After a 3-year break, I decided to start up my Reef hobby again. I needed a diversion from my daily routine, and reef keeping is challenging enough to keep the brain juice – and subsequent DIY ideas and tinkering – flowing.

Here’s a sample of pictures showing the setup, the initial cycle with its algae buildup, the homemade skimmer in operation, and – incredible as it may seem – a small starfish that has survived 3 years in dried sand.