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EQUIPMENT

The tank is bascically the stock Oceanic 55 gallon reef package. I replaced the standard lighting with a dual-bulb power-compact. I run one 95W daylight and one 95W actinic. I use a Rio 2500 pump to move the water. Previously I used a Mag Drive 700.

Biological filtration is really left to the bacteria in the rock and sand. But I also run the Oceanic trickle filter designed for a 75 gallon tank. It contains about 5 gallons of bioballs. I do this just as a back-up in case I need to medicate the tank.

The protein skimmer is a Sea Clone. It is not particularly effective. At about $70.00, it is better than the $30.00 skimmers that I tried, but I suspect an SPSS or similar skimmer would have been worth the investment. I would replace it, but nitrates have stayed very low, probably because of the low fish load and 3-week to monthly 20-30% water changes.

FEEDING

I feed the tangs (and the clowns) a toasted sea weed that was designed for human consumption. I basically clip a few square inches of it to the inside of the tank. It is more nutricious than romain lettuce -- the more typical Tang food. And it is easier, since I don't have to refrigerate it and it doesn't go bad.

The corals, bivalves, anenome, &c get a cup of Phytoplankton from DT's Phytoplankton farm every other day to twice a week.

The clowns get pellet food (currently VibraGro large pellet) once or twice a week. Everyone else fends for themselves.

MAINTENANCE

I do a 1/5 to 1/3 water change every 3-4 weeks. Instant Ocean (TM) salt. I probably need more snails to take care of the glass...I have to clean it every 2-3 weeks.

I keep the tank at 78F instead of 75F to make it a little less comfortable for protozoan paracites. I try to keep the specific gravity at about 1.022. I usually have to add about 1/2 gallon of water over the course of a week to keep up with evaporation. Nitrates are consistently below 15PPM, usually below 10PPM.

I haven't worried about testing for iodine, because everything looks healthy. I guess the salt is replacing it rapidly enough. I don't check for calcium, because it is a pain to add, no matter what technique is used. Since I don't bother with clacium, I don't bother with strontium, either. I once used Liquid Gold (TM), iodine, and calcium supplements and they seemed to do good things -- but timely water changes seem to have had the same effect.