Meller with his amazing closed loop sps tank !
Prizes kindly donated by:
Aquablue Distribution
Meller has won:
Ocean Nutrition Foods Prize Pack
You can find out more about this tank in Gregs Tank Journal
1) How Long have you been in the hobby ?
Freshwater as a kid, but the marine addiction started in 2009 with a horrible first attempt and some dodgy advice.
2a) What size is your winning tank, dimensions and litres?
1500 x 750 x 500mm. 550L dosing volume
2b) Any reasons for that size tank?
Biggest i could practically go given where the tank was located.
2c) How long has this tank been setup?
This tank has been setup twice and wet three times. Currently it has been wet for a little over a month.
3a) What is your goal for this tank?
My aim is to create a Top shelf SPS reef to showcase to the best of my abilities the corals natural beauty and provide a better platform for continuing my reefing education.
3b) Have you researched anything specifically to reach this goal?
I concentrated a great deal of effort into designing the flow and reading about gyre flow benefits. Further research has included Zeo dosing, lighting and its effect on pigmentation, heterotrophic bacterial driven systems and lately the affect of ozone and ORP on tanks.
3c) BIggest lesson you've learnt whilst planning/setting up this tank?
Surround yourself with a good support network. It's this network that will keep you going and give you advice when it all seems too much hassle.
3d) Any tips you'd like to pass on for others to learn from?
-Reefing is part experience, part science, part patience and part determination.
Experience is key, the answers are in the science, if you rush you'll make mistakes.
-Dilution is the solution to pollution.
-Dont get too hung up chasing perfect numbers. Stability is more important than the absolute figures.
4) Do you have a sump and/or refugium? If so, what size?
Acrylic DIY Sump: 900 x 600 x 400mm. Simple 2 chamber setup, with built in ATO tank.
5) Filtration eg. amount of live rock, sand bed or bare bottom, mechanical filtration etc?
I use base rock and seed it. Approx 50kg? Ive gone for a sand/cement artificial sandbed this time around.
6) Do you have a skimmer? If so, what?
KZ Revolution Deluxe small.
7) Water flow/movement (power heads etc)?
2 x Panworld PS200's via closed loop Gyre system in 3 hour counter rotation.
8) Lighting, type and times?
ATI 8 x 54W, KZ tubes and 2 GHL simustix. 10 hour lighting period.
9) Other equipment such as auto top-off, Ca reactor etc?
GHL profilux controller, a Vertex Zeo reactor, TECO TR20 chiller and GHL dosing pumps.
10) Water parameter targets?
CA 420ppm, ALK 140ppm, MG 1320ppm, K+ 390ppm, No3 0, Po4 0.02.
11) Additives and conditioners (kalk, phosphate removers etc.)
Randies recipe 1 and the KZ zeovit range of products.
12) Fish stock
Currently 1 yellow tang, 1 Black Occy, 1 Sixline wrasse.
13) Coral stock.
Small collection of SPS remaining and some of my partners LPS from her tank which we kept after the move.
14) Other Inverts.
Some peppermint shrimp. Unknown quantity at this stage.
15) Maintenance such as water changes, cleaning etc?
Weekly 100L water changes, more as required. Clean skimmer neck and cup weekly. Water parameter testing to ensure stability.
16) Acknowledgements, thank-you's and any other comments you would like to make that don't apply elsewhere.
RTAW is a invaluable tool for finding the answers you need, or at least pointing you in the direction to where the answers can be found.
MAS societies provide the introductions for meeting some outstanding people and reefers. Some of whom can become very close friends. To that end, I owe a great deal of thanks to my friends and support network through RTAW.
Pete (blaqs) and his partner Sue, to whom i owe a debt to that can never be repaid. Michael (Galleri3090) and Rod (the reefer) who not only provide so much inspiration but moral and coral support. Ryan(rid) for helping me with the confusion and contradiction that is Zeo. And finally, Phil and Ben and the rest of the much maligned members who frequent chat who all help me along the way. They help fill my head with dreams and reefing ideas, tell me flat out when i'm doing something dumb and idle away many many hours. Thanks
