Such beautiful tank and aquascape. This is the M130, right?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!
Yep the M130
Its very sturdy, what you don't see is thr base rock under the sand that acts as the counter balance. Most of that structure is from carving a single rock but there are a few glued joints.
I assumed there was some support under the sand. Very well done!
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!
BeautifulAfter hours of tweaking, twisting, and stepping back to look, the rock work is officially in its final spot. The hardscape is locked in, and I’m not moving a single piece. I even decided to connect the island to the main structure to open up more real estate for coral placement. Now, to get the rest of this system running. I am working on the cabinate wiring as we speak and will provide updates shortly!
Eshopps have made a really nice tank , I can't wait to add water to mine!
Aquascape looks amazing!After hours of tweaking, twisting, and stepping back to look, the rock work is officially in its final spot. The hardscape is locked in, and I’m not moving a single piece. I even decided to connect the island to the main structure to open up more real estate for coral placement. Now, to get the rest of this system running. I am working on the cabinate wiring as we speak and will provide updates shortly!
I just ordered my tank this week. I hope it ships with the new sump
I guess I'll find out in about a week and a half. I'll be following your build!
I love this idea with the LED lights in the stand. Which lights did you go with?
I made it work and fit the Red Sea ato can next to sump.
Those are some from home depot super cheap, I think I bought a 16ft one.I love this idea with the LED lights in the stand. Which lights did you go with?
I made it work and fit the Red Sea ato can next to sump.
dang, I was just there too! LolThose are some from home depot super cheap, I think I bought a 16ft one.I love this idea with the LED lights in the stand. Which lights did you go with?
I made it work and fit the Red Sea ato can next to sump.
There is about 4 inches between the rock and the glass in one single spot. I plan to be very careful about which corals I place here so as not to allow anything to grow too close to the glass.
Thank you! Be sure to post your build!
Is beautiful
It has been a busy stretch getting the Eshopps Mariner M130 ready, but we have finally hit the biggest milestone yet, there is water in the tank!
The Sump.
If you've been following the build, you know I’ve had a bit of a back-and-forth regarding the sump. Eshopps actually shipped a corrected version, but unfortunately, it arrived damaged in transit. Since the next replacement won't be arriving until mid-to-late April, I decided I wasn't going to let that stall the entire build. I will replace the old sump with the new sump once it arrives. With that being said, I did not even attempt to make the wiring or plumbing pretty, as it will be removed once the new sump arrives.
Instead of waiting, I took the original sump and modified the plumbing myself to properly accommodate the filter roller. It took a little DIY effort, but everything fits nicely, the water is flowing, and the cycle can begin
If you look at the photos, you'll notice the water is looking pretty cloudy right now. Because I started with brand-new, sterile, dry rock and dry sand, there is a ton of microscopic aragonite dust suspended in the water column. Add in the millions of microbubbles from the brand-new skimmer breaking in, and you get that glowing, hazy halo effect under the blue LEDs. The glass itself is perfectly clear; it's just the water playing tricks with the intense light. Between the filter roller pulling out the dust and the skimmer building up its slime coat, it should be polished and crystal clear in a few days.
The Cycle Begins.
The most important update is that the biological cycle has officially begun! I’m taking the modern, fishless route to establish a bacterial colony and build a solid foundation before adding any livestock.
I’ll be posting regular updates as the cycle progresses, the water clears up, and the tank actually starts coming to life. Stay tuned, and keep your fingers crossed that the replacement sump makes it here in one piece this April!
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.
