Reef keeping for lazy people. No water changes, minimal maintenance

I had no idea our last reef video would be as popular as it was. Reef tank on it's own for a year got over 4k views. A lot of people had questions about it, so I made this video on how to keep a reef with as little effort as possible. I also show what I've used to get rid of bubble algae. Hit the bell icon to see future videos on BTUFF.

[@estebanmourellebermudez57]

You’ve just got a new subscriber, how refreshing to hear someone make it sound less complicated

[@Oceanchartercaptain]

No testing, no water change, low flow, tap water, your equipment looks like crap (scuse me) but your tank shines man! it’s interesting, super good looking and most of all it’s easy maintenance. Love your easy going style dude, really inspires me to take it a couple of nodes down, and just surf with it. kudos brother!

[@g2del]

Commend you for your honesty. You pretty much do everything the pro’s say not to do but you do have a nice tank.... I plan on checking about those mineral blocks...they seem like an interesting option for dosing calcium and other element. Keep doing what works for you!

[@btuff]

I appreciate that!

[@Gro2healthheirlooms]

I just started keeping a saltwater aquarium and it's now 3 months old. No water changes in a reef is my goal and; WOW does your reef tank looks beautiful! Please make more of these great reef videos.

[@kamilkazmierczak2842]

no way to succeed with no water changes and the dry rock. He has a ton of live rock, this is his secret!!!!

[@robertmartinez4183]

This video just inspired me to keep going and not give up on my tank. Tomorrow I am heading to the store and getting plenty more live rock. Thank you brother for the beautiful info.

[@btuff]

Thanks. BTW, if you have live rock in your tanks, you don't have to buy live rock. Just put more rock in. You can add rock to seed more stuff but it will all turn live in a short amount of time.

[@ritaspero7549]

I just watched your refreshing video. Tired of water changes I am a senior female and no longer can lift 5 gal jugs of RODI water into the house. Started topping off with tap and notice a little more diatoms but other than that no issues. Just ordered the sea lab no 38 hoping to see my hammers and other leathers and other coral grow. Also going to turn down the blue lights and turn up the whites. Thanks for the advice

[@cjemerson2305]

This is totally my jam. Getting back into reef after many years with fresh displays. I think it’s fun to make a low maintenance tank, where everything thrives, and get as close to a closed system as possible. Our well water has been awesome for cichlids, planted displays, house plants…even our horses. It tests a little high in calcium and phosphorus, and not too much iron (limestone rock in a mixed agricultural area). The new reef set up had way too much nuance algae and cyano at first, likely feeding on the phos, which I’m neutralizing while planning. Likely mixing attractive macros and softies…adding grazers as the macros get big. Getting some good ideas, thanks!

[@fchang1201]

I negleted my nano for month just topping it off with water. Frog spawn taken over! I did a 15% water change and noticed alot of changes in the tank. Had the tank for about 9 years now. I learned something new with my tank , just leave it alone. I recently changed the pads, clean up the pumps and did a 5% water change and the tank revived insantly. Btuff, thanks for the video, im finally going to build and finish my 40 gal after 6 yrs of procrastination lol

[@rudra7615]

This guy man...he's like a reefbro "Water change? No need" "Top up? Pfft I just throw tap water" "Dosing and add ons? I just throw one or two of these blocks in the sump when I feel like it" Lights? F*** it, I've got these Chinese ones who don't even have an app anymore.." Dudes tank is legit though, looks awesome.

[@rudra7615]

There was more "Turkey baster? Syringe and spot feed my corals? F*** it, I just salt bae that sh** with my fingers. Not every coral gets it either, I choose who is lucky!" Man..I like this guy.

[@btuff]

Lol. Pretty much

[@doncheko6866]

Rudra right??? This dude is awesome. Pretty chilled out

[@mattlaviolette4216]

Salt bae that shit 😂

[@mermaidpia2020]

wow. love this vid & how authentic u are about your reefing style! i work in aquaria & it’s refreshing. i might have a tiny crush 😆

[@btuff]

What kind of aquaria?

[@mermaidpia2020]

habitat & livestock sales. was into education & tourism pre-pandemic but now focusing on research & writing.

[@bryanhaen6750]

That's an awesome reef I love it and could not agree more with your approach to reefing. I have a 270 gallon main display with a 180 gallon DYI sump, a HUGE external protein skimmer, HUGE refugium, tons of live rock, no filter socks. I have an auto top off and avoid water changes. Best reefing advice i s be consistent and if you want to consistently change water..... thats on you. Me I enjoy looking at my reef, seeing all the life.

[@GaHaGamer6155]

I'll have to remember this!

[@GaHaGamer6155]

Do you feed your corals?

[@BBRBGR]

I love that you're like "I do nothing and it works". I ran a nano reef off a canister filter and T8 tubes for a few years and never had an issue. If you know your stuff and pay attention, it's amazing what you can get away with.

[@MrKeithHoward]

Hi from the Rock of Gibraltar. I too use a similar method on my 600l reef. I use sea water, no mixing no fuss. Thnx for sharing your experience KRs Keith

[@bigashhultgren3738]

Great info … love the laid back attitude & simplicity of your tank.. and it works great… cheers bro… 💪🙌

[@Sum-dude]

Looks great man. Even with the algae. Too often today we worry too much. Let it ride

[@btuff]

That's the plan!

[@cedricrobinson9539]

Thanks for the video. I almost had my tank crash when I went on vacation for 4 days. My daughter was supposed to be topping it off. Anyway, when I got back I just bought a 25 gallon Brute trash can and filled that with fresh water and an ATO. I don’t have to touch it anymore. It lasts for about a month. So I fill it up once a month, set myself a reminder and don’t even think about it.

[@btuff]

I need to do that. I lost a bad a$$ tank when our AC went out on vacation. crushing.

[@btuff]

I want to add something. I said I lost a tank using this method. It didn't crash because of this method. It crashed because we went on vacation and the AC broke in our home when it was 112 out. Wiped out our tank. Now I have a chiller.

[@molinafamYSIRcorals2016]

I have a trident on my tank and I test a lot with salifert test kits, after seeing this I feel like that’s where we go wrong all that testing and chasing numbers really do a number in our heads trying to have everything perfect, instead of being like B tuff and just let it ride out.. thanks man very informative, going to sell my trident causing me anxiety.. lol 😂

[@btuff]

I learned that a while back.

[@angelvega7492]

Contemplating coming back to the hobby. Bought a tank and ATO a couple months back but don’t want my pockets empty. I am in a sense one of those reefers that like their tank to be pristine but frankly I appreciate your approach. Your live stock looks great

[@dh4923]

Great video. Your long term success dispels a bunch of myths that orthodox reefers preach.

[@KelzCasa]

I work shift work, so it was hard for me to maintain my last non reef aquarium. I’m finally researching a minimal maintenance reef tank this time, and this looks like it’s right up my alley!

[@MotoSly]

i love pristine tanks.. but hell i like this tank allot!!! good job you are doing with it!

[@leetupload]

Such a bro, love it. Good stuff man!

[@rookiereefs3785]

I’ve been waiting for you to post more videos of the tank. My favorite video was your video of you cleaning it. Based my tank off of yours.

[@waltjie]

This is a GORGEOUS tank!! 😎👍🏻🤩

[@corsair371]

Your pink acropora is a beauty,like your philosophy man. Where do you live, need some of your water 💧

[@TripBtv]

Thank you for sharing. I've been seriously getting a saltwater tank but everyone else makes it seem so precarious.

[@j.kimmer1509]

I've been using tap water for 7 year... no water change in 7 years, 100gal with sps and lps 2 yellow tangs, one blue tang..... turned off my protein skimmer (i don't feed my fishes...they pick at rocks for food with fat bellies - hermits and turbos keep everything clean on surface) , and just cycle water via sump.....led lights...only thing i use is that sealab 28; ... only thing i do is replace 2-4 gals of evap water and pay the electricity bill.....) good to see others "got it."

[@btuff]

Hell ya, Basic reefing for the win.

[@Vince-qs3kk]

Pics

[@valquirsouza1329]

@J.Kimmer what are the parameters one your tap, and could you post photos?

[@corsair371]

Love your tank 👍

[@rhombifer566]

Great aquarium 👍🏻👍🏻

[@doncheko6866]

I laughed so loud man, I even spotted my soda after I heard him say this are so big dude he’s like this belong either I her in the ocean or I don’t know… 🤣

[@doncheko6866]

Dude Ure awesome, hahahahaha u had me laughing 😂.. you say intermediate random things that are irrelevant to the subject. And that’s what I like from people and vids.. for example the part when you say one of your fish don’t likes that other fish.. hahaha 🤣

[@IvoryDraco]

Gorgeous tank.

[@TheIncredibleHieb]

It would be really interesting to see an ICP of your tap water.

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Very interesting on those supplements blocks

[@btuff]

They are mandatory for people that don't test.

[@kingjeffishere]

Had to subscribe! I thought I was the only person who wanted to master this method (CAUSE I'm CRAZY BUSY) BUT the main reason I subscribed was cause you make me shoot coffee out my nose at 8:24 (i'm so immature ) :)

[@IvoryDraco]

Your puffer twitches too, that’s reassuring.

[@creightonc8147]

Lol, back in the 90’s they didn’t have nearly this level of equipment and you could run a nice tank. I remember when dry filters came out, it was huge. Tap water was normal back then, you just used a buffer. The lights sucked, the filters sucked but you could still have a decent tank. Thing is with all the advancements not much has changed except for prices and expenses.

[@dioworld]

yup, but tap water quality went down a lot though. I think depends on the water quality, but I remember back in the days the less I touch the tank, the better they are

[@davidmorffi7940]

Thinking of starting a tank never had one yours looks amazing, any advice new to it, I got a busy life style at the moment I like yours it’s amazing by the way

[@Anikom15Live]

‘I use tap water’ Absolute Chad lmao

[@joegood2474]

For Bubble alge just toss a couple emerald crabs in there and no more Bubble alge. One thing that I can't get past regarding no water changes is that a body of water, especially moving water like a reef aquarium which is moving water all the time, just like an uncovered swimming pool is always evaporating, not unlike a boiling pot of water. In the case of a boiling water evaporation happens much faster but the same thing happens in that the hardness in the water stays there and if you continually add water without removing any, over time that water will become extremely base with hardness and even turn into something thicker than water given enough time especially in your case where you even use tap water! Now if you used high quality 0 ppm RO water at least you could say I never had any hardness to begin with and I would say yup, that's true but since you do use tap water I would bet that a time of reckoning is coming because there is no way you can continually add tap water to an evaporating pool without at some time in the future become a pool of pure hardness. Thanks for the video, it is very interesting all except your decision to use tap water.

[@pubwvj]

I live out in the mountains and just use my tap water which comes from a spring higher up the mountain. I tested it and it is slightly hard.

[@jadem.6420]

Gorgeous tank

[@btuff]

Thanks.

[@salva9717]

hey! stunning tank there! Love it! I am planning a 300L tank, but I will have a limited space for the refugium (red sea 300xl). Do you think I can make it with a 10L refugium? Otherwise I will have to rethink it

[@UnMinutoViajando]

Peopel mainly fear algae because shop owners have told us that we must hate algae but some is good for the tank in general.

[@robertellison8874]

Looks amazing man be awesome if u had to frag some and sent them my way its hard to get coral from here

[@mohammedfaizbelgami8780]

I have no words to describe mate! It's stunning. I just have one question. What do you dose for corals?

[@DavidE-tj4rc]

Hey brother, great looking reef tank. Is there any way you could do a tds test on your tap water? I'm definitely down with tap water if it will give me your results!

[@Gro2healthheirlooms]

I working on setting up a softie and LPS coral reef setup.

[@frankpalumbo7773]

How often do you need to clean your glass mine needs to be cleaned every 3 days . tank has been up for 5 months red sea e170 4 fish, rock and a hand full of soft coral

[@johnsoeder756]

It’s beautiful

[@blue_sled1897]

I love your tanks thanks for sharing your experiences I’m looking to start my own tank but I need you to name the fish please the puffer fish could be Alan just a suggestion tho

[@ericstieg2721]

Can you tell me exactly what lights you’re using? I don’t want to spend major bucks if I don’t have to! How many watts, PAR, etc Thank you bro!

[@bradymxr4659]

Would should do water changes period. The ocean always has new water flowing through the reef and everywhere else. The corals use the minerals up so I do water changes and never use chemicals or supplements. 1 or 2 times a month with no problems. 135 gallon been doing this way for 30 years. No protein skimmer. If you do water changes you will notice the protein skimmer doesn’t foam or get dirty crap in the cup.

[@Dubb73]

What would you subscribe for those who use cannister filters?

[@riotpb10]

It looks good, but I can only imagine what it would look like if you did things the right way. Not knocking what you're doing because it's clearly working.

[@ritaspero7549]

Trying to switch to tap water. Checked the parameters out of faucet is .50 . Any suggestions to remove the ammonia. I don’t want to add it at that rate. Using sea lab 28 and tank parameters pretty good.

[@inthemoney8944]

Lmao this guy style of reefing just shows u it doesnt have to be complicated

[@briandixon4931]

Did you say bare tap water do you use chlorine remover for tap water ?

[@pauldeacon8764]

Hi! I really enjoyed your video & I think your tank looks great! I think your clown fish look amazing! Where do u get them that colour please? & how much are they please?? 😀👍

[@btuff]

They are Maroon clown fish. They are somewhat territorial. They look cool but other clown fish are more friendly.

[@pauldeacon8764]

@@btuff I am sorry I have just asked u the same question again cos I didn't notice that u had already answered (sorry man!). You know your clowns, when I look at them in the video they look to be dark blue with yellow in places! is it the lights that make them look like that please?? 😀👍

[@jpamintuan96]

Old school reefing 😎

[@cherylhalloran2988]

Do you declorinate your tap water before adding it to your tank? How many gallons is your tank. BTW 1st time seeing your video. This tank is stunning 😍

[@jeremykwitschau1393]

Sea Labs 28 on order. Thanks for the tip!!

[@btuff]

Follow up later.

[@eoghainlebioda1396]

dude those are the biggest leather corals I've ever seen :O

[@nealoverstreet84]

Had a 80 gallon reef tank and it lost about gallons a week. I refilled with gallon jug of spring water and never did water changes and my tank was very healthy.

[@MotherRabbits09]

How big is the tank? & how long has it been set up & running?

[@btuff]

this tank, 10 years 100g

[@ross2398]

RETURN OF THE KING

[@tonimitchell107]

Do you use carbon?

[@sangvu153]

did you get an auto top off yet

[@pamelaorisek4822]

New knowledge THANKS!!!

[@JesseJM85]

If your using tap water... uhhh, what about the chlorine in the water? Do you dechloorinate it at least?

[@theundersigned2960]

Dude I thought I was the worlds laziest reefer. At least I try to keep my equipment/hardware clean.

[@btuff]

Don’t stop believing.

[@coolslc]

@@btuff 😂

[@Gro2healthheirlooms]

I ordered the Sealab 28 for my reef tank.

[@DouglasThurston]

What lights are yours, or do you recommend newer ones?

[@btuff]

Just get the affordable 150 dollar models

[@robmorrison8568]

Nice aquarium

[@sbazain]

tanks looks great love all the corals but don't you think if you try RO water you would get less algae and bubble algae in my case I can't do that I have a TDS of 137 in my area as soon as my RO goes into 2 TDS hello algae

[@carloshinojosa7863]

I was one of the ones that had said not to cut them, maybe cutting the stem and letting the tops grab the rock again

[@btuff]

If I cut it the top need to be cut because it would grab a huge chunk of real estate

[@troyntu]

Love the tank man. Irregardless of what people has to say it’s working for you. Question have you ever tested your Alk levels? Just curious what they would be at

[@btuff]

I have never tested. The sea lab blocks do say they maintain Alk, though. Not the best answer, but the truth. I could probably do a test and see where it's at.

[@sodalines]

is it bad that i like the look of bubble algae

[@igotboredfkit]

I kept saltwater tanks for years and never heard of sea lab 28s imma have to do some research but yeah high maintiance was a big factor in shutting my tank down

[@btuff]

I've used them for a long time. They are rock solid.

[@bobpattison1739]

Unbelievable content! Coming from a newbie that’s just thinking about starting a tank going into retirement. Do you think a 100 gallon is too big for starters?

[@btuff]

100 is a good size for starters.

[@thomaslampson9684]

Hey the cubes that you mentioned if i do that what else do i need to add to do away with water changes i am gonna try it i have a fowlr tank but have another tank i will use to try this

[@jamesvance9000]

My kind of Reef!!

[@atfinthehouse8631]

How big is the tank? How old is the tank? What is in it for livestock and how long? What’s running it?

[@btuff]

100 gal

[@timjohnson3913]

@@btuff Wow I’m starting my first tank and it’s 75 gal, and I would have guessed your tank was 300 gal

[@MattDrew-yo1ww]

Bubble algae destroyed my tank in Australia here there’s not many fish that will keep it under control,emerald crab apparently eats it but we can’t get them in aus

[@BigDaawg1213]

So what type were them huge leathers?

[@andred.7392]

subbed great vid

[@mandydorpinghaus252]

What size tank is it?? Great video

[@btuff]

100

[@jamesburdick1907]

where do you get your fish and corals at? I am here in bako, and starting a tank.

[@btuff]

Bakersfield Aquatics in Oildale.

[@waynegrayson5854]

What do you feed your corals?

[@btuff]

reef roids on occasion.

[@briandixon4931]

Don't cut anything you tank looks wonderful 🎉

[@ritaspero7549]

After adding no 28 when might I expect to see a positive change? Only coral that isn’t open is my hammer

[@btuff]

You should. Magnesium seems to be an additive that open hammers. I think it's in the sea lab.

[@ritaspero7549]

@@btuff yes it is. I put 3 tabs in my 65 gal which minus Rick probably is 50 gals of water. They fizzed for a hood minute each. I added dr Tim’s all in one the other day for bacteria after cleaning a filter too well and vibrant to clarify the water. I try to stay away from dosing so hopefully these tabs are the answer. I have a torch doing very well so I don’t understand why the hammer is pretty much closed

[@annawestcott8016]

How many pounds of live rock did you use in this tank?

[@btuff]

Accumulated a lot over the years

[@evanwhitson9975]

what city do you live in where you can use tap? Seattle works with RO tap

[@btuff]

Bakersfield Ca

[@Alex-iz6ss]

I’ve come to the conclusion that having a tank like this is impossible no matter what I try

[@johnleatherwood2591]

Not true, don't give up

[@btuff]

I just gave you a formula. I've repeated this multiple times.

[@nancyvallejo9149]

U can give them to me I love those mushroom looking corals! There umbrulu corals

[@mandydorpinghaus252]

What lights??

[@hollyhall8586]

Do you have a link to the lights you brought?

[@btuff]

Without Timer www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074DRCVC4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B074DRCVC4&linkCode=as2&tag=btuff0d-20&linkId=1360247970dd8220e624500d19585990

[@btuff]

With Timer www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SHR6HW1/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07SHR6HW1&linkCode=as2&tag=btuff0d-20&linkId=7726091603dd2baecbd5e34040aab93c

[@btuff]

Did those links work?

[@mandydorpinghaus252]

How old is the tank?

[@btuff]

ive had some of that rock over 25 years

[@mandydorpinghaus252]

@@btuff will this no water change work on a 20g?

[@mandydorpinghaus252]

@@btuff appreciate your tank and explanation of how you do things

[@btuff]

@@mandydorpinghaus252 yea, just keep an eye on it. It kind of depends on your bio load

[@stonedboolya6443]

I mean that plate coral is Montipora capricornis I think which is SPS technically so you’re keeping SPS with this method lol