Post your established/old tank (i am talking 3+ years old)

[Biokabe]

Still impressive set up! I like the vibrant colors of your current one. What is the massive silver fish with the yellow fin? I have not seen that before!

I believe that's a saltwater mono.

 

[texasreefer92]

Under the corals
On serious note yes you are correct I went with less rock in my display this time because I wanted more space for fish and corals. I don’t use bio pellets, I don’t use a skimmer, I don’t do vodka dosing or any dosing, I don’t run socks or fleece rollers, I have zero mechanical filtration, and I don’t do water changes. I have no automation or controllers, I don’t even use an auto top off.

I do keep extra rock in my sump. My only filtration is a surf2 algae scrubber and a cryptic zone in my sump

As for in tank rock I tuned some lights up and took pics

These are all rock structures I built they are covered in coral

This gsp is fully encrusted over a massive piece of tonga branch, propped on other rocks

Far left side has some rock hidden under / behind the floating branch shelves

And took new full tank shots also cause why not show off what an established low maintenance, low tech tank can be

I love that!!! I think a big thing people always see in this hobby are these big fancy equipment pieces and it’s nice to see such a success where they don’t use any of it!!! I would love to not do water changes but don’t know enough yet to get away from them. We are working towards that though!

 

[VintageReefer]

VERY IMPRESSIVE!!! How do you like the coral frag stands? I have some jerks in my tank that keep tipping over my corals on the sandy bed so considering getting some. Raja Rampage i freaking love!!!!

Honestly I overlooked frag stands for a long time then got one and thought it was great (and cheap) so I got a few more. If you bury the base well they never fall, but sometimes end up tilted, but hey, better than falling.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

3 years in March. Be careful what you wish for. Growth is good until it isn’t and you have to trim stuff constantly to keep them from killing one another.

Wow! Beautiful

 

[VintageReefer]

Still impressive set up! I like the vibrant colors of your current one. What is the massive silver fish with the yellow fin? I have not seen that before!

It is a Mono Argentus, a brackish fish that can be adapted to saltwater. He was a model citizen has for many years - Tang sized, no barbs, super peaceful, and NEVER nipped a single coral or invert and didn’t show any aggression to any of my other fish.

 

[Formulator]

Under the corals
On serious note yes you are correct I went with less rock in my display this time because I wanted more space for fish and corals. I don’t use bio pellets, I don’t use a skimmer, I don’t do vodka dosing or any dosing, I don’t run socks or fleece rollers, I have zero mechanical filtration, and I don’t do water changes. I have no automation or controllers, I don’t even use an auto top off.

I do keep extra rock in my sump. My only filtration is a surf2 algae scrubber and a cryptic zone in my sump

As for in tank rock I tuned some lights up and took pics

These are all rock structures I built they are covered in coral

This gsp is fully encrusted over a massive piece of tonga branch, propped on other rocks

Far left side has some rock hidden under / behind the floating branch shelves

And took new full tank shots also cause why not show off what an established low maintenance, low tech tank can be

Love the low maintenance approach! Obviously you know what you are doing, but if I had anything to suggest it would be to give in to the ATO… Then your tank could really run itself!

 

[VintageReefer]

The mint hammer in the middle of this pic started as a 50$ two head frag about a year ago and now is approx 25 heads

The banana torch started as a single head just over a year ago and now is forming 7 heads

Buy frags and be patient, keep things stable and they will grow

 

[Formulator]

Do you still have the yellow tang? Love the Zoa garden & the leathers!

Thanks! Unfortunately I lost the tang about a year ago. I was going through a rough patch with my health both mentally and physically and I’m quite ashamed, but I think he may have starved to death. This is that same tank after a 2 year period of complete neglect. Lost most everything.

But I have my health back now and have overhauled the tank over the last few months. I have a ways to go but starting to look like a reef again!

 

[cilyjr]

A BEAUTY !!! That Clam is amazing! I love everything about this tank the placement of corals, aquascape and fish! do you have any other tanks or out of the hobby now?

I have a 320 gallon display that has been running since March of 2023.

 

[cilyjr]

I wonder who was able to buy it, must be difficult to move safely. I would think once its that size, its not going to be moved

A club member of Boston reef society bought it. It moved easily. It was heavy. I never waited but if I were to guess somewhere between 15 and 20 lb. It was quite the calcium hog.

Funny story, I got it for free from a friend who was tearing down a tank asked me to hold it for him. He got married and never set up again. It was about 4inches

 

[JGT]

Wow! Beautiful

Aw, thanks.

 

[JGT]

That is so encouraging to hear! I would love to have colony money but even some of these frags have me sweating, so it’s nice to see what can come from frags. I am underwhelmed with my chalices i have currently have and want to add some more colorful one. I am looking at Raja Rampage one. I think it maybe a cliché but i love how bright it is! Do you have chalice recommendation?

There are so many varieties of chalices and they come in all colors. I got this Raja Rampage probably a year and half ago. It was about the size of silver dollar. It’s now a good 4-5”. There are some really colorful ones. Checkout one called a Jellybean Chalice or Crayola Meltdown. Unbelievable colors. But not cheap either.

 

[texasreefer92]

Better shot

Wow!!!! Looks incredible I hope one day to have something like this!

 

[lbacha]

This was setup as a temporary tank after I moved to my new house. I’m finally building a large 300+ display but this has been doing well in the meantime.

 

[texasreefer92]

The mint hammer in the middle of this pic started as a 50$ two head frag about a year ago and now is approx 25 heads

The banana torch started as a single head just over a year ago and now is forming 7 heads

Buy frags and be patient, keep things stable and they will grow

Gorgeous pieces!!!

 

[texasreefer92]

This was setup as a temporary tank after I moved to my new house. I’m finally building a large 300+ display but this has been doing well in the meantime.

Amazing!!! I can’t wait to see what you do with your 300+ display!!! Document it!!!

 

[texasreefer92]

Love how full everything is!! And I love the yellow tang!!!

 

[lbacha]

Amazing!!! I can’t wait to see what you do with your 300+ display!!! Document it!!!

I have a build thread for it here

Large Build - Lbacha’s 310g GlassCages SPS build

Hello fellow reefers Build details are in the second post I’m starting this thread to track the latest stages of a 30+ year journey. I can’t remember the number of different reef tanks I have kept since the late 80’s when my aunt helped me setup a 29g saltwater tank with damsels a pair of...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[texasreefer92]

I have a build thread for it here

Large Build - Lbacha’s 310g GlassCages SPS build

Hello fellow reefers Build details are in the second post I’m starting this thread to track the latest stages of a 30+ year journey. I can’t remember the number of different reef tanks I have kept since the late 80’s when my aunt helped me setup a 29g saltwater tank with damsels a pair of...

www.reef2reef.com

Awesome I followed it and checking it out now!!!

 

[MrGisonni]

30 gallon mixed reef. Three years in next month. I just recently added some VHOs to supplement my AI primes. I needed to start dosing nitrates and my Alk consumption is off the charts. Coming out of this small transition period and things are super charged.