Welcome to my (near) Zero Maintenance Reef!

[VintageReefer]

 

[twentyleagues]

Holy moly every coral in your tank got its own 15 min of fame!
Looks incredible! Some of the pics are super clean too professional even.

 

[timmyrules]

Your tank is SOOOO pretty!!!!

 

[VintageReefer]

Holy moly every coral in your tank got its own 15 min of fame!
Looks incredible! Some of the pics are super clean too professional even.

Thanks !

The website cut me off lol apparantly you can only have 60 attachments in a post sheesh

 

[VintageReefer]

Your tank is SOOOO pretty!!!!

Thank you !

 

[BryanM]

Thanks !

The website cut me off lol apparantly you can only have 60 attachments in a post sheesh

Over achiever !!

 

[fisherdonk]

Thanks for sharing, I have a few questions:
- Do you think you could do without a scrubber?
- If you had thick enough sand do you think you could go without a refugium?
- Do you think there is a cleanup crew member you could add to avoid having t ocean the glass?

 

[VintageReefer]

Thanks for sharing, I have a few questions:
- Do you think you could do without a scrubber?

Yes, other forms of filtration could be used, along with other methods for nutrient control

- If you had thick enough sand do you think you could go without a refugium?

No.

- Do you think there is a cleanup crew member you could add to avoid having t ocean the glass?

Nothing I have found has eliminated this need.

 

[AdamG280]

Hello there…I’m V.R. And I haven’t been without at least 2 reef tanks running at once in the last 23 years.

Some background on me…I have been keeping coral reefs for over 20 years. I was around when leds were new, and I love to see how far they have come. I was an original investor in both reefbreeders led’s and Santa Monica turf scrubbers when they both came out. I’ve had full sps dominant reefs and grown colonies from 1” frags to football size colonies. My mixed reef was a huge hit on that other forum many years ago. Basically. Been around the block..but always willing to learn.

Most people who quit have the same common issues

• it takes too much time
• it’s too complex / costly to maintain
• or they hit a disaster and are so devastated they can’t even imagine starting over.

I’ve been through all three and that’s how my tank evolved into what it is today.
My current display tank has got to be my favorite project since I started in this hobby, the zero maintenance reef! Let’s face it, life changes and eventually you don’t have the time you used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a awesome reef!
This particular tank has been running with coral living in it in one way or another for the past 10+ years. This is the original rock and sand. It’s gone through many stages, and some near total wipe outs. I’ve learned and adapted.

In its current stage haven’t performed a water change in 2 years. I don’t test regularly. I don’t chase numbers. I don’t dose. I don’t run a skimmer or any reactor. Im very careful and particular with what I add to the tank. I anticipate growth and would prefer to wait and grow out frags into large colonies. I monitor and maintain one parameter - salinity. I add fw top off with a few squirts of All For Reef about once a week. I empty my scrubber as needed. I added berghia nudi once when I had an aiptasia explosion, and now a year later I’m starting to get more again so I think I’ll do another round.

Most of these coral colonies started as single heads or were small frags that I grew out myself over the last 1-2 years. To me, the tank is a perfect blend of value vs time. I put very little effort into it, but I’m blown away by it every day.

So what does a nearly zero maintenance reef look like after 2 years…let me know what you think

Let me know if you want any more info on my equipment, corals, clean up crew, or lessons/setbacks along the way to get here. My biggest piece of advice is take your time - wait for the tank to be established, don’t rush, don’t make too many changes or additions at once, let things grow into place. And finally, only buy from trusted/reputable sources. Enjoy!


Edit: I also keep a nearly maintenance free 1.1g pico reef, the build thread is here and I keep it up to date

Build Thread - 1.1 Gallon Oceanbox P1-G Pico Reef

Starting overdue build thread :) I am the second owner, and am fortunate to have such a cool tank with some useful upgrades The tank with Reefbreeders Pico V2 15w LED Stand is usable space Custom made gravity ato Custom made lid + cooling fan 3 section Media rack

www.reef2reef.com

A disaster happened to me. I got some kind of white slime that took over the tank. Every time I removed or I did a water change, it was all over again in less than a day. I accidentally forgot to wash my arm and didn’t use gloves so some fragrance from my cologne got in the tank and must have added phthalates. I’m using gloves this time every time and non fragrance glycerin soap before I touch anything. I’m not even going to use fragrance in the room. Anyway, welcome. If you have any ideas regarding how to better avoid white slime, let me know.

 

[VintageReefer]

A disaster happened to me. I got some kind of white slime that took over the tank. Every time I removed or I did a water change, it was all over again in less than a day. I accidentally forgot to wash my arm and didn’t use gloves so some fragrance from my cologne got in the tank and must have added phthalates. I’m using gloves this time every time and non fragrance glycerin soap before I touch anything. I’m not even going to use fragrance in the room. Anyway, welcome. If you have any ideas regarding how to better avoid white slime, let me know.

I would attempt skimming more on the wet side and adding carbon or gfo

You can additionally try chemipure elite - it is carbon, gfo and a phosphate resin all in a single pouch

 

[EliMelly]

Looking good man, love your choices regarding LPS. Next up for me are some nice gonis and you are quite an inspiration.

 

[VintageReefer]

Part 2
Hopefully no duplicates from the prior post

 

[VintageReefer]

And some new items coming next week.

Sneak peek of one of them.

Parent colony my frag came from

New release from SBB, Disney Magic

Incoming Frag

 

[VintageReefer]

And also coming

 

[JoJosReef]

That one just screaming "Feed me, Morris!"

 

[twentyleagues]

Nice macro shots! You and those gonis! Mine is still about the same little puffier at times, no real reaching out though. Looks happy, I think.

 

[VintageReefer]

Nice macro shots! You and those gonis! Mine is still about the same little puffier at times, no real reaching out though. Looks happy, I think.

A lot of my Goni started as little nubby bushes that opened but didn’t extend. I find that they don’t start to extend until they grow to a certain size base mat

 

[VintageReefer]

 

[keepingfishwithnoidea]

new background

 

[VintageReefer]

new background

I’m honored, and honestly it makes a great background! Now activate your windows and get rid of the watermark or are you a pirate ?!?!