Eshopps Mariner M70 mixed reef build

[Acanthaopolis]

And so it begins...
After a very long 20 years away, I finally decided to get back into reef keeping. I have always had an affinity for keeping aquatic ecosystems and really find reef tanks to be the ultimate eco system an aquarist can keep. So many of these fascinating creatures are unlike anything else in this world.

Back in the day, I watched an old video, for which I can't remember the name, on reef keeping. To give you an idea of how old this video was it was on VHS and still showcased VHOs as the best light to add actinic to a reef aquarium. From the moment on I was absolutely fascinated.

Fast forward to a few months ago, I decided to dip my toes in and get a 12 gallon AIO cube to see if I still enjoyed keeping a reef tank. Turns out I still really enjoy the hobby and decided to get something bigger.

I always wanted a 36x24x24 tank and decided that would be my new tank size. I found the Eshopps on sale during Valentine's and decided to pull the trigger. It is only 36x21x21, but I think that is actually better as 24"H is harder to reach all the way to the bottom. I have been working on building out the tank ever since.

Equipment:
Tank - Eshopps 70 gallon 36 x 21 x 21
Stand - Eshopps white Mariner stand
Sump - Eshopps RS-100
Return pump - Simplicity DC1000
Protein skimmer - Reef Octopus 152-s (used)
Filter roller - Nature Dimensions M
Auto top off - Nature Dimensions
Lights - Quanta Helix blue+ 4 bar set
Wave makers -two Jecod Jabeo DMP -25s
Rock - 40 lbs Caribsea south seas base dry rock. 40lbs Caribsea south sea shelf rock
NSA style
Sand - 40lbs Caribsea seafloor special grade / 20lbs Caribsea arag alive bimini pink sand

Tank will be a mixed reef with an emphasis on LPS.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Built the stand and then could help but caulk the seams. Made for a cleaner look.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

NSA aquascape build photos. This is my first attempt at an NSA aquascape and it took me a couple of days and probably 6-8 total hours to get the look I was going after. Watching the BRStv video they recommended making a frame out of PVC to define the size of the tank. I found however, PVC is expensive and I was never going to need it after the project. I then decided to make the frame out of 2x2s instead. Cost about $8 instead of $40. I can then repurpose the frame by putting a top on it and making it into a coffee table.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Frame that I built to use as a guide.

 

[TexAgReefer]

This going to be a fun follow! Looking forward to it!

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I put the built rock structures into the tank. Tried to go for a triangular composition. Our kitchen is on the right and I wanted the view on the right side of the tank to be appealing to view everytime we walk by. To build the rockscape I use thick super glue and activator to instantly set in place. After the shapes were defined I went back with sifted fines from crushing up the rock and used them to fill all the gaps. I then poured a very thin super glue using a 1ml syringe to adhere the powder to the rock. I think I will fill with saltwater and cycle the tank and then do a big water change to get rid of any residual phosphate from using dry rock.

 

[fishface NJ]

Looks great! Congratulations.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Thanks!

 

[Skippy The Meh]

I like The aqua scape!

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I added the 40lb bag of Caribsea seafloor special grade. I plan to run pure RO in the tank for the first 12 hours or so to make sure there are no leaks. Since nothing is alive I will mix the salt in the display after that. I will then add the last bag of Caribsea arag alive Bimini Pink sand on top once I get the salinity dialed in since that has bacteria in it.

 

[Silentpanda619]

It looks like we are both upgrading similarly and at the same time! I got the MP100. How are you liking the Mariner? Excited to see how this turns out once you start adding livestock to it.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

It looks like we are both upgrading similarly and at the same time! I got the MP100. How are you liking the Mariner? Excited to see how this turns out once you start adding livestock to it.

Nice. I will have to follow along with your build. I am really liking the Mariner so far. Quality has been top notch. Only negative I could say is the stand was a pain to build.

 

[Silentpanda619]

Nice. I will have to follow along with your build. I am really liking the Mariner so far. Quality has been top notch. Only negative I could say is the stand was a pain to build.

That's a good point about the stand. I also struggled a bit with it but almost forgot about it lol.

My problem was that the manufacturing of some of the connections for the aluminum supports was ever so slightly off, but since the alumninum is so rigid, it was very difficult to accomodate for that. I think that if the manufacturing tolerances had been a bit better, it would have been a breeze relative to the size.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Today I worked on getting the Quanta 4- combo lighting system set up. Will have to figure out a solution to manage all the cords.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Some close-ups of the rock structures

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Today's update. Tank is cycling. Started with a seasoned bio block that I stuck in the weir of my currently running AIO tank for a few weeks. I added NH4 and am testing every few days to check the levels. NH4 started at 2ppm and is now down to 1ppm. NO2 is now sitting at 5ppm. Waiting for NH4 to get down to 0. I will then add more until I reach 2ppm and continue that cycle until the biology can reduce 2ppm of NH4 in 24 hours. Getting flow dialed in. Installed auto top off. Leaving protein skimmer off for now. There are a few fish I want that are heavily dependent on copepods, so I plan on seeding the tank once it is cycled. I plan to go slow and move over a few of my hardier corals and building up the pod population before adding fish or higher level corals.

Fish goals:
This tank is not very long at 36"W so I plan to keep mostly smaller species of fish to keep better scale and perspective. I love wrasses and will probably have a few different varieties. I have always wanted a mandarin dragonet and plan to keep 1 or two. I don't think my tank is big enough for tangs so probably won't have any. Below are some of the fish I might want to add.
Mandarin dragonet
Black Leopard wrasse
Christmas wrasse
Melanarus wrasse
Possum wrasse
Solarensis wrasse
Black cap basslet
Starry blenny
Springeri dottyback
Twinspot goby
Blue spot toby puffer (might try to see if it will leave the corals alone)
Fish I already have
A Darwin clownfish
Yasha goby

Obviously can't fit every fish I want but just some of the ones I like.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Running some filter floss to take care of initial cloudiness from sand.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Tank cleared up and cycling. Really like the Quanta lights so far. Great color rendition. Pictures don't do them justice. Not a single leak, which is always nice. Simplicity pump running on the second lowest setting. Was a little loud at first, but has since quieted down. Need to build a stand for the skimmer. Got a killer deal a barely used reef octopus classic 152-S for $175. It is a little big for this tank but couldn't pass up. Might put it on a timer to run for 8 hours a day.

 

[Timothy Patrick]

Running some filter floss to take care of initial cloudiness from sand.

And so it begins...
After a very long 20 years away, I finally decided to get back into reef keeping. I have always had an affinity for keeping aquatic ecosystems and really find reef tanks to be the ultimate eco system an aquarist can keep. So many of these fascinating creatures are unlike anything else in this world.

Back in the day, I watched an old video, for which I can't remember the name, on reef keeping. To give you an idea of how old this video was it was on VHS and still showcased VHOs as the best light to add actinic to a reef aquarium. From the moment on I was absolutely fascinated.

Fast forward to a few months ago, I decided to dip my toes in and get a 12 gallon AIO cube to see if I still enjoyed keeping a reef tank. Turns out I still really enjoy the hobby and decided to get something bigger.

I always wanted a 36x24x24 tank and decided that would be my new tank size. I found the Eshopps on sale during Valentine's and decided to pull the trigger. It is only 36x21x21, but I think that is actually better as 24"H is harder to reach all the way to the bottom. I have been working on building out the tank ever since.

Equipment:
Tank - Eshopps 70 gallon 36 x 21 x 21
Stand - Eshopps white Mariner stand
Sump - Eshopps RS-100
Return pump - Simplicity DC1000
Protein skimmer - Reef Octopus 152-s (used)
Filter roller - Nature Dimensions M
Auto top off - Nature Dimensions
Lights - Quanta Helix blue+ 4 bar set
Wave makers -two Jecod Jabeo DMP -25s
Rock - 40 lbs Caribsea south seas base dry rock. 40lbs Caribsea south sea shelf rock
NSA style
Sand - 40lbs Caribsea seafloor special grade / 20lbs Caribsea arag alive bimini pink sand

Tank will be a mixed reef with an emphasis on LPS.

Did you have to get an adaptor from Nature Dimensions to fit the roller? Which one? Also, are you capping the other sock opening, and with what?

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I purchased the m1218 adapter from nature Dimensions. I left one sock in for the time being. Not sure if I will cap it off or not. Might also get a second roller from Nature Dimensions to use as a slave. If I end up capping off the other one I will probably just use a piece of acrylic.