xtm's 67g SPS-dominated shallow reef build!

[xtm]

After watching some nasty algae on the bottom of my 24" tall tank and NOT being able to clean it due to depth, I finally became sick of tall tanks and decided a switch is now mandatory!

I started this thread recently and there was an overwhelming response in favor of the 67g! I also noticed a lot of people setting up their "shallow reefs" lately and I knew I had to start mine also (shallow type setups seems to be the rage these days..LOL) and besides, I'm getting bored and I need something to work on!

I bought this tank from RHS in LA (an RC sponsor). When I saw it, I knew I HAVE to have it. The tank is 36x24x18, or 67g. I started to form some ideas using a couple of large flat shelf rocks...

Top view:

How about an overhang on the right and some fruitstand on the left..

I think I like this style the most

I photoshopped some sand so see how it looks like

I will add pics tomorrow.. comments and suggestions are always welcome! Let me know which aquascape you like the most.

 

[Nano Chris]

I think the 2nd pic looks best.

 

[widmer]

Overhang with fruitstand gets my vote although, I'd mod the fruitstand a bit.

 

[bph0013]

I love shallow/deep tanks too. I had a taller tank and will never go back to a tank that is taller than it is deep. The aquascaping looks so much better and is much easier to work with in a deep party.

 

[KafudaFish]

That should look very nice, if you can keep it going and not be bored with it. Hard isn't it.
My vote is for the one with the sand but is there anyway you could add 2 smaller islands/overhangs in front of the one you already have? Once everything grew in you would have 2 "canyons" for fish to swim back and forth. The one on our left could be narrow and slightly raise in height the further you go back. One on the right could we wide and taller, just short of the water's surface. Just a thought but I think it would look more natural if you kept one type of rock such as the overhangs instead of adding the fruit stand. The fruit stand makes it artifical if that makes sense.
Did you ever post a DIY wavemaker thread? It was you wasn't it?

 

[xtm]

hey guys thanks for the comments! Yes that was me who made the DIY wavebox. You know I've been thinking about putting an external wavebox on this tank, but I don't know if it will even make a decent wave on a 36" tank... The shape of the tank is also a factor.

For those who haven't seen my DIY wavebox, watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1duSSdjRb4

Since the tank is acrylic, I can easily mount the wavebox OUTSIDE the tank so it won't take some space. I will do some test runs today and see if it can do some waves on this tank. I'll post more updates tonight!

For those who are waiting for a DIY thread on the wavebox, I will eventually write it up soon, just stay tuned!

 

[xtm]

people like me shouldn't start a build thread because I'm lazy when it comes to updating and posting pics

Ok I will try to be more active... so let's continue

I decided I will go with an external overflow box... however I've never done an external box before and the last thing I want is coming home to a wet floor. I started drilling some slots with my trusty Dremel..

so I finally drilled ONE HOLE. I can't believe how thick the acrylic is on this thing.. very overkill for something that is only 18" high.

The way I'm going, It'll take me a week to finish cutting all 21 slots

 

[xtm]

so while I'm waiting for the dremel to cool down, I started fabricating the overflow box. TIP: Don't take pictures when applying WeldOn.. You will end up with a mess!!

So I clamped the two acrylic panes together.. I prefer using Weld-on #4 because it's very fluid, NOT messy, and easier to glue with capillary/pin method. #16 is MESSY

Finally a box

 

[xtm]

For this box I will use a 1-1/4" bulkhead. I used a hole saw..

Here ya go.. an external overflow box!

 

[xtm]

So one of the new toys came in the other day...

This thing is beautiful! BUT there are things I hate about this reflector.. #1 is you have to remove 6 tiny screws to change the bulb, #2 It uses TINY LITTLE screws that can easily be stripped and lose the threads, #3 if you disassemble the whole fixture, it's very difficult to align the sheetmetals back in place, since each one is being held by TINY screws. Now try doing this while the pendant is suspended on top of a reef tank!

To top it off, there is a dent on the pendant itself.. to make it even worse, the dent is on the viewing side of the pendant!

I'm not sure if I like the look of the Mini Stealth.. the external shell looks like any other pendant. I like the look of the full sized Lumenarcs better..

I will be hanging this using a PFO hanger kit

 

[GSMguy]

Welcome to the club XTM, hold on, we dont have a club yet

shallow reefs FTW

oh and 67g is a perfect size BTW haaha

 

[xtm]

haha thanks GSM.. your Anemone tank and ClownReef's tank actually inspired me to go this route. We should start a "Show Me Your Shallow Tank" thread

 

[xtm]

I started fillin er up

is that a sweet aquascape or what

ahhh just like the real deal

I try to keep everything organized

getting deeper...

My overflow is finally working

and here is it now... I still have to organize the corals. They will sit on the sand for now

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

Wow, looks amazing. Your corals weren't bothered at all when you were filling it up?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12600929#post12600929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtm
haha thanks GSM.. your Anemone tank and ClownReef's tank actually inspired me to go this route. We should start a "Show Me Your Shallow Tank" thread

check your PM

 

[LePep]

Looks great!!!

 

[leeweber85]

I have no doubt this will look amazing

 

[xtm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12602003#post12602003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheSaltwaterGuy
Wow, looks amazing. Your corals weren't bothered at all when you were filling it up?

They were bothered but they looked good again after a day or two.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12602132#post12602132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LePep
Looks great!!!

thanks!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12602264#post12602264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
I have no doubt this will look amazing

Thanks!

 

[new_world_disor]

looking good. shallow reefs are the best IMO. got any pics now its settled/cleared ?

 

[xtm]

This has got to be the most unlikeable build thread ever.. one page, no subscribers, not a lot of posts, and almost no comments!

I will post the final pics and I'll stop updating this thread. Thanks to all who replied.