in this hobby, the zero maintenance reef! Let’s face it, life changes and eventually you don’t have the time you used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a awesome reef!
This particular tank has been running with coral living in it in one way or another for the past 10+ years. This is the original rock and sand. It’s gone through many stages, and some near total wipe outs. I’ve learned and adapted.

In its current stage haven’t performed a water change in 2 years. I don’t test regularly. I don’t chase numbers. I don’t dose. I don’t run a skimmer or any reactor. Im very careful and particular with what I add to the tank. I anticipate growth and would prefer to wait and grow out frags into large colonies. I monitor and maintain one parameter - salinity. I add fw top off with a few squirts of All For Reef about once a week. I empty my scrubber as needed. I added berghia nudi once when I had an aiptasia explosion, and now a year later I’m starting to get more again so I think I’ll do another round.

Most of these coral colonies started as single heads or were small frags that I grew out myself over the last 1-2 years. To me, the tank is a perfect blend of value vs time. I put very little effort into it, but I’m blown away by it every day.

So what does a nearly zero maintenance reef look like after 2 years…let me know what you think

Let me know if you want any more info on my equipment, corals, clean up crew, or lessons/setbacks along the way to get here. My biggest piece of advice is take your time - wait for the tank to be established, don’t rush, don’t make too many changes or additions at once, let things grow into place. And finally, only buy from trusted/reputable sources. Enjoy!

Outstanding tank! I'm sure we all want and would love to have a low maintenance tank like you have.

Following!

 

[VintageReefer]

Outstanding tank! I'm sure we all want and would love to have a low maintenance tank like you have.

Following!

Thank you! It’s getting full! I am thinking of starting another

 

[VintageReefer]

I also have this guy, it’s just a neon blob now. I need to invest probably a year of time and stability, but the outcome if it survives and grows as planned will be unbelievable.

Sample Parent colony and my frag attached

 

[Buckster]

Hello V.R. and welcome to R2R!

 

[mig.]

Cleaning the scrubber doesn’t really matter how often. usually once every 2-4 weeks I grab a handful of algae out and flush it. You leave some behind so it can grow without needing to reseed. I aim to take out 50-75% at a time

If I wait longer, I have more to take out. If I do it sooner, I have less to take out. Doesn’t really matter as long as growth doesn’t cover the leds on the lid

I’d love to try this method VintageReefer. Would you be willing to send me that next handful you throw ?

 

[VintageReefer]

I’d love to try this method VintageReefer. Would you be willing to send me that next handful you throw ?

I would gladly mail it to you, but I don’t think it would grow unless you have a scrubber. Mine grows underwater but my scrubber is an enclosed unit with red leds and air pumped into it. You can certainly try if you want. DM me and we can make arrangements