600L (150G) Custom Shallow Reef - Ranta's Reef

[Oiva]

Welcome to Ranta's Reef 600L Custom Shallow Reef Build Thread.

So this is my dream "nano" tank. Due to limited space and $$ i will not be going as big as i want. But it will be a nice system to keep me busy until
i am able to to get a bigger house and cash for a 3000L+ system. I won't go into those details now since this build is about my current dream build.

The tank will be custom 100x100x50cm with a 100L sump. So total water volume 600L or 150G for you gallon heads. Since i work/run a LFS in Bergen Norway
and we offer our costumers custom build's i decided to go this rute. I have been in this hobby for 10years and this will be my 6th tank. I have learned a lot of how
i want my systems build and what gear i will be using. The idea with this build is to have Auto Water Changes and everything will have its place. I don't like to have
stuff laying all over the place, and i want the stand to house all additives, foods, pumps and so on.

Stand will be made of aluminium with wood on the outside. Doors on 3 sides. One to access sump, the front were GHL Profilux, KHD so on will be ho
used. And left side for the ATO, SW and balling reservoir.

Some 3D pics's i made of the aquarium. While i wait for it to be delivered (we outsource our builds) and of course due to the virus it will be delayed :/



Gears list
This will depend on whats available in the future due to the crisis around the world. But most is already in my possession so will be stuff i move from old tank to new.

Lights: 4x Philips Coral Care Gen 2 (will start with two) I want BLANKET of lights.
Retur: 1x Sicce SDC 7.0
Flow: 3x AI Nero 5 (i have two, and love them)
Doser: 2x GHL Doser 2.1 (3 heads for balling rest for AF ABVE)
Computer: Profilux 4 with Salinity, Temp, Ph Probe.
Monitors: GHL KH Director and GHL Ion Director (Pre Ordered)
Skimmer. Royal Exclusive Mini Bubble King 180 Red Dragon.

 

[Oiva]

This is my current IM SR-60 Tank with my 10 year old clowns.

All corals will be fragged and moved to the new system, i like to start my tanks with frags only. The rest will be sold in the shop.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0b-ENDtgP1U

 

[mcwhng]

This is my current IM SR-60 Tank with my 10 year old clowns.

All corals will be fragged and moved to the new system, i like to start my tanks with frags only. The rest will be sold in the shop.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0b-ENDtgP1U

Nice reef tank! Looking forward to the new build and learning how you Scandinavian reefers grow corals. Any idea about what corals and fish you’re putting in this cube? What method are you going to use-triton, Berlin, ULN, etc.? Any equipment list yet - reefers are usually gear junkies

 

[Oiva]

Nice reef tank! Looking forward to the new build and learning how you Scandinavian reefers grow corals. Any idea about what corals and fish you’re putting in this cube? What method are you going to use-triton, Berlin, ULN, etc.? Any equipment list yet - reefers are usually gear junkies

Thanks! We grow them with potatoes.

About corals i am a stick head, so more SPS for sure, its hard to get SPS in Norway due to CITES and we are not in the EU we don't have so many suppliers to choose from.

Fish i am not 100% sure. I will be getting a few tangs, not sure yet. But my plan is to have some yellows.

I will be running this new system the same way i run my old. Aquaforest Probiotic method with Comp 123.

Gears list will be updated above

 

[sp1187]

with potatoes

 

[Arcticreefer]

Following with great interest. was just using the aquarium calculator on your website to get an idea for a cube tank that is a little smaller or 80x80x60.
Is there any diffrence in glass thickness needed between 50 or 60cm high?

 

[Oiva]

Following with great interest. was just using the aquarium calculator on your website to get an idea for a cube tank that is a little smaller or 80x80x60.
Is there any diffrence in glass thickness needed between 50 or 60cm high?

Good to hear

For that size i dont think you need to worry. But if you order thru our shop, we will let you know if it needs thicker glass. So you dont have to worry about getting water all over your floor

 

[Arcticreefer]

Good to hear

For that size i dont think you need to worry. But if you order thru our shop, we will let you know if it needs thicker glass. So you dont have to worry about getting water all over your floor

Yeah guessed as much. ill not derail your thread here with it. will contact you thru the store when the time comes. Best of luck with the new tank

 

[Oiva]

Yeah guessed as much. ill not derail your thread here with it. will contact you thru the store when the time comes. Best of luck with the new tank

Thanks and take care in the mean time

 

[Oiva]

Short update!

Tank will be here on Sunday!!!! Also some of my stuff arrived today. So this is todays haul + 40kg Aquaforest rock.

Only thing i am missing is some PVC parts, lights and skimmer.

 

[Oiva]

So things got very delayed. Tank should have been up n running with fish and all by now. But life happens, and delayed things a bit.

But there is some progress

most of the stuff is here. Still need to order two more Philips Gen2 lights and all gear is accounted for.

Since we recently bought a house, and we are moving i waited to finish the tank, since i did not want to drain it and move 600L of water with fish, and corals for an 8 hour drive.

we are moving next saturday, so in a few weeks i will hopefully have this baby with water.

But here are some pics of the progress so far. Nothing but the aluminum is screwed together.

 

[Oiva]

Soooooooo 1 billion years later. The build is FINALY starting to take shape. Since we bought a new house and moved 500km (8 hour drive) last year everything got delayed for a while.

BUT its finally starting to take shape!

 

[Oiva]

Finished up the scape! Just need some one to help me carry the tank upstairs.

 

[Oiva]

 

[Oiva]

Longest build i have ever done. It took a lot longer then i thought, mostly due to other things in life taking priority. Like starting a coral farm/shop in Norway, i decided to get that up and running before i started on my dream project. But i just finished gluing all the PVC today and will be mounting the lights and filling it up tomorrow.

Some of the gear (GHL, Nero 5's) are still in use in my old system, so once the tank is cycled i will move the livestock and gear over to the new tank.

 

[Oiva]

Lights are mounted, and the tank should be done filling up tomorrow. One 75GPD unit is really not that fast

I had to take a few breaks to fill up ATO for my two other systems and water change. But its about 70% done now. Salting it up tomorrow and really looking forward to add sand. While i do love my frag systems, it will be nice to have a Display to look at for a change.

Last pics before it gets wet.

 

[truepercs]

Very nice set up!

 

[mike89t]

Love it!

 

[Oiva]

Tank had been running for two months now, fish put in the other day. So it was time to mount the GHL gear.

just need to order the IOND and we have a complete setup.

 

[truepercs]

Looks great!