Myka
02-05-2016, 01:06 PM
2016 Winter Featured Tank - "riceboy" !
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg
I have always been fascinated with fish, and have always kept a small 10-gallon community fish tank that was overloaded with different fish. It wasn't until I went to my local fish store, Gold’s Aquarium one day when they had started to carry saltwater fish and corals which spiked my interest. I remember going there all the time and talking to Albert (albert_dao on Canreef), and that’s when I got into the hobby.
I've been reef keeping for almost 10 years now. I started while I was in first year university. My first salt water tank was a 30-gallon tall running PC bulbs and no skimmer - just powerheads and a Fluval 401. All I kept were LPS and other easy corals, and of course the clownfish, damsels, and a Yellow Tang. It did great for the first year, then school took over and I was forced to shut it down. I took a 3-year hiatus until I finished school and started work. Once I had some money I started up the hobby again. I then started with a Neo Nano tank which is a 24 x 24 x 12” shallow tank. Everything did great and that was the first tank I ever had with a sump and skimmer. I soon out grew that and started to upgrade to my current tank which is an 82-gallon custom tank from Concept Aquariums. I was on the fence about upgrading, but bumped into Dave (from Concept Aquariums) at a local fish store and he pretty much convinced me to upgrade.
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeice.jpg
THE TANK:
36 x 24 x 22” (82 gallons)
Three sides Starphire
Coast to Coast overflow
One-piece Starphire eurobrace
Built-in waveboxes on each side
Three 1" drains, two 3/4" returns
EQUIPMENT:
Controller - Apex unit with all the bells and whistles
Lighting - 36” ATI T5 + LED hybrid 8-bulb (stock programming & ATI Blue Plus bulbs)
Flow – Four EcoTech MP10wes
Return pump - Jebao 15000 (basement sump)
Protein skimmer- Canadian Skimmer Company CSC-250
Doser - Bubble Magus 3-pump with slave pump
Biopellets - Vertex reactor running biopellets
Carbon - Innovative Marine reactor, changed monthly
GFO - not used
Auto feeder – Eheim
Auto Top Off - Jebao ATO
REFUGIUM:
A 40-gallon frag tank that I turned into a refugium. It's in the basement along with my sump and water change center.
The refugium currently has about 40 lbs of live rock and Chaeto, sponges, and all that good stuff.
TANK PARAMETERS:
Calcium – 450 ppm (Hanna)
Alkalinity - 7.4 - 7.7 dKH (Hanna)
Magnesium - 1200 ppm
Phosphate - 0.04 ppm (Hanna)
Nitrate - not tested
LIVESTOCK:
12 Green Chromis
8 Blue Stripe Damsel
3 Black Ice Clownfish (captive bred)
1 Yellow Tang
1 Blue Tang
1 Foxface
1 Melanurus Wrasse
1 Copperband Butterflyfish
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Dragonface Pipefish
2 Cleaner Shrimp
4 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 gold Maxima Clam
2 Blastos
1 large Tyree Green Polyp Toadstool
Lots of SPS
SPS OF INTEREST:
ORA Oregon Blue Tortuosa
ORA Pearlberry
ORA Strawberry Shortcake
Pink Lemonade
RR Diablo
RR Orange Passion
RR Wolverine
RR Pink Floyd
MAINTENANCE:
Waterchange once every 3-4 months
Refill dosing containers once every 2 weeks
Clean skimmer cup once every week
Feed fish thawed Mysis once every 3-4 days or whenever I remember
Refill biopellet reactor once every 6 months or whenever I remember
Change carbon monthly
SECRET TO SUCCESS:
Ever since I have automated my system I have had great success with my tank. With my heavy bioload I need to carbon dose. I have tried many things over the years including Zeovit, Prodibio, vodka dosing, biopellets, etc. I have chosen to stick with biopellets since it is super easy to maintain. I run dosers to keep calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium in check. I also dose potassium, Zeovit Reef Booster, Zeovit Pohl’s Xtra, and Zeovit Amino Acid through the doser as well.
I’m not like most conventional reefers (meaning I’m lazy lol), so I do a water change once every 3-4 months. I have even rigged up an automatic water change system - everything is gravity fed and I do a 30 gallon water change in 5 mins by opening 2 valves (one to drain the refugium tank, and one to refill the tank). Other than that, I clean the skimmer cup once a week and that’s it.
I think what hinders people from success is patience - always wanting quick results and easy fixes. In our hobby that is not the case. I try to keep my hands out of the tank as much as I can and tinker only when I have to (the corals usually tell me if I have to tinker) otherwise I just clean the glass, feed the fish, and enjoy!
MY ULTIMATE REEF TANK:
Ever since I saw the Floating Reef (https://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/27/kangs-korean-reef-aquarium/) and Reef in the Sky (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767159) tanks from Hong Kong online, it inspired me to do the bonsai look and to strive to get the colors they get. A minimal look and plenty of swimming room for the fish. If I could redo my tank I wish I could go bigger and do a 60 x 36 x 20” tank but sadly my girlfriend would disown me. Haha!
THANKS:
I would like to thank Canreef and the whole saltwater community for your support and vast amount of knowledge I have picked up over the years. Thanks and happy reefing!
PHOTOS:
Click each thumbnail OR Link to photo gallery (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=9605&title=img-0674&cat=3094)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeice.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeice.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeiceback1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeiceback1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeicerightside1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeicerightside1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsump1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsump1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0690.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0690.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0691.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0691.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0674.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0674.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0676.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0676.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0677.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0677.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0684.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0684.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0688.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0688.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-47.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-47.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-66.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-66.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-67.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-67.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-65.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-65.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-62.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-62.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-60.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-60.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-57.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-57.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-55.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-55.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RBOY_20141122_070.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RBOY_20141122_070.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-42.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-42.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-44.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-44.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RBOY_20141122_072.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RBOY_20141122_072.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-45.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-45.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-24.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-24.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg
I have always been fascinated with fish, and have always kept a small 10-gallon community fish tank that was overloaded with different fish. It wasn't until I went to my local fish store, Gold’s Aquarium one day when they had started to carry saltwater fish and corals which spiked my interest. I remember going there all the time and talking to Albert (albert_dao on Canreef), and that’s when I got into the hobby.
I've been reef keeping for almost 10 years now. I started while I was in first year university. My first salt water tank was a 30-gallon tall running PC bulbs and no skimmer - just powerheads and a Fluval 401. All I kept were LPS and other easy corals, and of course the clownfish, damsels, and a Yellow Tang. It did great for the first year, then school took over and I was forced to shut it down. I took a 3-year hiatus until I finished school and started work. Once I had some money I started up the hobby again. I then started with a Neo Nano tank which is a 24 x 24 x 12” shallow tank. Everything did great and that was the first tank I ever had with a sump and skimmer. I soon out grew that and started to upgrade to my current tank which is an 82-gallon custom tank from Concept Aquariums. I was on the fence about upgrading, but bumped into Dave (from Concept Aquariums) at a local fish store and he pretty much convinced me to upgrade.
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeice.jpg
THE TANK:
36 x 24 x 22” (82 gallons)
Three sides Starphire
Coast to Coast overflow
One-piece Starphire eurobrace
Built-in waveboxes on each side
Three 1" drains, two 3/4" returns
EQUIPMENT:
Controller - Apex unit with all the bells and whistles
Lighting - 36” ATI T5 + LED hybrid 8-bulb (stock programming & ATI Blue Plus bulbs)
Flow – Four EcoTech MP10wes
Return pump - Jebao 15000 (basement sump)
Protein skimmer- Canadian Skimmer Company CSC-250
Doser - Bubble Magus 3-pump with slave pump
Biopellets - Vertex reactor running biopellets
Carbon - Innovative Marine reactor, changed monthly
GFO - not used
Auto feeder – Eheim
Auto Top Off - Jebao ATO
REFUGIUM:
A 40-gallon frag tank that I turned into a refugium. It's in the basement along with my sump and water change center.
The refugium currently has about 40 lbs of live rock and Chaeto, sponges, and all that good stuff.
TANK PARAMETERS:
Calcium – 450 ppm (Hanna)
Alkalinity - 7.4 - 7.7 dKH (Hanna)
Magnesium - 1200 ppm
Phosphate - 0.04 ppm (Hanna)
Nitrate - not tested
LIVESTOCK:
12 Green Chromis
8 Blue Stripe Damsel
3 Black Ice Clownfish (captive bred)
1 Yellow Tang
1 Blue Tang
1 Foxface
1 Melanurus Wrasse
1 Copperband Butterflyfish
1 Sailfin Tang
1 Dragonface Pipefish
2 Cleaner Shrimp
4 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
1 gold Maxima Clam
2 Blastos
1 large Tyree Green Polyp Toadstool
Lots of SPS
SPS OF INTEREST:
ORA Oregon Blue Tortuosa
ORA Pearlberry
ORA Strawberry Shortcake
Pink Lemonade
RR Diablo
RR Orange Passion
RR Wolverine
RR Pink Floyd
MAINTENANCE:
Waterchange once every 3-4 months
Refill dosing containers once every 2 weeks
Clean skimmer cup once every week
Feed fish thawed Mysis once every 3-4 days or whenever I remember
Refill biopellet reactor once every 6 months or whenever I remember
Change carbon monthly
SECRET TO SUCCESS:
Ever since I have automated my system I have had great success with my tank. With my heavy bioload I need to carbon dose. I have tried many things over the years including Zeovit, Prodibio, vodka dosing, biopellets, etc. I have chosen to stick with biopellets since it is super easy to maintain. I run dosers to keep calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium in check. I also dose potassium, Zeovit Reef Booster, Zeovit Pohl’s Xtra, and Zeovit Amino Acid through the doser as well.
I’m not like most conventional reefers (meaning I’m lazy lol), so I do a water change once every 3-4 months. I have even rigged up an automatic water change system - everything is gravity fed and I do a 30 gallon water change in 5 mins by opening 2 valves (one to drain the refugium tank, and one to refill the tank). Other than that, I clean the skimmer cup once a week and that’s it.
I think what hinders people from success is patience - always wanting quick results and easy fixes. In our hobby that is not the case. I try to keep my hands out of the tank as much as I can and tinker only when I have to (the corals usually tell me if I have to tinker) otherwise I just clean the glass, feed the fish, and enjoy!
MY ULTIMATE REEF TANK:
Ever since I saw the Floating Reef (https://reefbuilders.com/2012/03/27/kangs-korean-reef-aquarium/) and Reef in the Sky (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1767159) tanks from Hong Kong online, it inspired me to do the bonsai look and to strive to get the colors they get. A minimal look and plenty of swimming room for the fish. If I could redo my tank I wish I could go bigger and do a 60 x 36 x 20” tank but sadly my girlfriend would disown me. Haha!
THANKS:
I would like to thank Canreef and the whole saltwater community for your support and vast amount of knowledge I have picked up over the years. Thanks and happy reefing!
PHOTOS:
Click each thumbnail OR Link to photo gallery (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=9605&title=img-0674&cat=3094)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeice.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeice.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeiceback1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeiceback1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsonepeicerightside1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsonepeicerightside1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/victorsump1.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/medium/victorsump1.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY_20160201_001.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0690.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0690.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0691.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0691.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0674.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0674.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0676.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0676.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0677.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0677.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0684.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0684.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/IMG_0688.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/IMG_0688.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-47.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-47.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-66.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-66.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-67.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-67.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-65.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-65.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-62.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-62.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-60.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-60.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-57.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-57.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-55.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-55.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RBOY_20141122_070.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RBOY_20141122_070.jpg)
http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-42.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-42.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-44.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-44.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RBOY_20141122_072.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RBOY_20141122_072.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-45.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-45.jpg) - http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/thumbs/RICEBOY-24.jpg (http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/3094/RICEBOY-24.jpg)