Stunning 82-Gallon Reef Tank by Ian Cosford | Reef2Reef
Tank Specifications
Volume: 82 Gallons / 310 Liters
Dimensions (L × W × H):
78.7" ×
39.4" ×
19.7"
200.0cm ×
100.0cm ×
50.0cm
Equipment List
- Salt: Aquaforest
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your maintenance routine for the reef tank?
I perform daily checks to ensure stock is healthy, clean the glass, and hand dose iodine and manganese. Weekly, I fill the RO reservoir, check pumps and equipment, empty the skimmer, and test water parameters. Every six months, I clean all pumps, the skimmer, change the UV bulb, and check the dosing pumps.
How does your water circulation system work?
I have about 60 times volume turnover per hour with lots of random flow provided by two AI Nero 5 pumps and one AI Nero 3 pump, though I'm planning to switch to GHL Versia Stream pumps for potentially better flow.
What salt mix do you recommend for a reef tank?
I currently use Aquaforest Reef Salt, but I'm planning to try Aquaforest Hybrid Pro Salt soon. I appreciate Aquaforest for providing consistency in my water parameters.
How do you maintain calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels?
I use the balling method with Aquaforest Components Pro, which involves dosing three parts equally to let the tank find its own levels.
What additional dosing do you perform for reef health?
I dose Aquaforest NitraPhos Minus for carbon dosing, and occasionally Aquaforest Phosphate Minus and Aquaforest ABEV to support coral health.
What are your key water parameters?
My water parameters include a temperature of 26 °C, pH between 8.0 and 8.2, specific gravity of 1.026, NO3 between 5-10, calcium at 415, alkalinity between 7.7-8.0, magnesium at 1350, PO4 between 0.06 - 0.1, and ammonia/nitrites at 0.
What type of lighting do you use for your reef tank?
I use two GHL Mitras LX7206 lights with a photoperiod running from 9 AM to 10 PM, including a couple of hours of ramp-up at each end to simulate a natural day cycle.
How do you feed your fish and corals?
I feed my fish two cubes of frozen food every other day and alternate with Aquaforest Liquid Mysis and Liquid Artemia. For my corals, I provide Aquaforest Power food and Zoa food twice a week.
How did you decide which fish and corals to keep in your tank?
I learned over the years about compatibility and balance. I strive for a mix of color and movement, favoring zoanthids and recently getting into Acropora.
Have you had any stocking regrets?
Yes, I've had some regrets regarding torches. While I still have three, I won't be adding more since I've had trouble keeping them healthy.
What are your favorite types of marine life to keep?
My favorites are yellow tangs, zoanthids, and cleaner shrimp. The yellow tang is my cherished fish while zoas dominate my corals. Cleaner shrimp are also popular with my family.