Building a Slice of the Ocean, Nano Reef Tank Build

Reef keeping couldn't be easier with this nano reef tank build! Even though I love saltwater aquariums, I've never been a fan of the bulky equipment. In this video, I demonstrate how easy reef keeping can be!
Some may be skeptical about how this tank will perform in the long run. After two months of being set up, all the animals are thriving. I have yet to do a water change, and the only maintenance is topping off the water and feeding the corals.
For this tank, I mostly used soft corals and LPS in order to keep maintenance to a minimum. I have one or two SPS corals in the tank as well. Let me know what you think of the build! Is there anything you would’ve done differently?
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Rock: amzn.to/3TQ4HLG
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[@ConanCamelPuncher]

I meant to be watching a lecture, but Dr. Plants uploaded so I know what I’m watching.

[@LeHyperTech]

Yes

[@gamorean4903]

Respect

[@lukeantonystevens2942]

hahah same here

[@allegratheswiftie]

Well, Dr. Plants’s vids are better than lectures!

[@asnCarCast]

Respek.

[@RogueJungle]

Would love to see more saltwater aquarium videos, love all your content

[@beverlyblanton6031]

Need more!!!

[@groenevinger3893]

@@Aiden532 1.6 mln at this moment..

[@zacsamuelcabaltica9272]

More pls

[@taylormade5965]

Yass!!!

[@AmitSharma-sj9rr]

​@@Aiden532❤😮😮😅z❤ 0:52

[@tepidti]

literally my dream to have a tank like this one day 😭 gorgeous and i love seeing how you take care of the coral!

[@tepidti]

@@droiddevx03 because i'm being literal x

[@Sc-zr4wi]

@@droiddevx03 goofy ah doesn't know his vocab. go back to 1st grade

[@meiggieful]

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[@justinxjhh]

I basically marathoned your channel today upon discovering it and god damn it I’ve watched every second of it 😭😭 it’s so interesting and I love that all the products are linked so people who are interested can get started easily, cost friendly too.

[@xhappyponyxwasmyoldname1395]

Literally what I’m doing right nowwww

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

Those Xenia are going to be a pain when they start to spread. To keep them from taking over the tank, we usually isolate them to their own space. Also, one of the reasons for water changes is to return minerals to the tank. You don’t have any hard coral, plating montipora, birds nest and the sort, in there so returning calcium to the system isn’t that important. If your viewers do decided to get hard corals, you’ll either have to supplement with additives or do water changes, or both. However, they still aren’t that difficult to do, and the tanks are still relatively easy to maintain. I Kept a saltwater tank with hard and soft corals, anemone fish, and I even had an aggressive tank for about 15 years. I got out of the hobby cause kids get expensive, and miss it so much. Thanks for sharing your tank, and hope all the best.

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you! This strain of Xenia is much slower growing, and I’ve never had a problem with it spreading in previous tanks. Secondly, maybe set yourself up a small tank by your bed. Even if it’s just 3 gallons. Throw in some macro algae, LPS, and softies. It’ll be nice to look at when you wake up or go to bed. It’ll be an awesome thing to show your kids as well.

[@skiedev]

One day I wish to own a salt water tank but I feel like its such a dedication for the salt/gravity?/oxygen/temperature and how all the components will get along. My family only had a simple fresh water tank where the zebra fish ended up having babies.

[@MrCancerh89]

I was thinking to have a fish tank, but you reminded me that kids are expensive and they will demand most of my free time.

[@Suantak223]

Does the super glue have to be gorilla glue? Or can we also use different brands of super glue

[@junyingzhang4479]

@@Suantak223 can use different brand thats what i used

[@GothicPoet]

My mom and dad had a 300 gallon tank. It was a coral reef with an octopus and jellyfish we also kept blue crabs and blue crawfish. They put blue lights behind the tank for a beautiful scenery. We had a bar and entertainment area in our basement. The tank sat behind the bar as a living wall. We cleaned it once a week as a family and fully drained it twice a year to make sure no moss or mold grew. I enjoyed cleaning the tank with my family. I got to play with the octopus. He was a smart dude, he was very curious about me. I got a small ball for him and we played with it while my mom and dad did the big job. He loved hording certain types rocks so he had a pile of them in his hideout. The corals were very beautiful too. They glowed under the blue light. They also helped filter the tank. The whole room was a controlled environment for the tank. I have great memories of those days. I remember watching the jellyfish booping around and the crabs chased the bubbles with the crawfish. The corals got use to use so we got to watch them move around and wave in the water catching stuff floating by. I wish we had the internet back then I would have had a KZbin channel for sharing the tank with everyone. ☺️

[@jygergruz9562]

How did you keep jellyfish and what kind

[@bryanp5843]

What ended up happening to the tank?

[@shadowfor1995]

You can’t just drop a wholesome story like this and not answer out questions

[@jygergruz9562]

I have never heard or seen of jellyfish ina reed tanm

[@jygergruz9562]

If their were bubbles in the tank i dont thinm that could handle.jellyfish plus if their was sand or rocks it would be impossivle to raise jellyfish insifr

[@casualsatanist5808]

Having just finished my 1st college semester of my biology bachelor, im loving these videos. Its awesome to see all these organisms and go "Oh, I know that one" etc. Also nice to see em alive and not dead and dissected.

[@leetupload]

Your video inspired me to setup my own tank. 3 months in, it has been challenging, but still enjoyable. I don't necessarily need a video update as I know that's time consuming, but I'd love to hear how everything has been doing since you started. Thanks!

[@saadmaanshahrier2]

Upload your tank on your channel

[@Iamgoodman67]

maybe make it more accurate by adding a blue whale

[@jenny8090]

DEFINITELY MAKE AN UPDATE VIDEO, this was amazing to watch. Also a list with all the species you’ll be introducing will be great- from corals to algae to fish to crustaceans etc.

[@aliciatorres9413]

I. ❤ your.videos 🎉🌸🌹🌷🌺💐🌻🌼🪷🌷🪸🐿️🦔🦥🦦🦫🦡⛄️☃️⛈️🌧️🌦️☁️🌥️☀️🌤️⛅️🌥️🌬️🌩️💨❄️💦💦🫧💦⛄️☃️🫐🍉🍊🥠🥫🍧🍛🛝🏉

[@graphite2786]

The fact is a lot of these little >5gal tanks are terrible for fresh water fish but perfect for nano/pico reefs. Far easier and more ethical than a poor betta or goldfish. And some LPS are virtually indestructible as well as being unusual and pretty. Your set up is beautiful and simple, perfect for what you have stocked. But even then some set ups can be even more minimal - airstone and lights will keep xenia, yellow polyps and a bunch of other softies thriving! (Great for kids, office desk tanks, classrooms and busy people)

[@happychappy27]

Not great advice for beginners at all. Smaller volume of water equals bigger swings and more unstable parameters. Not good for marine whatsoever.

[@ten-tonnetongue]

BRINGIN' NERDY BACK. This guy deserves some kind of recognition beyond just a subscription button. This guy should be on the news or something. Real content. So sick of short, amalgamated videos made of other peoples' content. This tank is awesome. Would love an update. I recommend you do it like those cute animal documentaries where you follow a few key creatures and document their lives for a few days then stitch it together into a story.

[@leafy126.5]

Why has it taken so long for youtube to recommend this channel to me. This is amazing

[@JamesBricks06]

I would love too see a longer video about all the creatures and coral. Keep up the great videos they are always fascinating!

[@juliamatthews7586]

agree!

[@poppamic]

Loved seeing the corals eating their dinner 😍 hope to see more of this. Excellent as always Dr Plants 👌☘️🐛🐝 🦀

[@chromefox4]

Beautiful is not enough, magnificent is not enough either. It's perfect jm definitely interested in seeing more

[@diegoangulo1627]

Same here!!! I want to learn more about this. It looks amazing and I want to know what kind of marine life you added to the tank. I would love to have something like this when I have a house.

[@LeeFav.]

The is is such a gem channel... I'm gonna binge watch

[@suericata]

Can't imagine how many chores you have to keep up with, spread between every living thing you take care of. Great work!

[@polarberri]

Beautiful tank! Great build and explanation. Super inspirational that you made it so accessible and affordable. Thank you!

[@Mike__B]

Pssst, don't watch this video and think it'll go this easily or smoothly.

[@brianwebb1984]

@@Mike__B Why? It absolutely can go smoothly and easily. It just comes down to doing it right when it comes to the filter size/media, and the amount of live rock and sand that is used.

[@Mike__B]

@@brianwebb1984 I'm not saying it's super difficult, but that was not live rock he used. Rock should not be white, expect it to go through an "ugly phase" (you can kind of see the beginnings of it on close ups with spots of algae growing) and that ugly phase is perfectly normal because all that sterile surface is having a major war with life competing to colonize it. In fact if he said "and here's the tank 1 week later" I probably would have believed that way more.

[@taylormade5965]

@@Mike__B I am saying it is super difficult to read/understand what you write. maybe you should just use every day normal words instead of trying to sound like you're super knowledgeable. It makes you sound like you're going through an ugly phase, and not at all believable 😮‍💨🙄

[@taylormade5965]

@@Mike__B ohhh and that purple stuff on live rock doesn't just appear. In fact, the rocks probably looked just like these to begin with.

[@kazuhikoriku]

I’m so looking forward to a update! I’ve rewatched all your videos so many times now and you’ve created a whole new interest for me!

[@Itz_Lazy]

Man no wonder when people ask me questions i can answer them, im learning so much when i watch your videos! 🌊🐠🐟

[@selenium_g]

I hardly ever comment on KZbin videos but in this rare instance I've made an exception. Your channel is one of the most unique platforms that I've seen here. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and hard-work, it has been truly amazing to watch and I look forward to seeing further content. Greetings from Germany :)

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@noitibmar]

These videos always make me feel so impatient. I just want to see how it all develops over time! I cannot wait for future updates, but the waiting will only make it sweeter to see how this tank progresses x

[@mrdzotaku8594]

I study environmental sciences and marine life. I am happy with these videos and I hope to try them all in my home

[@TheKingofBunga2912]

I honestly can't wait for when Dr. Plants comes out with "100 days ago, I built an ocean ecosystem and this happened"

[@Chickeloden]

Fr

[@absolutezerochill2700]

Thank you for showing how reef keeping isn't as intimidating as many people think.

[@absolutezerochill2700]

@@eliegbert8121 i mean check your corals/dip them for aiptasia not hard also he doesn't need a protein skimmer because they are no fish and these non sps don't deplete the minerals in the water very much, so that's why no mention or water changes

[@absolutezerochill2700]

@@eliegbert8121 you're the one who made it more complicated???? Clean water Macroalgae Carbon and filter media Feed corals once a week if necessary Check for any aiptasia/ buy from reputable seller SIMPLE

[@jonathanrovi8932]

@@absolutezerochill2700 Nothing about reef keeping is simple. sure an extended knowledge base of the hobby can make it easier to understand but i would never say simple. Constant parameter changes, Hitchhiker ID'ing, random algea / ammonia swings. Also, claiming this as a budget build is crazy. Dude got like $300 worth of coral for free. hardly a budget nano reef for the actual consumer. what he didnt mention are the test kits, refractometer, rodi water, auto top off. All are a huge priority for a nano reef.

[@absolutezerochill2700]

@@jonathanrovi8932 he uses distilled water I buy Rodi, and it's like a quarter a gal for me You absolutely do not need an autotop off, especially for a vertical tank like this one There can't be ammonia swings in a tank where everything has near zero bioload and unless it's super new swings don't happen to me either algae swings are a pain but also a freshwater issue as with hitchhikers

[@calreeGAZA]

Looks amazing, your definitely one of my favourite youtubers by how creative you can be with your videos. Keep up the good work 👍

[@TheDrPlants]

Wow, thank you!

[@jessegarcia8235]

@@TheDrPlants amazing tank does the marco rock have any type of worms that live in it?

[@moonpaints4090]

I've wanted a coral tank for so long and I always thought you needed more for it. This is so easy and simple. Thank you for sharing. I really want this for my living room.

[@Phillipbeans]

The editing is so amazing and you really make me think about nature‘s beauties thank you 🍷

[@kai_b_feral]

i would love to see longer, more in depth videos. your channel is amazing and gives so much information. glad i found you!

[@rin5719]

Please, It would be so awesome to see you do a maintenence day on each of your vivariums and aquariums! Even if theyre just little things, it would be so peaceful. A livestream of this tank would be awesome too.

[@ondrejj.1900]

After almost 20 years of yt... This is the top 5 content and channel. Nirvana

[@eowynkolarek669]

I was doing some homework and finished up quickly to watch your video! I am learning marine zoology right now and it would be awesome to see more aquarium videos. I'm so interested to see how many tanks you have! A tour of all your animals would be cool too. Love your content!

[@properdan3893]

A tour would be great.

[@tinasjostrand2677]

Yes! I like this idea.

[@demetriusmendoza4176]

I have been wanting to start a reef tank for the past 2 years but all the videos I saw were 17 parts. You made it so easy with one video. I’m making my tank today.

[@Liam-iv7wk]

I really like how you effectively use the filter foam in almost every one of your projects. Heck you actually gave me some ideas for using filter foam to improve my aquaponics system.

[@chittychad18]

Id love to know more about this tank. Ive always wanted saltwater but with less maintenance

[@hachep0ck337]

I don’t know how you can be more efficient. It’s so amazing thank you !

[@bi1coolgaming254]

We need more aquarium/vivarium build! Your videos are so good I don't check for other channel in the fear I'm disappointed with the quality of the video.

[@graciliraptor3990]

Came back for a replay, I could watch this forever *-*

[@pshadyyx]

Wow! That's another level to our sweet water fish tank we have at home. I wanted to make one small just for shrimps, however, I maybe start with one with corals first! Thank you!

[@frankmills1917]

This looks therapeutic. Watching the corals wave just looked relaxing.

[@schuylerwagner8934]

Amazing video, just a few quick comments and suggestions as a long time reefer: Avoid positioning rock scale within and in of any glass wall you wish to keep clean and clear. This will make cleaning with any tool much much easier. Be cautious of rinsing Marco rock with tap water, it is pours and can absorb lots of water, some of which could contain highly undesirable chemicals like chlorine and ammonia

[@user-np9sn4co3i]

You a poop

[@siennacowling7076]

Thank you for taking the time and effort to share your passion online! Your videos are outstanding 🌟🌟🌟 we need so many more 🤩

[@thatonearcher22]

It so cool watching you take an empty tank and make it an entire slice of nature.

[@evanderfrancis694]

Awesome video! Its my understanding that the main reason for a water change in a reef tank is to replenish nutrients and trace elements for the coral. While the Macro algae will be great for maintaining excess nutrients, the overall nutrients will eventually deplete. You will need to either dose those nutrients or do a water change of about 10-20 percent to replenish.

[@empresszaza]

I’m homeschooling, and i think your videos are super awesome. I really like the fact that you show step by step instructions in your videos, I am looking forward to future videos

[@jackdelehanty]

As someone who likes keeping heavily planted freshwater tanks, I would absolutely love a deep dive on the role macro-algae is playing in this setup. Liked, subscribed and hit the bell because I would always watch highly detailed videos on setup, maintenance, ecology, etc. Your tanks are so beautiful and your production quality is so good, so I would love more behind the scenes content.

[@milanshivairo2581]

A huge fan of your vids and the effort you put in them keep it up👍

[@IGrocker]

This is so weird and cool to watch your channel grow. I watched your first video when it only had a couple thousand views. It’s only weird because I’ve never been there since the beginning of a channel! Keep up the great work!!

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you!

[@daciantalker]

This really wanted me to start a 4 gallon salt water tank! Its so amazing how beautiful some of the coral and fish can be

[@quinn-si2zq]

I love this channel it has so many different variations of life.I My brother and my family watch this show when we are on road trips. P.S. I love the channel so much ❤❤

[@chasertalk]

I can't tell you how much I love this content! KZbin has let me explore so many hobbies and passions; and your videos make me to take up a new one. Thanks again!

[@spicytunaroll3319]

Dude it’s amazing how much you’ve grown, I remember watching your very first video when it just came out and you sounded so shy/ not used to speaking on camera😂 but look at you know man, your growth has been insane and you speak so much more confidently and enthusiastically in your vidoes it’s obvious you enjoy what you do. I have a feeling you’ve gotten quite comfortable being a content creator now

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you! It’s been a crazy journey, and I couldn’t be happier

[@AbRealProduction]

This man just did the impossible. Made me interested in something to do with water and not bugs. 😮

[@austinplease8701]

I can't believe I am just now seeing this, absolutely remarkable and you have a brilliant mind

[@lordstrnge3493]

This is absolutely beautiful! I've always wanted to have a little slice of the ocean for myself and after seeing how to make my own and how to care for it, I'm definitely going to try a similar build!! Thank you for this amazing video and I hope to see that follow up video soon!!

[@damianb848]

Keep up the great work! ive been loving these videos and they've even inspired me to build my own paladarium

[@benmercier2669]

Would love an update on this setup! Animals added, maintenance, general setup guidelines? My daughter loves fish and this would be a great way to pique her curiosity!

[@seirark9492]

My son and I love watching your channel!!! Keep going!

[@toastbot9496]

Such a beautiful little tank, the way the coral move is so fascinating. Definitely kept my interests up!

[@Topbeehler]

I've always wanted a tank of fish because of how beautiful they are. However I have very little time. Until this video that just randomly popped up in my recomendeds I didn't even know Coral tanks were a thing. You've given me something fun to maybe try in the future (After a ton of research) I can't wait to check out more of your videos later. This is stunning and worth the like and subscribbing by a lot. Love the video!

[@thehighlightreel2829]

CONGRATULATIONS ON 1 MILLION! 🎉 Your channel really is incredible… you deserve it ❤

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you so much!!

[@laranicolae71]

@@TheDrPlants hii

[@Crystalluss]

I love what you do! I think this channel is a great resource for learning about earth science and the internal functions of an ecosystem--it's fascinating to see the different things you put in a tank to fulfill the needs of the creatures inside. My mom teaches science classes and I've already shown her your desert ecosystem build. I want to show her this one, too!

[@Nuttilicious]

years ago i was really wanting a saltwater tank but I didn't have the space for anything bigger than a 5 gallon. all the builds I saw were for 40g minimum and as a beginner I didn't really wanna deviate from what I saw more experienced people do. i'd practically given up on that idea until I move out but this renewed my interest. thank you for showing me this is possible! instant subscribe, awesome stuff.

[@angelicanavarro5311]

I can’t love what you do enough. That’s amazing!!! Very cool

[@erikzeitler6799]

Man you are an artist

[@celestialknightsffxiv6566]

Dr. Plant has gotten me into doing tank builds for my own home....

[@jaydluna2224]

Keep up the good work Dr. Plants! We love watching the progress of your projects and can’t wait to watch each and every video 😍 lots of love from Australia 🇦🇺

[@mushroom_lady4real]

Yay!! I'm so happy! I love wildlife this looks awesome. I love the way the coral moves in the waters. It looks like it's dancing!

[@DeathToMockingBirds]

I would love an update on this tank, it's incredible!

[@svbakakris323]

Yes!!!! These corals are so beautiful & so are your vids.

[@TheDrPlants]

Glad you like them!

[@Cosmicpantheon]

This is such a beautiful tank the animals the rocks it just adds so much detail that it’s beautiful and the water plants

[@skull2470]

This dudes bonsai care level must be master class.

[@emsvincoffee5184]

Your videos is so relaxing to watch. I like how concise you present information, it’s very entertaining.

[@properdan3893]

Hi im from the UK and i love the way your builds turn out can you do an update on all these in a few months time with any issues you have had etc. Please keep these going so intresting to watch.

[@MaxRide1]

I never thought I'd be into reef tanks or paludariums or wasp nests til I started watching your videos (I'm not even sure how I got here... about 6 to 8 months ago I think). Whilst I don't think I'll ever be able to afford or even confident enough to build one myself (I can barely remember to take my meds every day never mind looking after an entire ecosystem!) I love watching you build & maintain these miniature worlds!

[@madelineyoung4514]

Not sure how I got here either but that is a beautiful tank. I hope you do nurture the confidence to build your own. I'd like to make one in the future too 👍

[@parkerspargen415]

I love how you make reef keeping safe and easy

[@TheBrelson]

This is the video i been searching for ages. Thank you

[@ag6981]

Man you make me want to get into this hobby sooooo badly.... Excellent videos, keep em coming!

[@dusklight9424]

This is amazing! I hope to see more videos of this tank in the future

[@sasheielmashie]

Its too beautiful👏👏👏

[@jimfrans2547]

can't wait to see the updates of this great job. thanks for this video!

[@dauntlessmare1521]

I’ve been super excited to see this video!! You did an amazing and breathtaking job 😊 I can’t wait to see more!

[@MisterSaru]

Been really enjoying your content! Would love more updates on your current and future ecosystems. Keep up the great work!

[@errolyntan4381]

Amazing and many thanks for your time and effort to explain in detail with insights and tips. Please keep going!

[@ZenSyncBoom]

I started watching you yesterday and i know that your like me who Loves nature so much

[@odeer170]

This video was amazing. The tank is soooo beautiful. I really want to make my own now

[@billkeithchannel]

My buddy was a fan of using live rock with the purple covering. The coolest looking was the zoanthids an animal that looks like underwater flowers. He also liked to use R/O water and would get his cycles established to balance the nitrates to nitrites. The creatures added helps with that process.

[@b0o0dlesn0o0dles]

this is AMAZING! Seriously got me thinking about making my own reef at 1 in the morning... huge thumbs up from a fan from Australia!

[@KLOMONEY111]

I FRICKEN LOVE THIS GUY

[@David.Him96]

Dude, put some animals in the new tank, we NEED that video, please !

[@TheDrPlants]

Will do!

[@Dustnuts]

This looks so AMAZING you are a very good at explaining what you are doing!

[@RenaultCRS]

The algorithm worked just fine for me to find this pearl of a channel!

[@canondead1943]

I just found your channel and I love your videos! The quality is unmatched!❤❤❤

[@kaylaroach]

Your content is top tier. Very well done 👏🏼

[@dylanrollo5419]

All your builds look amazing and I would love to see more. Keep up the good work 👍

[@alyssajean2327]

I'm so obsessed with your videos! Amazing content, by far the best stuff I've ever seen❤ thank you so much!

[@queencitycorals]

Happy to help fill up the tank it looks great!

[@ponkeyplonkey6969]

I always genuinely thought a saltwater tank was a lot more work and a lot more complex. Now all of the sudden I want to make one lol

[@Napoleonus_Chadus_Shortus_lll]

Cool project man! Keep up the good work 😃

[@TheDrPlants]

Thank you!

[@Napoleonus_Chadus_Shortus_lll]

@@TheDrPlants ur welcome 😁

[@Ziro_kun]

0:38 “These are great because they're very very quite” *proceeds to lower voice 🤣