Reef Tanks · 120 US GALLONS

Malawi Passage

Chris Harris · Established July 2024

About

People ask why a reef guy has a tank named after Malawi and I just shrug, no cichlids here, I liked the name and it stuck. This one runs on a Fluval 307 and a Jebao wavemaker doing most of the heavy lifting while I mess with parameters more than I should. The yellow tangs claimed the open sandbed up front pretty early and still chase each other around it like they own the place. Anthias school near the top of the rockwork most of the day, still a little skittish if I walk by too fast. Firefish gobies dart into their holes at the slightest movement, classic. Goniopora and the zoanthid colony have filled out nicely across the rock, favia and montipora tucked into the caves I stacked for exactly that. Coralline is spreading over the bare spots now which I like watching more than I probably should. A small army of nassarius snails keeps the sand turned over so I don't have to think about it much. Feeding time is honestly the best part of my day.

Photo Timeline

Update shotPhoto Date Dec 24, 2024 · 170 days in

Algae phase, working on itPhoto Date Sep 7, 2024 · algae phase

Cycling, still sparsePhoto Date Jul 21, 2024

Journal

6 updates

Note Dec 24, 2024

170 days in

Tank is looking pretty full now, rock is mostly covered between the coralline and the corals filling in. The anthias school together most of the day near the top of the rockwork, real skittish still if I walk by too fast. Yellow tang has claimed a corner and chases off anything that gets too close to it, kind of funny to watch honestly. Firefish goby still shy, mostly hovers near his little hole and dives in if anything moves too fast. Good to just sit and watch this tank for a while, forgot how relaxing that is.

Note Sep 07, 2024

algae phase

Getting some hair algae on the rocks and a bit of green spot on the glass, plus brown diatom patches still lingering on the sand in spots. Not thrilled about it but I know its part of the process this early on. Been thinking about adding some nassarius snails to help with the sand and detritus, might grab a few this week. Corals are still small but growing, coralline is just starting to show up on the rock which is nice to see even with the algae going on.

View all 6 journal entries →

Comments

Zoe MartinSep 21Question

Yellow tang and lyretail anthias in the same tank as goniopora sounds like a nice mix. What alk are you dosing to these days? Mine always seems to creep

Tank owner replied

Keeping mine right around 8-8.5 dkh, test weekly. I think the creeping thing usually comes from dosing on autopilot without retesting often enough, I got burned by that early on too. Now I just adjust in small amounts and recheck a few days later instead of committing to a big change

Nora PerezSep 8Question

Your zoas and goniopora look happy in there. What's your dosing routine to keep alk stable with that much coral load?

Tank owner replied

Honestly not on a super strict dosing schedule, just testing alk weekly and dosing to keep it around 8-8.5 dkh. I top off with kalk mixed in the ATO water which handles a chunk of the demand and then dose alk/cal/mag by hand if the tests say I need to. Goni load isnt crazy heavy yet so its not been a fight to keep stable.

Alexis MartinezSep 5Question

Anthias look great in there, colors are really holding up. Seeing any pairing behavior out of them?

Tank owner replied

Not yet, still just schooling together near the top of the rockwork most of the day. No real pairing off that ive noticed but I havent been watching super closely for it either, ill pay more attention now that you mention it

Maya ReyesAug 28Question

yellow tang looks like it's got loads of room in there. any trouble with it and the anthias over territory?

Tank owner replied

Not really, tang mostly just patrols his corner of the rock and chases off anything that gets close to that spot but the anthias stay up higher in the water column so they dont really cross paths much. More funny than actual fighting honestly

IIsabella KellyAug 24Question

Goniopora and montipora looking good together... What alk are you holding these days

Tank owner replied

Sitting around 8-8.5 dkh, test it weekly and adjust small amounts if its drifting. Havent had to fight it much so far, knock on wood

Minh WilliamsAug 8Question

How often are you feeding the anthias, looks like a lot of mouths to keep happy

Hannah LopezAug 7Question

The goniopora is huge for a grown-in year, is that one hard to keep happy or has it just been steady the whole time?

Tank owner replied

Its been pretty steady honestly, I got lucky. Good flow on it and consistent feeding seems to be the main thing, I target feed it every so often. Havent had it recede or sulk at all which I know isnt everyones experience with goniopora