Tank of the month

About me and the hobby:

I started keeping marines approx 15yrs ago and stopped around 1998. After a long break from keeping them I re-started again in April 08 with a 36in x 12in x 15in tank and then up-graded to a 48in x 18in x 22in in sep 08 to present day.

What My Running Gear Tank & Lighting Is : Lighting is by 500+ LEDs lighting system made by myself, on timers. 2 x Seio M620 pumps for water movement 1 x Eheim compact 1000 return pump 1 x 300w heater	insert picequipment1	insert picequipment2

My Stocking list is; Fish 1 x Coral Beauty 1 x Algae Blenny 1 x Flame Firefish 2 x Green Chromis 2 x Blue Yellow Tailed Damsels 1 x Cleaner Shrimp 1 x Boxer Shrimp

Inverts & Clean up Crew; 1 x Cleaner Shrimp 1 x Boxer Shrimp Small hermits various Nassarius Osoleta and Vibex snails, 1 x Banded Serpent Star	insert picinvert1	insert picinvert2

Corals, Mushrooms etc; Various Mushrooms Yumas Cabbage Xenia Green star Polyps Pipe Organ Kenya Trees Pussy Coral Zoas	insert piccoral2

Latest Water Tests: Salinity - 1.025 PH - 8.2 Phosphate - 0.25 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 15 Calcium - n/a Magnesium - n/a KH - n/a

Filtration:

I have a 4in sand bed, live rock place up on a chamber and egg crate in main tank. Also homemade Refugium built into end of main tank holding a 6in sand bed with Caulerpa Prolifera lit 24hrs daily with led lighting. Return pump water is fed back to main tank via a spray bar under rockwork giving good circulation of water movement around rocks.
Berlin Skimmer fed by Eheim 1060 (both 15yrs old and still working like new)

Closing statement:

As you can tell I like to make and try new things so this is real DIY tank.
My advice to anybody new to the hobby is patience and take your time, don't rush things. You won't get a great display tank in a short space of time. And ask questions, don't be frighten to ask even what seems the silliest of question, we've all been there and can help each other.
Happy reef keeping.

Please feel free to comment on this tank in the disscusion thread.