My 2½ year old, 75 gallon system is designed without a sump and is primarily dedicated to SPS corals and clams. Nearly all of the animals are captive propagated. Those that are not are coral colonies that have been in captivity well in excess of five years.
Filtration
This is a modified Berlin system that relies on roughly 50 pounds of Indo-Pacific live rock and a 2-inch layer of live sand for biological filtration. Skimming is provided by an Aqua-C Remora Pro hang on the tank unit. I also use a Magnum HOT canister filter filled with ESV carbon.
Circulation
The main circulation pump is a Rio 1700, which provides adequate surface agitation throughout the system. There are also two Maxi Jet 1200 powerheads connected to a Lifereef wave maker that provides random current across the face of the reef.
Lighting
The lighting system is a homemade oak hood with two 250 watt Iwasaki metal halide bulbs and two 110 watt VHO actinic fluorescent tubes from URI. Icecap electronic ballasts power all of the lamps. The hood is cooled by two Icecap variable speed fans. The photoperiod is approximately 12 hours.
Additives
Calcium and alkalinity are maintained by daily 40 milliliter additions of ESV B-ionic. Iodine and strontium are added on occasion. Make-up water is filtered through an Aqua FX Barracuda RO/DI system, and Instant Ocean Sea Salt is used for water changes, which are sporadically carried out. Organisms are fed heavily with a variety of foods including OSI Marine flake, frozen Mysis and Brine Shrimp, Ocean Nutrition Formula One and Two, Cryo-preserved Phytoplankton and Golden Pearls.
Inhabitants
Corals
There are more than 25 coral colonies, nearly all of which are captive propagated. They include Acropora pulchra, A. formosa, A. millepora and several unidentified Acropora species. There are also several Montipora species including M. capricornis, M. digitata, M. spumosa M. confusa and a few unidentified Montipora. Other coral residents include Echinopora lamellosa, Echinopora sp., Pocillopora damicornis, Blastomussa merleti, Hydnophora exesa, Turbinaria reniformis, T. petalta, Oxypora sp., Pavona decussata, Psammacora contigua, Euphyllia parancora, Caulastrea curvata, Duncanopsammia axifuga and several Favid species. There is also a colony of Plexaurella species gorgonian.
Fish
The fish population is composed of five green chromis (Chromis virdis), one yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), one royal gramma (Gramma loreto), one swissguard basslet (Liopropoma rubre), one oscillaris clownfish (Amphipriron oscillaris) and one flame hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus).
Clams
There are five Tridacnid clams — two Crocea, two Maxima and one Squamosa.
Other Invertebrates
One coral banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus), one brittle star (Ophioderma sp.) and numerous hermit crabs, Astrea and Turbo snails