mpokerdonk
Guest
Hey everyone, I’m Chez, based in the Bay Area. I’ve been reefing for just under a year, and I’ve approached this hobby like a living science project. My focus is on stability, coral vitality, and accelerated growth through precision control and creative system design.
System Overview
Tank: Red Sea Reefer 425XL
Lights: 4x RL90s
Filtration: Roller mat, protein skimmer with ozone, carbon reactor
Controller: Neptune Apex + Trident
Support Systems: CO₂ scrubber, magnetic stir kalkwasser, chiller, leak sensors
Nutrients:
Nitrate (NO₃): Maintained between 10–20 ppm
Phosphate (PO₄): Kept in the 0.1–0.2 ppm range for optimal balance
Livestock
Corals: Acropora, Montipora, Zoanthids, Leathers, LPS
Anemone: Large, 2 large vibrant Colorado Sunburst Bubble Tip and a large RBTA
Fish: 20+ including tangs, hawkfish, blenny, and gobies
Inverts: Shrimp, emerald crabs, conchs, nassarius snails, hermits
Approach
My system is built around pH stability, nutrient balance, and flow optimization
Coral feeding, light control, and chemistry are all tuned for predictable growth
Everything is tracked and adjusted based on observation and response
This tank is my test bed for building a reefing brand and eventual store
I’m excited to be here and connect with other advanced reefers in the Bay Area. Appreciate the inspiration this community puts out, and I’m happy to share what I learn along the way.