Keys To Keeping A Successful Reef

[Nonuser]

Okay I'm have saw numerous tanks on the site and have always wondered what are they doing that I'm not?

So what key factors, routines, equipment, potions and spells do you use?

 

[Fishit]

180 gal tank I do 20 gal water change per week salinity at 1.026 keep your kh calcium and mag in check with 2 part oh and run t5 lights Or at least combo t5 with led and get a refugium that's all pretty easy I would say a good water change schedual is going to take care of most things depending on your tank and its needs of coarse

 

[EricTMah]

Not sure if you think mine is "successful" or not.

I do WC's as needed. I run a fuge with 12 mangroves.
Keep my numbers;
No3 3-5
Po4 just barely detectable
Alk 8.5-9
CA 420
Mag 1300-1400
Temp 77

I run an auto feeder for my fish once a day feeding NLS pellets then I feed my homemade fish food 2 times a day. But I skip the frozen a day a week.

Lighting.
Hydras for 12hrs a day
T5's 8hrs a day

I've used omega reef salt before and now on aqua forest reef
All my dosing supplements are diy stuff. Kalk in my ato

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[EricTMah]

Maybe give a run down on exactly what you do and maybe some of us will be able to pick out what you could improve on.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[TORX]

Trick #1, every tank is different and takes its own care. What works in my tank won't work exactly the same in someone else's 120.

Patience is the next trick. Positive changes normally take a while to be noticeable, negative changes will react quickly. It can take weeks to months for a coral to take off. Any changes in that time could delay it.

Don't do spontaneous buys. Always research what you are buying. Smartphones are great for on the fly research.

Consistency - stability - husbandry

I do 15 gallon a week water change to salinity of 1.025. I have good equiptment rated for my system and set up properly. For the first year I tested faithfully with a good test kit for accurate results.

I just started feeding reef roids and reef chili, but I ran the tank for about 2 years without feeding anything other then pellets.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[heath]

Mark, did I read right that you do 15g wc a week on your 120... crap, I've been doing weekly 25/30g on my 75....

 

[TORX]

Mark, did I read right that you do 15g wc a week on your 120... crap, I've been doing weekly 25/30g on my 75....

Yes, 10% or close to 10% between tank, sump and water change tank I have about 150gal

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[nathan]

Okay I'm have saw numerous tanks on the site and have always wondered what are they doing that I'm not?

So what key factors, routines, equipment, potions and spells do you use?

What problems do you find u are having?

 

[Dingets]

Consistency has always been key for me. Simplify things as much as possible and don't jump on everything that sounds good on the internet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nonuser]

Sounds like T5's are an intracal part of good coral growth.

Lightning should be at least 8 hours or longer and a good portion of the time at high intensity?
I have recently turned down the length of lighting and intensity because of algae and diatoms

RO is almost a must for many of us. How do you prepare your water changes? Heater and airation a day before?

What additives do you use that appears to make the biggest difference?

I'm definitely not feeding enough I feed every other day. I finally bought some high quality pellets because clowns don't appear to be to quick on the draw getting frozen and they sure as hell don't pick food off the bottom of the tank. They are civilized.

 

[Marcie]

Not sure if you think mine is "successful" or not.

I do WC's as needed. I run a fuge with 12 mangroves.
Keep my numbers;
No3 3-5
Po4 just barely detectable
Alk 8.5-9
CA 420
Mag 1300-1400
Temp 77

I run an auto feeder for my fish once a day feeding NLS pellets then I feed my homemade fish food 2 times a day. But I skip the frozen a day a week.

Lighting.
Hydras for 12hrs a day
T5's 8hrs a day

I've used omega reef salt before and now on aqua forest reef
All my dosing supplements are diy stuff. Kalk in my ato

Sony Xperia Z3

What's your homemade fish food recipe? Thanks

 

[Nonuser]

What problems do you find u are having?

Just started really taking care of the tank since late September. Went on vacation for two weeks and well things went sideways.

Maybe give a run down on exactly what you do and maybe some of us will be able to pick out what you could improve on.

Sony Xperia Z3

Kind of starting over just some zoas
You're tanks amazing

 

[heath]

Not sure if this will help you..
I run T5's (quad).. they are on 12hrs a day.. ramp up for an hour and then down for another hour...
I have water storage containers and I keep ro water in them most of the time, I have 2, one for IO and one for Reef Crystals.. when I add the salt I run a cheap mj400 to mix and air rate it...
I strongly believe in husbandry, get a schedule that works for you and stick to it.. awhile ago I didn't stick to my schedule and it bit me in the ass..
But, I do know what you mean, I researched a good year before I got my first tank.. there are so many "wonderful" gadgets out there that it does get very confusing...

 

[ColbytheClown]

180 gal tank I do 20 gal water change per week salinity at 1.026 keep your kh calcium and mag in check with 2 part oh and run t5 lights Or at least combo t5 with led and get a refugium that's all pretty easy I would say a good water change schedual is going to take care of most things depending on your tank and its needs of coarse

T5??

 

[nathan]

Just started really taking care of the tank since late September. Went on vacation for two weeks and well things went sideways.



Kind of starting over just some zoas
You're tanks amazing

Give a run down on what you are doing... size of tank... water you use.... how many fish.... water changes etc.... there are so many factors effecting water quality and lighting for coral is important to.... what's mainly in your tank for coral

 

[Gophia]

I've been in the hobby since the mid 90, currently with 180g full SPS tank and I realize there are only two thing that have to maintain to a have a successful tank

1) large amount of random water flow, ie I have two maxspect gyre 150 in my 180 controlled by two Aqualink T1 (over driving the gyres to 120%)
2) consistent alk, ~between 7.5-8.5 dhk

I only test alk once a month and salinity between water changes and that it.

 

[heath]

T5ès.. are the lights...

 

[Salty Cracker]

The first thing you need for a successful tank is money. It's going to cost a lot, no matter if you buy good stuff at the start, or buy cheap stuff and then replace it when you discover it doesn't do the job
Then:

1) Neptune Apex
2) GFO!
3) Dosers
4) 15% weekly water changes WITH RO/DI (0TDS) water ONLY!!!
5) Low bioload
6) GOOOD LIGHTS
7) Bigger than needed skimmer
8) GFO!
9) Rox Charcoal
10) GFO!

Enjoy!

 

[Nonuser]

The first thing you need for a successful tank is money. It's going to cost a lot, no matter if you buy good stuff at the start, or buy cheap stuff and then replace it when you discover it doesn't do the job
Then:

1) Neptune Apex
2) GFO!
3) Dosers
4) 15% weekly water changes WITH RO/DI (0TDS) water ONLY!!!
5) Low bioload
6) GOOOD LIGHTS
7) Bigger than needed skimmer
8) GFO!
9) Rox Charcoal
10) GFO!

Enjoy!

Definitely correct. It's appears to be a game of $$$ if you do anything half ass you'll end up losing more money in coral, fish and having to upgrade everything.

 

[Nonuser]

Give a run down on what you are doing... size of tank... water you use.... how many fish.... water changes etc.... there are so many factors effecting water quality and lighting for coral is important to.... what's mainly in your tank for coral

My intent wasn't really trying to get answers for myself or a problem. But just what things you found that made you go ah! Now this is really working and for me not that if you do it then it will solve all your problems.