Tools I use for reef keeping

[@thepassionreef]

Fri Afternoon Video...thanks Marc enjoyed it...its amazing how every reefer grows in his/her hobby and gets better and organized like yourself..

[@newhebrewrib]

thank you!!!!! I neeeeded this info. Plus I enjoyed how you just jumped into giving the demo. You were brief but complete with each item. To many you tubers spend to much time on one thing and are to wordy in between showing and telling.... Very well done video!

[@melevsreef]

newhebrewrib I appreciate your words. Thank you. :)

[@bearclawws]

Wow, this was a wealth of information. Learned a lot of good ideas you have. Thanks for teaching :)

[@sheffler212]

vinegar used as a glass cleaner with newspaper, is awesome, learned it from my mother. tried it first on my home windows inside and out, looked as clean as the day they were installed, and seems to keep clean longer than when using traditional national brand window cleaners.

[@melevsreef]

+Jason S Good tip.

[@sdavey10]

Brilliant, thanks. You so deserve a great reef.

[@JanetDiaz6152]

Love your tank. Great work there.

[@melevsreef]

Thank you Janet. :)

[@reelemin7864]

Great video. Thanks for the ideas. Just an Amazing tank also!

[@melevsreef]

+Eli Padin Thank you.

[@jeffg6861]

I enjoyed the video and the Freudian slip. xD

[@andywoolloo]

Great video. Very interesting

[@TreasureCorals]

Looks great, thank you for sharing your tool arsenal with us. Love your tank and tank's dimensions. How about adding a couple of angels in there?

[@melevsreef]

I have a Flame Angel in there already. What would you like to see if you had a choice? I'd love a Majestic angel, but don't know how the corals would fare. ;)

[@TreasureCorals]

melevsreef How is the Flame Angel behaving with regards LPS and SPS? And would it harm anemones? I was thinking of Majestic as well, Kryzstoff seems to have always had it in his tank and no harm. Would look uber awesome in yours I'm sure. :)

[@melevsreef]

Dmitry Tumanov One can hope. ;) I've not seen anything to be concerned of regarding the Flame - and I knew it was a 50/50 chance but I had to give it a shot. I had one years ago and I missed the color and activity.

[@TreasureCorals]

melevsreef Actually looks like Kryzstoff (lunar reef) keeps Emperor Angel. I have no idea how he risks his wonderful coral collection with him, but that's what he does. :) Julian keeps Regal Angel with success as well.

[@melevsreef]

Dmitry Tumanov Regal angels are pretty too, but I prefer the Majestic. It's a stunner.

[@shahinruyani2681]

Nice tools! 😄

[@jonathanesoto25]

hey melev another great video, thanks for taking your time in doing this and teaching. how can you have the apex controller alert you when the skimmer is overflowing?

[@melevsreef]

Yes. When the skimmer fills the waste collector, a float switch rises that shuts off one of the two pumps the Nyos skimmer uses. And I get a text and email telling me that skimmer's status so I'll empty the waste collector.

[@anther2023]

Awesome video! I need to get some of those tools, btw I like those tongs you use to feed your eels. Where did you get them if I may ask.

[@melevsreef]

+Mario Hernandez I got them from Reefkoi at a tradeshow. Since they are an online vendor, you may be able to find them on their website's shop area.

[@traceymatthews6479]

looks great!

[@Strap514]

Nice video and awesome tank. Btw, I thought PPT for salinity was Parts Per Thousand.

[@melevsreef]

This is what happens when you work without a script. I may have misspoken. ;)

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

You mentioned using peroxide against dinoflagellates. Have you ever had a bad break out of them? I've heard mixed success with peroxide. I'm currently battling them now. Thanks a lot.

[@melevsreef]

Bad as in system-wide? No, I don't wait to let it get out of control like that. When I see it taking hold, I'll start siphoning out any I can find and clean anything it was on like plumbing, pumps, etc.

[@riverajm2]

Hi Melev, I have a question. I keep getting mixed answers on this. Do corals NEED blue light? or is it really just for looks like people say in online forum's?

[@melevsreef]

+riverajm2 The blue spectrum provides the beautiful colors everyone enjoys most, but you don't *need* it. Years ago, people grew reef corals in their aquariums under 6500K lighting, which is very yellow/white. Adding more blue displayed more vivid coloration. If you get your hands on an Azurelite, you'll be able to point it at anything in an aquarium to see the difference. melevsreef.com/node/1644 I won't run a tank without blue lighting, but I also enjoy the earlier part of the day when my reef is in 10,000K mode.

[@jedimaster8691]

Great video! I learned a few things. What size is your tank?

[@melevsreef]

Glad it helped you. The big tank is 400g, and the anemone cube is 60g.

[@jettechristensen4014]

high carbon steel won't scratch glass, specially razor blades since they aren't very hardened. Have you ever snapped a razor blade when bending it i think not. also newspaper contains slight amount of clay which will possibly scratch your glass.

[@melevsreef]

+Jette Christensen Thanks for the tip. I've never had any issue with newspaper in over 10 years and multiple tanks.

[@jettechristensen4014]

melevsreef yeah i suppose the clay particles are so fine it might infact be polishing it slightly which is a good thing.

[@Duhhx1]

double D 's are a must for any reefer :P

[@melevsreef]

+Co Chrigui lol

[@jnava121]

when you have a huge aquarium like glass do you have friends or special moving company to set in place? over 100 gallons glass gets super heavy

[@melevsreef]

Here are two videos for you to watch. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIKsqKmNq8R1iZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ-Qqpmuepd6odk

[@campaholic8998]

hi Mark this is Rick just wanted to know if you have a 27 gallon tank how much baking soda should I use to try to raise my ph which is at 7.8 at this time

[@melevsreef]

+Rick Diaz Hi Rick. Honestly, chasing pH is rarely a good idea. Here's my article on that topic to help clarify: www.melevsreef.com/node/1739 If you still want to dose to bring up pH, google "Reef Chemistry Calculator Jdieck" and it will allow you to enter the gallons, the product you want to use, the level the tank is currently and the target number. It will then provide the exact amount necessary.

[@riverajm2]

Hi is true that salt has everything that corals need? I heard if you do water changes regularly, you don't need to dose any supplements.

[@melevsreef]

+riverajm2 That's not quite true, but it also depends on type of corals selected. For LPS and SPS species, regular dosings of calcium and alkalinity is needed daily. For softies (mushrooms and xenia, for example), you could get by with weekly or bi-weekly water changes. Supplements aren't expensive, and adding them regularly can help corals thrive.

[@butdoyou1970]

Nice video.............muratic acid is quite caustic.....alittle safety info would of polished this off nicely.

[@melevsreef]

Agreed. I did add a link to my blog about Muriatic acid in the description where I offered some safety tips. www.reefaddicts.com/entry.php/29180-Why-I-love-muriatic-acid?bt=46479

[@reefermadniss9453]

Do you run macro algae only or any GFO? If just macro algae, what species?

[@melevsreef]

Yes, I have feather caulerpa in the refugium zone, which you can see at the very beginning of the opening sequence of this video. No GFO, not in 10 years. Just Phosphate Rx as needed, about 3x or 4x a year.

[@traceymatthews6479]

can you go into detail on how u use hydrogen peroxide? maybe a full video on it? I would like to try it but can't find any detailed videos on the subject.

[@melevsreef]

+Tracey Matthews Sure, good suggestion.

[@traceymatthews6479]

Thank you! can't wait. I have 125 gallon reeftank. it's been up for a year. i recently made the decision to start over with the sand bed and aqua scape. You know what they say "I wish I knew then what I know now"

[@melevsreef]

+Tracey Matthews I sure do. It's why I don't rush projects that I want to build, because I only want to build it once. :) I just set up a brand new frag system that I've been talking about for about a year on my channel. It may seem like procrastination, but there's a method to my madness. :) Preview here: melevsreef.com/pics/16/1/fragtank-knee-level.jpg

[@riverajm2]

Hi do you think sand sifter gobies are needed/necessary for a reef tank to keep the substrate clean?

[@riverajm2]

I heard they can create sand storms in the tank? Will sand particles floating around desturb the corals?

[@melevsreef]

+riverajm2 Depending on the substrate size, you may not even be able to use that fish. They prefer very fine sand. However, they are known to move quite a bit and will bury corals on or near the substrate, so for me they aren't a fish I'd want in my reef.

[@serenabowman2214]

+1 on the D-D puty

[@darleneoakes1184]

will the peroxide remove the cyanbacteria in my 120gl salt tank?

[@melevsreef]

+Darlene oakes I would use RedCyano Rx to remove it. Peroxide is what I use for dinoflagellates oubreaks. Here's the link to the stuff you want: melevsreef.com/catalog/blue-life-usa-redcyano-rx

[@nmjhd1234]

Do you mix your test vials with different test? Since i see it looks like you have your test vials all in one container drying

[@melevsreef]

Yes, once they are clean you can use any vial with any kit. Glass doesn't absorb chemicals on their surface. I usually rinse them out with RO water, and if motivated wipe them out with a paper towel to avoid water spots.

[@nmjhd1234]

melevsreef so ive been rising the test vials under tap water, is that bad? Normally right after test i rinse right away to avoid any discoloration in the vials.

[@JavierFlores-st7mg]

Baked baking soda for pH? How does that work?

[@melevsreef]

+Javier Flores When you bake the baking soda in the oven, you drive out the trapped CO2 in the powder. Baked baking soda is then called "soda ash", and can be mixed up with RO water to raise or maintain alkalinity levels in an aquarium.

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

Oh I forgot to ask also...how do you dose the peroxide?

[@melevsreef]

6ml per 10g of water added to the reef in an area of high flow. I trickle it in over a 20 second period. Once a day for eight days.

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

melevsreef hey im about to start this treatment for dinos and wanted to make sure this wasn't a typo. i know the standard treatment (as well as whats recommended on your website) say 1 ml to 10 gallons. Thanks in advance

[@strat1960s]

I know this is an old video and you may not respond. Have you put out a video on using baking soda to raise your PH?I would love to read or watch a video on this.Ted

[@melevsreef]

I have used it as needed over the years. Baked Baking Soda is the best method; but it's also worth noting that perhaps pH isn't the number you should be watching: www.melevsreef.com/node/1739

[@eliasaguilar8267]

hi mark i have quick question i think im fighting dinoflagellates or maybe but its a grayish brown film on my rocks do you think the hydrogen peroxide will help or do you know what that grayish brown film is and how to treat it? thanks love your videos.

[@melevsreef]

+Elias Aguilar It would be best to see what you are dealing with before suggesting any type of treatment.

[@eliasaguilar8267]

+melevsreef how can I get a pic to you?

[@melevsreef]

+Elias Aguilar You can email me at [e-mail]

[@eliasaguilar8267]

+melevsreef thank you mark I emailed you already

[@campaholic8998]

thank you for your reply mark I bake the baking soda for about 1 hour at 400 degrees and I just put a little bit and I raise my PH so you're saying is really not a good idea to raise your pH this way

[@melevsreef]

+Rick Diaz Please read my article. Sometimes pH isn't something you need to worry about. The more you buffer a tank to raise pH, the higher you'll raise the water's alkalinity level. Baked baking soda (now Soda Ash) is perfectly safe to use, and if you need to dose a tank you definitely can. It's what is used in the DIY 2-part recipe from Randy Holmes Farley.

[@campaholic8998]

Is it safer to use Seachem reef buffer 8.3

[@campaholic8998]

Thank you for forwarding me your article I'll definitely read it completely

[@melevsreef]

+Rick Diaz I don't know that there is any difference at all. You could check their ingredient list.

[@melevsreef]

+Rick Diaz It will answer a number of questions, I'd expect. It's about ionic balance. pH will take care of itself if everything else is right.

[@cubanreefer1582]

What kind of vinegar do you use?

[@melevsreef]

White vinegar. You can find it at your supermarket on the aisle where salad dressings are located. I buy it by the gallon for less than $2.

[@patriotwarrior_556]

HEY QUESTION FOR YA...PLEASE REPLY?....I love the idea of a fish room I really do. But I also have put aquariums in my bedroom and I always felt like I didn't get to enjoy my fish. WHY NOT PUT THAT BEAUTIFUL SETUP in your LIVING ROOM....Why not.....I'm a little confused. I believe that your aquariums should be in your MAIN SPACE....and a fish room "TO ME"...should be added on to your MAIN DISPLAY....I mean I love having my tank in plain view all the time you know.

[@melevsreef]

FLC* Gaming™ My reef is in the livingroom. I can view it from the living room, my desk area as well as the dining/kitchen area. The fishroom is behind it, an area taken from the garage. You can see some of the fishroom construction here: melevsreef.com/tanks/fish-room I think you should move all your aquariums into the livingroom too. Plus you can sleep in a quieter area, I'd bet. :)

[@patriotwarrior_556]

Wait...so the tank in the video is in the living room or view-able from the living room or do you have another tank in the living room...Yeah I have since moved the tank out of the bed room because we have a tv in the bed room but really only go in there to sleep...i mean the tv hasn't even been turned on in years so when i had my dirt ed angle tank in there...I never knew how they were acting or what they were doing...only fed them and maintain the tank....Thanks though...you have an amazing set up and its really cool to see people so dedicated to the hobby and to doing it right....I so SO MANY SO MANY people that just throw fish in a tank and do nothing until the fish dies....then they just go buy more.....filters are overflowing water is nasty....Its just horrible....I think these LFS's should REALLY REALLY explain to these customers how to keep a tank clean and health...no matter the size...

[@melevsreef]

FLC* Gaming™ Take a look at this page, and scroll down to the bottom to see a picture of it in the living room. The tank is 7' long, and I can't back up any further. melevsreef.com/tanks/equipment-glance

[@patriotwarrior_556]

Oh so you can see it from both sides....living room and fish room...SO SO COOL BRO...Hey I got a quick question for ya...you seem pretty knowledgeable. I have a 20 gallon high. I want to set it up as a beginners Salt-water Reef for my wife. It has been a fresh water tank for years and because of the live plants now has all kinds of little creatures and water fleas and stuff like that. They are great for nitrates and breaking down detritus but...well I recently removed everything and put in Sand...NOT LIVE SAND....I'm going to use the water that is already in there....If i just add salt to it and also use my existing filter without cleaning it will that JUMP-START the cycle process or will all the freshwater LIFE die off causing an ammonia spike and doing the opposite that i want. I have a 500 aqua-clear on the back of the 20 gallon..YEAH I KNOW WAY WAY WAY OVER-FILTRATION but I don't have a skimmer or any reactors or a sump so i though the extra filtration would make up for it...PLUS the filter kinda acts like a little sump because i can put SO MUCH MEDIA IN THERE...I have the FOAM FILTER...THEN A 50 MICRON (CUT TO SIZE) POLISHING PAD....THEN I HAVE chem-pure....THEN I HAVE BIO-BALLS...WELL I THINK THERE CERAMIC BUT U KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND THE TOP OF THE BIO BALLS ARE NOT FULL SUBMERSED SO THEY GET TONS OF AIR BUT STILL STAY WET. So should i break down the filter and put all new in there because Bacteria will die off or will the bacteria survive with the added salt?...FYI...2 morrow we are going to get live rock and 1 or 2 fish...I know I shouldn't add fish this early but my wife wants to get just one damsel or maybe a clown....I'm really not sure about this man if you could let me know it would help so much bro...THANK A LOT!

[@melevsreef]

FLC* Gaming™ The way to set up a tank correctly is to clean it out entirely and mix up new saltwater. Adding salt to the freshwater system is begging for issues. Absolutely do not add any fish to that tank during the first month. Just get it running, get it cycling with some live rock and a raw shrimp from the deli ( the entire animal, not just the tail). Let it rot in the tank for three days, then remove it and throw it out. Leave the lights off for the first month too. Just let it settle in. After four weeks, test the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, salinity and temperature. If everything comes back within fish-only standards, you can add your first fish. Here's a quick overview: melevsreef.com/tanks.html

[@AlexanderLinzy]

What do you do for a living ??

[@melevsreef]

Alex Linzy I sell aquarium filtration via melevsreef.com. Custom acrylic work, RO/DI systems, and a few different products are available from my shop.

[@dannygarrido677]

Thanks,just saw a couple of more things to add to my arsenal.Hopefully I'll have a tank comparable to yours.Been getting alot of good knowledge than you.

[@danielslaats5817]

So its like a whole study if i wanted to start my own fish tank......

[@melevsreef]

It's good to know a lot before you start spending any money or acquiring any livestock. :)

[@louisasmiles]

You are the image of my brother. Its really strange...

[@mattjtx93]

Double Ds 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@melevsreef]

+Matthew Johnson shhhhh. 😅