Capistrano Reef's 225 Wins Big

The Capistrano Reef 225 gallon aquarium build at Reef-A-Palooza was a heart-stopper. Perhaps more accurate would be to say a 'film-burner' judging from the number of pics I took and the fact that I had to wait in line to do so. It was worth it. It was my Reef-A-Palooza moment. After a while, I won't recall the latest LED light I saw there, but I will always remember this tank build. It was pro. And so clean. Not a tangle of wires to be found. Everything was loomed, labeled and just flowed. As you scanned you head from left to right underneath, form followed function. So much thought went into this build. My hat is off to Capistrano Reef on their well-deserved win. You know what you are doing. Pics galore below.


225 gallon Lee mar peninsula tank with no centerbrace. StarFire on three sides, trapezoid prefilter and black back



Custom-made light arms coming off the bulkheads at all four corners with CNC brackets



2 custom-made clear waveboxes with Tunze pumps and controller



Dual split sump black baffles (capo special sump)
Easy access ring socks



All wires loomed and labeled. Full Neptune apex system.



Korralin calcium reactor. 57 want UV sterilizer with its own Sicce 3500 pump.









Vertex Skimmer with Red Dragon pump. Bubble Magnus dosing pump.



I've never seen dosing containers like this before. Pretty cool.



A nice matching, see the level at a glance ATO reservoir. Not shown: JBJ 1/2 HP chiller.



Capistrano Reef sent me this pic of their light pre-planning diagram.



Less is more with islands.


The 225 Capistrano Reef was designed by co-owners Ron Johncola and Chris D icke. With many years of reef-keeping between them, Ron and Chris are passionate about reef aquariums and it shows in their work. Chris spent so much time in aquarium stores, he started to work at them and the rest is history. Ron was a custom car painter that brought his level of perfectionism into reefing. Can you tell?

When I am old and feeble maybe Capistrano Reef could take care of my tank. It would be in good hands.

matt








Capistrano Reef is a 3000 square foot store in San Juan Capistrano, California with a saltwater aquarium focus. Custom installations are our specialty.

We only install high-end aquariums that are fully automated energy-efficient and battery backed up. We will not install those so-called saltwater aquariums that are actually designed for freshwater.


Capistrano Reef
31896 Plaza Dr. Unit E3
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Tel: (949) 248-REEF

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This tank was insane if you consider that the whole thing came together in under 8 hours. Big props to the Capo Reef team. Simply amazing.

A little bacground on co-owner Ron Joncola: he is the one who started the Chalice coral craze as he began circulating the original Watermelon chalice.

 

Crazy, awesome set up

 

What did they win again?

 

$1000.
And free praise.

matt

 

There is certainly a good bit of advertising there. I think I need to make a robe holder for my BM-101 outputs.

 

Not hard to believe their tank was impressive... I was recently in their store and thought it was super clean, very professional, tanks looked great and livestock was killer. Kudos to their win!

 

I can only imagine. I look forward to checking their store out.

matt