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Reef Stable Farm Tour - September 2024
Last updated on September 4th, 2024
Reef Stable - Introduction
Now that I am about to upgrade the farm, I want to give a tour of the current Reef Stable farm before the upgrade, and what I'm planning to do as well. I'll admit that I don't show the farm too much because Reef Stable is the true definition of a small business. I operate out of my home, in a small space in the basement where I could dedicate to the farm itself. I want to be clear, I'm not what people call a "basement seller", nor a "chop shop". Reef Stable is a full LLC, and aquaculture focussed farm. But everyone needs to have a beginning arc, and this is mine!
Reef Stable's Background Story
The background story for Reef Stable is not going to be this soppy, corny, heartfelt story. It's quite simply a passion that took off.
I started Reef Stable as a parameter log in 2018. That was all I expected it to be. A tool to help others focus on stabilizing reef tank parameters. That parameter log still exists today, though I'll admit, it never really took off. While disappointing, that's okay. There are a lot of options on the market that do the same thing. But don't get me wrong, I plan for the parameter log to have a comeback one day, but until that day, it will remain fairly simple.
I then started the blog. I started to write articles that can help others maintain their reef tanks. Learning things as simple as how to do a water change, all the way up to reef tank light comparisons and automation. This blog is one of the biggest ways that I can give back to the hobby I love without charging. The blog is supported with affiliate links, as I'm sure you notice. But the recommendations are not influenced by these affiliate links. It's just a way for me to make back what I spend to keep the blog alive. Simply put, websites are not free...
Okay, do I still have you? I know, where's the coral? It's coming next, I promise.
Reef Stable Farm History
In 2022 I decided to start trying to sell coral. All I had were my 210g tank, a 120g tank, and 3 40g breeders. A total of 450g, in a very inefficient way. In December of 2022 I did the first frag swap, and proved that the idea would work! So I was motivated to push forward!
In 2023 I added a roughly 4ft x 4ft, 75g Aquaponics Reservoir, and switched from the 40 breeders to 2 34g Rimless Displays used to show off coral and farm at the same time. Much like a very-small scale Top Shelf Aquatics methodology.
Reef Stable Farm Tour - September 2024
Expanding again, currently in 2024, The Reef Stable Farm is 3 3ft x 3ft Aquaponics Reservoirs, a 210g Display for Euphyllia, 2 40g Breeders, one for SPS farming, and one for mushrooms and staging. As well as 2 34g Breeders, one for low flow farming like Gonis and high end mushroom coral, and another for higher-end acros. Totaling around 465 gallons, but with a much better farming layout than 2022.
210 Gallon Display
Used as a Euphyllia and LPS farming display tank, the 210 gallon tank only has 2 MP40s at about 50-75% for flow. The 3 radions over the tank provide 75 PAR at the bottom and 125 PAR near the top. This tank is very simple, and really easy to replicate the success!
34 Gallon Display - Acropora
I chose to use a smaller aquarium for farming acropora to help with the high PAR and high flow demands. A smaller aquarium let me use less equipment to get the PAR and flow I'm looking for. This tank uses 2 Radion XR30 G3 to get 450-500 PAR. Additionally using an MP40 and a Jabeo Gyre to get a CRAZY amount of flow. Combined, these give the acropora better polyp extension, and faster growth. I would argue it improves color as well.
34 Gallon Display - Low Flow
Mostly for farming Gonis, Acans, and Mushroom coral, this tanks only flow is an MP10 on a lower percentage, and the return line. The PAR is around 100 for the coral and they are loving every second of it! I have 2 Radion XR30s over this tank, with only the blue and violet channels, at a low percentage. This was mostly because I already had the radions so I chose to use them to keep things uniform with the Acro tank next to it.
Aquaponics Reservoirs (Farm) Zoanthids - Moderate Flow - Encrusting
The farm tanks span just over 8 feet and are plumbed together, with a drain on one end and return on the other. The lighting for these tanks is made of 4 Orphek OR3 Blue Plus Bars. That said, only 2 are over a given tank as it is a long setup. I also have 4 T5 bulbs over each tank using a long aquatic life T5 fixture. The total PAR is around 75 to 125 depending on the spot.
For flow, the zoas are in tank 1, and have a Maxspec Gyre and the return. The next tank with some encrusting coral and Euphyllia has 2 Sicce Voyagers, and the final tank with more encrusting coral and chalices has a Maxspec Gyre and a mix of whatever pump I had laying around to get the water flowing.
I also have a return pump pulling water from the final tank to the temporary 40 Breeders, returning back to this last farm tank.
40 Breeder - Mushrooms and Staging
This is literally what it sounds like. I used crushed coral and put a large number of mushroom coral in this tank. The only flow is a Sicce Voyager for the anemones at the top of the tank. I also keep a couple trays of coral staging for shows. This is just because I'm running out of space... This tank is lit by an Orphek OR3 and only has about 50 PAR at the bottom.
40 Breeder - SPS Coral
This 40 Breeder is lit with 3 Orphek OR3 Bars. With a total PAR of about 400. The flow for this tank is a Jabeo Gyre, and 2 MP40s at about 50%. Remember, Acros like light and flow! So this was a win for these coral to help grow faster. Much like the 34g SPS tank mentioned above, I chose a smaller tank for this to get more flow and more light for a lower cost.
Reef Stable Farm Tour Video
Conclusion
Hopefully you enjoyed this tour of the Reef Stable farm! It's small at the moment, but growing fast! Keep hanging around and watch what's coming soon!
About the Author
John Krenzer
John is a Software Engineer with a passion for saltwater aquariums, as well as the founder and president of Reef Stable. He started in the aquarium hobby as a child with a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium. His interest in aquarium life grew and in 2008, John set up his first saltwater aquarium.
Today, John maintains an over 300 gallon reef tank system, consisting of a 120g reef and a 210g reef. These large tanks are contained within the same system, sharing a sump as a means to reduce total maintenance and increase total water volume.
John writes articles for the blog as a means to learn about more reef aquarium topics. These articles act as a reference for the readers as well as himself. John updates these articles frequently to provide additional information or make corrections as new information becomes available.
If you would like to request an article, tank tour article, or to collaborate, let me know via the Contact Me Page!
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