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  • TheKleinReef

    Christopher Marks

    Congratulations to community member TheKleinReef and his 65 gallon reef aquarium for being selected for our November Reef Profile! Below is the aquarium profile TheKleinReef has written for us sharing his experiences in the hobby and his aquarium's progress over the past two years. See what he's been up to and share your comments and questions in TheKleinReef's featured reef profile thread, or in the comments section below. Be sure to also check out his aquarium journal in the members aquariums forum for more information about this reef tank.

    fts.jpg

    Tank Specs

    Tank: Deep Sea Aquatics 65 Gallon NEO Series Rimless Glass Aquarium
    Sump: EcoSystem Pro Series Filter System Model 3012
    Skimmer: Reef Dynamics INS-80
    Return Pump: Sicce Syncra 3.0 
    Display Light: ATI 6x39W Sunpower T5
    Controller: Neptune Systems Apex Lite Controller (Temp & pH)
    Flow: 4x VorTech MP10wES
    Dosing: GHL Standalone Doser 3 Pump Model
    Dosing Reservoirs: 3x Vertex Libra 2.5L (Short)
    Top Off: Tunze Osmolator 3155

    Established September 2013

    Maintenance Routine

    Upon leaving Illinois for Idaho, I reduced my system to be as simple as possible so my parents could take care of the tank while I was away. I am a firm believer of "KISS" (Keep It Simple, Stupid!), the more complicated the system is, the more work you end up doing and the less time you'll have to just sit in front of it and watch it.

     

    • Feed daily
    • 10 gallon water change weekly
    • Calcium/Alkalinity/Magnesium/Potassium tests weekly
    • Pumps cleaned monthly
    • T5 bulbs changed every 9 months

     

    Supplements:
    • BRS Soda Ash Solution
    • BRS Calcium Chloride Solution
    • BRS Magnesium Chloride/Sulfate Solution
    • KZ Pohl's K-Balance Concentrate
    • KZ Coral Vitalizer
    • KZ Sponge Power
    • KZ Pohl's Extra
    • KZ B-Balance
    • TLF Acropower

    Fish

    • 2 Ocellaris Clownfish
    • Flame Angel
    • Yellow Tang
    • Pacific Swalesi Basslet

    Soft Coral

    • Ricordea Yuma
    • Various Zoanthids
    • Ironman Mushroom

    LPS Coral

    • Purple Tip Hammer Coral
    • Green Torch Coral
    • Nuclear Green Torch Coral
    • Bubble Coral
    • Frogspawn Coral
    • Elegance Coral
    • Green Plate Coral
    • Green Flowerpot Coral

    SPS Coral

    Montipora Capricornis
    Montipora Setosa
    Acropora Millepora
    Acropora Suharsonoi
    Acropora Yonegi
    Acropora Granulosa
    Acropora Saramentosa
    Seriatopora Hystrix
    • ORA Hawkins Echinata
    • ORA Red Digitata
    • ORA Tricolor Valida
    • ORA Mind Trick Monti.
    • ORA Purple Stylophora 
    • Metrokat's Katropora

    Invertebrates

    • 5 Rose Bubble Tip Anemones
    • 1 Pincushion Urchin
    • 2 Tiger Serpent Starfish
    • 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

    History

    My previous tank, a 29 gallon nano reef display with sump, was up for only a year before I ran into the common reefer problem – I ran out of room for fish and coral. Throughout the lifespan of the 29 gallon tank, I tried and tested many of the popular reefing techniques that were all over the forums at the time. I set that tank up with a hefty amount of live rock, a deep sand bed, and a refugium section. I found a lot of success, and found even more once I upgraded my lighting and powerheads. As that tank progressed I developed my own style of reefing and tried to apply my own style to the system as much as possible. It was after a year that I found out that the aquascape I wanted and the fish I wanted needed a bigger glass box, so I began my search to find a larger tank that would still fit in the same area of the house.

    I fell in love with the dimensions of the Deep Sea Aquatics Neo 65G Pro and got it shipped for free to my LFS. I spent a few months picking out my dream equipment, and another few months spending some much needed quality time with my dad building the stand from scratch. The tank first saw water in September of 2013. Soon after the tank went into a very nutrient deprived state due to underfeeding. For a while I rode the Ultra-Low Nutrient System train until I blindly drove my tank into the ground. It took nearly 6 months to recover from that state, in the process I lost 90% of my Acropora colonies. With the help of Metrokat, Nanotopia, PODPIMP, and a few others, I got my tank back to a healthy state in the spring of 2014.

     

    Only a few months passed then I packed up and left for Idaho. I did my best to keep everything very simple for my parents; my six page "Tank Care Instructions" packet was put to the test. It has been 15 months since I left and my parents have been doing an amazing job keeping everything healthy. The only major changes in the last 5 months have been the removal of the refugium section in the sump for a space to house frags, and a small change in the aquascape to achieve my goal "Pillars" look.

    My over goal for this tank was to mimic the "Pillars of Creation" which is a Nebula in interstellar space. Having the tall pillars and coral growing off of them has really been the aquascape I was looking for. My only regret with the system is the stand, although it is very beautiful, it's a very tight fit. I only have room for the sump and some food bottles and it is a pain to remove the sump for cleaning. I don't see this tank ever upgrading, but I can see some plumbing changes in the future. I've been talking to my parents and they will likely move the sump to the basement and plumb through the floor, that way everything is together and closer to the RO-DI system in the basement. This tank is ultimately theirs, and I have a room of equipment in Illinois that will be used to start my own build when I have the chance, so keep an eye out!

    Words Of Wisdom

    I found the most success when I developed a routine. I am a man of routine and that has emulated in my reefkeeping as well. The more routine you make your maintenance, the more likely you are to do it, and you are eliminating a lot of the chance for failure. Write out a plan, and stick to it. If something does go wrong, you will already have a detailed plan to post when seeking help. If you learn better methods and need to tweak a few things do so, but make sure everything you plan to incorporate into the system is something you will keep up with for the long run.

    Advice For New Hobbyists

    Read as much as you can, browse as many threads as you can, ask as many questions as possible, make friends, trade corals. Just like many other hobbies, reefkeeping is a community, it's joined together by a very unique fascination with the reefs. Don't hesitate to post on new threads, interact with your community members, it's more enjoyable I guarantee it! On a completely unrelated note, I also recommend holding off on equipment purchases until you're confident that what you bought is the best you could get. Nothing is more frustrating that spending money on something you didn't need.

    Thoughts On...

    Skimmers
    When I first joined here I read a post by ZephNYC that has stuck with me for four years. "Some of the best tanks I've ever seen used nothing but the best skimmer they could afford." I have lived by this statement and I will continue to live by this statement, I have a huge reliance on my skimmer. It is the heart of my filtration system and because of my super-sized skimmer I found no need to run excess reactors, which take up space and can be dangerous when utilized incorrectly.

     

    Foods
    I owe the recovery and the subsequent progression of my tank to a heavily varied food diet. The tank is fed a vast amount of food daily ranging in particle size. I have found success in feeding heavy, it has its drawbacks with some algae growth, but in the end I wouldn't change it. Everyone knows I'm a huge fan of dirty glass; just take a look at all the FTS's I post!

     

    Aquaculture
    There was a while where I ran an aquaculture system, and I found it very rewarding. If you have the chance to trade corals with hobbyists DO IT. It's cheaper buying and trading from hobbyists, and doing so (on a big enough scale) will help limit the demand on harvesting from the oceans. I do feel strongly that aquaculture and reefkeeping should go hand in hand, we should each own up to the responsibility of limiting the reliance on wild-harvested corals. Although it may not have a drastic impact, the positives from aquaculture are there.

     

    Coral Fads
    Don't get distracted by "The coral to have," the $6000 mushrooms and $500 SPS. People can tell when a tank owner loves their tank because it's emulated throughout the entire system, the passion is evident, and it's not because they have $6000 mushroom, it's because they love their tank and they are proud of it.

    Acknowledgments

    I want to take the time to thank all of you. Whether this is the first time you've seen my aquarium, or you've been a long time poster on my thread, I thank you for making the Nano-Reef.com community so great. I do want to give some special shout out first to Christopher Marks for selecting me, I know my tank is slightly above nano status, I am truly honored that the community nominated me regardless. I would also like to thank Metrokat, Nanotopia, Markalot, JedimasterBen, Arkayology, Arce, and Alex B, these awesome people stayed by my side through the thick and thin and helped me see the light when this tank's future seemed so dim. Thank you so much Nano-Reef, this place is truly amazing, and no matter how big my future tank may be, I'll always be a Nano-Reef guy. Take care!

     

    Roger @TheKleinReef

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    Before the comments come in, I also want to give a huge shoutout to my mom and dad, the two that have been keeping this tank thriving for the last 15 months! Show them some love too guys! Thanks again NR! :)

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