Welcome to my (near) Zero Maintenance Reef!

[SaltyЯeeferNC]

Dude, this is what I'm shooting for! Not that laziness is factor I just want to spend more time enjoying my tank vs constant maintenance. Sure there are things that need to be handled like cleaning the glass etc. Zero maintenance has been a goal since day 1.

Only been in the hobby for 3 1/2 years so I have a long way to go but envy those who have been with it 10, 15 or 20 years. Knowledge ya'll share is worth the listen even if modern technology has made things easier. Old school methods are tried and true in my opinion.

 

[VintageReefer]

So the gold hammer on the sand has been growing and extending sweepers and stinging the nearby 24k acantho and my blasto mini colony. Had to move things and was able to relocate the hammer to a shelf on the upper right, hopefully in a spot where it won’t cause trouble

Sunglasses picture is for soze reference for the sweepers

New blasto and acans doing well also!

Exosphere mini colony is nearly fully recovered also. This was down to about 5 random polyps in March

 

[garmyn]

sorry if i missed it but what's your media/filtration setup/schedule like other than the algae scrubber please? thanks again!

 

[JoJosReef]

Got 6 / 7 fish in one picture!

Man, that 24k acanthos is an amazing standout coral among standout corals! The anthias really bring it all together, too.

 

[VintageReefer]

sorry if i missed it but what's your media/filtration setup/schedule like other than the algae scrubber please? thanks again!

There basically is none

Overflow —>
chamber 1 in sump - heater —>

Chamber 2 in sump is normally refugium chamber. I have 3” live sand, scrubber, rest filled with live rock. This is my cryptic filtration section - it’s dark, and houses pods, sponge, dead coral skeleton, dusters, bristle worms, possibly a gorilla crab —>

—> media shelves between 2 and 3 - 2 bags chemipure, 1 bag matrix, couple bio blocks —>

Chamber 3 - return pump and live rock —> back to display

Schedule…algae scrubber lighting is on a timer, 18 hours a day.
My only maintenance is Once every 7-10 days I take our a handful of algae and throw it out. Once every 3-4 days I clean the display glass. Once a week I add 2g fw with all for reef.

Every 3-4 months I replace the chemipure, I buy them in 6 packs

 

[VintageReefer]

Man, that 24k acanthos is an amazing standout coral among standout corals! The anthias really bring it all together, too.

Thank you! It will stand out more soon…tomorrow…hahaha

Let’s just say I cleared out some space next to it for some new arrivals that will contrast nicely and make it stand out more

 

[VintageReefer]

New cynarina and new rainbow Goni
Morning pictures

 

[VintageReefer]

Oh and I forgot I also added a fluted moon coral !

And some photos of the new cynarina’s expanded

 

[VintageReefer]

New Cynarina trio decided to be golf balls today. Monster tentacle golf balls lol

And did some rearranging, I think the orange acantho will look great in the new spot once it inflates fully

Moon coral is adapting well and displaying some yellow in the ridges

I don’t really photo this often because I feel it’s a nuisance, but I also have a crazy blue sponge that’s about 10” tall and 6” wide. It just started growing out of a rock about 2 years ago, and if any part of it touches something, it attaches. I’m always having to pry it off, reposition, or tear off pieces to throw in my sumps cryptic zone. I keep wanting to throw the whole thing in the sump…but it’s kinda grown on me and is unique

 

[VintageReefer]

Connected the return pump to a 600 watt hour lithium battery backup

If power goes out this kicks in automatically and powers the return pump and can provide my tank with water circulation and filtration for 41 hours.

When power is restored it switches back to ac power and recharges the battery automatically

 

[garmyn]

There basically is none

Overflow —>
chamber 1 in sump - heater —>

Chamber 2 in sump is normally refugium chamber. I have 3” live sand, scrubber, rest filled with live rock. This is my cryptic filtration section - it’s dark, and houses pods, sponge, dead coral skeleton, dusters, bristle worms, possibly a gorilla crab —>

—> media shelves between 2 and 3 - 2 bags chemipure, 1 bag matrix, couple bio blocks —>

Chamber 3 - return pump and live rock —> back to display

Schedule…algae scrubber lighting is on a timer, 18 hours a day.
My only maintenance is Once every 7-10 days I take our a handful of algae and throw it out. Once every 3-4 days I clean the display glass. Once a week I add 2g fw with all for reef.

Every 3-4 months I replace the chemipure, I buy them in 6 packs

thank you for the detailed answer - fw is freshwater? do you monitor sg? cryptic filtration sounds like a dead cover band!

 

[VintageReefer]

thank you for the detailed answer - fw is freshwater? do you monitor sg? cryptic filtration sounds like a dead cover band!

Yes, I add 2g of freshwater with all for reef added in. I know my approximate consumption but as coral grows and as I add more, consumption increases. Once every few months I’ll test ca and alk and make a correction if needed with baking soda, or a calcium product, and then increase the amount of all for reef that I use.

I do not “monitor” salinity, I have no probe or computer based equipment.

I do test salinity every few weeks. It’s stable. I have a mark on my sump…when water is at the line my tank is 1.025. When evap happens and the water drops below the line, salinity increases to 1.026. I refill with freshwater to the line and it’s back at 1.025

With no skimmer the majority of water I lose is to evap, and with solid lids evap is greatly reduced. The other way I lose water is from acclimating new items.

Corrections are needed once in a while. I add a cup of salt to a high flow area of the sump and check again the next day.

 

[VintageReefer]

Ok done with pics for today all the fish were out and some corals were looking extra good. Might be from dosing aminos earlier today

 

[smitten with ocean life]

New Cynarina trio decided to be golf balls today. Monster tentacle golf balls lol

And did some rearranging, I think the orange acantho will look great in the new spot once it inflates fully

Moon coral is adapting well and displaying some yellow in the ridges

I don’t really photo this often because I feel it’s a nuisance, but I also have a crazy blue sponge that’s about 10” tall and 6” wide. It just started growing out of a rock about 2 years ago, and if any part of it touches something, it attaches. I’m always having to pry it off, reposition, or tear off pieces to throw in my sumps cryptic zone. I keep wanting to throw the whole thing in the sump…but it’s kinda grown on me and is unique

amazing!! love them all!!

 

[JoJosReef]

Low maintenance is working for you!

 

[VintageReefer]

Low maintenance is working for you!

Work smarter, not harder

 

[VintageReefer]

New coral, whatcha think?

 

[VintageReefer]

Inflated more and the moon coral is coloring up great!

 

[EricR]

Work smarter, not harder

I tend to accidentally (or purposely?) jack things up just so I can cause more frivolous effort,,, but to each his own.

Seriously though, nice tank/corals/stuff,,, I like it!

 

[VintageReefer]

I tend to accidentally (or purposely?) jack things up just so I can cause more frivolous effort,,, but to each his own.

Seriously though, nice tank/corals/stuff,,, I like it!

Gotta throw a curve ball in or life gets boring. I just don’t do that with my reef lol

Thanks for the positive feedback, I appreciate it!