member: colereef/mitts redrico west los angeles, ca
History
I started this hobby 3 years ago when my wife's uncle gave me his 32g Jebo reef aquarium. I don't have any experience with saltwater so I did some research on books and the reef forums. I added sump, bigger skimmer, more flow, metal halide and bought more corals. After 2 years my wife and I decided to upgrage to my current system.
Previous 32gallon reef
Tank
Display: 24"x24"x20" Cadlight 50g, 3 sided Starphire, rimless tank, 16g glass with baffle sump
Lighting
120w LED lighting 50/50 white 14k/blue 456 nm, DIY black acrylic shield
Circulation
2 Vortech MP40w ES/MP10 ES, Return line using 2400 Rio Pump
Filtration
BM Nac6 Protein skimmer, Bulkreef supply Phosphate reactor,Using RowaPhos.
Other Equipment
BM 3 line Doser, JBJ ATO, Via Aqua Titanium heater, WaterGeneral 6 stage RoDi
Chiller
No chiller, Condo temp. 72-76 degrees all year
Water Parameters
SG: 1.024-1.025
Temp: 78-79 degrees
pH: 8.1-8.3
Alkalinity: 9
Ca: 420
Mg: 1400
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphate: 0
Fishes and Corals and Critters
6 fishes- Australian Sailfin Tang, Cole Tang, Mystery Wrasse, True Percula, Dart fish and Lawnmower Blenny
Corals- Variety of Sps, Lps and soft corals, too many to mention
Critters- 1 Red banded shrimp,2 red starfish, lots of nano conch, blue legged hermit crabs and a few turbo snails
Maintenance
Maintenance, Feeding and Dosing : I test my water parameters every week using Salifert, Refractometer and every time I visit my LFS. I use Brightwell Aquatics for Potassium, Vitamins, trace element and Kalk+2, Elos amino acid and Bulkreefsupply for Ca, Alk and Mg. I dose Alk 15ml, Ca 5ml, Mg 5ml every day using BM auto doser Potassium, Vit and trace elements, amino acid once a week. Water change twice a month using Tropic marin. The Aquarium uses almost 5g of Rodi water with Kalk+2 every week. Carbon in a net changed every month and Filter socks change every twice a month. I feed the fishes with Nori, Spirulina or fish flakes everyday and frozen Cyclops for the corals once or twice a week.
Future Plans
Planning to build a algae scrubber with this tank. Future tank upgrade will be Peninsula tank from LeeMar 150g 60x24x24, Eurobrace and starphire, Vortech MP60 live rock from Marco rocks, algae scrubber, Led lights.
Future buy
Australian gold torch and acro's, can't get enough of colorful ORA acro's,Bright Pink watermelon, and bright colored mini-nems.
LFS
I go to Carson Tropical Fish in Hawaiian garden. Tom has unbelievable low prices on corals, fish and equipment, lower than online and other LFS in Socal. For fishes I go to a small pet store in bell garden on Atlantic st., lower than hobbyist selling their fishes
Tips and Tricks
Before buying livestock do research, research and more research. Dip your corals and inspect for flatworms and annoying starfishes. Color coordinate your corals and fishes, buy different and brighter colors and small fishes to make your tank look bigger. Use the combination of glue gel and epoxy to stick your corals to rocks. Buy additives by the bulk that will last you for years and years, It's a lot cheaper that way.To be successful in this hobby is to check your parameters as much as humanly as possible. Parameter swing is your enemy. Do not overfeed your fish and corals to avoid high nutrients. Learn from other people's mistake from reef forums. Let your family get involve in your hobby, It will keep your family together and your life easier.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the Socalireefs Admin and members for this opportunity, knowledge and support. I would also like to thank my family, my wife "Kelly" and my son "Nicholas". You guys are my Inspiration and make my life complete, Love You!
-Mitts
