135g & 17g Reef Tank Updates: Do you want a high or low maintenance reef tank?

I have two reef tanks currently, the 135g that has all the bells and whistles attached, and the 17g that has barely any equipment needed for a functional reef tank. They are both enjoyable, so what are the major differences?
Timestamps:
0:00 17g Tank Pre-trip walkthrough
2:32 135g Tank Pre-trip walkthrough
5:43 Floria trip (round 2) collage
6:56 135g Tank Post-trip walkthrough
15:55 My high maintenance reef tank
20:33 17g Tank Post-trip walkthrough
24:45 My low maintenance reef tank
31:02 Final thoughts on high maintenance vs low maintenance reef tank
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Instagram: @inappropriatereefer
Email: [e-mail]

[@cooleyscoral3456]

For me personally I prefer a low maintenance tank. I have the utmost respect for the SPS tanks because it is a lot of work. I have a simple nano that pretty much runs itself and I’m trying another tank with more challenging coral. The more challenging tank is kicking my but! It’s unforgiving and let’s me know when I am slacking. I might abandon SPS for now and continue with low maintenance coral until I have more time to devote to my tank. Great video and great topic of conversation 👍

[@InappropriateReefer]

The tank is going to let you know what fits your current life style! Hope you find the necessary time in the future... and of course, still have enough time to enjoy the fruit of your labor!

[@Baffi_]

High maintenance tanks are cool when you have all the dosing supplies and everything setup right to work easily. Couldn’t imagine keeping a high mainlanders SPS tank and having to mix water and maintain levels manually

[@tylerchurchill7085]

It’s a great day when a new video drops 😊

[@InappropriateReefer]

Thank you for watching 😊

[@seangriffiths9163]

The inspiration for my first coral reef tank was your budget tank followed by your mangrove tank. I love both styles of high and low maintenance and both of your tanks are stunning.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Love hearing this and hope your reefing journey has been a relatively smooth one! (and most importantly, an enjoyable ride!)

[@grandcanyonreefs]

Amazing video! Thanks for sharing! I can't wait till my tank and KZbin channel are as fire as yours!

[@charmcityreefing1124]

I’m so glad I don’t have those starfish haha I would be so sad if any zoas were feasted upon. Keep up the great vids man. I wait for each one with anticipation. I’ve been grabbing a lot of corals from CTE

[@harlanmichael7088]

Thanks for the video!

[@InappropriateReefer]

Thank you for watching!

[@Reefspidey]

Omg you use LECA, that’s awesome!

[@RogueAquariums]

Both tanks look good Mok-yi. Having redundancy and automation is very nice especially if you have to travel but having a low tech hands off tank is nice as well. The mangroves are growing like weeds.

[@charmcityreefing1124]

I like the video before vacation idea. I just came back from a 2 day work trip to 2 medium aiptasia so that was fun. My fiancé is taking care of everything though thank goodness

[@InappropriateReefer]

Always awesome to have family members & friends who are interested in the hobby... or at least tolerate it! ;-)

[@Sylvania-Frenchies]

Looks awesome brother gotta say the soft coral tank is my favorite ✊🏽

[@InappropriateReefer]

Thank you my friend!

[@Sylvania-Frenchies]

@@InappropriateReefer anytime my friend you definitely have inspired me to start a soft coral reef . Let me know if you frag that finger leather coral

[@austincutliff4295]

I have a “high maintenance” reef and I do love the challenge of keeping sps. Although automation has for the most part taken ALOT off of my plate with auto testing and dosing. Weekly water changes, feeding and the occasional dosing of iodine/trace elements is all that I do at the moment.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Yes sir, without the automation really don't think I would be successful running a higher maintenance / demand tank. I'm terrible when it comes to regular testing and dosing... haphazard at best! Props to you for keeping up w/ the weekly waterchange, even that has been challenging for me!

[@austincutliff4295]

@@InappropriateReefer yeah I wouldn’t be successful without my automation either. That was my biggest problem starting out, parameter swings due to my negligence 😅. And weekly water changes on an innovative marine 30gal are a cake walk compared to your big system so I wouldn’t give me to much credit 😂

[@jahsreef8386]

Expensive lunch for that starfish. Borrow a harlequin shrimp lol

[@dwest68088]

Love your tank! Like a little peace of the ocean! Have you thought of expanding, maybe add another tank?

[@InappropriateReefer]

Thank you! I really, really want to set up another super simple & affordable tank... alas, I have something similar in the Mangrove tank (though it does not have affordable gears at the moment), so I thought it may be a bit redundant. Down the road I may have another go at the idea!

[@b.bustersfishtanks4427]

Hello which lamps are those exactly? Looks great!.beautiful

[@kaldenkyulo4100]

Wish I knew I could put a tree in my tank before I started last week! 😭 would’ve definitely done it like that

[@MicrobiusBlue]

Your Sun Kissed is Sun Pissed 😎

[@sola9649]

your fish bowl looks 100x better than mine 🥴

[@filipinoreefer]

I want an in-between reef!

[@sergtv6907]

Yes ! Those new 60 gal breeders are awesome

[@EhDewd]

Noooo! I miss DJ Quad music for your vids! It’s part of your vibe and feel!

[@InappropriateReefer]

Oh I miss DJ Quad! Maybe I'll bring it back in one of the future vid!

[@Angels_reefing]

Both!

[@Cosigner22]

I have a 15G mixed tank that is low maintenance and all my SPS coral are doing great, but my 90G I'm building will be mostly softies... At least that's the plan

[@travishightower5529]

Good afternoon. The 135 looks amazing. Do you ever ship any of your frags to North Carolina?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I haven’t dabbled in shipping yet, may finally give it a try later this year, since the SPS has been growing well 😊

[@sandyraymondlowewong9705]

I'm more of an LPS & soft coral person. Would be considered in-between?

[@InappropriateReefer]

Totally!

[@cjdangles]

Can you do a video review of your Avast Plank feeder?

[@JohnnyBlankify]

What do you feed your corals? And do you turn off your main pump when feeding?

[@charlottefalconer8602]

Cyano might have started because your nutrients dropped to low, see it a lot when people carbon dose and bottom out po4 and no3, cyano or dinoflagellates seem to pop up after it happens and gets a foot hold. Your tanks are gorgeous, absolutely stunning!

[@InappropriateReefer]

Good point and very likely! Though the pendulum may have swung a bit too far back towards high nutrients now to continue fueling the cyano. Nutrients was low so I upped the feeding, ended up with ~1.1 & ~30 these days. 😅

[@drewdrilak2437]

Do you use RODI on the soft water tank? Also how do you maintain the calcium and alkalinity with the soft coral tank?

[@lyndsayhammond6884]

Dang, you’re making me want a tank again! I just get so frustrated with algae and give up every time 😞

[@1Fbl1Wolfie]

algae is a function of mostly light duration. Get yourself a timer and start playing around with hours per day of light with the rate that algae builds up.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Algae is easy to handle, certain snails mow down certain type of algae as well, aside from what Andries recommended. Hopefully you give it another go. ;-)

[@OmniversalInsect]

Are there any snails that eat hair algae? I was told that trochus snails do but mine never ate it and ended up starving

[@DhG4410]

You ever try throwing a piece of acrylic or glass on top of the soft Coral tank to knock back the evaporation rate?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I have not as evaporation and fish jumping hasn't been an issue with the mangrove system *knock on wood*

[@allankang7374]

Did you have to deal with velvet in your reef tank before? If so, how are you treating your reef fishes? Or do you have a video on it that I can watch? Thanks!

[@InappropriateReefer]

Thankfully I have not had to deal with Velvet or Ich *knock on wood* For new fish I usually use this dip called the "Safety Stop." Unfortunately don't have much to add in terms of treating fish, I do hear Humblefish forum is a great resource for QT/Treating fish -- good luck!

[@josephposada1830]

I would try your lighting for the red slime Coraline. I have a recurring growth of that stuff. Phosphate is only .25 and nitrates normal. Let's face it. We grow algae 🤣

[@InappropriateReefer]

You know what, I tell myself algae & bacteria is a natural part of the reef too, they tend to live side by side corals, lol. As long as they're not choking out corals, I'm for the most part not going to stress over them...

[@calidolphinsfan408]

Low Maintenance I have a 16gallon Cube and I do a 5 gallon water change once a week. I have gone once a month to 😆 sometimes.

[@InappropriateReefer]

We have all slipped into that once-a-month-club sometimes... ;-)

[@calidolphinsfan408]

@@InappropriateReefer love your videos keep posting them they are so informational. I've been reefing for 5 years I just have a lil 16gallon cube but it's my lil slice of the ocean 🪸🌊 thank you

[@jtisle506]

Is that yellow anacropora colony Goldenrod Anacropora? I really dig it, looking for a yellow Acro to add to my tank.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Yes sir, Goldenrod Anacropora. It has been an easy and fast grower in my system!

[@Nicholas_Young]

Awwwwwwww YEAH

[@fernselvis]

Continuous doser for kwalk only at night is the programmable or you just turn it off during the day. Tank looks great.

[@InappropriateReefer]

I have the Komer doser set to continous dose, but only have power to that outlet during a certain time of day. So whenever the outlet has power, it will start continous dosing. I am using a Hydros to control the doser's on/off, but any smart plug on the market would do!

[@fernselvis]

@@InappropriateReefer thank you.

[@jameswithers3066]

Have you ever found the reason why Xenia pulses in your mangrove tank and doesn't pulse very well in your 135 gallon? Is it the same strand?

[@josephfriedrich9792]

1:01 to the right of the xenia, is that a deep water leather?

[@rhombifer566]

But very beautiful aquarium

[@SupaSkitz]

Low maintenance for me softies & LPS

[@Messier87_M87]

Is it dangerous running kalk in an auto top off container, without a PH probe and controller?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I don’t think it’d dose enough to be dangerous, but it may not be as predictable since the evaporation amount may be different day to day; versus using a dosing it’s always a set number.

[@oofpokemon5275]

How do you get montipora forest fire polyp extension mine is is fully closed but is still growing. Also my Starfish ate all my 13 pink diamonds. In my sump i also have 2 pink diamond that randomly got lose ( probably because they didnt want to get eaten) they are starting to eat my eagle eyeys. I remove Some evry day and its working good.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Sorry to hear about your zoas but glad to hear that the starfish is under control in your system! It's tough to say with polyp extension because I heard that it could be so many things. My first question would be how are your other SPS doing?

[@oofpokemon5275]

@@InappropriateReefer they are doing great my acropora isn’t showing any PE aswell my iodine is to low and manganese and the metals are to high I am trying to get iodine and manganese under control

[@jameswithers3066]

Can I ask what your light schedule and intensity is on your soft coral tank? I'm interested as it's a very powerful light for this size tank. Thank you in advance

[@jameswithers3066]

Also I think your 135 gallon tank as a huge softie tank would look amazing.

[@InappropriateReefer]

I am running that Radion G4 Pro at 15% intensity over the softie tank. 😬

[@chrisribble]

What lights do you run on the 135g

[@michaelrelaz4808]

Idk if this recommendation has came across you but I’m confident that if you did do a bi weekly water change in the big tank and you used that water for the little tank your little tank would look great. Just my 2 cents.

[@thienphucle237]

how many wavemaker in your 135g tank ?

[@thomasmiller2089]

Can you please let me know what you mean by liquid fertilizer or the plugs for you mangroves? TIA!!

[@InappropriateReefer]

I squirt a little Thrive+ (it's a freshwater planted tank fert), and use planted aquarium root tabs (they're like little pills filled with fertilizer) in the sand bed around where I think the mangrove roots are

[@rubenespinosa1685]

All asterina star fish eat zoas and suck in coralline algae happened to me in my old system.after I set up my new system they are not allowed.those little buggers eat stuff certain stuff like zoas even red bubble algae.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Yeah I am not a fan of them, though have not had a way to really eradicate all those buggers....

[@jahsreef8386]

I also literally just said screw it I don’t have the time for sps dominate so I’m doing cool softy with pipefish and twinspot gobies

[@InappropriateReefer]

Any success w/ Twinspot Gobies? Thought they look super cool but I hear they could be hard to feed

[@jahsreef8386]

@@InappropriateReefer I haven’t personally had them yet, my lfs carry’s them for awhile before I would get a pair so I’m sure that they will be eating mysis. They just got in two of them so I’m gonna let him make sure they’re eating good for a couple weeks

[@scottzinn8656]

Do you feed any pods to your reef?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I don’t routinely add live pods, but I have seeded them in the past and there is a healthy population in there naturally

[@scottzinn8656]

How often do you ICP test for nutients?

[@InappropriateReefer]

For Nutrients I manual test (Hannah Photsphate ULR and Nitrate HR); ICP I usually once every 3-4 months to check major elements and trace

[@josephdinbokowitz4749]

Mp10 need to be lined up better to the dry side and the clicking will go away

[@Juju-ch5it]

How to you feed the tangs when gone for that long?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I have an Avast Plank auto-feeder that feeds freeze dried mysis & flakes 3x a day

[@donaldsuggett7775]

Low is the way to go.

[@dlm1949]

So your softie tank you don’t dose anything?

[@InappropriateReefer]

Nothing for the corals, sometimes I squirt a little Thrive+ or Nitrate for the mangrove; I depend on water change to keep the parameters sort-of in line

[@Francis.Rivers]

Yeah i enjoy the hobby more when its low maintenance.

[@Joshthereefer]

Your mp10 is not aligned, that may be why it's rotating.

[@InappropriateReefer]

Good idea, let me double check that 🙏

[@bluerider0988]

@@InappropriateReefer I also suspect glass thickness according to Ecotech an MP10 is only good for 3/8" glass max. I am fairly certain your glass is thicker than that.

[@alexisgeorgia]

Show us more plants!!! 🌿

[@InappropriateReefer]

Alright, if you insist...

[@DrewWoznicki]

I was thinking the same! 😂 I have a massive 25+ leaf Albo Borsigianna!

[@juanriverol7527]

Did all those plant help raise your ph

[@InappropriateReefer]

Honestly I don't think they helped much

[@juanriverol7527]

Ok thought it would have help a little bit love you’re video keep up the good work sir

[@thomasdelgado3874]

Let me know what day you are going to top shelf

[@InappropriateReefer]

Did not end up have time for LFS this FL trip 🥲 I have a feeling that we’d visit again in a few months… can’t seems to stay away from FL 😂

[@Messier87_M87]

I just got back from Fl also, drove down to manasota key from NH. I had the opportunity to stop at world wide corals for the first time, picked up a beautiful milli frag and drove straight home 1500 miles, lol.

[@stephena7809]

What powerhead are you using on your 17g?

[@InappropriateReefer]

It has a Ecotech Vortech MP10 on there, and the ATO return box provides a tiny, tiny bit of flow as well

[@cutefish7317]

Who fed your tanks when you were on vacation ?

[@InappropriateReefer]

I have an Avast Plank autofeeder that runs 3x a day to drop some freeze dried mysis & flake for the 135g. The 17g Mangrove tank has no autofeeder and they just go without feeding, at least the last 8/9 days.

[@lyndsayhammond6884]

Don’t you worry about your fish jumping or snails crawling out?

[@InappropriateReefer]

No issue so far, I would prob not keep any goby in the 17g for this reason

[@jamescovington7670]

What kind of clowns do you have?

[@InappropriateReefer]

They are MochaVinci from Sea & Reef

[@devildog6031]

absolute dislike for the doctor....

[@youtubeisownedbytiktok7813]

you cannot say dere you have to say there