Video by MJ Aquascaping · Specs extracted by AllCorals · Watch on YouTube ↗

MJ Aquascaping

THE ULTIMATE BEGINNER FRIENDLY REEF TANK! FULL AQUARIUM BUILD START TO FINISH (No skimmer)

3

Tanks Featured

63

Minutes

2025

Released

This video documents the creation of a beginner-friendly reef tank over six months, emphasizing a low-tech approach without a protein skimmer and using a freshwater LED light. The host details the setup process, including hardscaping, water preparation, cycling with live sand and macro algae, and the gradual introduction of a cleanup crew, soft corals, and fish. The goal is to show that reef keeping can be simple, affordable, and enjoyable for newcomers.

⏭ Skip to a moment

00:00:46Tank and initial equipment introduction 00:02:10Discussion on not using a protein skimmer 00:02:56Hardscape selection and process 00:08:52RO water system and salt mixing 00:15:50Adding live sand 00:23:10Cycling process and adding macro algae 00:29:31Introducing cleanup crew (snails and copepods) 00:33:26Fragging and adding first corals 00:46:34Adding first fish 00:49:524-month update and new inhabitants 00:58:166-month update and two-part dosing system

The Builds

3 Tanks Featured

Every spec, brand, and livestock mention pulled from the host's narration. Click any tank tour above to compare.

Tank 01

Beginner Friendly Reef Tank

15.8

Gallons

soft coral and macro algae dominant

Style

6

Months Old

Noise Scaper line 60

Brand

60cm x 35cm x 35cm

This 6-month-old 15.8-gallon tank is designed as a beginner-friendly, low-tech reef system, utilizing a freshwater LED light and a canister filter for flow instead of a protein skimmer. It focuses on soft corals and macro algae, with a diverse cleanup crew and a two-part dosing system for stability. The tank successfully demonstrates a simplified approach to reef keeping, emphasizing natural aesthetics and minimal maintenance.

Lighting

×1

Dosing

two-part

Filtration

canister filter with macro algae

Water Changes

20% water change every 2-3 weeks on all three tanks (total 25L)

Feeding

Feeds fish and macro algae; ghost feeding during cycling

Husbandry & Practices 13

Uses a freshwater LED light to grow macro algae and soft corals, avoiding blue light.
Relies on a large canister filter for flow rather than a protein skimmer.
Hardscape is built directly on the tank bottom glass to prevent shifting from digging inverts.
Uses liquid super glue with cotton pads to secure aquascape rocks.
Utilizes live sand with beneficial bacteria to shorten tank cycling time.
Ghost feeds the tank with fish food and doses bottled beneficial bacteria (Seachem Stability) during cycling.
Introduces macro algae early in the cycle to help kickstart the system and provide beneficial bacteria.
Adds a diverse cleanup crew of snails and copepods to manage algae during the diatom phase.
Frags corals from an existing tank using sharp scissors and attaches them with elastic bands.
Doses Seachem Fusion 1 and 2 (two-part system) for calcium and alkalinity, and previously Seachem Nitrogen and Phosphorus for macro algae.
Performs 20% water changes every 2-3 weeks and trims macro algae as part of routine maintenance.
Added a lid to prevent the royal gramma from jumping out of the tank.
Introduced a six-line wrasse to combat a flatworm issue.

Target Parameters

Salinity

34-35 PPT

Corals

6

Kenya treeyellow polyps (Parazoanthus)Palythoa grandisgreen star polypsZoanthidslong polyp toadstool leather

Fish

6

yellow clown gobybi-color blennyroyal grammapink bar gobyclownfish (pair)six-line wrasse

Inverts

9

Trochus snailsNassarius snailsBabylonian snailturbo snailcopepodspistol shrimppeppermint shrimpMithrax crabcleaner shrimp

Tank 02

Downstairs Cube Tank

mixed reef

Style

This 35-liter cube tank, located downstairs, houses a pair of clownfish, a goby, and a pistol shrimp. It features overgrown mushroom and toadstool leather corals, prompting the host to consider moving its inhabitants to the main tank.

Husbandry & Practices 1

Corals are getting overgrown, indicating a need for trimming.

Corals

2

mushroomtoadstool leather

Fish

2

clownfish (pair)goby

Inverts

1

pistol shrimp

Tank 03

Reef Bowl

natural reef

Style

The reef bowl is a low-maintenance, natural-looking setup with a yellow tail chromis. It receives minimal intervention, reflecting a philosophy that embraces a less pristine, more natural appearance, though its stand is showing signs of wear.

Water Changes

Very little maintenance, occasional sessions.

Husbandry & Practices 2

Maintained with very little intervention, focusing on a natural, less pristine aesthetic.
The stand is starting to cave in and may need replacement.

Fish

1

yellow tail chromis

In their own words

Notable Quotes

When most people think of a reef tank, probably the first thing that comes to mind is these blue and purple aquariums with fluorescent corals. They all seem to have a lot of expensive equipment and they just look super complicated to set up and difficult to maintain. But what if there was a different way?

I've been keeping reef tanks for about 3 years now and I've never used a protein skimmer. And that's just because I like to keep really easy corals.

I think in a reef tank, the rocks just have to sit on the bottom glass panel. You cannot place the rocks on the sand because a lot of cool saltwater creatures like to dig.

Some corals can be toxic and I think in this case it's the two that I just added on the right, the polythawa and there's another one I don't know the exact name but in general some corals in the zoantha family can be highly toxic not just you know you're going to have a little rash or some irritation not like actually deadly toxic.

I am getting so much enjoyment out of this tank, guys. It's probably my favorite in the studio right now.