UWWMATT's TOTM Thread! July 09

[arctictwist]

UWWMatt's 25G Mixed Reef

Bio
This tank was started in December 2008 using mostly used parts purchased from local hobbyist. My goal was to build a set up that would be as cost effective as possible because of my limited budget. Much of my original livestock came from my old 14G Biocube. Because of my finite budget I did not really have a set plan for my new system. I just kept an eye out for used pieces that would go together. Hopefully this will show people that you don't need thousands of dollars to set up a beautiful reef aquarium.


Brief Tank Stats
Display: 25G AGA (24 1/4x12 1/2x20 3/4)
Sump:10G AGA
Light: 150w Sunpod
Water Movement: Vortech MP20 Mag5 Return
Filtration: Carbon Reactor/ AquaC Urchin Skimmer/ Mangroves/ Cheato
Controller: ReefKeeper Lite
Temperature: 78-80
ATO: Tsunami ato
Established: December 2008

Equipment Descriptions

As mentioned earlier, most of my initial purchases where used products from other local reefers. I bought the tank, stand, and various equipment shown here for $50.


It took me a while to clean everything, but things began to come together pretty fast.





These pictures show my original sump and plumbing design, which would eventually be rearranged.



An unforeseen disaster (my sump cracking and draining all over my floor) made me redouble my efforts and I redesigned my sump.









Your plan
I always new I wanted a mixed reef, so from the very beginning I knew that the placement of each coral would be very important. I also made sure I had a good skimmer and carbon reactor to combat the chemicals that the various corals release when in close proximity. As you can see in the picture below I have created different zones for the various types of corals.

[arctictwist]

As for the other tank inhabitants I have always liked to keep very small inverts, like sexy and bumblebee shrimp. I like the idea that the closer you look at my tank the more interesting things you can see.


Maintenance
Water Changes I try to do a 20% water change every other week. I recently purchased an Air Water & Ice RO/DI unit for all my water change and top-off water. Before that I used the grocery store "Water Island" for 2 years without a problem.

Salt Reef Crystals mixed to 1.025

AdditivesNone. I have a two part solution but I haven't been using it.

TestingNone. I don't use test kits, and I never have with any of my tanks. I am not suggesting that people do this, its laziness not pride. I do constantly monitor temperature and regularly check specific gravity with a refractometer.

FeedingEvery 2-3 days. I feed my tank a variety of food including cyclopeeze, table shrimp, krill, flake food, Microvert, seaweed pellets, mysis. I usually soak the food in a garlic solution before feeding it to the tank. For the most part I do not spot feed anything in my tank.

Pictures and descriptions of Inhabitants.


Fish
1 Orange Spotted Goby (2 years old), 1 Bicolor Blenny (1 year old), 1 Blue-green Chromis (7 months old), 3 Spotted Gill Cardinals (2 months)

[arctictwist]

Crabs
1 Porcelain Crab, 1 Pom Pom Crab, 1 Emerald Crab, 1 Acropora Crab, 1 Electric Blue Hermit Crab, 6 Assorted Blue and Red Legged Hermits







Shrimp
1 Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Bumblebee Shrimp, 1 sexy Shrimp

[CleanUpCrew]

Very nice !!

[arctictwist]

Snails
Dwarf Ceriths, Florida Ceriths, Dwarf Planaxis, Nerites, Nassarius Vibexes, Zig Zag Periwinkles, Collonista snails, Astraea

Clams
1 Golden Maxima Clam

Corals
leathers, mushrooms, polyps, LPS, SPS







Hitchhikers
Asterina Starfish, Microbrittle Starfish, Mystery Crab (I have never seen it move, ever), Limpits, Feather Dusters



Macro Algae (in sump)
Cheato, Grape Caulerpa, Unidentified Red Macro Algae, Mangroves

Final thoughts
Probably the most important thing that a person can do to have a successful reef tank is to research...research...and more research, using sites like this to ask questions and find answers. Patiences is another very important virtue that most successful reefers posses. People in this hobby have heard it a million times, but I still believe it's very true that only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

For the most part, I am done adding things to my tank. From now on I want to just let it continue to grow out, and perhaps I will try and begin fragging my corals. That is one thing that I have never really learned and I think it would be a worthwhile endeavor.

Thanks,
Matt

[arctictwist]

I would like to point out one thing unique about matts win. Matts tank will be the only one that qualifies as a nano and wins TOTM. Due to the fact that we change the guidelines for nano versus everything else.

[Uwwmatt]

I would like to point out one thing unique about matts win. Matts tank will be the only one that qualifies as a nano and wins TOTM. Due to the fact that we change the guidelines for nano versus everything else.

Thats good to know.


If anyone has any questions about my tank feel free to ask, and I will do my best to answer them.

[Ed Reef]

Are you using any cooling for your system Matt?? Always love nano and yours is tops!!

[Uwwmatt]

Thanks Ed,

I am currently using a fan like this one I purchased off Ebay


I have it set to automatically turn on (using a reefkeeper lite) when temperatures in the tank are above 78 degrees.

[CleanUpCrew]

I think Matt should get a badge for his tank of the month.