Matt's Reef Tank: 300g and 60g reef tank video series

JaYoe

New member
Hey guys, I started and stopped this video series over the years, and recently have had the chance to add a few new episodes. I will keep this thread alive with any new Matt's Reef Tank shows I might add in the future. So ill start with the oldest to newest"¦

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 1 | Tank Construction
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Recorded: April 13th, 2014

Welcome to the first episode of Matt's Reef. I started this because I am a reef-o-holic. Ever since I was a kid I have been amazed and intrigued at life under the surface of the ocean. The opportunity to capture even a little part of that world and do your best to raise it in your home was more than I could bear. I have had reef tanks in my life for the past 15 years or more, and have had my fair share of mistakes as well as learning experiences. From husbandry, salinity and chemical makeup, to equipment choices and lighting, I have learned a lot over the years. And all that knowledge has been put into my most recent tank venture, A 800 Liter reef community I had built from scratch for my office in Ningbo China.

I am so happy with the way this tank came out, that I wanted to share it with other reefers. Most of us in the hobby have these amazing structures, but few people ever get to share in your experiences with it. Well not this tank! I want to go over all aspects of my experiences involving my tank. I also want to share some of the mistakes I have made so you do not have to go down the road I went down.

I love making videos, so this whole thing goes together pretty well. So listen as I share my reef life with you.

I want to thank Than from Tidal Gardens (https://www.youtube.com/user/tidalgardens) for inspiring me to make this series. His videos are always informative and beautiful. Check out ‪http://www.tidalgardens.com for info about his business.

Another reason I am making this video series is because come August, I am leaving my home in China bound for a 5-year cycle trip around the world. Because I am going to be away for so long, I wanted to preserve this amazing creation, so I can look back on it for years to come. If you are interested in my plan to travel around the world, check out www.jayoe.com!

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 2 | Trip to the Chinese Fish Shop
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Recorded: May 8th, 2014
For the second episode of Matt's Reef Tank, I decided to take a trip to a few local fish stores, and tell you a few of the ways I choose fish, and what to look out for. You can see the environments in and around Chinese pet markets, and also get a peek at my house tank. You will meet Neil the Ribbon Eel and even see me feed him a little. I go over the way I acclimate new fish and coral as well.

So take a trip to the fish shop with me.

If you want more information about the fish in this show, check out the links below:
PURPLE FIREFISH:http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1636+173&pcatid=173
SMALL TOOTHED WHIPTAIL: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+21+1129&pcatid=1129
COMMON CLEANER WRASSE: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+309&pcatid=309
YELLOW TANG: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+392&pcatid=392
RED CORIS WRASSE: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+365&pcatid=365
CABBAGE LEATHER CORAL: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+600+638&pcatid=638

FISH ROLL CALL: For more information about the Electric Blue Leg Hermit Crab: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1479&pcatid=1479

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 3 | Testing Part 1 -- the Basics
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Recorded: May 24, 2014
This episode of Matt's Reef Tank is going to be a little boring for a lot of people, but I thought it would be important. This is part 1 of a 2-part episode; I broke them up because it got a little long. The first part will go over the basics of testing. I wanted to briefly explain what processes happen inside your tank and what byproducts and chemicals are used and created in the process.

In the next episode, I will test all my parameters on camera, and walk you thru testing all the major indicators in your tank, whether you have a fish only or a reef tank. I will also do a water chance so you can see the ins and outs of that.

If you want a real nice resource for what chemicals do what inside a saltwater tank or what parameters everything should be in, this is a great resource http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/


REEF ROLL CALL:
Spiny Sea Cucumber, Green w/Pink & Yellow (Pentacta anceps): http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+502+2891&pcatid=2891

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 3 | Testing Part 2 -- the Procedures
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Recorded: May 24, 2014
This is a comprehensive testing process for most of the major tests with API and SALIFERT. Now that you know a little about the processes happening inside your tank from Part 1, I am going to go thru all the task of testing each chemical, explaining every step of the way. I also do a water change, so you can see how that works.

If you want to go direct to a certain test, you can go to the specific times:
API PH: 03:57
API NH: 05:15
API NO2: 06:17
API NO3: 07:05
API Ca: 08:57
API Cu: 10:47
SALIFERT NH: 11:56
SALIFERT NO2: 14:00
SALIFERT NO3: 15:01
SALIFERT KH: 16:25
SALIFERT Mg: 20:36
SALIFERT Ca: 23:18
SALIFERT PO4: 25:49
SALIFERT Iodine: 27:31
WATER CHANGE: 31:36

DOCUMENTS:

I have also made a handy PDF loaded "cheat sheet" with all the test sheets and documents you need in case you lose your paperwork.

Download it here:
SALIFERT TESTS: http://jayoe.com/tank/SALIFERT_tests.pdf
(PH,NH,NO2,NO3,Ca,KH,Mg,PO4,Iodine,Cu)
API TESTS: http://jayoe.com/tank/API_tests.pdf
(PH,NH,NO2,NO3,Ca,Cu)
I also made a spreadsheet for my results... you can use if you want: http://jayoe.com/tank/AQUARIUM_LEVEL_CHART.xlsx


I made it myself by scanning the cards into my computer and then matching the colors of each with the levels from Photoshop. I don't know if they are the perfect matches, but I think they are close enough. I like to do my tests in front of a computer, and I find that the glow of the computer screen in the white area makes the perfect backdrop to use to check the color of my endpoint solution. So I put together a full set of sheets for all my tests designed to be displayed on the computer screen. I figured I could share with you too. I put them in 2 separate files. API and SALIFERT. Its easy to just delete the pages you don't want, I didn't lock the document. I hope you enjoy, and get something from this show. I know it is a lot of information most people know already, but for newbies I hope it is educational.

Next show will have more videos of critters... I promise!

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 4 | The End? -- A Heat Crash
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Recorded: August 14, 2014
OK.... I had a bit of a tragedy on the last episode of "Matt's Reef Tank".

But the day after recording this I had to hit the road on my 5 year cycle journey around the world.

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 5 | Cleaning up after an Algae Explosion
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Recorded: December 12, 2014
It's been a while.. but I have some new Matt's Reef Tank videos. I am back in Ningbo after my accident on the road. I have come home to a tank that was over fed and had a severe lack of water changes.

Watch as I try to get rid of the Hair Algae and bring everything into balance again.

Matt' Reef Tank | Episode 6 | Rock-scaping, Coral Placement, Flow
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Recorded: January 8, 2015
Well.. I tried to get Hercules out of the tank"¦ to no avail! I ended up going in and trying to find him"¦. And I emptied my tank out looking for him.

UGHHHH!

But with every cloud there is a silver lining. I had a chance to reorganize my rockscape and try a few things different. Along the way, I improved the location of some of the corals, and made sure that the water flow was appropriate for getting the water where it needed to go in order to feed and filter properly.

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 7 | Feeding
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Recorded: January 26, 2015
One of my favorite moments in the care of my tank is when I get to feed them. Watching the behavior of the fish and corals during feeding is really wonderful. Even more is the hidden life in the sand and places you would not expect coming to life when the food enters the system.

Enjoy my feeding with me!

This may be my last Matt's Reef Tank for a while. I want to get started focusing on getting back on the road. I may pull some clips here and there"¦ but I wanted to produce these last few videos before I started my tour again.

For those of you that have enjoyed watching these as much as I have enjoyed making them"¦ thank you for watching!

May your PH never waver"¦ may your nitrates never rise.

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 8 | Anny's Reef Tank Special
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Recorded: February 12, 2016
I was looking thru my old video and I found this ½ of a Matt's Reef Tank from February 12th, 2016, just after returning from a trip to Thailand. It was a playful video I shot with Anny and it never really went anywhere. But when I reviewed the video I thought it was funny and interesting to see Anny taking a crack at her interpretation of hosting an episode, so I thought I would throw it up. Please note, I didn't edit this one much"¦ cause I thought the funny bits were in the comments from Anny as we tried to shoot.

Take note of the coral growth, and the soft and hard corals I have. The next episode I am editing simultaneously with this one, and takes us to a point after my trip to Nepal and Mount Everest. It's another sad update unfortunately. I seem to have lots of these episodes focusing on returning to problems.

My Matt's Reef Tank series is going to probably merge with my JY_VLOG series. As I create daily(ish) videos about my life as a traveler, explorer, expat and new father. Ill highlight all aspects of my life, and you can catch my tank from time to time in there. If I do make anything specifically tank related, I will form another Matt's Rhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCXSKSR1qpQ0dQITiyemFSA6e8u5pMYeef Tank, but the vlog would be another http://audiojungle.net/item/neo-soul-loop/1632156great place to look if you want realtime updates.

JY_VLOG PLAYLIST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCXSKSR1qpQ0dQITiyemFSA6e8u5pMY

Music:
Neo Soul Loop by Guitars State http://audiojungle.net/item/neo-soul-loop/1632156

Matt's Reef Tank | Episode 9 | Revisiting the Tank / Killing Aptasia
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Recorded: May 31, 2016
While I was away climbing Mount Everest, my tank ran into some trouble. I didn't realize it until over a month later, and it was far too late for many of my corals. I lost a lot of my tank, and sort of have to start over yet again. It starts with taking out the dead and dying, cleaning up the tank and killing the Aptasia that have worked its way into my system.

My Matt's Reef Tank series is going to probably merge with my JY_VLOG series. As I create daily(ish) videos about my life as a traveler, explorer, expat and new father. Ill highlight all aspects of my life, and you can catch my tank from time to time in there. If I do make anything specifically tank related, I will form another Matt's Reef Tank, but the vlog would be another great place to look if you want realtime updates.

JY_VLOG PLAYLIST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCXSKSR1qp-vQ0dQITiyemFSA6e8u5pMY

Spectrum by Celestial Sound http://audiojungle.net/item/spectrum/4163960
Inspiring Acoustic Background by L-Ray Music http://audiojungle.net/item/inspiring-acoustic-background/15762407

. . .

Ok"¦ so that is all I got for now. I will return to this thread with more episodes when I finish them. I am going to convert my big tank to a fish only simple reef"¦ so Anny can take care of it when I leave. So I will do some video about that.

DISCLAIMER:
Please note that the information I am giving you I have put together myself. You have to check yourself if they match the tests documentation you have. I simply wanted to put together some helpful pieces of information that I think could be interesting for other reefers. If I say something wrong or misspoke, please let me know.


follow my:
Website at http://www.jayoe.com
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jayoelife/
Twitter at https://twitter.com/jayoelife
Personal Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mcgalat
JaYoe Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JaYoeLife/

GEAR:

My Big Camera: Canon 5D mark3 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/847546-REG/Canon_5260B009_EOS_5D_Mark_III.html
 
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