ENGReef
Community Member
Greetings R2R!
This build began early summer last year as a garage find. I purchased a ~75g rimless tank from a local reefer with the intention to make a DIY custom reef tank. Ironically it sat in my garage for the better part of 2019 until I noticed my current CADlights 34 was starting to look crowded. This tank is essentially my dream build, drawing on all the aesthetics and equipment that I have come to love over the better part of 10 years in this hobby. By no means am I an expert, as I am constantly learning and growing with this hobby. This tank is what I hope to be my final mixed reef build that I have been working towards since my first tank, a JBJ Picotope, in 2009. Many things have changed in my personal growth as well as the reef tank industry, and now I finally feel that I am ready to truly start and maintain the mixed reef of my dreams.
Enjoy!
Current FTS 4/2020
Background
I would like to first show you the contents of this tank roughly 4 years prior. I had just moved into an apartment to finish my degree at a local University and wanted to continue practicing my hobby. The tank was a CADlights 34 with a stand found at a Homegoods (for those not from the area, its a large discount retailer for many home items).
FTS summer of 2016
I kept this tank in the above condition for approximately two years into fall of 2018.
Unfortunately, a crash and decline in my free time led to most of the coral dying off, except for
the rock on the left. All that survived this period was the massive Grandis paly colony, leather, and three RBTA's.
Concept
Heavily inspired by SonnyX on Reef Central since the begging, I have always wanted to build a rimless shallow reef tank. This build also drew heavily on a minimalist and clean aquascape. Although I am completely into the SPS dominant look, I have become very aware of my limitations with this hobby and decided on a mixed reef with a few SPS pieces that have done well for me in past set ups.
The tank had a few requirements aside from its contents. First the stand would have to be custom built to fit in its designated area along with my living room furniture. Second, I needed to have as little wiring and equipment showing as possible. The following are progress photos from December:
Drilling & Overflow
DIY Stand:
This build began early summer last year as a garage find. I purchased a ~75g rimless tank from a local reefer with the intention to make a DIY custom reef tank. Ironically it sat in my garage for the better part of 2019 until I noticed my current CADlights 34 was starting to look crowded. This tank is essentially my dream build, drawing on all the aesthetics and equipment that I have come to love over the better part of 10 years in this hobby. By no means am I an expert, as I am constantly learning and growing with this hobby. This tank is what I hope to be my final mixed reef build that I have been working towards since my first tank, a JBJ Picotope, in 2009. Many things have changed in my personal growth as well as the reef tank industry, and now I finally feel that I am ready to truly start and maintain the mixed reef of my dreams.
Enjoy!
Current FTS 4/2020
Background
I would like to first show you the contents of this tank roughly 4 years prior. I had just moved into an apartment to finish my degree at a local University and wanted to continue practicing my hobby. The tank was a CADlights 34 with a stand found at a Homegoods (for those not from the area, its a large discount retailer for many home items).
FTS summer of 2016
I kept this tank in the above condition for approximately two years into fall of 2018.
Unfortunately, a crash and decline in my free time led to most of the coral dying off, except for
the rock on the left. All that survived this period was the massive Grandis paly colony, leather, and three RBTA's.
Concept
Heavily inspired by SonnyX on Reef Central since the begging, I have always wanted to build a rimless shallow reef tank. This build also drew heavily on a minimalist and clean aquascape. Although I am completely into the SPS dominant look, I have become very aware of my limitations with this hobby and decided on a mixed reef with a few SPS pieces that have done well for me in past set ups.
The tank had a few requirements aside from its contents. First the stand would have to be custom built to fit in its designated area along with my living room furniture. Second, I needed to have as little wiring and equipment showing as possible. The following are progress photos from December:
Drilling & Overflow
DIY Stand:
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