Build Thread - Shallow Tank

[ihavecrabs]

So I am not new to R2R but newly active!

From: Chicago West Suburbs

I started about 4 years ago and went from a 40b, to 93 cube, to 180 gallon long, to the current shallow reef!

Equipment List

• 48x24x12 Eurobraced Acrylic Tank
  • Vortech M1 return pump
    
  • Vortech MP40wes X2
    
  • Vortech MP10wes
    
  • 4’ Current USA T5HO (b+, Actinic, b+, p+, Actinic, b+)
    
  • Custom build stand and canopy
    
  • Apex Lab which controls heater, 2part dosing pumps, lights on main and frag, ato, skimmer, carbon reactor, and soon to control the vortechs hopefully!
    
• 20x12x8 Acrylic Frag Tank
  • 2’ cheapo t5HO with (b+, actinic, p+, b+)
    
  • Vortech MP10 standard
    

Livestock

• Fish
  • Mandarin Dragonet
    
  • Midas Blenny
    
  • Frostbite Clownfish pair
    
  • Solar Wrasse
    
  • Yellow Eye Kole Tang
    
• Coral – sorry don’t have the names!
  • 12+ different Acans + many other LPS
    
  • 8+ different SPS, mostly frags
    
  • Many different zoas and mushrooms/ricordias and other soft corals.
    
• Others
  • CUC – snails, hermits, conch
    
  • Anemone GBTA
    
  • Blood Red Shrimp

I'll be adding some pictures below of the build and some of the inhabitants.

 

[Shep]

Welcome, cant wait to see the tank!

 

[ihavecrabs]

The stand build and refinishing of the acrylic tank removing all the scratches from the previous owner..

 

[aabjones888]

Hello nice build so far! Love shallow reefs.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Here is the transferring of the tank.. This was tough going from a 180 gallon (72.5x24.5x25.7)!

 

[aabjones888]

Figuring out rock placement and coral placements always hard for me. Good luck with it!

 

[ihavecrabs]

I'll get right to the FTS and add the sump and frag pictures next :)

 

[ihavecrabs]

Comparing the picture of the reddish Acan colony above under LED's.. Here is what it is transforming to under T5's

Here are some more pictures of corals and frags..

 

[kschweer]

Very nice!!! Welcome to R2R!!

 

[ihavecrabs]

Figuring out rock placement and coral placements always hard for me. Good luck with it!

Agreed! I've got it updated now and will post some updated FTS in day light when the lights come on!

 

[ihavecrabs]

Some other differences from LED to the T5's with some Sunny D's zoanthids.

And under T5HO for two months..

Some other frags!

 

[ihavecrabs]

Sump and Apex pics! Please don't mind the mess!!!

 

[ihavecrabs]

New addition!