Ocean liverock - No Dosing - No Qt - Candy Basslet Reef

[Jrain904]

I've been in the hobby for about 15 years and for most of it I had the same imported liverock that I have just moved from tank to tank. Recently we bought a new house and I decided to kind of start over. My rocks were so mature that I could get away with almost anything. I figured it was time to put my money where my mouth was and start over following the advice I give to a lot of new reefers. Here it goes!

Current shots:

SOME FTS Progressions:

June 2021 (the holding tank)

July 2021: (the holding tank)

7/16/2021

7/18/2021

7/25/2021

4/22

8/22 (upgrade)

9/22

11/22

3/23

4/23

 

[Jrain904]

Some of the rules I have always broken are never QTing, no testing, using ocean rock, allowing "pests" to live happily in coexistence with my reef, no dosing, no chemicals besides prime, no filtration additives besides carbon about once every few months to clear the water, and others I am sure.

My general philosophy in reefing has always been to create as natural an ecosystem as possible. I see the tank as the ocean, the refugium as the estuary, and the skimmer as the beach. I allow all life to live and thrive in my tank in order to fill its natural niche in my tank. I believe even things such as red planaria play a vital role in my system. By allowing everything to thrive in my tank just one thing will never take it over. Checks and balances.

 

[revhtree]

Looks great!

 

[Jrain904]

Here's my new tank:

And my new DIY stand I just primed. Thinking ill paint a glossy black. Its 40" tall so my tank can be at a better viewing height.

 

[Jrain904]

Equipment:

CVUE 40
Maxspect razorx r5 150w
Vortech mp10
Eheim Jager heater
Apex jr
Mighty jet return pump
Eshopps nano skimmer
IM refugium light
Intank media tower

 

[Jrain904]

I have a 20H filled with some KP aquatics aquacultured live rock (15lbs) and one piece of rock from my old tank that I couldn't part with (such a unique shape). Its also filled with a couple of frags, a plate coral, my 12 year old YWG and a coral beauty I just bought off a local reefer. The KP rocks, my media tower, and glass all developed some dinos/diatoms but my one piece of original liverock has none. Its been running about 3 weeks.

The KP rocks came with atleast 1 urchin, 1 red mithrax crab, 1 hermit, several snails, several brittle stars from tiny to quite large, some Atlantic corals, sponges, pistol shrimp, and some crazy species of small worms I've never seen before (one was yellow).

 

[Jrain904]

I also am planning on buying some more rocks from a local reefer I met who had some 18 year old liverock from Fiji. I was also lucky enough that another local reefer is holding some of my corals for me until I get the new tank running. Your local reefing community is such a great resource. Try and get connected with it!

 

[Jrain904]

In the interest of being cheap I decided to try out a paint color I had sitting around from painting a room in my house. I think it looks ok. This is just the first coat.

 

[Jrain904]

Here is my 20H that is currently housing my 15lbs of KP aquatics FL keys aquacultured rock and a single piece of my old fiji rock from 15 years ago plus a couple little rocks with some random corals. I got the KP stuff about 3 weeks to a month ago and last week I had what I believe were dinos or diatoms cover every inch of glass, KP rock, and my intank media tower. The dinos never really grew on my 15 year old fiji rock. As you can see in the pictures the dinos/diatoms are now gone. That was a short ugly phase lol!

Also don't mind all the equipment! Currently running:

Eheim heater
Eheim surface skimmer
2 MP10
Eshopps nano skimmer
Aquaclear refugium w/ chaeto
IM refugium light
Mean green machine UV (to help with dinos/diatoms??)

 

[Jrain904]

You can see the remnants of the dino/diatoms bloom on this intank media tower/basket.

 

[Jrain904]

Update on my KP aquatics FL keys rock. I have had it about a month now. Went through a bit of dinos or diatoms last week but looking VERY good now! No more ugly phase! Glad it only lasted a couple days rather than a year!

 

[Jrain904]

@Paul B im going to grab some mud in our local estuary this weekend during a fishing trip. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[Jrain904]

If you don't read this whole thing than please notice that when it comes to the ugly dino/diatom bloom (1) they never grew on my 15 year old piece of rock (2) they only lasted on my 3 week old KP aquatics keys aquacultured rock for approximately 1 week and (3) they grew the strongest on my glass and intank media basket.

 

[Hot2na]

kp aquatics ..lots of pistol shrimp and other undesirables..

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Update on my KP aquatics FL keys rock. I have had it about a month now. Went through a bit of dinos or diatoms last week but looking VERY good now! No more ugly phase! Glad it only lasted a couple days rather than a year!View attachment 2259629View attachment 2259630View attachment 2259631View attachment 2259632View attachment 2259633View attachment 2259634

Great looking rock!

 

[Reefing102]

kp aquatics ..lots of pistol shrimp and other undesirables..

I guess that’s in the eye of the beholder. I personally love my KP rock and hitchhikers that came with it and based on the thread title, the OP was anticipating the hitchhikers as well.

The tank looks great though JRain!

 

[Jrain904]

kp aquatics ..lots of pistol shrimp and other undesirables..

Ok lol. Undesirable for you I guess...

 

[revhtree]

Love the stand color!

 

[Jrain904]

Love the stand color!

Thanks! Left overs from painting our dining room lol..

 

[Jrain904]

@revhtree

More coats on it now