Total System Gallons, approximately 350 US
Gallons
The 180 was setup august 1998 and included
the contents of a 60 gallon system I started March 1997. The 230-gallon refugium was added
in May 1999.
Methodology
My goal was to create a model of a reef
environment where reef building corals were at their peek growth and heath and reef fish
could feel quite at home In a natural setting.. The refugium was added to increase the
total water volume and accommodate possible food sources.
Water circulation
One RK2 Systems 1/8 Horse power putting out
3600 gallons per hour returns water from t he sump to the main tank to a 1" Sea Swirl
rotating device and other 1/2" returns. It also powers the skimmer. A Hagen 802 that
puts out roughly 400 gallons per hour feeds the refugium. One Tunze 2002 Turbelle moves
water inside that tank. (note, as corals have grown, water circulation has diminished
inside the main tank dramatically.
Lighting
I have tried many lighting schemes for the
180-gallon tank. The first was 3 Radium blue 400 bulbs with 4 VHO actinic, Next 3 Iwasaki
400 watt bulbs with 3 VHO actinic and one 50/50 VHO. Now I use 2 Ushio 10K with 3 VHO
actinic and 1 aquasun VHO. There is one Spider light reflector and one champion reflector.
The entire hood inside is lined with 1/8-mirrored acrylic.
Metal halide lighting periods range from 7
hours to 10 hours, VHO 13 hours.
The refugium is lighted at night from 9pm to
10am (RDP). There are 4 24" normal output fluorescents run on one home depot
electronic ballast. There is mirrored acrylic above those bulbs.
Filtration
One MTC HSA2000 skimmer fed by the main pump.
Live sand in the main tank and refugium.
Approximatly 6".
Live rock from various sources approximately
180 lbs.
Additional equipment
1/3hp Aquanetics Chiller rarely turned on but
plumbed into system.
One enclosed fan for drawing out air off
hood. and one 4" muffin fan. One
8" $6 clip-on fan positioned to blow
across the tanks water surface and out doors.
Calcium and Additives
One MTC ProCal calcium reactor is used to
keep DKH around 12.
All evaporated water is mixed with Calcium
Hydroxide in a Nilsen reactor and dosed via one Liter Meter 24/7
Feeding Regimen
I have fed a variety of foods. Flake, pellet,
home made prepared food from Sanjays recipe., algal pastes and many more. I have fed
heavily during periods and lightly during others. This tank does well with one light
feeding per day and one heavy feeding per week. I have found no exact requirement for this
topic. Times with no feeding at all the tank looked as good or better than with heavy
feeding. I feed and leave the debate for the experts.
Maintenance Regimen
100 gallons of water is changed every 3
months or so using Instant ocean or Tropic Marine salt mix. Skimmer is cleaned every 2
weeks. Glass is cleaned once a week.
All equipment and tank inspected daily. All
top-off water is RO/DI dosed 24/7
Test DKH weekly. Display tank is enjoyed
daily.
Current
Inhabitants:
Corals
Many colonies of Acropora, Montipora,
pocillopora, Stylophora.,Seriatopora Turbinaria, Merulina, Echinophillia, Echinopora,
Favities, and many more.
Fish
Zebrasoma rostratum, Psydochromis friedmani,
Centropyge loriculus, Calloplesiops altivelis and one black molly blennie.
Clams
One 6" T.derasa, one 4" T,derasa,
one 2"T. squamosa and one 2"T, Maxima
Most of the full-grown corals are from
fragments I bought or traded with hobbyists or stores. There are a few that were bought as
Solomons disks that are now large colonies. Some corals come from other hobbyist that had
them for many years growing and fragmenting them for others.
There has been no wild coral addition in well over
one year. The corals are propagated when ever possible and sold or traded to
support the systems expenses and to further spread them to other hobbyists tanks.
