INTRODUCTION
It is an honor to be chosen for Tank of the Season. My warmest and sincerest thank you is extended to the moderators of Manhattan Reef.
My Reef Tank is about 4 years old. I started with a Hexagon fish only tank about 10 years ago, now we have upgraded to a full blown 180g reef tank. I am fortunate that my Wife also loves the hobby. It makes upgrading and buying corals and equipment upgrades so much easier. I also want to take this chance to thank her.
SYSTEM PROFILE
Main tank: 180g 72”L x 24”W x 24”H standard AGA
Sump: Lifereef LF1-150
Total system volume: 210g
Water Movement
The two Mega overflows of the tank are fitted with 1” Durso standpipes the ¾ pipes are caped off for future use. The return is a Iwaki 40RLT 750 GPH plumb into two ¾ Sea Swirls. Water movement in the tank is provided by 3 Tunze’s (6060, 6000, 6100).
Water Parameters
Temperature: 79 to 82 degrees
Specific Gravity: 1.026
pH: 7.9 -8.10
Calcium: 410 - 440 ppm
Alkalinity: 7.00 – 8.50 dKH
Magnesium: 1250 ppm, need to raise it to about 1350
PO4: Tested with Salifert. My Wife is buying me the Hanna PO4 Photometer
NO3: Tested with Salifert. My Wife is buying me the Hanna NO3 Photometer
Filtration
I’m using a Barraquatic SK4220 driven by a Sequence Marlin Uno 2050 GPH. I also started using the Zeovit system about 6 months ago. I run filter socks which I change every two days. 25g water change is done weekly. I run a cup of ESV carbon and change it monthly. The reef has a 5” - 6” DSB using Southdown sand.
Additives
I’m running the ZEOVIT system right now. Calcium and Alkalinity is handle by my MTC Pro Cal Reactor. I add no other additives.
Lighting/Other Equipment
For lighting I use PFO ballasts and Ice Cap 660. I use two 250 watt Reeflux 10k bulbs with Lumenarc reflectors & 400 watt Reeflux 10k bulb with a spider reflector. The Ice cap 660 drives two 160 watt URI super actinic bulbs. The lighting cycle for Metal Halids is 8 hours and the actinics are for 11 hrs. The tank is monitored and controlled with the AquaController III.
CORALS
My Reef tank is about 90%
SPS and few
LPS. I’m extremely bad with names of corals so please forgive me for not identifying individual corals.
FISH
Copper Band Butterfly
1 Green Chromis
Hippo Tang
Chevron Tang
Achilles Tang
Yellow Tang
Blond Naso Tang
2 Percula Clownfish
Flame Hawkfish
SquareBack Anthias
Radiant Wrasse
Spotted Mandarin
Regal Angel Fish
INVERTS
25 blue leg hermits
50 astrea snails
25 cerith snails
25 Nassarius snails
2 cleaner shrimp
FINAL THOUGHTS
As many of us know our fish tank is a method of relaxation and very often frustration. I still am learning new ways on how to improve my tank. My youngest daughter enjoys the tank as much as I do. She gladly helps me with feeding and maintenance related tasks. The beauty of it all is when you have a hard day at work, you come home and to enjoy your reef tank is the best!!!!
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 | | LPS |  |
Large Polyped Stony corals – In the aquarium hobby this is a common division of the species of stony corals based upon the visual assessment of the size of the polyps. Corals in this category were among the first stony corals to be kept successfully in captivity and include many very beautiful species. Commonly kept Genera include Euphyllia (hammer/frogspawn coral), Favia (brain coral), Plerogyra (bubble coral), Lobophyllia (meat/tooth coral), and Caulastrea (candycane coral). LPS corals also include the popular solitary non-colonial stony corals such as Fungia (plate coral), Cynarina (button coral), Trachyphyllia (open brain coral), and Herpolitha (tongue coral). Like their SPS counterparts, LPS corals require good water quality, intense lighting of the appropriate spectrum, adequate water movement and regular supplementation of calcium.
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