My Reefing Journey

In 2005, I reignited a long-dormant passion for saltwater aquariums. This time, the focus was serious: SPS corals. What began as a hobby quickly evolved into a demanding but deeply rewarding journey filled with valuable lessons.

The Wake-Up Calls

Late 2011 brought one of the toughest challenges. Nitrate levels kept rising with no obvious cause. After weeks of testing, the culprit was finally identified: heavily contaminated reverse osmosis water. Correcting the water quality took over 12 months. The corals needed another two months to fully recover.

Lesson learned: Never compromise on water purity. Invest in quality equipment with proper monitoring.

In 2012, the corals suddenly started “lighting up” (rapid tissue necrosis). After ruling out water parameters, a massive 1200-liter water change over one week finally resolved the issue. Three months later, the tank exploded with growth and color.

The Evolution of the System

In 2014, I moved into a new house with an 80m² dedicated cellar. This allowed me to separate the display tank from the technical heart of the system. The main display now holds approximately 1500 liters, while the cellar houses 1300 liters of advanced filtration and 1000 liters dedicated to coral propagation and fish grow-out.

This setup finally gave me the space to begin serious fish breeding. In 2017, I installed a new main display tank in the living room and dedicated a separate system for breeding pairs.

By late 2020, I shifted focus toward building a high-end SPS tank filled with rare Australian Microlados and other premium corals. However, with rising energy costs at the end of 2022, I made the strategic decision to shut down the large main display and consolidate everything into the filter room. The focus now is on rare soft corals — Rhodactis, Discosoma, Ricordea, Duncanopsammia, frogspawns, and more — with the goal of helping other hobbyists while keeping the system more sustainable and manageable.