Lake Mary, Florida

500-Gallon
Reef Revival.

The restoration

A carefully managed path back to stability.

When Showcase Aquarium Solutions was brought into this custom 500-gallon reef, the system had suffered a complete livestock loss. Algae and sponge growth covered nearly 90% of the aquarium, and critical water parameters were far from stable.

Recovery began with frequent water changes, sand-bed replacement, an expanded cleanup crew, intensive cleaning and gradual chemistry correction. After approximately two months of weekly visits, the aquarium began showing meaningful signs of recovery.

Rebuild
Custom aquascape + modernized filtration
Control
Apex monitoring, feeding + automatic water changes
Lighting
ATI Straton + Radion XR30 hybrid system
A mature reef today

Rebuilt for long-term consistency.

The original rockwork was reshaped into a custom aquascape, while a new protein skimmer, dosing systems and comprehensive automation modernized the life-support system. Today, the aquarium is a mature LPS-dominant reef with high-end Goniopora and Torch corals, rare mushrooms, meat corals, Trachyphyllia and more than 40 fish—including Yellow and Gem Tangs, Pyramid Butterflyfish and a large school of Anthias.

Showcase continues to manage water chemistry, equipment, livestock and reef development through weekly service. After about five years under Showcase care, select homegrown coral colonies from this display occasionally help supply the company’s coral farm—a tangible marker of the system’s recovery and maturity.

A similar project

Need a clear path back to a stable reef?

Showcase Aquarium Solutions provides aquarium restoration, automation and ongoing maintenance throughout Central Florida.

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