01 - Main Reef
DFW TX
Main reef display tank
Background
this is my main reef tank. I have been keeping fish for over 20 years, and enjoy the hobby quite a bit. I have always wanted to have a dedicated fish room with a reef tank built in from the ground up, and this is it.
I spent roughly a year planning, designing it, and collecting materials for this one. Almost all aspects of this build are DIY, as I feel I have a better understanding and pride in the equipment if I build it myself. this allows me to wrap most of my diverse hobbies and interests into one large project.
Unfortunately i really enjoy the fish and corals, so i tend to get distracted from other aspects of the project. I will get around to finishing the rest one day...
I spent roughly a year planning, designing it, and collecting materials for this one. Almost all aspects of this build are DIY, as I feel I have a better understanding and pride in the equipment if I build it myself. this allows me to wrap most of my diverse hobbies and interests into one large project.
Unfortunately i really enjoy the fish and corals, so i tend to get distracted from other aspects of the project. I will get around to finishing the rest one day...
Videos See all Videos
Filtration
1)filter sponge on main intake for large particulate material (also suppresses sound), rinsed every other day.
2)protein skimmer. cup cleaned every other day, or as needed. removes fine sludge and some dissolved solids.
3) Cheato in refugium. i cull the dirty or pale growth every week, keeping the cheto to about 1/4 the volume of the refugium (about 1.5 gallon volume)
4) phosorb or phosphate sponge is added on occasion to sump when there is issue. carbon has been run on occasion in the same manner, but is not needed most of the time.
this seems to be doing the trick, perhaps a bit too well, as nitrates have been undetectable for months.
2)protein skimmer. cup cleaned every other day, or as needed. removes fine sludge and some dissolved solids.
3) Cheato in refugium. i cull the dirty or pale growth every week, keeping the cheto to about 1/4 the volume of the refugium (about 1.5 gallon volume)
4) phosorb or phosphate sponge is added on occasion to sump when there is issue. carbon has been run on occasion in the same manner, but is not needed most of the time.
this seems to be doing the trick, perhaps a bit too well, as nitrates have been undetectable for months.
Lighting
running full LED. light at the top is not much more than further down according to par meeter (about 20% less at substrate).
i am regretting the inclusion of the red and UV LED's as they seem to only increase the amount of brown, vs just blue and white LED's.
The penetrating power of the LED's is impressive, but it is a bit problematic as i do not have enough lower light zones in the tank to support the corals i have. I expect this to be less of a problem as the top corals grow out and provide more shade.
photo-period is currently 12hrs blue, 8 hrs white (simultaneous with blue).
light controller is under construction, so i will have more dimming and variability at a later date. current situation is 100% on or off, using basic timers - this is not ideal.
i am regretting the inclusion of the red and UV LED's as they seem to only increase the amount of brown, vs just blue and white LED's.
The penetrating power of the LED's is impressive, but it is a bit problematic as i do not have enough lower light zones in the tank to support the corals i have. I expect this to be less of a problem as the top corals grow out and provide more shade.
photo-period is currently 12hrs blue, 8 hrs white (simultaneous with blue).
light controller is under construction, so i will have more dimming and variability at a later date. current situation is 100% on or off, using basic timers - this is not ideal.
Nitrate
Phosphate
Alkalinity
pH
Temperature
Salinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Iodine
Iron
70 Coral
10 Fish
574 Invertebrate
11 Plant
Red Tube Turf Algae
Sp sp
Equipment
Controller
custom controller
Heater
Lighting
35W Led Grow Light
DIY LED 153w 51x3w
DIY LED 27x3w (81 watt)
DIY LED 90W 8x10w
Powerhead
4
SunSun JVP-110 530gph Aquarium Circulation Pump
Skimmer
Viaaqua SK-200 Protein Skimmer
Sump
Other
PC power supply
Dosing See more
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Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed custom blend to corals · Fed nori · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed phytoplancton · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed live BBS · Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed live daphnia · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed nori · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed frozen bloodworms 1 cap · Fed large daphnia · Fed cherry shrimp · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed large daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed flightless fruit flys · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed frozen brinshrimp · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed whiteworms · Fed frozen cyclops 1 cap · Fed custom blend to corals (spot fed) · Fed large daphnia · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed shaved mysis · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed nori · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed nori · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen brine shrimp · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed white worms · Fed live BBS · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed frozen krill · Fed microworms · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed live daphnia · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed shaved krill and mysis · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed frozen brine shrimp · Fed gonifood · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed frozen mysis · Fed microworms · Fed live BBS · Fed all corals custom blend and brine shrimp · Fed live BBS · Fed frozen cyclops · Fed live daphnia · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBS · Fed live BBSMaintenance
ideal maintenance includes:
ro water top off 2x day (until ATO is added).
Kalkwasser solution 2x a day, about 2 TBS a week.
clean skimmer cup and filter sponge every other day.
15g water change each week.
test parameters and dose as needed.
ro water top off 2x day (until ATO is added).
Kalkwasser solution 2x a day, about 2 TBS a week.
clean skimmer cup and filter sponge every other day.
15g water change each week.
test parameters and dose as needed.
On average you perform a 9.4% water change every 20 days.
0% total water change in 2024-12-01T03:08:11.879222Z[GMT].