Shardys Reef Tank
Introduction
Started Reefing at January 2012 after a few months research and following new york steelo and many others on Youtube. This is my first Fish Tank and although I have had some success, I have aslo had many failures. I have learnt so much more recently and the dedication it takes to make it truly thrive!
I am determined to get the results i really want and enjoy the challenge of building a beautiful reef.
My first tank has only inspired me to build my new one in a new house and make it everything that I wished for!
I am determined to get the results i really want and enjoy the challenge of building a beautiful reef.
My first tank has only inspired me to build my new one in a new house and make it everything that I wished for!
Background
Zero experience with any aquarium before this but have many interests in my life and always strive for success.
Videos See all Videos
Filtration
I run a DSB with a protein skimmer and a sump with macro algae based on New York Steelo's system. I am now going to move away from this to a Bio Pellet system with a decorative sand bed as this will make the transition easier to my new tank in my new house. I have an automatic water change system but have not used it for 2 years as I decided I wanted to see what no water changes would mean for a reef tank. I actually think that with proper testing and precise supplements you do not have to do water changes. but will make that decision finally over the next few months whilst running some serious tests into controlling trace elements in the tank.
Lighting
running radion gen 1's but am curious about other systems including t5's and the gen 3's and wonder what difference this would make to coral colouration and health
Flow
my mp40's can more than handle the flow in the tank for sps and lps but getting the placement of certain corals right is tough. I put this down to the fact that lps and sps have different requirements and I think going one way or the other would make this easier. Due to the nature of my tank the back gets less flow than the front and so I have to cater for this but my next tank will be all sps and I will design it accordingly.
Magnesium
Nitrate
pH
Alkalinity
Calcium
Salinity
Temperature
Phosphate
TDS
Nitrite
Ammonia
as this is my first tank I have simply just experimented and played about to see what i like and I know know what I want through this experience
8 Coral
4 Fish
1 Invertebrate
Equipment
Aquarium
bespoke low iron glass
AutoTopOff
profilux level sensors connected to 200 litre ro tank and tubing
Chiller
Controller
ghl temperature proble
Dosing
GHL DOSING PUMP
Heater
Lighting
interpet triple white 7.2 watt led
Powerhead
Pump
Reactor
Refractometer
RODI
Skimmer
Stand
bespoke by aquarium cabinets
Sump
Bespoke 150 litre
i try to keep mine at all the usual specs but as i don't do water changes i feel trace elements are something to be considered more with me. I have not been vigilant enough with calc and alk over the first 2 years and corals have suffered in growth because of it. Lesson Learnt!
Dosing See more
microbacter 7 30 ml · microbacter 7 30 ml · microbacter 7 30 ml · microbacter 7 30 ml · microbacter 7 30 ml · microbacter 7 30 ml · Auto (2) Aquo Vitro Fuel For Reefs 5 ml · Auto (2) Aquo Vitro Fuel For Reefs 5 ml · Auto (8) Reef Fusion Calcium 5 ml · Auto (8) Reef Fusion Alkalinity 5 ml · Auto (6) Reef Fusion Alkalinity 5 ml · Auto (4) Reef Fusion Calcium 5 mlAuto Dosing
5 ml
Aquo Vitro Fuel For Reefs
2.5 ml every 12 hours
5 ml
Reef Fusion Alkalinity
0.6 ml every 3 hours
5 ml
Reef Fusion Calcium
1.2 ml every 6 hours
just dosing calc, alk, mag and some corals food through a profilux auto dosing pumps. This seems to always be an adjustment game to get the balance right as corals get added and grow.
Feeding See more
Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed 1 pinch of flake · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed algae rings 20 mins · Fed pinch of flake · Fed copedpods half a cap · Fed 2 mini spoons of h2ocean sps · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed half a cap of orange rotifers black label · Fed 1 teaspoon of h20 ocean coral food · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed 20 mins algae rings · Fed pinch of flake · Fed teaspoon of h2ocean sps · Fed fed 1 teaspoon h2ocean sps · Fed Algae rings 20 mins of grazing · Fed half a cap of orange rotifers black label · Fed teaspoon of h2o coral food · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed 20 pellets of ocean nutrition formula one marine pellet · Fed H2OCEAN SPS 1 tsp · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed 20 pellets of ocean nutrition formula one marine pellet · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed offer 10-20 mins of grazing on 2 x new era marine grazer · Fed 20 pellets of ocean nutrition formula one marine pellet · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous · Fed H2OCEAN SPS 1 tsp · Fed 1 large pinch of formula one marine flakes low phospherous
stil not mastered my balance but all my fish bar 1 are fat and healthy off flake and pellets and algae rings only. No frozen meaty foods have been fed for years. Th e skinny salfin gets bullied all day and i feel this stress keeps him thin.
Maintenance
not much really om the equipment side other than skimmer cup emptying (although have ran my system with out a skimmer for months and still had very low nitrates/ phosphates. Glass cleaning is always a job but buying good equipment that doesnt break saves you in the long run and that's what i did from the start
On average you perform a 14.6% water change every 6 days.
0% total water change in 2024-11-28T09:47:17.286841Z[GMT].
Inspiration & Goals
My main inspiration is Krzysztof Tryc's tank on YouTube and this type of tank and succes is what i feel i have worked out over my 2 and half years of reefing
Words of Wisdom
be anal and thorough and don't let things slip. Be proactive and passionate and care for every part of your reef. I have not done this consistently and have suffered because of it but have also learnt a lot during the way that has now inspired me to get it right!
Disasters & Regrets
like i said neglect of certain parameters has caused me problems and rushing ahead too early with corals without the proper vigilance has cost me more money but failure is simply the stepping stones to success!
