Congratulations to awpong for being selected for our November Reef Profile! His 20 gallon nano reef has followed him through college life and numerous moves, continuing to flourish all the while. Below is the profile he's written for us sharing his experiences in the hobby and his aquarium's progress over the past two years. Check it out and share your comments and questions in awpong's featured reef profile thread.
Tank Specs
Display: 30" x 12" x 12" 20 Gallon Glass Aquarium
Sump: Proflex Model 1 Sump
Biological Filtration: ~10lbs of live rock, 20lbs of live sand
Lighting: (1) 150 Watt 14000K Metal Halide Phoenix, (1) 24W ATI Blue Plus, and (1) 24W ATI Purple Plus
Protein Skimmer: SWC 120 Cone Skimmer
Controller: Digital Aquatics Reef Keeper Lite w/ Temp and pH probe
Heater: 50W Tetra + 100W Tetra
Circulation: Eco-Tech Vortech MP10ES + Sump return pump
ATO: Tunze Osmolator
Original 10 Gallon tank established in August 2010, upgraded to 20 Gallon Long in May 2011
Water Parameters
Specific Gravity: 1.026
pH: 7.8 - 8.1
Temp: 78 – 79 °F
Calcium: 450 ppm
Alkalinity: 9-10 dKH
Magnesium: 1350 ppm
Maintenance Routine
Daily
- Feed a mixture of selcon enriched PE frozen Mysis, cyclopeeze, nutramar ova, and Rod's food. Throughout the day, I'll also throw in a pinch of Formula One pellets every time I walk by the tank.
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Dosing
• 5 ml of each part of B-Ionic 2 part
• 10 ml of Kent Tech M
Every 2-3 Days
- Clean glass
- Empty Skimmer cup
- Switch out filter socks
Weekly
- 2.5-3 gallon water change
- Refill ATO reservoir
Fish
• 2x Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
• Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
Invertebrates
• Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)
• Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
• Porcelain Crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
• Maxi Mini (Stichodactyla tapetum)
• Hawaiian Featherduster (Sabellastarte spp.)
• Turbo Snail (Turbo fluctusoa)
• Nassarius Snails (Nassarius spp.)
• Florida Ceriths (Cerithium spp.)
SPS Coral
• Tri-color Valida (Acropora Valida)
• Scripp's Green Stag (Acropora spp.)
• Indigo Tip Stag (Acropora spp.)
• Birds Nest (Seriatopora hystrix)
• Birds of Paradise (Seriatopora spp.)
• Pink Millepora (Acropora millepora)
• Green Millepora (Acropora millepora)
• Blue Acro (Acropora spp.)
• Orange Digitata (Montipora digitataI)
LPS Coral
• Frogspawn (Euphyllia paradivisa)
• Torch (Euphyllia glabrescens)
• Kryptonite Candy Cane (Caulastrea curvata)
• Chalice (Echinophyllia spp.)
• Blasto (Blastomussa wellsi)
Soft Coral
• Orange Ricordia (Ricordia florida)
• Green Ricordia (Ricordia florida)
• Purple Rhodactis (Rhodactis spp.)
• Orange Rhodactis (Rhodactis spp.)
• Green Star Polyps (Pachyclavularia violacea)
• Superman Mushroom (Actinodiscus spp.)
• Green Mushroom (Actinodiscus spp.)
• Assortment of various zoanthids (Zoanthus spp.) and palythoas (Palythoa spp.)
History
My venture into aquaria actually started as a compromise. I really missed my dogs when I went off to college, but my school only allowed us to keep pets in aquariums. So I got a fish. I started off with a betta in a ½ gallon bowl, and by the end of my freshman year, I had turned it into a 10 gallon planted community tank.
That summer, I debated whether I should continue pursuing freshwater tanks, or whether I should give saltwater a try. After days of exhaustive research (mostly on Nano-Reef.com), I finally decided that saltwater would not only be more challenging, but more rewarding. So I set up a 10 gallon FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) tank in my dorm room sophomore year. I decided to stay away from coral because I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep it alive. Instead, I started off with the typical clown pair. Sadly, the pair succumbed to Brooklynella and I had to keep the tank fallow for 6 weeks.
I wasn't satisfied with a tank full of rocks, so in November 2010, I started to transition my tank into a reef. I found that the more time I spent looking at my blooming reef, the more addicted I became. By the end sophomore year, I decided to upgrade the tank to a 20 long.
However, since I live 2,000 miles away from my school, I needed to figure out what to do with the tank over the summer. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have a good relationship with my professors in the biology department. They let me to move my tank into the department and offered me the opportunity to conduct research over the summer. My professors even volunteered to take care of my tank when I went home for a few weeks.
My biology department has actually loved my tank. Numerous faculty members keep asking me to convert the department's freshwater display tanks into a reef. The only reason I haven't is because I'm graduating this year.
The school schedule has continued to be problematic for my tank, but I've always been able to find a solution. For winter break, I found a local reefer who was willing to house my fish. I left the tank on autopilot with all of the sessile life remaining in the tank and hooked up to a large ATO reserve. And over this past summer, I was able to house my tank in the biology department again as I stayed on campus conducting research. All in all, the tank has been moved 4 times in 2 years, and so far, I haven't had any issues *knock on wood.* Regardless of all of the moves, the tank has still grown and matured remarkably well. Over the past few years, I've been able to see my fish grow and watch as my tiny frags have exploded into beautiful colonies. I have tried to shift focus of the tank away from my monstrous frogspawn and towards SPS, but my frogspawn and torch still seem to steal the show.
When I moved the tank into my most recent house, I decided to build my own stand and upgrade the system by drilling the tank and installing a sump. Since then, the tank has basically run on autopilot. It now serves as an amazing de-stressor for my hectic school schedule. I only regret that I'll have to break it down when I graduate this year.
Disasters
Luckily I haven't had any tank crashes or major disasters *knock on wood.* I was fortunate enough to have learned to do background research, and I was able to prevent or mitigate any potential issues.
Inspirations & Goals
This forum contains so many amazing and talented reefers who have inspired me with their tanks and creativity. The Nano-Reef.com community keeps setting the bar higher and higher, so I've always felt driven to maximize my tank's potential.
Ever since I joined this forum, my goal as been to be featured as a TOTM before I graduated, and I'm thrilled to have reached that goal. I guess my new goal is to continue maintaining my reef and provide my inhabitants the best environment possible, and when I graduate, to be able to find a good home for my reef.
Future Plans
I regret to announce that the tank will be broken down when I graduate in May 2013. I'll be going off to med school, so hopefully I'll be able to make time to continue this amazing hobby. Once I get a more stable living situation, I'd like to set up a larger tank.
Advice For New Hobbyists
- Buy for the future: If you plan on upgrading or turning a FOWLR into a reef, always buy for the future. It's a lot cheaper in the long run!
- Buy quality equipment and livestock: In this hobby, you really get what you pay for.
- Research, research, research!: Always know what you're buying and always know what to expect.
- Dip your coral: Always dip new frags. There are a lot of pests you don't want in your tank, and prevention is the key.
- Don't take shortcuts: Nothing good happens fast.
- Find local reefers: You will never know when you might need their help. It's also always nice to trade frags.
Acknowledgments
This is such a great community and I'm honored that y'all think my tank can compete with the best. I'd like to thank everyone on Nano-Reef.com who has followed my thread over the years and helped answer any question or worry I had. I couldn't have done it without y'all!
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