Gee's Eshopps M130 Build Thread

[Mattgee87]

Hi everyone!

I'm excited to start this build thread finally. I have been in the reefing hobby for about nine years now, but surprisingly, this will be my first-ever brand-new system. In the past, I've always run pre-owned setups or pieced-together builds, so unboxing a fresh tank and starting from absolute scratch is a huge milestone for me. I chose the Eshopps Mariner M130 due to its Euro-braced bottom and the high quality of the setup. I got to see the tank in person at my LFS, and it's truly a beast. I was also pleasantly surprised that Eshopps has updated the sump to include a refugium now, although it appears that they are using the emergency drain to feed it, which doesn't give me confidence that the refugium will receive sufficient flow. I will also be on the lookout for the best light to put over the refugium. One thing that I will need to figure out is how to plump the sump into a roller mat. I assume I will need to install a Y-connector since the roller mat only has one input, but we shall see.

The Goal: Simplicity & Low Maintenance. For this build, my primary philosophy is less maintenance. I love this hobby, but I want to spend more time enjoying the coral and fish and less time siphoning and battling nutrient sinks. I plan to ensure that the Apex/Trident handles the heavy lifting for the elements.

To achieve this, I've decided to run this system bare-bottom. I know the look of a sand bed is classic, but after years of reefing, I'm ready to trade the aesthetics of a sand bed for the high-flow capabilities and ease of cleaning that a bare-bottom tank offers.

The Gear:

• Tank: Eshopps Mariner M130 / Black stand.
• Lighting: Reefbreeders 48" Photon V2 with 4 60" T5 ( Blue Plus Bulbs)
• Flow: 2x DMP-45 Wavemakers
• Control: Neptune Apex Pro A3 w/ Trident w/ DOS for Alk/Cal & FMM ( 2 leak and 2 Optical Sensors
• Filtration: Sump with Refugium / Red Sea Roller 500 Mat
• Skimmer: Maxspect Aeraqua Duo AD600 Skimmer
• Return: Royal Exclusiv Red Dragon 3

Planned Stocking (Transfers from 105 ):

• Purple Tang
• Tomini Tang
• Flame Angel
• 2x Chromis
• Royal Gramma
• Lawnmower Blenny
• Pajama Cardinalfish
• Long Nose Hawkfish (added 3/7)
• Solon Fairy Wrasse (added 3/7)

Status: The tank is scheduled to be delivered in 2 weeks! I'm really looking forward to documenting the cycle and the ugly stage (which I'm hoping will be shorter without the sand). I will post pictures of the tank in its home once it is delivered.

I'd love to hear from anyone else running bare-bottom.

Thanks for following along!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

very exciting!! be sure to let us see pics!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Mattgee87]

My LFS just took delivery of my M130, but it arrived with the older style sump and plumbing. I’ve asked them to swap it out for the updated version, but it got me wondering: has @ESHOPPS.INC made any other changes to this system since the Gen1 release?

 

[Mattgee87]

The verdict is in: after my LFS connected with Eshopps, they confirmed they will honor the purchase and ship out the new V2 sump and plumbing as soon as the latest container lands in the US. They estimate it will take a couple of weeks to arrive, which realistically puts my tank start date about 6 weeks out.

While the delay is a bit of a bummer, I’m choosing to see it as a forced patience exercise. I’m going to use this downtime to dial in my rockscape without rushing and get the cabinet prep done right. I plan to mount the Apex on the stand and likely build a custom display board to keep all the modules and cabling clean before the sump even arrives.

 

[painter1982]

Following along. I also have an eshopps m130. I’m curious to see if the roller mat addition causes it to be loud. The only way I could silence my system was to have a small trickle in the emergency overflow. Otherwise the sound in the overflow box was loud.

 

[Mattgee87]

Following along. I also have an eshopps m130. I’m curious to see if the roller mat addition causes it to be loud. The only way I could silence my system was to have a small trickle in the emergency overflow. Otherwise the sound in the overflow box was loud.

My plan is to plumb both drains into the roller mat on both sides. If that doesn't work, I will move the 2nd drain into the skimmer compartment and place it underwater to hopefully silence any noise.

 

[Mattgee87]

Well, I was finally able to pick up the stand today, and let me tell you—this thing is heavy.

In terms of assembly, it actually goes together fairly well, but definitely be prepared for a solid 2-3 hour build time if you’re doing it right. Unfortunately, I did run into another snag near the finish line. The very last door I went to install is missing a hinge piece, and worse, it has several scratches that look like they are baked right into the paint.

I’ve already contacted my LFS, and thankfully they agreed to work with me to resolve it, but I can't deny it’s yet another setback on this build.

 

[Mattgee87]

Update: I have some great news regarding the stand. My LFS reached out to Eshopps on my behalf, and they are handling the situation entirely. They are shipping a brand-new door along with 3 replacement hinges. It's a relief to see a company respond this quickly. I can honestly say that so far, Eshopps is 100% standing behind their product.

 

[Mattgee87]

Big news! I just got the call from my LFS, and the tank is officially scheduled for delivery on Monday, January 26th. I’m incredibly excited to finally get it in the house, though it's a bit bittersweet. The new sump is still 3–4 weeks out.

I’m determined not to let the delay stall my progress, though. I plan to use this downtime to obsess over my cable management and get it absolutely perfect before the plumbing starts. On the bright side, I managed to get the lights hung from the ceiling last night, so things are definitely moving in the right direction.

 

[Proud]

Hi everyone!

I'm excited to start this build thread finally. I have been in the reefing hobby for about nine years now, but surprisingly, this will be my first-ever brand-new system. In the past, I've always run pre-owned setups or pieced-together builds, so unboxing a fresh tank and starting from absolute scratch is a huge milestone for me. I chose the Eshopps Mariner M130 due to its Euro-braced bottom and the high quality of the setup. I got to see the tank in person at my LFS, and it's truly a beast. I was also pleasantly surprised that Eshopps has updated the sump to include a refugium now, although it appears that they are using the emergency drain to feed it, which doesn't give me confidence that the refugium will receive sufficient flow. I will also be on the lookout for the best light to put over the refugium. One thing that I will need to figure out is how to plump the sump into a roller mat. I assume I will need to install a Y-connector since the roller mat only has one input, but we shall see.

The Goal: Simplicity & Low Maintenance. For this build, my primary philosophy is less maintenance. I love this hobby, but I want to spend more time enjoying the coral and fish and less time siphoning and battling nutrient sinks. I plan to ensure that the Apex/Trident handles the heavy lifting for the elements.

To achieve this, I've decided to run this system bare-bottom. I know the look of a sand bed is classic, but after years of reefing, I'm ready to trade the aesthetics of a sand bed for the high-flow capabilities and ease of cleaning that a bare-bottom tank offers.

The Gear:

• Tank: Eshopps Mariner M130 / Black stand.
• Lighting: Reefbreeders 48" Photon V2
• Flow: 2x DMP-45 Wavemakers
• Control: Neptune Apex EL w/ Trident w/ DOS for Alk/Cal & FMM ( 2 leak and 2 Optical Sensors
• Filtration: Sump with Refugium / Red Sea Roller 500 Mat
• Return: Jebao DCP 8000

Planned Stocking (Transfers from 105 ):

• Purple Tang
• Tomini Tang
• Flame Angel
• 2x Black and White Clownfish
• 2x Chromis
• Royal Gramma
• Lawnmower Blenny
• Pajama Cardinalfish

Status: The tank is scheduled to be delivered in 2 weeks! I'm really looking forward to documenting the cycle and the ugly stage (which I'm hoping will be shorter without the sand). I will post pictures of the tank in its home once it is delivered.

I'd love to hear from anyone else running bare-bottom.

Thanks for following along!

Very exciting

 

[Mattgee87]

The tank delivery hit a snag thanks to the recent icing we’ve been dealing with here in Georgia. While the delay was frustrating, it gave me a window to tackle something drastic I’d been debating for a while. I finally decided to cut out the section of carpet that would have sat directly under the tank stand. I’ll admit the process was nerve-racking; there’s no "undo" button once you slice into the flooring, but it turned out to be much easier than I anticipated.

With the slab finally exposed, I focused on creating a rock-solid, moisture-resistant base to support the setup's weight. I prepped and painted a piece of 3/4-inch marine-grade plywood for the main platform, ensuring it was fully sealed against the elements. To go the extra mile, I also installed a vapor barrier to prevent any moisture exchange between the concrete and the wood. It was a "point of no return" kind of day, but seeing the stand’s footprint ready to go makes the project feel much more permanent. Now, I just need the ice to melt so the tank can finally arrive.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Looking great! Excited to see how it goes! That's awesome of Eshopps to step up on the issue and get it taken care of.

 

[Mattgee87]

I am absolutely blown away. Honestly, words can't quite describe how stunning this tank is in person. The build quality easily outshines any other brand I've encountered.

The designers thought of every single detail. They included high-end touches that usually get overlooked, like glass silicone protectors and even a glass overflow cover. It is rare to see a setup that feels this complete and well-engineered right out of the box.

I was ready to start the build immediately, but I will have to wait for the other sump from Eshopp. If it weren't for that single missing piece of the puzzle, I'd be setting everything up tonight. For now, the dream build is on a temporary hold while I get the sump situation sorted. Stay tuned for the whole assembly once the right parts arrive!

 

[jstaff12]

Ran into the same thing with my sump on brand new m130 right after Christmas and @ESHOPPS.INC told my local fish store they wouldn’t change it. Even sent the wrong emergency overflow. @ESHOPPS.INC sent out two 45s and a piece of pipe as there fix. I’m not inpressed with the area in my sump. I’m at the point of having a new stand built and buying a larger sump. It gets cluttered quickly with everything installed. But I’m glad you had a good experience after spending what they cost now a days. Sucks to buy a brand new tank and get a sump from older year models.

 

[jstaff12]

I made it work and fit the Red Sea ato can next to sump.

 

[Mattgee87]

Ran into the same thing with my sump on brand new m130 right after Christmas and @ESHOPPS.INC told my local fish store they wouldn’t change it. Even sent the wrong emergency overflow. @ESHOPPS.INC sent out two 45s and a piece of pipe as there fix. I’m not inpressed with the area in my sump. I’m at the point of having a new stand built and buying a larger sump. It gets cluttered quickly with everything installed. But I’m glad you had a good experience after spending what they cost now a days. Sucks to buy a brand new tank and get a sump from older year models.

I hate to hear you had that experience. It’s definitely frustrating, but so far they are taking great care of me. The tank is honestly the nicest I've seen.

 

[jstaff12]

Keep me updated what happens. I didn’t get to see the tank before buying just looked at @ESHOPPS.INC website so very disappointing. I even bought the light which is in the closet….

 

[Mattgee87]

Making progress! Even though we're still waiting on the sump, I couldn't resist getting the rocks and sand in the tank. I’m really happy with how the aquascape is shaping up. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

 

[TexAgReefer]

Aquascape looks great! That left side balance defies logic! I love it! haha