Reef2Reef Tank Spotlight July 2015: BobbyM

Reef2Reef Tank Spotlight July 2015: Bobby Melton (BobbyM)

Tank Thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/90-gallons-of-frag.150639/

First, I want to say that I am so honored to receive Tank of the month here on Reef2Reef. I have always dreamed of one day winning an honor like this since the early days of aquarium forums.

My name is Bobby Melton. I started my first aquarium with the help of my mother at the age of six. Back then, I would catch fish at the lake, bring them up to the house and toss them in my tank. I would often dream of the ocean and the wonderful sea creatures that I really had no clue about. About a year or so later, I started keeping tropical fish. This was what started my passion to keep a fish tank. One time, I had my mother ask the clerk about caring for a saltwater tank. I still remember the clerk’s response: “saltwater fish are impossible to keep. You have to change out all the water every week, and the fish are lucky to survive 6 months.” Little did I know at that time, I would one day be keeping saltwater fish and corals as a hobby. Not only that, I also have a career in teaching others how to do it to.

I started my first saltwater tank in 2001 and jumped in with both feet. Researching and experimenting went farther than being a hobby, it was more of an obsession. Within a year, I had been asked to help out part time at my LFS. Another year passed and after my divorce, I took a full time position. Here we are today, 13 years after I took the job, I’m still in the obsession phase. I can work on aquariums all day and still come home and enjoy my own.

System Profile:

Tank:

Older glass, Oceanic custom 36”x24”x24” 90 gallon tank with a corner overflow that I picked up used and a DIY stand built by the previous owner’s father

Sump:

Eshopps 200 with only two chambers

Protein Skimmer:

ReefOctopus POV-DC2

Reactors:

PhosBan reactor I converted to running Thrive Bio-pellets, using a maxi jet 1200.

Return Pump/Temperature Control:

Mag-Drive Mag12 running through a CurrentPrime Chiller that has a 300w Ehiem/Jager heater plugged in to it.

Water Circulation:

VorTech MP40 making the chaotic currents.

Lighting:

For lighting, I’m using a down-cycled Mainland fixture with a 150w 10k HQI, two ATI Blue plus, and, two ATI actinic bulbs. To top it off, I tacked on two Current TrueLumen 460nm LED strips. The LED’s are on 12 hours, the T5’s are on for 9 hours and halide is on for 7 hours.

Dosing:

Dosing my tank was all manual until not too long ago when I bought an Eshops I V 200 dosing pump. I only dose B-Ionic Alkalinity and Calcium two part and Zeovit amino acid concentrate.

Feeding Schedule:

I feed Rods food and Reef Nutrition foods every three days and a half sheet of sea veggies every day.

Water parameters:

I use the RedSea Pro Reef Kit. I’m not going to lie and say I check them all the time. I’ll check my Alk and Ca once every week to two weeks. Alkalinity: I try to keep around 7.8 - 8.3. Calcium: I try and keep around 380-400. Magnesium: I would check more often, except I think my kit has gone bad. It keeps giving me an out of this world reading, but I’m not going to stress it. As far as testing for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and Po4, I tested for these early on but after so long I just use visual clues and correct with extra water in my water changes. No need in chasing numbers. My skimmer is large enough with being rated up to 4 times my system’s volume, and on top of that I do weekly 12-18 gallon water changes with Tropic Marine Pro Reef. My nutrient stays in check.

My inhabitants: