Tips for a successful reef Tank - What is yours?

[Rubymoon286]

Nothing good happens fast is my mantra, and stick to a set routine. Small water changes daily that add up to around 15% a week, I test every three days and only dose two part as needed based on results (that may go up once I get a maven in my hydros collective) I dose Phyto daily, pods monthly, and feed twice a day right now. Once I get anthias again it'll be 3 times a day.

I just came off a weather related crash, so I'm in the rebuilding stage, so once it gets a bit farther along, my routine will change to adjust to the tank. I think keeping in touch with the changes that happen as the tank grows and adapting are the most important parts to success.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Have p.a.t.i.e.n.c.e.

 

[CKW]

It's no secret that there are many successful reef tanks on Reef 2 Reef and members and visitors alike who wonder, " What is this person doing to get their tank to look like this?"

What is your method to achieving the look and health of your tank and what ONE tip can you give others to stay on the path to success?


For myself- Its called " Leave it alone". I add nothing unnecessarily , in fact often add nothing other than supplements on a Sunday. Ise the 4 -part system from Pohls Korallen Zucht and I do Daily water changes of 2 gallons daily which replenishes traces and keeps Nitrates and phosphates in check.

My one tip= Take time to enjoy your tank rather than making it a constant maintenance project and tweaking unnecessarily. Stability is key - Not changes/chasing numbers.

Totally agree. Go slow and enjoy every thing about the hobby. Nothing in this hobby comes quickly.

 

[Acan man]

Thank you guys for all of the advice. I have been reefing for approximately nine years now and still learning. The one key that I always keep in the back of my mind It’s that nothing happens fast and reefing. It is very easy to fall into the rabbit hole with all of the products on the market today(snake oil), keep it simple

 

[Dkcav59]

It's no secret that there are many successful reef tanks on Reef 2 Reef and members and visitors alike who wonder, " What is this person doing to get their tank to look like this?"

What is your method to achieving the look and health of your tank and what ONE tip can you give others to stay on the path to success?


For myself- Its called " Leave it alone". I add nothing unnecessarily , in fact often add nothing other than supplements on a Sunday. Ise the 4 -part system from Pohls Korallen Zucht and I do Daily water changes of 2 gallons daily which replenishes traces and keeps Nitrates and phosphates in check.

My one tip= Take time to enjoy your tank rather than making it a constant maintenance project and tweaking unnecessarily. Stability is key - Not changes/chasing numbers.

BEAUTIFUL TANK!

 

[1ocean]

Don't fall victim to all the hype to buy all the latest gadgets and think you need a complete full blown chemistry/bio/reactor system under your tank...I went down that path with the 140. Now with the 300, my 6 foot sump is simple and I sold all the useless gadgets...It was a lot of work and time to keep cleaning all the gadgets.
Now the sump is simple, main 300 int skimmer and secondary small tunze for ozone, gas exchange tower, filter pad rack, 100 pounds of Florida live rock, 2 big boxes of siporax in a basket and a UV. If I need to use carbon or Chemipure, I just put the bag in the filter pad rack..
No more of any reactors for carbon or sulfur system, bio pellets, plastic ball tumbler, refug. Yes if I need to use gfo, the reactor is temp but now carbon dosing DIY mixture, vodka and vinegar.
Yes I have a red sea ato and ghl system but I think they help but that is just my choice as it may not be someone else's.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

With so many ways to skin a cat, find someone that is successful and using a simple method of reefing, learn from them and stick with that method until you are successful.

 

[Paul B]

For all about me it's live bacteria in the tank and in the guts of the fish and the only way you get that is from fresh or freshly frozen whole foods like shellfish or worms.

Use no chemicals in the tank that don't come from the sea.

Stop tweeking and of course use a reverse undergravel filter.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

For all about me it's live bacteria in the tank and in the guts of the fish and the only way you get that is from fresh or freshly frozen whole foods like shellfish or worms.

Use no chemicals in the tank that don't come from the sea.

Stop tweeking and of course use a reverse undergravel filter.

I think you may be the last holdout on the undergravel filter LOL! I just know as soon as I read that, my heart jumped remembering fondly of all of my old fresh water tanks using these. I love them .

 

[Dkcav59]

I think you may be the last holdout on the undergravel filter LOL! I just know as soon as I read that, my heart jumped remembering fondly of all of my old fresh water tanks using these. I love them .

 

[Dkcav59]

Me too!! They did the bio job beautifully and were so easy to clean!!

 

[Ef4life]

One doesn’t get to a 10+ year old tank with out regular maintenance.

My advice is to learn to enjoy the drudgery of doing regular maintenance. If you enjoy it you will do it. If your happy and willing to maintain it long term you will find success

 

[Paul B]

I think you may be the last holdout on the undergravel filter LOL!

I think so. But I heard they only last 50 years so mine is 4 years over do and I may have to replace it with a newer model.

 

[Solo McReefer]

For all about me it's live bacteria in the tank and in the guts of the fish and the only way you get that is from fresh or freshly frozen whole foods like shellfish or worms.

Use no chemicals in the tank that don't come from the sea.

Stop tweeking and of course use a reverse undergravel filter.

I thought the ol timers called that a "plenum filter" in salt water

Or was that something else?

 

[Seansea]

Algae scrubber. Keeps out algae out of display and keeps ph boosted. I personally wouldn't run tank without one

 

[UtahReefer]

Consistency period. No matter how much experience we have in this hobby problems will arise. You can eliminate the stuff caused by you by being consistent and having a routine. Checking things (parameters, equipment, how do the corals and fish look). If you are "in tune" with your tank you can catch things as they begin to happen and take corrective action. Outbreaks of the undesirables will come at times even thought you're on top of things. Relax, be patient and learn to isolate the cause. Don't freak out and start changing a bunch of things.

 

[Bruttall]

18 months in and I still consider myself a NOOB! I am still learning.

I did a couple things when I started this adventure but the biggest thing I think I did that helped me was following along with what a few people here have done, Paul B and Vetteguy mostly. Paul because, well 40 years dang! and Vetteguy because he has a large system, bigger than mine and Large Systems seem to have their own set of issues you never see in little tanks.

Once I came around to regular water testing and cut out the 30% weekly water change to NO WATER CHANGE for a year my system stabilized, Phos started to climb, CA started to deplete and I found the need to Dose slightly. For me it is just tri-lanthanum chloride dose, 40ml into 1500ml RODI reduction, 15ml a day directly into skimmer, keeps my phos right about .08 to .12.

In the last month I have started to do micro water changes, 10g a week roughly on a 340g system to bolster the Trace Elements and my corals seems to love it.


But for the most part, I just enjoy looking at the tank and allow it to do what it does. I know with the water volume I have detrimentals will build slower, gives me more reaction time to counter any build up of potentioal toxins.

The only other thing I am really adamant about is using Natural Solutions to my Tanks behaviors. Asterina's get Harliquins, Aptasia gets Nudi's etc. I strive to use Nature when I can and not use Chemicals in my system, though I did use REEFLUX with great success to remove Bryopsis when my tank was about 3 months old.

The one thing I would say to others is, DON'T PANIC! Any imbalances can be fixed, just take your time, nothing happens fast in this hobby.

 

[goosemans]

1. I recommend anyone wanting to start a reef to get a tank with a sump. It helps achieving your goals so much easier with the expansion of available equipment that actually works. For example, having an in-sump skimmer works 10x better than even the best hob or aio skimmer.

2. Don’t put your whole tank at risk just to save 1 coral not doing well. Life finds a way.

3. imo, proper flow is more important than anything else

4. change your water on a regular basis

5. Vermetid snails are the worst pest you can have in a tank (I have vermetid snails)

 

[reefpanda]

Don’t be influenced by influencers. Have a tank based on your own capabilities, experience and means.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I think so. But I heard they only last 50 years so mine is 4 years over do and I may have to replace it with a newer model.

You are so awesome, LOL! I love it