Not so "Nano" shallow 75

[cdunson82]

I hope everyone is doing well and Happy Thanksgiving! Quick story I have been deployed for the past 10 months and am slowly getting ready to come home. During my time here I decided to build my dream tank which is going to be a Great Lakes Aquarium 75 Wide. I have ordered all of the parts and thought I would go ahead a start a build thread and get some ideas/information and critiques from everyone here. Please let me know what you guys think!

Equipment List:
- Great Lakes Aquarium 75 wide 60"L x 24"W x 12" T, 3 side star fire glass with center internal overflow
- I will be building the stand
- AI Hydra with new controller (currently have two but with it being 5ft long, do you think ill need three?)
- MP40wES (two of these, started with one but at 5ft long I don't believe one would do)
- Eshopps R-100 Refugium with light
- Eshopps S-120 Cone Skimmer
- Mag 7 Return pump
- BRS Dual GFO and Carbon Reactor with pump
- Reef Keeper Elite Titanium
- Kamoer 3 Channel Aquarium Dosing Pump

Please let me know if there is anything that I am missing or need more of. Here are some sketch up models of what I imagine it looking like.









Thank you for taking time to look.

 

[AZReefJunkie]

Wow, sweet plans. I believe the hydras will only handle about a 24x24" area so you will probably want to look into picking up a third. Keep us posted

 

[cdunson82]

Thank you, that is what I am thinking. I have read a 30" x 30 footprint with the Hydras but even that is really pushing it with this tank I think.

 

[DeepBlueZoas]

Looks like this will be an awesome set up can't wait to see the final product!!

 

[cdunson82]

Thanks, yea I cannot wait to get home and start on it.

 

[cdunson82]

So I was able to come home four a few days on pass for the Christmas Holiday, had all these waiting for me!



Expecting the tank to be delivered around January 11th so I will have the stand build and everything ready to go around then.

While I wait decided to start up a pico aquarium sI tank with vida rock. Fit perfectly in the cubby hole I had picked for it. Filled with water yesterday.







I hope everyone had a great holiday!

 

[Saltydrip]

That will be epic!!

I'm really looking forward to buying a house! I have all kinds of crazy plans and a large long shallow tank is in the works!! I want something wall to wall. But I just have no idea what room it will be in... Or even what house... The only flaw to the build...

 

[Jfannin]

ill tag along.

 

[cat1pro]

looking very forward to seeing this one

 

[BlindZide]

Those are some really cool design plans. I am sure this build will be awesome! I have never seen a shallow 75 and I am eager to see what it turns out to be. I am building my monster tank this year. I am aiming 120g-180g. I haven't decided yet on what I want to do.

 

[cdunson82]

I hope everyones new year is starting off great. I know mine is! So I have been away but all of my out processing has been completed and I am getting back into my life and all moved into the house.

Update on the tank is that it is set to be delivered on Wednesday!!! in preparation for its arrival I have spent the last few days working on the stand and am really pleased at how it turned out (pictures to follow). I also went ahead and purchased a third light so I am 100% ready for this tank! I went to do my shelf part of the inside of the stand and like an idiot the screws I have are too long, home depot is closed so i will have to change them out tomorrow and hopefully get both coats of white paint on it. Doors will come but focusing on getting everything ready to bring the stand in. Well hope you enjoy the pictures and please give me some critiques! I want to know the good and bad!

 

[Boboli]

Nice design only thing I can say is that with a tank that shallow you dont need alot of light.
Mine pictured below is 50 26 by 11 and i now only use two Radions at 40% three was way overkill. I might even lower the light intensity more.
Good luck cant wait to see your progress.

 

[joeman1881]

Following! Looks likes its gonna be pretty sweet!

 

[cdunson82]

Boboli, your tank is gorgeous! I will have to see when I get it up and running, if I am correct the Radions have a wider spread to them then the Hydras. That is why I got three to keep from having dark spots but I will see when I get it up and running, do you have a build site on yours?

Joeman1881, thank you!

 

[cdunson82]

The stand has moved into the house! I have mounted the lights and set up all of the controllers on the shelf section, please let me know what you think. Need to start organizing wires but didn't have the right size zip ties so hoping to get more done tomorrow. Shipping company states that the tank is still in Michigan on their website! :headwall blue:

 

[cat1pro]

Wow...simply wow.....totally impressed with your build. I hope to have some pics of a tank with water tomorrow evening. Been out 9f the hobby too long so have some friends coming by tomorrow to help with the install.

 

[mx51]

I can't wait to see your tank.... I have a 75 gallon reef ready that I am in the process of building. But I really like the design of your tank, I will be following this build for sure! You said you went with 2 mp40s? I am undecided between 2 mp40s or maybe like 3 mp10s not sure what to do. But anyway cool build man

 

[cdunson82]

Cat1pro: Thank you! What tank are you starting up?

mx51: What is the length of your tank? Also what is the glass thickness of the tank? The two reasons I went with two MP40's......1) it is a rimless tank so it is 1/2" glass thickness which doesn't allowed me to use MP10's 2) my personal preference is sanded tanks and with wanting to do mostly SPS if I only used one MP40 my sand would go everywhere. So depending on your glass thickness and length you may have difference options!

So the shipping company hadn't updated their tracking site so it looks like I will get the tank either tomorrow or Thursday! Supper excited. I have gotten the wiring done and setup for the lights and Digital Aquatics, plus put all of the filtration items in the stand to start getting an idea on how I want to run all the cords.......put a picture on what its like so far with the cables just lying around. Everything is coming together a lot better then I thought it would and just like i had envisioned! Thank you for all of the support!

 

[rlm2005]

Nice plans. I really like the look of the shallow tanks. Following along.

 

[mx51]

Your setup under the tank looks great. Where did you get your sump? My tank is 4 ft long and the glass looks to be about 1/2 inch thick