Reef to reef tank of the month: An “Italian garden” under water!
2025 has been an exceptional year for Orphek, filled with enthusiastic client feedback and breathtaking aquarium photography from around the globe.
Many of our clients’ tanks have been featured in widely shared social media videos, while others earned recognition, awards, and industry praise.
In October, Orphek was once again in the spotlight as one of our client’s tanks was honored with the coveted Reef2Reef Tank of the Month title.
Today, we’re excited to celebrate Federico’s achievement and showcase how his vision of a vibrant “garden under water” came to life, with photos and videos of his masterpiece. Bravissimo Federico!
Tank Info:
- Lighting by Orphek: Orphek LED Bars: 3 units of Reefday, 2 units of Blueplus, and 2 units of Skyblue
- Tank dimensions: 47 x 26 x 24
- Size: 132 Gallons
Additional info:
- Glass or Acrylic: Glass
- Stand: DIY solid wood stand.
- Sump: 23 Gallons
- Protein Skimmer: Ultra Reef Akula 180
- Aquarium Reactors: Carbon
- Return Pump: Sicce Syncra Sdc 7.0
- Water Circulation: N.2 Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40wQD
- Calcium/Alkalinity/Magnesium Dosing: Seachem Aquavitro Sentia
- Auto Top-Off: YES
- Heating/Cooling: Hygger HG043 500w, N.8 Fri
- System Control: Elitech STC-1000WIFI
The story behind the success
This client’s passion began at a very young age. Before turning 18, he purchased his first serious aquarium—a 53-gallon (200-liter) freshwater setup. Now 46, he has spent his entire life accompanied by one aquarium after another.
Federico’s early fascination centered on Dutch-style aquariums, known for their lush, plant-dominated layouts. These tanks rely on carefully structured arrangements of plants—branched, bushy, or lawn-like—organized by height and color to create a harmonious, layered landscape. This meticulous approach to design shaped the way he would later approach marine aquascaping.
As his interest in marine life grew over the years, he set himself a new challenge: to recreate the essence of a Dutch aquarium using corals instead of plants. This vision led him into detailed planning, sketching layouts on paper, and researching coral compatibility. The process evolved into a profound creative and cultural connection with his reef, as he discovered combinations of corals that behaved almost symbiotically when placed together.
Tank Inhabitants Fish:
Chromis/ Clownfish,/ Damselfish/ Foxface/ Wrasse/Tangs
Tank Inhabitants-Inverts:
Starfish/ Snails
Corals Featured in His Reef Tank
To bring his coral “flower” concept to life, he combined the following species:
Petals: Montipora foliosa (green)/ Grafted Montipora foliosa
Center of the flower: Stylophora subseriata
He also incorporated coral pairings chosen for their unique interactions:
Corals that intertwine without ever touching:
Seriatopora hystrix/ Red Montipora digitata
Corals that are normally incompatible but successfully grown together thanks to a symbiotic intermediary: Pink Montipora digitata subseriata/ Red Montipora digitata/ Star-shaped Montipora (used as a symbiotic bridge between the two).
Lighting: Why He Chose Orphek LED Bars
Achieving the vibrant coloration and balanced growth in this reef tank wouldn’t have been possible without a lighting system capable of delivering both power and coverage. Orphek LED Bars are widely recognized for offering exceptionally uniform light distribution, high-performance LEDs, and spectrum combinations designed specifically for coral health and coloration. Their slim, modular design allows reefer hobbyists to customize layouts, enhance specific color tones, and eliminate shading—making them an ideal choice for SPS-dominated aquariums like this one.
Below is his own statement on why Orphek lighting became an essential part of his success:
“Of course, as far as lights are concerned, I used Orphek bars, which I believe are among the best available on the market today. I like the colors they provide, the power of their LEDs, and above all, the surface area covered by the bars (much larger than that of other ceiling lights on the market).
The problem with LEDs, unlike T5s, is that they are directional; therefore, to achieve great results, the more surface area that is covered, the better.
The current configuration is: two Blusky, two Bluplus, three Reefday. However, I will soon replace one Bluplus with another Reefday to increase the intensity of the pink color, which is very prominent in my tank.”
Federico’s success
Ultimately, his achievement comes down to a perfect blend of expertise and intention: choosing high-quality equipment, optimizing his lighting and spectrums, and applying the patience and creative vision that define him as an aquarist. These qualities together made his underwater garden flourish.
Equally impressive is the pristine condition of his coral display—a level of harmony that is notoriously difficult to achieve. The colonies are perfectly shaped, showing no signs of bleaching, no tissue damage, and no stinging or overlapping conflicts. This balance is the result of thoughtful planning, careful placement, and a deep understanding of coral behavior.
Don’t wait for Black Friday /Cyber Monday – Start Your Holiday Savings Today!
At Orphek, we believe you shouldn’t have to wait for Black Friday to bring your reef tank closer to the vision you’ve always dreamed of.
Just as Federico transformed his imagination into a breathtaking “underwater garden,” you can turn your own dream reef into reality.
Whether you’re aiming for richer coral color, stronger growth, or a completely new layout, now is the perfect time to upgrade. Get the LED lighting you’ve always wanted — with incredible deals and free worldwide shipping this Black Friday!
Make this the moment you take your reef from inspiration to masterpiece!
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS?
- NATURA iCON
- ATLANTIK iCON
- ORPHEK OR4 iCON LED BARS
- ORPHEK OSIX SMART DIMMING CONTROLLER
- ORPHEK AMAZONAS SERIES
- ORPHEK UPGRADE KITS
- ORPHEK MOUNTING SOLUTIONS
- ORPHEK GADGETS
Click on the banner for all Black Friday Deals!
BB Rules for Shops and Distributors
Please note that Orphek shops and distributors worldwide may choose whether or not to participate in the 11/11 promotion.
Orphek cannot require our partners to join this campaign or to match the prices offered directly through our official online channels.
If Orphek products in your region are available only through a local shop or distributor and they are not offering the 11/11 discount, it simply means that they have chosen not to participate in this promotion.
Each shop or distributor independently sets its own pricing and discount margins.
Therefore, Orphek is not responsible for regional price differences, and complaints regarding non-participating retailers will not be accepted.
We assure you that Orphek does not engage in false advertising — all prices and promotions shown on our official website and online stores apply only to participating channels.
Thank You Note:
Photo & Video Credits: Reef2reef / Federico aka @federeef_
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“Together we protect Nature’s Biodiversity for generations to come”.
Loving Nature as we do and being environment sustainably conscious, Orphek only develops products with a significant positive impact in everyone’s life, therefore we only offer the best environmentally friendly solutions that combine the most advanced & efficient technology and, most importantly, aiming the well-being of animals and humans all together, for now and for generations to come
PROMOTING CONSCIOUS PURCHASING
At Orphek, we believe in the philosophy of conscious purchasing. Unlike many brands, our solutions offer the unique advantage of upgradeability, allowing clients to reuse the same light body repeatedly. This is central to our commitment to sustainability, but there’s more to our approach!
While we do offer promotions during events like 11/11, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, along with progressive discounts, we encourage clients to only purchase what they truly need.
It’s important to avoid impulsive buys and focus on making thoughtful decisions.
To assist them, Orphek provides free consultations helping to identify which products best meet their specific needs. This ensures that every purchase is informed and beneficial.
Before making any purchase, we invite our clients to pause and reflect on their needs and the potential environmental impact.
Together, let’s make choices that benefit both ourselves and the planet!