Hi, my name is Andrey Ospin (aka Platax), I live in Moscow.

My first try with this hobby began in 1978 with keeping fishes and invertebrates from the Black sea. Possibility appeared in consequence to gain tropical fish, anemones and corals.

My current aquarium is 600 L (155 g) and was established in 1989. It has outlived already three exchanges. My last aquarium was reconstructed April 2 2005 to accommodate about 70 kg of live rock, with a 10-12 cm DSB of aragonite sand.

Water circulation - TUNZE-7400/2 with comptroller TUNZE-7091 (works in mode of the wave) and one powerhead HAGEN -420.

Lightning - I use an Arcadia 3 Series Pendant light system with two 150W MH (BLV 14000K), two fluorescent lights of the standard T8 on SYLVANIA CORALSTAR 30 W / ACTINIC, with built in light timers (separate cut-in MH and LL). This is 20 cm (8 inches) from the surface.

Sump is 100 L split into two parts, one with the return flow from the main tank with the Tunze 230/3 skimmer and the refugium acts as a type of mechanical filter. Sediments collect and form a mud sandbed. Macroalgae is grown and harvested here, the other part is with return pump and H&S 110-F2000 skimmer and carbon. Return pump from sump is an EHEIM-1260. The sump/refugium has hosted baby Bangaii cardinalfish that were grown out here with supplemental feedings. Water bottles on the sump are used to drip Kalkwasser and makeup water.

A four-stage AquaPro RO/DI unit makes all top-off water for evaporation and water changes. Basic tank maintenance includes top-off from evaporation with kalkwasser (roughly five liters per day) and additives as needed. Once per week I perform a 5 liter water change. The skimmer cup is cleaned two to three times per week to keep the skimmers performing optimally.

Feeding consists of a combination of frozen foods – gamarus, mysid, artemias, bloodworms and daphnia, krill, homemade food along with nori, which is fed twice a day. The refugium is teeming with microfauna, providing another food source for the fish.

Water Parameters

• Ca 350-400
• KH 5,0-7,0
• pH 8,2-8,4
• Nitrate: 0
• Phosphate: 0

Fish

• 1 Zanclus cornutus
• 1 Zebrasoma flavescens
• 1 Zebrasoma xanthurum
• 2 Amphiprion ocelaris - age 8 years!
• 1 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
• 1 Chrysiptera leucopoma
• 1 Halichoeres chrysus
• 2 Pterapogon kauderni
• 2 Spheromia nematoptera
• 1 Pseudanthias rubrizonatus
• 4 Pseudanthias squamipinnis
• 1 Chelmon rostratus

Corals

• Sarcophyton glaucum and Sarcophyton sp.
• Gorgonians - Euplexaura sp.
• Lithophyton arboreum
• Sinularia dura
• Sinularia brassica
• Sinularia sp.
• Capnella imbricata
• Pachyclavularia violacea
• Clavularia viridis
• Clavularia spp.
• colony Zoanthus sp., Palythoa sp.
• colony mushroom Discosoma sp., Actinodiscus sp.
• Two greater Host-anemones live since 1998.

Invertebrates

• 1 Stenopus hispidus
• 1 Lysmata debelius
• 1 Lysmata amboinensis
• 2 Pagurus sp.

My English is not great, but I will attempt to answer any questions that you have.

Best Regards,

Andrey Ospin ( platax.mail@gmail.com )