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All 3 main types of filtration are utilized:

biological
mechanical
chemical

ran several marine pure blocks in the past but now removed, heavy 1:1 ratio of Fiji rocks to water volume
skimmer & carbon 2/3 cup (considered so/so mechanical )

n/a for ammonia | NH3 - Aquaforest® ZeoMix Zeolite Blend 2L in Zeovit reactor

for Nitrates - water change, n/aNopox or n/a1/8 tsp sugar + 5-25ml no longer add vinegar into kalkwasser solution

for Phosopates - n/aSeachem Phosguard, occasional n/aGFO Seachem PhosNet or Rowaphos
added refugium then ween the system off of GFO and similar purpose medias
run 2x refugium 6500k LEDs 24/7 or reverse light schedule; currently running 24/7
I tend to feed heavier in the winter time.

running 4 Kessil a360we... just recently added a 4th

Time Color Intensity
13:00 10% 50%
17:00 40% 50%
18:00 60% 55%
19:30 70% 55%
20:25 50% 50%
22:00 0% 0%

Lighting System has been one of my fixed variables like using the same salt mix from the beginning I've only changed the lighting schedule handful of times

The most recent change was reducing the intensity while increasing the color percentage.

The first change was decreasing the photoperiod from 12hours down to 10 hours then 9hours now back up to 10.5 hours

The lights are 7-8 inches above the surface and spaced 11-12 inches apart.

All three are daisy chained into Kessil's Spectral Controller. Depending on Kessil's future controller updates considering a switch to Neptune Systems Apex Variable Speed/Dimming Module (VDM) for lighting control.

Tunze Storm Mode

2x 6095s
2x 6055s

Tunze 1073.050 DC return pump

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water change every 30 to 45 days or so

Spring cleaning of Sump once a year

Clean skimmer quarterly or bi-annual

Clean pumps at least annual or more often

venture into SPS easy and intermediate Acroporas corals while still maintaining the tightrope dance of a mixed reef biotope

Measure twice order once.

I personally would never order every single piece of equipment all at once in one massive order even if I know I could and although it feels awesome when the delivery folks roll up... it the quickest way to lose the upper hand as a consumer.

Patience | Patience | Patience

Wishing I had gone with the next size up but glad I did choose a rimless tank.

No matter what your budget this hobby will grab/demand more either due to a mistake or equipment issues or like in my case adding too many fish too fast.

I seen folks literally build their house around aquarium with all the latest and greatest equipment begin to stock it with corals and fish then proceed drive the system of a cliff.

I read about folks thinking surely 10K is plenty for a really nice system with above average equipment then wonder how there's only 1K remaining in the budget and they still have to fill the glass box up with RO/DI water.

This hobby is crazy like that but sooooooo much more enjoyable if you can hang in there for the long-run.

I already had patience before entering this hobby so I mostly developed my timing which connects back to patience and the understanding of the integration and isolating of variables as there are multi-layers to running a marine aquarium.

Similar to playing three dimensional chess game where chess pieces can move up and down from level to level, as well as, make traditional chess moves. Reef-keeping is a challenging hobby; however, it can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. There are multi ways of getting to similar outcomes of keeping a beautiful reef tank that 's you're unique expression of the hobby.

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