Meet Shawn! 👋
My name is Shawn, a Canadian Reefer! I have been in the reefing hobby one way or another since I was 18 years old. This year will mark 20 years in the hobby! I’ve kept all kinds of tanks over the years including sps dominant, lagoons, and soft coral dominant. In 2018 I won tank of the month on Nano Reef.com! One of my proudest accomplishments. Long term goals include building a small coral farm in my garage as well as trying my hand at fish breeding.
Shawn's Story
My First Aquarium
WINNER!
Social media
SPS corals
About Shawn's setup
There’s something really special about this reef. Built around a UNS R120, it’s a soft-coral dominated system that focuses on movement, texture, and natural reef character rather than rigid structure. Leathers, gorgonians, clams, and mushrooms fill the tank, creating a constantly swaying reefscape that feels alive from every angle.
Two X4 fixtures provide the main lighting, supported by two Vitamini strips that enhance color and depth across the reef. Underneath, a Great White skimmer, return pumps, and wavemakers keep the system stable and flowing, while Coral Essentials 3-part dosing maintains the chemistry needed for healthy growth.
After running for just over a year, the tank has matured into a balanced ecosystem where soft corals thrive and the reef continues to evolve with time.
Lighting | Illumagic X4, Vitamini Strips
Filtration | GW16 Skimmer
Flow | GW return pump, GW wavemakers
Dosing | Coral Essentials 3 part, Coral Essentials cve+.
