SCR Member: Dipan00
First Name: Dipan
Years in Hobby: 25ish
Age of Featured Reef: 6 years
INTRODUCTION
I have always been fascinated with the ocean and all the cool creatures that live in it. A buddy of mine got a JBJ nano cube and I instantly fell in love with the idea of getting one for myself. My first tank was a JBJ 24g nano cube 25+ years ago. I still have that tank and now use it as a qt set up for future fish.
From there I transitioned to a 100g peninsula and now the reef that is being feature my 187g Peninsula. When I first started this tank I just transferred everything from the 100g peninsula to the new 187g set up. Ultimately I did a full rescape with new rock and built these new rock structures using e-marco mortar. The idea of this newscape and tank was to go SPS dominant. This system has had some ups and some downs but I have been able to grow out some pretty good size colonies.
SYSTEM PROFILE
Display tank: 187g Display nothing fancy
Frag Tank: 50g Lowboy connected to system
Dimensions: 60x30x24
Stand: Built myself with the help of a friend
Sump: 75g Aqueon with a baffle kit I got from Ebay
Protein skimmer: Coral Box Cloud 9
Return Pump: Neptune Cor15
Water circulations: 1 Jebao CP120 and 2 Your Choice Aquatics EW-60 Wave
Lighting: Reefbreeders Photon 50 V2+ with 4 Blue+ LED Bars similar to the Orphek Bars
Doser: 2 Neptune Dos
Heater: Mix bag 1 BRS 300w Titanium Heater + 1 Aqueon Pro 300w
Chiller: None
Controller: Neptune Systems
UV: 2 55w Jebao
Reactor: Carbon/GFO Aquamaxx
ATO: Simple Aqualifter with a float switch
KALK: Avast Marine Kalk Stirrer K2
WATER PARAMETERS & DOSING
ALK: 8.0 - 8.5
CA: 400 - 450
MAG: 1300 - 1450
PHOSPHATE: .05-.10 Hannah
NITRATE: 12 NYOS
TEMP: 78F
SALINITY: 35ppt
PH: 8.3
Dosing
- ATI Essentials Pro
- Kalkwasser
- Reef Moonshine
I use the reefbreeders and pretty much run all channels at 100% peak for at least 5 hours before ramping up and down. My light schedule runs from 9 am to 10 pm with 12-5 running at 100% on reefbreeders and 35% on each of my 4 bars. I have noticed the stronger the light source the crazier my colors can get. Most of my acros sit in the 300 - 500 par range. You dont need the best or most expensive lighting set up out there. I use to color up and grow acros with the black box LEDs and got some of the best colors out of my acros.
WATER FLOW
I don't understand flow as I know its needed and see so many tank thrive with it but my system doesn't seem to thrive in high flow for some reason seem to stress some of my pieces out.
FILTRATION AND MAINTENANCE
My filtration consists of me using my Skimmer, Carbon/GFO Reactors and chaeto which never grows for me LOL. I got lazy a long time ago and ditched my filter socks so I don't have any of those in my tank now. I also hardly ever do any water changes. Maybe once a year I will do a 20% water change but that if I ever need to siphon out any detritus.
CORALS AND FISH
I have a variety of fish and coral. I love Wrasses but have lost a few recently as a lot of my fish are getting old.
Some of my Corals:
The fish I currently have:
- Midas Blenny
- 8 Line Wrasse
- 5 Chromis
- 5 Bangai Cardinals
- Leopard Wrasse
- Mandarin Goby
- Diamond Goby
- Tomini Tang
- Convict Tang
- Desjardini Sailfin Tang
FRAG TANK
- 50g Lowboy frag tank that is plumbed together with the display.
FINAL THOUGHT AND RECOMMENDATION
If you're new and just starting your journey into this hobby be patient with your system. Start with easy corals that will be forgiving before you venture into the world of acros. You will have some ups and downs. Ask in this forum if you are struggling with something. There are plenty of people in here that have a wealth of solid information they can share with you. Something you're not going to like is QT all of your fish. It sucks to do but worse is getting a stocked system and then you introduce 1 fish that comes in with a disease and wipes out your entire fish collections. I use a 24g all in one JBJ cube which makes it fairly easy to do and they can be found for pretty cheap on the used market.
A big key to success are keeping your water parameters stable. These are the top elements I focus on for success: ALK, CA, MG, NO3, PO4 If you can master that you will have a successful and thriving reef tank.
I'm lazy so I don't do water changes so dosing is my go to for stability.
Final thoughts, I have been in this hobby a long time and just when I think I know what I'm doing I get punched in the face LOL. Don't let these pictures fool you I have been through some very highs and very lows. We all go through them for one reason or another so don't get discouraged. Follow the process, every system is different and enjoy the journey. Happy Reefing!
More details at my SCR build thread: LINK HERE
Please help me congratulate @Dipan00 on this informative writeup for the SoCaliReef's community.
