Macroalgae in the
sump
View of the sump
Vigorious
water surface indicates the great current
5
feet DIY
protein skimmer 
Top view of the skimmer.
Please note the produced dry foam.
The Mr Lai's 1500 litres reef tank
| Philosophy/Methodology |
| The method that Mr Lai used is Berline style. It is the method advocated by many noted authors, including Julian Sprung, Charles Delbeek and Alf Nelson. Berline method relies on intensive lighting, heavy protein skimming, strong water movement and a lots of liverock. He constructed the whole system through detail planning and set up the tank step by step. The biodiversity of his 5 years old reef tank is great. Patience and planning are the key for his success. |
| Water circulation and filtration | ||
|
|
There is a large overflow installed at the left corner of his tank while a huge sump(3feetx2feetx1.5feet) is placed underneath the main tank. The water current of the main tank is provided by 3 IwakiMD30 water pump which sucked back the water from the sump to the main tank. Large amount of macroalgae is grown inside the sump. The sump is illuminated by a 150walt metal halide which switched on at night(reverse cycle). Live critter such as mysid, copepod and amphipod grew into a large population inside the sump. On huge 5 feet DIY protein skimmer serves the primary purpose of filtration. The water is pump into the skimmer by a IwakiMD30,too. | |
| 5
feet DIY
protein skimmer |
||
|
||
|
Top view of the skimmer. Please note the produced dry foam. |
||
| Lighting | |
| Lighting is provided by two 1000walt 6500k Osram metal halide bulb with Siemen Canopy. The lighting period of one is 8 hours while the other is 10.5 hours. The bulb is renew at regular interval. |
Two 1000walt 6500k metal halide lighting on top of the tank |
| Calcium and additive | |
|
|
A DIY calcium reactor serve the purpose of supplying calcium to the tank. In addition, calcium hydroxide solution is dripped at night to replace any evaporate water loss. All calcium hydroxide solution is prepared by dissolving reagent grade calcium hydroxide powder in deionised water. Chemical such as strontium chloride, potassium iodate and iron(III) sulphate solution is added weekly into the tank. No other additive is added. |
|
DIY calcium reactor |
| Feeding Regimen and maintenance | |
| Regimen A large variety of food is feed to the fish everyday. Live newly hatched brine-shrimp is dosed into the main tank after the light is switch-off. The front glass is cleaned twice a week. The skimmer is kept clean all the time. No water change is performed for at least 4 year. |
Brime-shrimp cultivating tank |
Calcium
hydroxide is prepared. The
upper bucket is containing tap water which drip into the middle bottle.
Ionic resin is contained in the middle bottle. It turns tap water into
DI water. DI water mixes with calcium hydroxide powder in the bottom bucket
to produce calcium hydroxide.
