New "Lagoon" Tank Build

[JustinReef]

I use the term "lagoon" loosely because it will not actually be a true lagoon but I think lagoon best describes the look I want. My last tank was lagoon inspired but had to come down because of a move, which became a disaster. I lost 3 fish, most of my corals, macro algae, and even my tank itself! Long story. But my puffers are still hanging in there and thats the most important thing for me.

The new place is a very industrial style loft, so we wanted the aquarium to really work with that style. I built the stand out of 2x6's and MDF. The big white unit beside the tank is actually a king size murphy bed and when its down, the tank is exactly the height of the bed....I have always wanted to sleep beside the fish! And yes, its quiet enough

I replaced the tank with one I got from a friend. Its almost the exact same tank I had before which is kind of cool. A little smaller though. Both were custom made by the same local company.

This was my old tank:

The new one will be quite different in the way its set up. I want it to be low wattage. I am very big on going green and aquariums are about the farthest thing from that. They waste enormous amounts of energy and water. So far I have set this tank up to be under 400 watts total. Of course with SPS this would be impossible but I only keep softies and have grown them successfully under CF bulbs before. This tank will only have 46 watts total of CF lighting. 2 spot lights. I will use the same skimmer and return pump. Skimmer is a Bubble Master which uses only 40 watts and return pump is a quietone that uses 144 watts. Koralia powerheads at 10 watts each. Only other thing is ozone which apparently is only around 18 watts.

From the hall:

 

[JustinReef]

My puffers!

 

[JustinReef]

I will take a few pics of the rockwork in the next few days. I was not able to keep all the LR wet during the move...actually most of it ended up dry, so I have built two islands. They are secured using zipties and epoxy. It was nice to be able to make huge overhangs and unique structures with dry rock. The rock will break the surface of the water as it did in my last tank. Just that you will see it this time because there is no canopy.

 

[scbauer]

That's awesome. I was confused at first because I had just read your old thread last week. I didn't realize that tank was no longer running. Glad to see you're starting up a new tank and can't wait to see it progress.

 

[Capt_Cully]

You've got one funky pad!

 

[cwilson]

looks great! this will be a fun one to follow

 

[tbar]

Looking forward to this also. I too am thinking on ways to lower the wattage. I don"t have a lot of corals and am going to move them all down to the right half of the tank. (125) and remove the left 250w MH and replace it with a 2 or 3 14w CF's. Put some fake SPS down there as they are the only kind that look real IMO This will also create a lot of saving on the electric with the air conditioner. I think of it as having a 62.5 reef tank and a 62.5 fowlr that happen to be joined togather. I also considered replacing sump with a smaller on elevated beside the DT to lower head pressure and use a smaller return pump. Wife is not to keen on that idea. Like the funky pad too.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12521813#post12521813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scbauer
That's awesome. I was confused at first because I had just read your old thread last week. I didn't realize that tank was no longer running. Glad to see you're starting up a new tank and can't wait to see it progress.

It was really sad to take that tank down and then to loose most of the livestock and crack the bottom of the tank was terrible.

My huge leather coral died the first night I moved it. I have no idea what happened. I decided to sell the rest because I was scared they would all die.

The tank cracked during the move but luckily I was able to find one almost the exact same from a friend who had it built by the same builder who made mine originally. This was really lucky because there was no way I was going to be able to afford a new custom tank right now.

Hopefully this one will end up as nice as the old one...

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12522260#post12522260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Capt_Cully
You've got one funky pad!

Thanks. Its a pretty unique building for the city I live in. Most of the condo buildings here are all glass and look the same. This one is cool because it has that industrial feel to it.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12522443#post12522443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbar
Looking forward to this also. I too am thinking on ways to lower the wattage. I don"t have a lot of corals and am going to move them all down to the right half of the tank. (125) and remove the left 250w MH and replace it with a 2 or 3 14w CF's. Put some fake SPS down there as they are the only kind that look real IMO This will also create a lot of saving on the electric with the air conditioner. I think of it as having a 62.5 reef tank and a 62.5 fowlr that happen to be joined togather. I also considered replacing sump with a smaller on elevated beside the DT to lower head pressure and use a smaller return pump. Wife is not to keen on that idea. Like the funky pad too.

Those are some good ideas. Obviously if your keeping sps, you can't go with CF lighting but I found that a few softies I had in my refugium under CF lighting grew like weeds. I have bought some 6500 K "daylight" bulbs from Home Depot that look pretty decent. This tank like the last will be all low light corals and macro algae.

I think I may go with a few more fish than last time though. The tank was kind of understocked I think. Although the two puffers are quite messy.

 

[nevolved]

Cool puffers.

 

[schmidt01]

Did the puffers bother your corals? I thought they weren't reef safe. I LOVE puffers, but I've never gotten one because I thought they'd eat my corals....

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12523059#post12523059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by schmidt01
Did the puffers bother your corals? I thought they weren't reef safe. I LOVE puffers, but I've never gotten one because I thought they'd eat my corals....

They are not reef safe generally. I got lucky and mine do not eat soft corals. They would eat sps for sure though. They seem to bite anything that is hard. I tried a torch coral once and they ripped it apart. I also tried an anenome and they ate that. So it depends on what you have. I would not recommend trying though unless its just stuff like leathers and mushrooms.

 

[tbar]

I did not realize your tank is a 125 also, just 2" shorter and 2" wider then a standard 125. I just removed the left side 250 MH and installed 3 of those 6500 K Daylight bulbs from HD. I'm thinking it will be pretty bright on that side. Probably be able to grow some softies on the top of the rocks. I will put the canopy back on after My water change which I'm waiting for the water to warm up about 5 degrees. I have thought that these would be great lights for a shallow tank like a 33L. Was your other tank lite with just these lights? At just $8.00 a light you would save a lot of money and electricity.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524078#post12524078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbar
I did not realize your tank is a 125 also, just 2" shorter and 2" wider then a standard 125. I just removed the left side 250 MH and installed 3 of those 6500 K Daylight bulbs from HD. I'm thinking it will be pretty bright on that side. Probably be able to grow some softies on the top of the rocks. I will put the canopy back on after My water change which I'm waiting for the water to warm up about 5 degrees. I have thought that these would be great lights for a shallow tank like a 33L. Was your other tank lite with just these lights? At just $8.00 a light you would save a lot of money and electricity.

No my other tank was lite with a single 250 watt MH that was mounted in the canopy on the left side and pointed diagonally across the tank. I had CF bulbs over my refugium and was very impressed at how well softies grew under them. I had a colt coral that grew faster in my fuge than the ones in my display. I think it may have liked the 6500 K better than the K of the MH bulb. I also an just using spotlight kind of fixtures from home depot this time because I want the light to be really hitting the 2 islands I am creating.

Im very interested to see how yours looks. Let me know how you like the bulbs.

I should be filling my tank up today or tomorrow I think. I have just been waiting for the cross brace I had to install to dry. I think the silicone is cured by now but I would rather just be safe.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524078#post12524078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tbar
I did not realize your tank is a 125 also, just 2" shorter and 2" wider then a standard 125.

Actually this tank is quite a bit smaller than a 125G but my old one was basically the same...just different dimensions.

My new tank is only about a 90G believe it or not. It looks way bigger because its 6' long but I worked it out to about 90G. At first I hated the idea of a 90G because that tends to limit me with stocking but after seeing the tank, its only a little narrower and shorter than my old tank and I think I will be able to keep quite a few fish in it.

I only had 5 fish in my 130G and a few of them were really small. I want to try way more this time. I just have to figure out what...Im looking at mostly aggressive type fish that will generally leave soft corals alone. I don't care if they pick on corals a little but I just don't want them to destroy them. One fish I want for sure is a Harlequin Tusk. Maybe some kind of smaller Trigger too. I would love a big tang but Im not sure if the tank will be big enough. My LFS has some beautiful Sohal Tangs.

 

[REEF-n-Chicago]

How are you planning to hang the lighting? Also, what kind?
Really cool set up!

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524365#post12524365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEF-n-Chicago
How are you planning to hang the lighting? Also, what kind?
Really cool set up!

The lighting is already set up. Its hard to see in the pics but Im just going with regular 6500 K CF lighting. So the bulbs you can get at home depot. I want low wattage and I grew macro algae and softies very nicely under these in the past. Its really amazing how little light soft corals need. I will take some close ups of the lights when I can. Very, very simple set up though.

Its the first saltwater tank I have ever set up that is under 400 watts and uses only 6 outlets...might end up being 7 though if I use my moonlights. Doesn't get much simpler than this tank!

 

[hahnmeister]

I want your loft...

 

[couchpotato300]

dude your place is sick.

o and ur fish look cool too. i love puffers