Reef Diaries: 56G Reef Savvy

RAZ · Jan 24, 2014

Nice tank! How do you open the "door"? The whole thing comes off or is there a hinge to hold it?

Rafael Zambon

Throttle · Jan 24, 2014

Great looking tank... Love the smoked acrylic front

ReeferMan420 · Jan 24, 2014

really cool build!

mixer911 · Jan 24, 2014

Any issues with warping with the smoked acrylic doors? I have had this same idea for a while to do to my current build, but knowing that acrylic warps when moist on one side i was hesitant to do it. I was considering polycarbonate as an alternative. Interested to hear your experience.

RocketCityReef · Jan 24, 2014

Is that 1/2" starphire glass? If so, do you have any issues with the MP10 falling or not holding firm? I have a custom RS on the way (52 gallon) and am trying to decide between one MP40 or two MP10s.

blesk · Jan 24, 2014

Any updates and pics.

Gadsby15 · Jan 25, 2014

Awesome build, more pics and updates please!!!

FLipp · Jan 25, 2014

very impressive! tagging along w this one.
the organization is top notch!

ReeferEric · Jan 25, 2014

EdansClownHouse said:
STUNNING WATER CLARITY!!! How do you get that clarity? I always have little specs constantly in my tank so when I take pictures it looks like lots of crap floating around.

Thanks for any input you can provide :smile:

There is no secrets besides nice and clean glass. That and an expensive lens on my camrea. It takes time to learn how to take nice photos, I use to do photography work so it wasn't too much of a learning curve for me.

RAZ said:
Nice tank! How do you open the "door"? The whole thing comes off or is there a hinge to hold it?

Rafael Zambon

They are actually held on by Scotch heavy duty dual lock reclosable fasteners. Can be bought at Wal-Mart and Target. It's not the traditional velcro where its one side soft and the other hard, this one both sides are hard and they cling into each other. I added some staples to the side with the stand since it's not like the acrylic where its nice and smooth for it to stick to.

mixer911 said:
Any issues with warping with the smoked acrylic doors? I have had this same idea for a while to do to my current build, but knowing that acrylic warps when moist on one side i was hesitant to do it. I was considering polycarbonate as an alternative. Interested to hear your experience.

None at all, this has been up and running for a good amount of time now. The HD dual lock reclosable fasteners actually add some space, a little less then 1/4" or so from the stand so any air can escape through that. I have fans pulling air into the stand and this is a way of pushing whatever air out.

RocketCityReef said:
Is that 1/2" starphire glass? If so, do you have any issues with the MP10 falling or not holding firm? I have a custom RS on the way (52 gallon) and am trying to decide between one MP40 or two MP10s.

It is 1/2" starphire front glass. Although its much nicer, I feel as it gets scratched too easily compared to the regular glass. When I had the MP10 on it, I had no problems. Since then I've upgraded that MP10 to an MP40. You can run MP10s on 1/2" without problems.

ReeferEric · Jan 25, 2014

Just some more pictures, I spent the day cleaning the glass then got too tired to take pictures. lol, here are some oldies.

Corals SPS:

LPS:

Zoos:

mixer911 · Jan 26, 2014

ReeferEric said:
None at all, this has been up and running for a good amount of time now. The HD dual lock reclosable fasteners actually add some space, a little less then 1/4" or so from the stand so any air can escape through that. I have fans pulling air into the stand and this is a way of pushing whatever air out.

Thanks for the input! You setup looks awesome!

EricB · Jan 26, 2014

Great set up! I like the see-thru stand. Keep up the good work and great pics!

Fin · Jan 26, 2014

I agree with a previous poster - it is a work of art! Very nicely done!

ReeferEric · Jan 26, 2014

More photos, I have tons!

Jchronister23 · Jan 26, 2014

What lens are you using? I've been using my 85mm on my 5dmkii body. Love your photos.

ReeferEric · Jan 26, 2014

Jchronister23 said:
What lens are you using? I've been using my 85mm on my 5dmkii body. Love your photos.

I have a few bodies, lenses... lol

Majority of the pictures you see above are with the Nikon D700 with 24-70mm f/2.8. Few of the closer up were with the Nikon D300s with 105mm f/2.8 macro. I would like to pick up the 60mm f/2.8 for macros but the 105mm will do for now.