TOTM – Tank of the Month – July 2020

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Rating: 1 out of 5.

In our first ever SWP Tank of the Month, we were introduced to an amazing reef tank from another continent. In this months series we are blessed to have our newest iteration be a bit closer to home, at least if you live in the USA. SWP has been witness to a lot of amazing mixed reef tanks over the years and can say this tank ranks high on the list. This tanks provides many focal points with a great variety of corals while allowing for plenty of room for its inhabitants to “stretch their legs” so to speak. Come join us as we take a closer look into this one of a kind personal marine environment.

JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank
Tank Owner - JP Jimenez - Twitter(Warriorsreef_805) 
Location - Amarillo, Texas - United States
Display Volume - 160 Gallons

JP has been keeping aquariums for what seems to be forever. Starting with a freshwater tank when JP was younger, the passion just grew from there. The natural transition from freshwater to salt water happened approximately 10 years ago. While making a purchase for the freshwater planted aquarium JP stumbled upon a sale for a JBJ- 8 Gallon nano cube. This was where the saltwater hobby took off.

The deal was too good to pass up, and so I came home with my first saltwater aquarium and I have been hooked ever since.

Weeks later JP sold the contents of the 55 gallon freshwater setup and transitioned it into a saltwater tank.

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. JP has incorporated a Current USA 6011 Pump (Return pump), Jeabo RW-6 (Circulation Pump), Ice Cap 3K Gyre Pump (Additional Circulation), Acrylic Habitat Leviathan Sump 36 (used as a filter, as well as a holding place for unsightly, miscellaneous equipment such as protein skimmers, calcium reactors, and heaters), XP Aqua Duetto ATO (Water Auto Top Off), 2-Red Sea Reef 90 LEDKessil A360 3 ft Reefbrite light bar (Lighting). OK, now that we made our way through the mechanics of this marine machine lets take a closer look at the beautiful eye candy it holds.

JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank – Trachyphyllia – “Open Brain Coral”
JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank – Yellow Tang
Corals-

Red Monti Cap
Green Monti Cap
Green Digitata
Bubble Gum Digitata
Forest Fire Digitata
Aquaman Acro
Pink Lemonade Acro
Rainbow ASD acro
Green Acro
Garf Bonsai acro
Joker Torch
Purple Torch
Purple Tip Hammer
Pink Boobie Chalice
Red Planet Acro
Fire Cracker Goni
Green/Orange lobo
Rainbow Trachy
Dragon Soul favia
gold rimmed favia
UFO Chalice
6 Random Acans
Banana Acro
King Spawn
4 Different Ricordia Mushrooms
4 different types of cyphastria
15 different types of zoas 
and way more no name coral.
Livestock (Fish)-

Yellow Tang
Blue Hippo Tang
Unicorn Tang
Yellow Wrasse
Green Wrasse
Blue/Green Chromis
Lawnmower blenny
Diamond Goby
Midnight Clownfish
Livestock (Invertebrates)-

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
12x Turbo Snails

JP has enjoyed the journey within the saltwater hobby. But, as we all mostly know, there are some ups and downs along the way. JP started out just like any Reefer by learning a lot through trial and error (unfortunately). Even though there has been loss of fish and Coral along the way “I just try and learn as much as possible through other reefers, my own errors, forums, books and YouTube… a lot of YouTube.” JP continues to learn everyday. That leads us into the most gratifying factor of having a saltwater tank, teaching his 8 -year-old daughter the importance of sustainability and how to protect our oceans. That is a great reminder that knowledge is nothing unless passed down to younger generations. The more children introduced to this amazing reef environment may have a ripple effect of good for many years to come.

JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank
JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank
JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank
JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank – Acropora
JP Jimenez – 160 Gallon – Mixed Reef Tank – Various Corals

SWP would like to thank JP for allowing us to showcase his amazing mixed reef tank for the community to see. Remember to keep learning and always pass our love for the oceans on to the next generation.

Feel free to follow JP on twitter here – warriorsreef_805

Like us on Facebook! Click Here

Follow us on Twitter @saltwaterplus

TOTM – Tank of the Month – April 2020

Rating: 1 out of 5.

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.

Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed 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).

Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank -Pocillipora
Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank -Various Acroporas
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.

Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank -Various Acroporas & Zoanthids
Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank -Feather Duster
Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank -Living custom built light
Johan Gous – 300 Liter – Mixed Reef Tank

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

Like us on Facebook! Click Here

Follow us on Twitter @saltwaterplus