Eshopps Mariner M70 mixed reef build

[Proud]

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.

Following along, this is going to be beautiful.

 

[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?

Thank you

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I worked on a couple projects that needed to get done. First off I have a ferret and my wife was worried that he might get into the sump accidentally from the opening in the back of the stand. I didn't want restrict any air flow so I made a barricade out of egg crate and super-glued in some outlet plates to run wires through. I then used the egg crate while I had it out to make a skimmer riser stand. I tried to work on wire management .
I have a love/hate relationship with all of the controllable pumps, heaters and such. When I used to have a tank aeons ago, everything was AC and was just a single plug. Wire management was very easy. Now it seems like every device has two or three cords for power, controller, and sensor which complicates wiring a lot. It is nice to have all of the adjustability and to have a controller to clearly see your settings but cumbersome to try to keep all of the wrong tidy. I would like to see a future where you buy one controller and every accessory uses a single cord that can carry power and data like a USB cable but able to carry higher power needs.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I forgot to show a picture of the sand bed once I put the Caribsea Bimini Pink on top. I think it makes for a very natural looking sand bed.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

A view of my 12gal Nano that is being upgraded to the M70

 

[Timothy Patrick]

Thank you

Did you weigh out fitting a larger roller such as reefmat500? Not much info out there on success rates or preferences for roller filters in these newer bracketed eshopps sumps...

 

[fishface NJ]

The tank is looking great! Congrats.

I also hate wire management. My T5 light has two cords and then I have two led strips that attach to the T5 sides.

Can I ask you how you attached the the eggcrate legs to the eggcrate platform ?

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Did you weigh out fitting a larger roller such as reefmat500? Not much info out there on success rates or preferences for roller filters in these newer bracketed eshopps sumps...

I honestly didn't know that the nature Dimensions would be so small. I will try it out with a full bio load and see how it keeps up. I usually have the opposite problem of not having enough nutrients. I also have a over-sized skimmer so I don't want to strip too much out. I am not sure of the dimensions for the reefmat500 but I would suspect there would be plenty of room for one, at least with the older style sump I have. The sump holds two 4x7 socks and has some set screws that could remove the bracket for the socks.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

The tank is looking great! Congrats.

I also hate wire management. My T5 light has two cords and then I have two led strips that attach to the T5 sides.

Can I ask you how you attached the the eggcrate legs to the eggcrate platform ?

In the past I always used zipties to tie it together. How are this time I still had plenty of CA glue and accelerator spray so I just glued it all. All the risers are centered on one of the grid lines to offer the most surface area to bond to. I used a very sharp razor blade to smooth out the surface from where I had cut the egg crate.

 

[fishface NJ]

Ahhh glued! That is why it looks so clean. Thanks. It the past I had done eggcrate platform with pvc legs. I drilled a hole near the edge of the pvc and riptied it the eggcrate.

 

[Acanthaopolis]

Today's update:
NH4 is now testing at 0ppm
NO2 is at about 2-5ppm
And NO3 is around 20ppm

I added a rock from my other tank that has some Zoas, a Discosoma mushroom and some blue clove polyps a few days ago. Corals have been responding well to the new environment. A hitchhiker stomatella snail has been doing good as well. I will start moving more soft corals over and watch to see if they acclimate well.

I put an order in at Reef By Steele for 32oz of their gigantic pod assortment ment and 16oz of Phytoplankton. I hope to get a population of pods going to help reduce the uglies and to populate enough that I can eventually have my wrasses and Mandarins. I want to get amphipods as well but they were out right now. Will probably add some amphipods to an order later when I start to get a Clean up crew and some serpent stars.

I plan to add a bunch of rubble to my display and will probably put a bunch in my sump as well. With hopes that will be enough to maintain a population. If that doesn't seem to be enough I will probably add a display tank on the side plumbed int the main system and have a display quality breeding ground for pods and decorative macro algae.

 

[NatureDimensions Verified Sponsor]

Did you weigh out fitting a larger roller such as reefmat500? Not much info out there on success rates or preferences for roller filters in these newer bracketed eshopps sumps...

I honestly didn't know that the nature Dimensions would be so small. I will try it out with a full bio load and see how it keeps up. I usually have the opposite problem of not having enough nutrients. I also have a over-sized skimmer so I don't want to strip too much out. I am not sure of the dimensions for the reefmat500 but I would suspect there would be plenty of room for one, at least with the older style sump I have. The sump holds two 4x7 socks and has some set screws that could remove the bracket for the socks.

Thanks for using our products!

For tanks over 60 gallons, we generally recommend a dual filter setup (main + extension), especially if you have a higher bioload. That said, if your bioload is relatively low and your return pump isn’t particularly strong, a single N-Clear M should still work well.

For reference, a dual N-Clear M setup supports a slightly higher flow rate than a ReefMat 500

 

[Acanthaopolis]

I am starting to move some corals over to the Mariner. I believe at one time I had 43 frags in the 12 gallon. Sheesh. Here is a list of the corals that I have that will eventually be in the new tank.

Dragon soul favia
War paint favia
Blue UFO favia
Midnight princess favia
Flame boi favia
Purple people eater favia

Green acan
Red ember acan
Peppermint stripe acan
Pink skirt acan
Frost skirt acan
Royal crown acan
Spiderman micromussa

Red blastomussa

Purple tip hammer
TG supernova hammer
Black light torch

Forest fire rhodactus mushroom
Blue discosoma mushroom

Captain jerk palythoa
Pandora palythoa
Bam bam zooanthids
Kung fu fighter Zoanthids
Blue eyed Blondie zoanthids
Nirvana zoanthids
Pink zooanthids
Magicians splatter zooanthids
Red zooanthids
Yellow / blue zoanthids

Blue clove polyps

Darth maul porites
OG Milka stylophora

Orange leptastrea
Spitfire leptastrea
Party crasher cyphastrea

Green Duncan
Burgundy / green candy cane

Raja rampage chalice
Tropadelic chalice
WWC avatar chalice

Sunburst micro goniapora

 

[Acanthaopolis]

 

[initial_reefer]

any updates ?

 

[Breed1]

keep us posted bro!