My Reef Thrived During The Summer
- Thread starter maikoa02
- Start date
@JojosReef here's a perfectly good candidate imo
As most reefers know keeping a sps dominant system is the most challenging where stability is the key to success. You have to love the challenge and partially nuts as well. After being in the saltwater hobby since 1990 and keeping reefs since 1997ish I've gone through alot of different systems/ways of reefing, alot of ups and downs, and unfortunately alot of losses. Summer as most experienced reefers know, brings alot of challenges not with just the increased water temperature, but with bacterial and dino blooms. In fact most wholesalers and importers, I've talked to don't import alot of livestock during our summer months because of these challenges.
What I've attributed to my reef doing better this summer is really understanding water chemistry. I've been using Andre's Reef Moonshiner method since January 2020 and it's really worked the best for me. Also Greg C. convinced me to suck it up and invest in the Alkatronic and so last October I bought it for my birthday and boy has that machine been a game changer. I religiously test Alk once a week, along with Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4. But I didn't realize how much Alk was fluctuating in my system. So by monitoring and keeping Alk very stable the sps have been very happy. And lastly, upgrading my chiller to a 1/3 hp has allowed me to keep the tank at a constant temp of 77-78 F. Again stability.
What I've attributed to my reef doing better this summer is really understanding water chemistry. I've been using Andre's Reef Moonshiner method since January 2020 and it's really worked the best for me. Also Greg C. convinced me to suck it up and invest in the Alkatronic and so last October I bought it for my birthday and boy has that machine been a game changer. I religiously test Alk once a week, along with Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4. But I didn't realize how much Alk was fluctuating in my system. So by monitoring and keeping Alk very stable the sps have been very happy. And lastly, upgrading my chiller to a 1/3 hp has allowed me to keep the tank at a constant temp of 77-78 F. Again stability.
Thank you. My first love and what got me into this hobby was angelfish. But when I got the reef bug, all advanced reefers back then writing in FAMA and other fish magazines and books said almost impossible or only with dwarf or the genicanthus type. So I held off until I spoke with Copps at MACNA in New Orleans. Look up his systems and you will be blown away. He advised me on which large angels I may have better success with and so that's how I have the Indian Ocean Regal Angel and Goldflake. I also have an Asfur Angel in my frag tank. BTW all my angels I've had pre Covid. The Moorish Idol and the Semilavartus (Golden Butterfly) I decided to take a chance after seeing Youtube videos of a reefer in Sweden (Viking reefer..I think) who shares his secrets to a diverse system.
Yeah I try to not put my hands in too much and let things settle and grow. That's why I always say the magnet glass cleaners were the greatest invention in the aquarium hobby. As far as new additions, I actually added around 20 frags since the middle of August from various vendors from RAP, Adam from Battle Corals, and my good friend Phil (FragKiller).
Thank you much appreciate the encouragement. I do plan to add more angels, in fact I have a transitioning, well he's actually almost fully transitioned Imperator in QT for the past 2 months. He's now free of flukes, treated with copper and now he eats everything. I'm about to put him in my acclimation box in the display and see how my other fish react. Fingers crossed that they accept him. If not, I'll be posting a for sale thread lol.
Amazing setup - keep up the great work! Your setup is every reefers’ dream with SPS-dominant and angels. I’ve been trying to get there myself but only a year in so still lots of frag.
You’re also very modest but you can share your tank’s setup (I’m thinking a potential TOTM, hint hint @Jimbo327) that would be awesome.
Again, congrats!
You’re also very modest but you can share your tank’s setup (I’m thinking a potential TOTM, hint hint @Jimbo327) that would be awesome.
Again, congrats!
