Every reef has its own story, and mine is more than just an aquarium—it’s a thriving ecosystem built with passion, dedication, and countless hours of care. If you’re an SPS lover, you’ll understand why every detail matters.
e-corals is not just a place to buy frags; it’s an extension of my 1,000-liter dominant SPS reef, a system carefully designed to ensure that corals not only survive but truly thrive. Here, I’ll share details about my reef, including its parameters, equipment, and the methods I use to maintain stability.
🔹 Stability Above All
The backbone of a successful SPS reef is stability. That’s why my system is fully equipped with an Apex Neptune with Trident, which keeps my parameters in check at optimal levels:
✔ Alkalinity (KH): 8.5
✔ Calcium (Ca): 415
✔ Magnesium (Mg): 1390
🔹 Lighting That Mimics the Sun ☀
To ensure ideal coral growth and coloration, I use 3 Neptune Sky LEDs, providing a full spectrum of light that closely replicates natural ocean conditions. For my frag system, I use 2 Orfek LED bars, which deliver outstanding performance in coral growth.
At night, I keep 4 pink LED lights (leftover from my old chaeto refugium), which help maintain high pH levels.
🔹 Nutrition & Supplements
Just like any living organism, corals need proper nutrition and a steady supply of trace elements.
✔ For supplements, I use the Modern Reef Black Edition, a comprehensive system that provides all essential elements.
✔ For feeding, I dose MR Polypop and MR Complete Reef Food (6ml every night with the lights off).
This feeding regimen is carefully balanced to maximize coral growth while keeping excess nutrients under control.
🔹 Filtration & Equipment
The heart of the system is the sump, where I have set up everything necessary to maintain pristine water quality:
✔ NYOS Quantum 160 skimmer with an Octo neck cleaner 140 for maximum efficiency.
✔ 6-8 kg of aragonite in the first sump chamber, aiding in natural stabilization.
✔ Two Jebao return pumps (15,000L/h) ensuring strong circulation.
✔ Four Jebao OW20 wavemakers, delivering powerful and flexible internal flow.
✔ A pair of Maxspect Gyre 350 pumps, providing smooth and continuous flow to optimize nutrient transport and waste removal.
✔ UV 80W Deltec, keeping the water crystal clear and controlling harmful microorganisms.
✔ TEKO Chiller 2,000, maintaining stable temperatures during summer.
✔ Two titanium heaters, controlled by a D-D Thermo Controller for precise temperature regulation.
This setup is designed to ensure excellent water flow and filtration, maintaining ideal conditions for SPS corals with stable parameters and top-tier water quality. 🌊
🔹 ICP Testing & Water Changes
Instead of regular water changes, I prefer to analyze water parameters via ICP tests and only intervene when necessary. This allows the system to maintain natural balance without sudden fluctuations.
ypu can find the latest icp report here
My target nutrient levels are:
✔ Nitrates (NO3): 20-30 ppm
✔ Phosphates (PO4): 0.05-0.08 ppm
These levels provide optimal conditions for SPS coral growth and coloration.
🔹 A DIY Aquarium Built with Passion ❤️
Both the aquarium and its custom wooden stand were built by me, designed with functionality and stability in mind.
e-corals is more than just selling frags. It’s about sharing knowledge, passion, and experience to help fellow reefers create thriving, sustainable reefs.
📌 Here, you’ll find updates on my tank’s water chemistry, equipment, and best practices that have helped me maintain a thriving SPS reef!
🌊 Welcome behind the scenes of e-corals! 🌊