180 L Reef
Switzerland
Introduction
This will be my proof of concept. First, I want to see how much work the saltwater aquarium really is in comparison to the fresh water. I also want to use this to proof to my family that a salt water aquarium is a big addition to our family and looks stunning.
The plan is to keep this aquarium very simple and not over populate. Keep it easy to deal with so that I can learn and enjoy at the same time.
The plan is to keep this aquarium very simple and not over populate. Keep it easy to deal with so that I can learn and enjoy at the same time.
Background
The aquarium was a long time in the planning. I started almost 2 years ago when I finally got a fresh water aquarium. Although, a salt water aquarium was always my dream.
First, the plan was to start off with a big aquarium in the living room as I wanted to do the investments only once (2 m*0.7 m). However, the sheer volume of water for that project gave me some second thoughts and I re-evaluated.
So finally I came up with doing a "proof of concept" run in a slightly smaller and more manageable project. I looked for some second hand aquariums around 200 liters and found the JUWEL Vision 180 (180 liters; 0.92 m * 0.40/0.5 m). The plan is once we decide to go for a bigger tank, we will continue using this one as a hospital tank.
The plan is to have a Reef aquarium with anemone fish to begin with. As an anemone will not be feasible to begin with, I am thinking about having some soft corals that will be compatible with the clown fish I choose. Of course, I plan to also have a clean up crew, something I am actually more excited about than the fish themselves.
For the reef, I am not entirely sure if I should go for dry stone (Switzerland, living stone is really expensive) or for ceramic reef as I don't really want to add to the issue of killing the reefs further.
For substrate, I was swaying between bare bottom and shallow sand bed. However, recent articles I read pushed me towards a shallow sand bed. It seems to help in balancing the pH and give additional filter abilities. Something that will be especially useful when considering that I might not have any living stone in the setup. The corning will be something between 1 - 2 mm.
First, the plan was to start off with a big aquarium in the living room as I wanted to do the investments only once (2 m*0.7 m). However, the sheer volume of water for that project gave me some second thoughts and I re-evaluated.
So finally I came up with doing a "proof of concept" run in a slightly smaller and more manageable project. I looked for some second hand aquariums around 200 liters and found the JUWEL Vision 180 (180 liters; 0.92 m * 0.40/0.5 m). The plan is once we decide to go for a bigger tank, we will continue using this one as a hospital tank.
The plan is to have a Reef aquarium with anemone fish to begin with. As an anemone will not be feasible to begin with, I am thinking about having some soft corals that will be compatible with the clown fish I choose. Of course, I plan to also have a clean up crew, something I am actually more excited about than the fish themselves.
For the reef, I am not entirely sure if I should go for dry stone (Switzerland, living stone is really expensive) or for ceramic reef as I don't really want to add to the issue of killing the reefs further.
For substrate, I was swaying between bare bottom and shallow sand bed. However, recent articles I read pushed me towards a shallow sand bed. It seems to help in balancing the pH and give additional filter abilities. Something that will be especially useful when considering that I might not have any living stone in the setup. The corning will be something between 1 - 2 mm.
Videos See all Videos
Filtration
There is a built in internal filter for the JUWEL Vision 180. I plan to go with that and add some active coal to it probably.
I do not plan to have additional sumps or hang on filters. Most of the removal of unwanted chemicals should happen over weekly water changes.
I do not plan to have additional sumps or hang on filters. Most of the removal of unwanted chemicals should happen over weekly water changes.
Lighting
For lighting, I will keep it simple. Currently, there are 2 35 W T5 bulbs. I will continue using those and add an additional 2 T5 and add some reflectors. I hope this will not get too warm! I don't really want to invest any more than this in lighting before I don't know that I will continue with the hobby.
Flow
Currently, I plan to use just the internal filter (Eccoflow 600) and a Maxspect Gyre XF130. It seems a fancy new technique and I wanted to give it a go.
Salinity
Temperature
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Calcium
Nitrate
Alkalinity
pH
Phosphate
Iodine
Silicate
Ammonia
To begin with, a clean up crew is planned.
Once the tank is fully cycled, I want to introduce a pair of clown fish (not sure which ones yet, but they should stay small as it is only a 180 liter tank).
Once the tank is fully cycled, I want to introduce a pair of clown fish (not sure which ones yet, but they should stay small as it is only a 180 liter tank).
9 Coral
33 Invertebrate
Equipment
Additive
Fauna Marin Balling® Salz - Calcium-Mix 1KG ( BIOPOLYMER )
Aquarium
Juwel VISION 180
SEMRO WOHA basic Aquarium
Cleaning
Controller
Dosing
ATI Auto Dosing Pump DP-6
Food
Aqua Light Mischflocken
BCUK Aquatics SEA VEG
FISHPOPS Marine-mix sticks
FrozenFood Fish eggs
Microbe-Lift Garlic Enhance
tetraCrusta Menu
Filter
Eccoflow 600
HOB Filter
sera L60 internal filter
Heater
Aqua Heat 200
JUWEL 200 Watt
Lighting
35W JBL Oceanblue T5
Mondlicht LED
Media
Fauna Marin Balling® Salz - Magnesiumchlorid-Mix 1KG ( BIOPOLYMER )
16
Tetra FreshDelica Brine Shrimp
Powerhead
Pump
Juwel ECCOFLOW 600
Reactor
Refractometer
Vertex ATC Refractometer
RODI
TUNZE RO TDS Monitor 8533
Vertex Puratek 100 GPD RODI
TestKit
Gilbers REEF Analytics Calcium
Gilbers REEF Analytics Magnesium
Hanna Calibration solution for alkalinity checker
Thermometer
2
HOBBY Präzisions-Thermometer SB
Other
Dennerle Nano Marinus Reef Shells
4
Easy-Life Pipette
Feeding Pipette
Gardena 1169-20 Bewässerungsuhr
Hanna Nitrite Checker
Juwel automatic feeder
TDS MEssgerät AQUAPRO
Vertex Filtersock Nylon 110
Dosing See more
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2 ml
Fauna Marin Balling® Salz - Calcium-Mix 1KG ( BIOPOLYMER )
2 ml every 24 hours
21 ml
Fauna Marin Ultra Balling Kh
1.1 ml every 1.2 hours
Feeding See more
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Maintenance will mainly be hard labor ;) No automatic water top off, no calcium reactors (replenish anything by water changes, although I do not expect it to use much as I do not plan to have anything but the easiest to keep stony eventually in this system). Obviously, I will have a heater automatically keeping the water temperature but all the other values will be observed using drop tests.
On average you perform a 12% water change every 41 days.
0% total water change in 2024-11-28T06:37:58.453581Z[GMT].
Inspiration & Goals
My inspiration at the moment is really mother nature. I love diving and it always was a dream to bring a piece of this peacefulness back home in form of an aquarium. Obviously, we cannot copy mother nature completely, but I want to try to develop a system that is colorful and aesthetically pleasing without becoming too full. The goal clearly is not to cram as much life into a box as possible but to develop a system that is calming and beautiful.