SPS Shallow Reef Tank Build Thread

[InsaneClownFish]

Very nice...waitin on this one!

 

[ZooZ]

i got to see this...XM's are the way to go!! Check out the polls!!

 

[smokez01]

Cant wait to see your tank! I have a 90g BB, but absolutely love shallow and deep aquarium set ups

 

[salmon alley]

I'm currently planning a shallow SPS tank as well (20"). Been researching lighting and I'm wondering why not use 175w bulbs in Lumenarc reflectors? The Iwasaki 15K has very impressive PAR numbers and you save 75 w of electricity.

 

[ClownReef®]

Sorry for the hold up guys.. Im out of the country for thanksgiving.

Well, i went with the 12K Reeflux because ive used them before and really liked them. What im trying to figure out is how to use moonlights in a rimless tank..there arent that many options really.. what to do..what to do..

 

[SERVO]

The phoenix 14K's are also really nice and you will great really great coloration. I am running them over my frag tank and the corals look much different in there then in my main display.

From the rock perspective, I would construct my own design out of the tank and drill the rocks for acrylic pegs and then epoxy. After that I would drill 1/4 holes with a masonary drill bit to use the pegging technique. The cool thing about pegging is that you can put tabling acros out on the edge and instantly obtain a natural looking placement without messing with epoxy. It takes a little bit of time, but it well worth it! If you have a pet out break it is easy to pull your corals out of the tank to treat them.

Marco rocks are pretty cool. THey are "dead" rocks, but after a few months, and/or placing a small piece of live rock in the tank you'll have plenty of autotrophic bacteria.

 

[ClownReef®]

Ok, just an update.

I just got the custom made sump in! Its amazing..

Unfortunately, the space made for the skimmer is not big enough so im gonna have to set it somewhere else..

 

[ClownReef®]

I think i made it fit PERFECTLY!

 

[Jester]

looks great...!!!! who built your sump...??

 

[ClownReef®]

A friend who also is a reefer. He has an amazing set up! One of those talented people who can build really amazing stuff.. He is also a RC member but for some reason i dont know his I.D..LOL

Ok, now i need to figure out if the return pump can be plumbed into the larger compartment on the right..

 

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11273266#post11273266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ClownReef®
for some reason i dont know his I.D..LOL

same as it is on all the boards thanks for the compliment

 

[ClownReef®]

LOL..There he is

Ace, can the return be plumbed into the BIG compartment? and the smaller one be used as a fuge? (thought id ask you..haha)

 

[hobogato]

hmmm.. the way the baffles are oriented, no. if you need me to mod it, i probably can. ill call ya this evening to discuss it.

 

[ClownReef®]

Ok, we figured it out..

On to the next step..

The tank arrives dec. 8th.. So i plan on having it running before the 19th..

Im gonna go with Dr.Mac's fusion rock..

 

[janderson8]

The sump looks like a Marc Melev Sump

 

[hobogato]

yep, it is modeled after one of marc's designs.

 

[ClownReef®]

Yeah, a saw one of his sumps and noticed it was VERY functional so decided to do something like it..

 

[ClownReef®]

Update:

Just waiting for my return pump (sequence snapper)..my RO Unit and my Reef Keeper ll..

Next step is plumbing the tank..mixing salt..filling the tank up and get the rock from Dr. Mac... and then, just let it cycle..

 

[geoxman]

I would like to see the final set up. I am 36x36x10 all black acrylic tank. My 400 MH lumenarc was not enough spread so I went to two 250DE PFO pendants- it sounds similar to what you will do. I am using the helios 20k as I cant use any actinic on my set up. It sounds really cool! good luck

 

[SERVO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11281024#post11281024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by geoxman
I would like to see the final set up. I am 36x36x10 all black acrylic tank. My 400 MH lumenarc was not enough spread so I went to two 250DE PFO pendants- it sounds similar to what you will do. I am using the helios 20k as I cant use any actinic on my set up. It sounds really cool! good luck

Post a pict of your set up here. It may help him decide on what to do.