PizzaOven
Supporting Member
The goal for this tank is to create a more "natural" reef tank, something closer to what you'd see in nature. Below is an example of what I want to recreate (taken from my BVI trip last year). Pastel color pallete and tons of biodiversity:
Tank Started October 2025:
My initial attempt! UNS 5N filled with water, rock, sand, and a few species of Macroalgae. I'm using a Twinstar B (meant for FW planted tanks) to achieve the whiter look. Only filtration here is a UNS surface skimmer. I had a minor diatom outbreak early on but no uglies after that.
Fast forward to now (March 2026):
I ditched the initial filtration in favor of a DIY tote. These are really easy to make, and you can customize them however you want. I put the Mangrove I got from @MichaelB in here.
The mangrove has its own lighting (a 20W led grow lamp I found on Amazon):
Starting to look more "natural" or at least closer my initial vision:
The deresa clam I picked up from Neptune last week. Hopefully weekly 50% water changes can keep up with the Ca demand. If not, I'll add a doser or move it to another tank.
I dose Neo-Nitro, Neo-Phos and ChaetoGro since I don't have any fish.
Don't get me wrong. I love the fluorescent pop you get from submerging corals in Windex, but this hits different.
Tank Started October 2025:
My initial attempt! UNS 5N filled with water, rock, sand, and a few species of Macroalgae. I'm using a Twinstar B (meant for FW planted tanks) to achieve the whiter look. Only filtration here is a UNS surface skimmer. I had a minor diatom outbreak early on but no uglies after that.
Fast forward to now (March 2026):
I ditched the initial filtration in favor of a DIY tote. These are really easy to make, and you can customize them however you want. I put the Mangrove I got from @MichaelB in here.
The mangrove has its own lighting (a 20W led grow lamp I found on Amazon):
Starting to look more "natural" or at least closer my initial vision:
The deresa clam I picked up from Neptune last week. Hopefully weekly 50% water changes can keep up with the Ca demand. If not, I'll add a doser or move it to another tank.
I dose Neo-Nitro, Neo-Phos and ChaetoGro since I don't have any fish.
Don't get me wrong. I love the fluorescent pop you get from submerging corals in Windex, but this hits different.
