In our first ever SWP Tank of the Month, we are introduced to an amazing reef tank from another continent. You would need to take series of flights that would take nearly 3 full days of travel to visit. Luckily, SWP can save you some time as we take a virtual tour of this truly one of a kind reef tank.
Tank Owner - Johan Gous Location - Port Elizabeth - South Africa Display Volume - 300 Liters
General background on Johan and why he chose this hobby. Johan has been in and out of the hobby for 10 years all together, but got serious about this coral tank. His amazing reef tank is now 12 years old and as we can see extremely well kept.
“Always kept some fish too. One day when out fishing the boat’s anchor got stuck. When we got it out eventually the was the most beautiful red piece of Acropora attached to it. The colour and beauty of it in the sunlight was just something special. That’s when I decided to start growing corals.“
As with any tank of this quality, there is an army of equipment behind the scenes that constantly is working to keep this mini marine paradise thriving. Johan has incorporated a 4000L/h DC pump (Circulation pump), Reeftek TS1 skimmer (removal of organic compounds like excess food and waste), 2 x 8000L/h wavemakers (Tank water circulation), Improved Living custom built light (Lighting), and a 3 Chamber sump with Deep sand bed (Helps with growth of helpful anaerobic bacteria).
Corals- Zoanthids - Various types Yellow green staghorn Bonsai Acropora Valida Yellow tipped Acropora Blue tipped Acropora Strawberry shortcake Acropora Purple tipped Acropora Tricolor Acropora Tenius Walt Disney Acropora Tenius Blueberry Acropora Acropora Humulus - yellow Red dragon deep water Acropora Porites - yellow tipped Firefly Echinopora Fungia plate Bali Slimer
Livestock (Fish)- Anthias x3 Blonde Naso Japanese Swallowtail Angel Radiant Wrasse Pencil Wrasse Bangai Cardinal pair Blue Green Mandarin
Livestock (Invertebrates)- Harlequin Shrimp pair Snapping shrimp Turbo snails Sea cucumber Linkia starfish
With the staggering number of corals of various types and fish, Johan has a dedicated dosing regimen to keep his corals in show form. He doses Alkalinity and Calcium according to Randy’s Recipe one. Lanathium Chloride based phosphate remover and Acropower from 2 little fishies once per week. The Trace elements and Magnesium gets replaced by weekly water changes of about 60% at a time. Only natural seawater is used that’s collected during the correct tides and sea conditions. Fish are fed once a day with Hikari Marine A, Mussels, Fish eggs, Shrimp, Bloodworms and Brine shrimp mix. If fish are losing weight I feed more.
SWP would like to thank Johan for allowing us to showcase his amazing mixed reef tank for the community to see. Seeing amazing quality tanks like this one gives others something to strive for.
Feel free to follow Johan on twitter here – @glowyawsomeness
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