Brad's Natural Reef Mangroves, Macros, and More

[spspirate]

Insanely cool!

 

[jason g]

Another great looking tank. Very unique. This is stunning.

 

[pboutin]

Who's tank is this? Is the the inspirational tank you spoke of?

 

[brad908]

Who's tank is this? Is the the inspirational tank you spoke of?

That is my tank

 

[rinckemd]

I love your tank! Man I wish I could spin up a simple and natural tank like that. Get away from the blue lights, SPS a bit and back to something simple and natural and wonderful.

 

[mcola78]

Wow! What an awesome tank. Following along!

 

[pboutin]

That is my tank

Awesome! So please forgive my ignorance but this thread seems to be a build of a smaller cube. Do you have an update for the long tank in that pic? I'd love to see everything related to reef planted tanks. You've done some spectacular work here.

EDIT: I see now this thread covers 2 tank builds

 

[brad908]

Awesome! So please forgive my ignorance but this thread seems to be a build of a smaller cube. Do you have an update for the long tank in that pic? I'd love to see everything related to reef planted tanks. You've done some spectacular work here.

EDIT: I see now this thread covers 2 tank builds

These mangroves started off in an 18" cube that was mixed with macro's. I then had a custom 48x18x14" tank made and transferred the 18" cube into the custom tank. I then started up a separate ADA 60f mangrove tank that was started from just seedlings. (The 18"cube/this current tank was started with mangroves that already had leaves)

Link to the ADA mangrove tunnel - https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brads-ada-60f-mangrove-tunnel.274954/

 

[revhtree]

One of my favs!

 

[brad908]

These were taken back on May 20

They grow up so fast

Mangroves

 

[brad908]

Changing up the tank a little. Put the hybrid over the mangroves and started shaping them even more out and over the tank.

No t5's on in these pics, need to order new 6500's.

 

[pboutin]

I like the Idea of using Bonsai wire and techniques to train the mangroves. Do you find they move in the sand bed when trying to bend them? Just wondering why you have so much wire between them.

Looks really good BTW

 

[will424]

So cool!

 

[pboutin]

@brad908 Would the mangrove roots grow in water alone? Wonder how deep the roots would go and how they grow. I have a deep Refugium 40gal breeder tank that I want to try something in and I don't want to have to build up the sandbed to support them. I was thinking I could float the mangroves until their roots reach the current sandbed. Would be kind of cool and might look more natural with all the exposed twisted roots.

 

[Wet_Fretboards]

This is hands down the best looking tank I've seen. I don't know what it is, but you can have those "blue monsters" with all the gadgetry and I'll take one of these for the CENTER of the living room! Amazing work, my friend. Makes me want to sell off my current setup and go for it.

 

[Coco Go]

Hi Brad, I am inlove with this tank. I am a big fan of this build. The Macros are well placed and very well trimmed. The colors are very well balanced! Also, are those gargonians in the middle of the tank? The t5 fixture looks clean too. Could I ask how you set up the light mount? How did you run the power chords? I do not see the chords from the photo you've posted.

 

[Raptor3084]

Looks great!

 

[revhtree]

Loving it!

 

[Ravens243]

Absolutely love this tank. Once i get my 180 running, I'm definitely trying something like this.

 

[VR28man]

Very nice tank. Beautiful, perhaps inspirational, definitely gets you thinking.


How did the chromises work out? Do you still have all ten? Some people say that if you have a large school after a few months they'll gradually kill each other off... there can be only one!