Ancient Mariner's 100 Gallons of Acropora Splendor

Gear in this tank

Lighting

Radium 20K ×2 $999.99in stock, Reef Brite XHO 50/50 LED ×1 $359.73in stock, Reef Brite XHO white LED ×1 $359.73in stock

Skimmer

Aqua-C EV-240

Return

Iwaki 40XRT

Flow

EcoTech Marine MP40 Vortech ×2 $431.99in stock, Maxspect 4K Gyre ×1 $672.99in stock

ATO

Tunze Osmolator 3155 $76.49in stock

Dosing

calcium reactor and two-part

Filtration

protein skimmer

Salt

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals $63.74in stock

Water Changes

20% biweekly water changes using filtered tap water (pre-filter and carbon only).

Feeding

Fish are fed frozen mysis (1 cube twice daily), nori (2x2 inch square every other day), and 2 algae wafers every other day. Corals are not specifically fed.

Protocols & Practices

• The tank is built into a staircase landing and slides out 8 inches for access.
• Uses filtered tap water for ATO and water changes, bypassing RO/DI membranes.
• Maintains high circulation flow with two MP40s and a Maxspect Gyre for SPS dominance.
• Employs both a calcium reactor and a 2-part doser for alkalinity supplementation as a buffer against malfunctions.
• Does not dose trace elements, nitrate, phosphate, nutrients, or coral food.
• Relies on 400w metal halides for high light, with LEDs used only for viewing.
• Performs daily fish feeding and calcium reactor checks.
• Tests alkalinity weekly, cleans glass panels weekly, and performs biweekly 20% water changes.
• Refills calcium reactor substrate and 2-part solutions every two months.
• Cleans skimmer and circulation pumps every 3-4 months, and changes metal halide bulbs annually.
• Started with a mix of old cultured artificial live rock, dry rock, and accumulated debris (muck) from a previous reef.
• Maintains a bare bottom tank, having siphoned out aragonite that became covered with nuisance algae.
• Focuses on hardy, proven 'old school' corals, particularly ORA corals.
• Learned to wait 6-12 months before adding Acropora to a new reef to reduce losses.
• Avoids keeping organisms known to be nearly impossible to keep alive in captivity.

Target Parameters

Livestock