Stunning 180-Gallon Reef Tank by Rocky Eliseo | Reef2Reef
Tank Specifications
Volume: 180 Gallons / 681 Liters
Dimensions (L × W × H):
60.0" ×
36.0" ×
29.0"
152.4cm ×
91.4cm ×
73.7cm
Equipment List
- Salt: Red Sea
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of water filtration system do you use?
I use a Bulk Reef Supply (BRS) 6 Stage Deluxe Plus 75 GPD RO/DI System for water supply.
How do you maintain water quality in your reef tank?
I use Red Sea ReefMat 1200 Fleece Roller Filter and an AquaMaxxx AF-1 Automatic Filter Roller for filtration. I also have a Pentair SMART UV EU40 40W UV Sterilizer for additional water quality maintenance.
What equipment do you recommend for dosing calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium?
I use a GHL Doser 2.1 Slave to automatically dose BRS Soda Ash for alkalinity, BRS Calcium Chloride for calcium, and I manually adjust magnesium using BRS Pharma Magnesium Mix.
How do you control temperature in your tank?
I utilize a JBJ Arctica Chiller 1/3 HP to cool the tank, and a Fluval M100 Submersible Heater 100W to maintain desired warmth.
What lighting system do you use for your tank?
My display tank is lit by 8 x Illumagic X4 lights, which run from 11 AM to 9 PM, with a 2-hour ramp up and down.
What are the key water parameters you maintain in your tank?
I maintain a temperature of 77-79°F, pH of 8.2-8.4, a specific gravity of 1.025, nitrate level of 40-60 ppm, calcium at 440 ppm, alkalinity at 8.45 ppm, magnesium at 1350 ppm, and phosphate levels of 0.15-0.20 ppm.
How often do you test your water parameters?
I manually test my water parameters regularly, ensuring that I monitor key parameters consistently to maintain stability.
What kind of salt do you use and how frequently do you perform water changes?
I typically use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals but switched to Red Sea Salt after positive results. I do not perform regular water changes; the salt is mainly used for salinity adjustments.
How do you feed your fish and corals?
I feed my fish twice daily using EasyReef Masstick, nori, and PE Mysis frozen food. Corals are fed every 2-3 days with Brightwell Reef Blizzard-s, Brightwell Reef Blizzard-o, Polyplab ReefRoids, Algaebarn OceanMagik phytoplankton, and EasyReef Easy SPS EVO.
What is your routine for tank maintenance?
Daily tasks include manually dosing trace elements, feeding fish, and feeding corals. Weekly, I clean the glass and refill dosing containers. Additionally, I replace roller mats and clean the skimmer every month or two, with a UV bulb replacement once a year.
What type of substrate do you use in your tank?
I use 100 lbs (45 kg) of CaribSea Arag-Live! Fiji Pink Sand as the substrate for my tank.
How do you decide where to place your corals?
The placement of corals is influenced primarily by their appearance and color. I also consider the flow needs of each coral type, starting placement with SPS corals that require more flow and working downwards.
What are your primary strategies for coral health?
I focus on dosing trace elements daily, using a Kalk Stirrer for pH stability, and regularly monitoring tank consumption to adjust dosages accordingly as corals grow.
What challenges have you faced with your reef tank, and how did you overcome them?
One of my major challenges has been power outages during hurricanes in Florida. To combat this, I now keep generators on hand to ensure that my tank systems remain operational during outages.
What are some tips for success that you would share with other reef keepers?
Learn your tank’s specific needs as every tank is unique. Stick to what works, master the basics, and consistently monitor your water quality. Proper understanding of your salt mix and lighting is essential.