• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
        • Premium Brine Shrimp Eggs
        • Magnetic Brine Shrimp Eggs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $229
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99 – $209
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $250
          Shop Now
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $79
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $99
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $70
          Shop Now
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit™

          $66
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Notify Me When in Stock This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • Ultimate EcoPack

          $100
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Blog
  • Shipping
  • Our Guarantee
  • Help
  • Deals
  • Sign In
  • Cart
You are here: Home / Other / CADE Keeper Profile: Mike Brandt

CADE Keeper Profile: Mike Brandt

by greg.chernoff

For so many aquarium hobbyists, the pandemic years were a time–while stuck at home–to really dive deep into the art. Mike Brandt became an aquarium hobbyist while working in pet stores to pay his way through college. However, he adds that a serious interest in aquarium keeping actually emerged some time after that. “I worked as a dolphin trainer and marine exhibit expert in Hawaii, then worked as a large custom reef service manager for a while in Washington D.C. I got out of the hobby for almost 20 years before returning during the pandemic with my CADE!”

Back in the game

And where did he first learn of CADE tanks? “Research.” He was immediately struck by how different these systems were from others in the market at that time. “I thought it was a significant change from Red Sea or Waterbox, and I anticipated an overall better commitment to quality from a newer brand in the states. I never considered acrylic, not a fan at all for a number of reasons, many of which stem from having installed and worked many-thousand-gallon systems before and disliking the prominent downsides.”  Mike was impressed initially by both the overall build and also by specific features. “I really liked the auto top-off concept and the overall quality of design; I also liked the stand.” It wasn’t long before he found himself settling on a CADE system, and going all in as a hobbyist, too. “The package deal from AlgaeBarn put me over the top; I was among the first wave. I actually think without the deal I might never have pulled the trigger again on the hobby at that scale, so thanks!”

Installing a large, sturdy system such as a CADE can definitely make you break a sweat. Still, Mike feels this was made a bit simpler by the way CADEs are designed for trouble-free assembly. “Setup was easy. The thing was a monster to get inside and set up. I’m glad for lots of friends,” he laughs. “Honestly I was just excited to get it going. I think like most hobbyists, I’m now just terrified at the work and smells whenever I inevitably have to break it down or move house sometime in my future. Heh.”

A smooth-sailing CADE

As his system is presently, though, he believes that “the tank runs well; I don’t really have much more to say about it–it does what’s on the tin LOL.” It would seem that he definitely got the high-performance and feature-rich system he hoped for. The benefits of this level of tight integration has inspired him to imagine possible future CADE bells and whistles. “I’d actually like some kind of inbuilt wave pump system. That probably sounds needy, but I find the addition of WaveMaker pumps as a really unattractive [yet necessary] plus onto the system.” If he could make a recommendation as a CADE owner, he’d suggest improvements to the lid screen. “Not because I dislike screens,” he explains, but rather because the mesh could be tighter as to prevent sagging. Moreover, as he points out, future refinements could include a feature that facilitates handling as the keeper lifts the lid from the tank.

Regarding the aquascape, Mike “wanted three distinct structures, with a reasonable amount of negative space for fish movement.” He considers himself to be “done” with the tank, with the basic stocking complete. The predominance of fluorescent greens and rich browns in his coral collection lends to a more naturalistic reefscape (though one could say it also evokes the feeling of ‘greenery’ in a lushly vegetated forest). Interestingly, the smart placement of corals with respect to contrast of form is outstanding, and does seem to be accentuated by the mainly muted green and brown colors. 

“Maybe I’ll add some random coral at some point in my future? The livestock is a Regal Tang, Desjardins, Blue Eye Kole, Foxface, pair of Ocellaris, Diamond Goby, Midas, Canary Blenny, 5 Blue Green Chromis, and 5 Bimac Anthias. I had a firefish, but despite not being a small one, it somehow 19 months in got through the CADE screen. Sad moment.” 

Conclusion

His critique of the screen aside, he is more than satisfied with the look and function of his CADE. “I’d use CADE if I were to do another build heh. I think I’m happy with this one.” Though he admits to “slacking on updates of late,” he notes that he maintains a Reef2Reef.com thread (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/2022-photo-baby-update-170-gallon-mixed-reef-cade-1500.799131/) for those who wish to follow the progression of his build. We hope he sticks to that, but also that he posts on the CADE keepers page on Facebook as well to keep us all up to date! And we do encourage everyone to at least take a peek at what Mike has accomplished– particularly his success in keeping a nice mix of both hard and soft corals. Oh, and his coralline algae, which he grows like a champion (someone needs to ask him how he did that!). 

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the community, Mike, and happy reefing!

If you’re a CADE owner and would like to share your CADE experiences with the aquarium community in an article such as this, please reach out to [email protected]. We’d all love to hear from you!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

PNS Deep Cycle

Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

Reef aquariums are a testament to the beauty and complexity of marine ecosystems. Yet, one fundamental difference sets them apart from natural coral

Read More about Harnessing the Power of PNS Deep Cycle for a Thriving Reef Aquarium

How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Adding a refugium to the reef tank system can be a game changer for some reef keepers! Most experienced hobbyists agree that a refugiums’ natural

Read More about How hard is it to keep a refugium?

Keeping the Gigas Clam

There is something almost archetypal in the legend of man-eating clams. Perhaps this evokes allegorical imagery of a greedy or overly plucky sort of fool

Read More about Keeping the Gigas Clam

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2025, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton