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ALLCORALS REEF TANKS & GEAR
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MJ Aquascaping

Beginner Friendly Reef Tank

Tank 1 of 3 from THE ULTIMATE BEGINNER FRIENDLY REEF TANK! FULL AQUARIUM BUILD START TO FINISH (No skimmer)

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.
Video by MJ Aquascaping
Equipment

Gear in this tank

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

Protocols & Practices

  • 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.
Chemistry

Target Parameters

Salinity
34-35 PPT
Stocked

Livestock

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