My Very Shallow Reef Tank Re Do

[reefmutt]

Looks great Kevin. That red planet is quite the centerpiece.
Glad to see it was a seamless transition.
The blueberry wine that is going around up here is a much darker blue/purple than the one you have. I love the light blue of that one, however.
Will be cool to watch your tank grow out from tiles instead of rockwork.
Very neat!

 

[drawman]

Coral looks great Kevin! I'm curious what tiles are you using for your acros?

 

[kevlow]

duplicate

 

[kevlow]

Coral looks great Kevin! I'm curious what tiles are you using for your acros?

Hey, Tim. Thanks for dropping in and looking.

These are granite 4"x 4" tiles from Home Depot. They are sold in a clear plastic sleeve with about 10 pieces for $5.00. The are unfinished and rough cut so there is no shiny side.

I went to this because with a shallow display I do not want to eat up space with live rock. The live rock also displaces a lot of water which I need to increase my water to coral ratio, which improves tank stability.

The tiles are much easier to service and keep clean. They quickly encrust and the rest covers in coraline.

I keep Matrix in the sump for the bacteria to colonize instead of depending on liverock. As a 70 gallon tank and sump, I had 5 liters. Now as a 140 ish gallon system, I have added about 10 liters more. I hope this can keep up until it is colonized and not kick off a nutrient storm. I purchased a 20 liter bucket on line for about $90.00 so I have 10 more liters in reserve if needed.

I believe there is a good and bad trade off to every decision in life. In using the tiles, I trade off a natural reef look in return for ease of service, higher water volume, and a much cleaner, detritus free tank. In a shallow tank it is then very easy to syphon up any detritus during water change or with a turkey baster.

Sorry for the soap box rant.

Kevin

 

[kevlow]

One of the cool things about getting all the colonies out of the 40g tank is that I can move some small frags with lots of potential to more prominent positions in the tank.

This little guy has taken off these two weeks since pulling out the colonies. More light and more flow means more color and more growth. He is a happy dude.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/6595e09b-a5bd-45da-be64-fc11e89c561b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/6595e09b-a5bd-45da-be64-fc11e89c561b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 6595e09b-a5bd-45da-be64-fc11e89c561b.jpg"/></a>
He is a very hairy teal body with red and purple arms. Best he has ever looked!

 

[kevlow]

I think that this could possibly one of the best pieces in my tank one day. It was purchased as a paled out "pink aussie acro'.
It has colored up as a light skinned pink/peachey texture with rosey tips. I think it is still changing so I will have to wait a while longer to see where it finally stays at color wise.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_20170613_213721.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_20170613_213721.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20170613_213721.jpg"/></a>

 

[reefmutt]

That is one happy coral! I love that pe!
I wish I didn't have 4 coral pickers in my tank..
I love seeing great pe like that.

 

[reefmutt]

I think that this could possibly one of the best pieces in my tank one day. It was purchased as a paled out "pink aussie acro'.
It has colored up as a light skinned pink/peachey texture with rosey tips. I think it is still changing so I will have to wait a while longer to see where it finally stays at color wise.
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_20170613_213721.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_20170613_213721.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20170613_213721.jpg"/></a>

Love these pieces. When they finally start to take off, the new growth is usually filled with amazing colours.

 

[kevlow]

Love these pieces. When they finally start to take off, the new growth is usually filled with amazing colours.

What is crazy is that I have this beautiful new tank and my attention is still drawn to the shallow original. There are a lot of tiny little frags that I now get to focus on and see how they develop. Once a coral is big enough to be in the display tank, then there is no more mystery or intrigue. Then it just becomes the long game of growing out.

 

[kevlow]

I broke with tradition and purchased a frag larger then one inch and more then twenty dollars. A blue Echinata. $75.00. I have wanted one for a long time but there are never any for sale locally. This was basically tan/brown with some light blue on some tips. Purchased this on Saturday and some PE was visible by Sun evening.

<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_20170625_191636.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_20170625_191636.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20170625_191636.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/kevlow1/media/IMG_20170625_192120.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc458/kevlow1/IMG_20170625_192120.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_20170625_192120.jpg"/></a>

 

[reefmutt]

Nice purchase, Kevin.
I have a serious weakness for echinata. I would have bought it in a flash..

 

[karimwassef]

I'm looking at going shallow too. Any issues with fish not having enough swimming room?

 

[kevlow]

Nice purchase, Kevin.
I have a serious weakness for echinata. I would have bought it in a flash..[/QUOTE

This is the first coral purchase that is actually a sought after piece, that I have been looking for. Because of that, it is getting a place of honor and by passing the shallow 40 and going straight to the 80 display.

I was kinda of surprised at how quickly I handed over the money.

 

[kevlow]

I'm looking at going shallow too. Any issues with fish not having enough swimming room?

No issues at all but I planned on small fish for the 40 gallon tank. My 40 had 8" of water. Chromies, Clowns and PJ Cardinals did fine. Clean up was easy with a turkey baster and lighting was a breeze. I am still very attached to the shallow 40. There are only two limitations with a very shallow tank. The first is limited growth space for coral. The second is low water volume in coral to water ratio.[use a big sump.]
Other then this there was no down side to the shallow system but many pluses.

But of course you have to plan to not have large active fish. Small, non jumpers are best.

Good luck if you go this route. I do not regret it at all.

 

[reefmutt]

Surprises me on a regular basis!

 

[karimwassef]

My sailfin tangs will be sad.

 

[kevlow]

Testing using flickr.
Test pic. by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

This little guy is going to be awesome.

Test pic by kev low, on Flickr

 

[berlin-riff]

:wavehand: Dont know why photo bucked do this.
flickr is good!

 

[reefmutt]

Kev, the tank is spotless.
Can't wait to see that little one grow out.