I feel it necessary to express my utmost gratitude towards all whom have supported me throughout the many years of learning. The list is long but I would like to recognize:

• Johannesburg Reef Club SA (RiSC) (thanks Tony Wright, Leigh Van Zyl)

• Atlanta Reef Club (to all of my new friends, you know who you are, the list is to long)

I have never been in a hobby where there are so many nice people who are willing to go out of their way to help and share what they have, regardless if it's an offer of time, equipment or live stock. It really makes me feel special to be part of this hobby.

Those who know me know that I've recently moved to the US (Nov 2004) and started this new tank in July 2005. The half year or so while I didn't have a tank was time well spent investigating system opportunities. I hope you enjoy reading this post as much as I do presenting my little piece of reef.

I must state that I have been in the hobby for some time now. My passion didn't just start with reef keeping; it grew like most of us from fresh to brackish to marine and finally to reef. This progression probably took about 10 years with my first reef tank being about 15 years ago. So for those who can do mathematics, yes, that�s most of my life. J



With my move to the US I had the chance to review and revisit all what I've seen throughout my worldly travels. This was the first time I had the financial backing to have the system I wanted � the system I dreamed of. I started to put together a plan. A plan that just shortly after 1 year has brought me here to this page.

From what I've seen, pretty much each country has a different stance on the "keys to successes of reef keeping". I've been lucky to have seen a few of these and have come up with something which works for me. A system I can manage.
My first purchase was the display tank. I've been asked several times why a 92 corner and why not bigger. Well it was my tank of choice (damn Oceanic when they brought out the 144 half circle � I like that so much more). The corner tank really suits the room and was the perfect size for my initial dream setup.

I built and scoped my tank to house a Powder Blue, a fish I had zero success with previously, a fish that I wanted to keep so badly. This was going to be a tank solely to keep a Powder Blue (and me) happy.

So additional equipment started to be added:

• 600lb LR � All Walt Smith International

• Aqua-Medic T-5000 Single Skimmer

• Aqua-Medic Lights (1x400w 10K DE, 2x250x 20K DE, 2xT5 Actinic)

• Tunze Wave controlled Pumps

• 1/2hp Pacific Coast Chiller

• MRC CR6 Dual with 35lb CO2 bottle

• MRC Largest Nilsen Reactor

• 3xTunze BioReactors

• 1xTunze Osmolator

• 2xCoralLife 12 Twist UV

• 1xRedSea Deluxe Ozonizer

• 1x500 Gallon Acrylic Sump

• 1x1000watt Titanium Heater

• 1x100 Gallon a day RO/DI

• 1xSequence 5000 Main Pump

• 10xVarious Pumps for moving water and aeration

I am a big believer in water changes. I do approx 90 gallons a week. My main expense in this hobby is buying salt which I do basically on the pallet load. I have a few good local fish stores who bring it in for me. My preference is Kent Marine.

Supplements that I add to the water:

• 6xTablespoons of Kent Turbo Calcium a day.

• 1xPurple up every month (I really like that stuff).

• 1xIodine, Magnesium, Strontium as and when needed.

• 1xSodium Bicarbonate weekly.

I am able to perform a 90 Gallon water change by turning valves and pressing a button. I designed this to be a lazy mans reef aquarium.

Lighting the tank was a lot harder than initial thought. The crazy shape of the corner tank does not avail itself to having larger light fixtures (2 foot max with the Aqua-Medic). This has ment I had to modify everything to maximize the light output. So I purchased two lights knowing I would custom modify them:

• 250w single pendant

• 250w single pendant with 2xT5 Actinics

The lighting is now:

• 400w single pendant (retro fit 400w into the 250w housing)

• 2x250w pendant with 2xT5 Actinics

This gave me about 10w�s per gallon which was the figure I was working for.
I have the light fixtures about 6 inches away from the waters surface and I�m getting approx 700par at the surface, 450~500par at the first corals and about 200par on the substrate. All in all I am very happy with the results. Acro�s exhibit, purple, blue (light and dark) and green colors.

Light Cycle: I am very generous with lighting - period. I know that. My take on it is, don�t change something that's not broken. I hear of people having good success with lower photo periods and I am not knocking them. I just don't want to take a chance.

• Moon Lights 2x4watts 6am - 6am (24hrs)

• Actinics 6am - 10pm (16hrs)

• 2x250Watt MH 20K 7am - 9pm (14hrs)

• 1x400Watt MH 10K 8am - 8pm (12hrs)

Temperature is kept at a very constant 78F. With the sumps water volume and the 1/2hp Pacific Coast chiller I am able to keep the water temp very constant. I do not use fans as this is not needed currently. The chiller is active but not constantly on.

 

A wide range of SPS, LPS and a few Softies. I have the Acro addiction and am in the process of moving things around to have more. All in all I have about 40~60 Corals and about 20 fish.

I feed once a day with a variety of frozen foods. I try and mix it up. McDonalds every day would become boring, (well, maybe not). I feed generously, 4 large blocks for meaty foods and 4 blocks for greens. I have observed that if I reduce quantity I see stress on my fish. It's a balance I guess. I know I�m a little overloaded with fish so I accept the consequences.

 

From the words of a fellow reefer, "I am a reef-aholic and an extreme aquarist". I enjoy the hobby and hope to be in it for more years to come.
Again I would like to thank TheReefTank for the opportunity to present my tank in this form. I hope you've enjoyed it.