Low vision build

fishmandan · Feb 8, 2022

Pardon the old parking string, but so we begin! After delays due to snow, ice, and a hospital stay the 300 is here.

Non reef things first. This build is going to be a bit unique. We are in the process of converting the garage into a therapy room for our middle child. He has had a rough entry into the world and has a long list of medical diagnoses. His brain injury has led to damaged vision which is why we are setting up this tank. Working with Shep’s neuro-ophthalmologist and his therapy team we came up with a plan. Instead of the typical mixed colors the goal will be large stripes of single colors in a grid. Almost similar to a rainbow.

Now on to the reefing info. Goal is a lps heavy mixed reef. Fish stocking will probably be a large school of anthias. Shep can’t see patterns well so most things will be mostly solid colors or black and white(high contrast is good). Everything else is still in the planning stage.

The lfs that services the local children’s hospital is helping with design and choosing equipment. I will be updating as we go.

MnFish1 · Feb 8, 2022

fishmandan said:
Pardon the old parking string, but so we begin! After delays due to snow, ice, and a hospital stay the 300 is here.

Non reef things first. This build is going to be a bit unique. We are in the process of converting the garage into a therapy room for our middle child. He has had a rough entry into the world and has a long list of medical diagnoses. His brain injury has led to damaged vision which is why we are setting up this tank. Working with Shep’s neuro-ophthalmologist and his therapy team we came up with a plan. Instead of the typical mixed colors the goal will be large stripes of single colors in a grid. Almost similar to a rainbow.

Now on to the reefing info. Goal is a lps heavy mixed reef. Fish stocking will probably be a large school of anthias. Shep can’t see patterns well so most things will be mostly solid colors or black and white(high contrast is good). Everything else is still in the planning stage.

The lfs that services the local children’s hospital is helping with design and choosing equipment. I will be updating as we go.

Nice tank, nice garage remodel - and nice ideas for your child. Best wishes. Interested to see the updates

fishmandan · Feb 8, 2022

MnFish1 said:
Nice tank, nice garage remodel - and nice ideas for your child. Best wishes. Interested to see the updates

It’s definitely going to be an undertaking, but it will be awesome to combine a hobby that I have enjoyed for years with him in a new way. He loved our old discus tank so I know he we be happy with his reef.

aquaman3680 · Feb 8, 2022

Love it, awesome way to get back into it for your son! Can't wait to see the tank come together

fishmandan · Feb 8, 2022

Also, anyone with suggestions for favorite corals of particular colors or recommendations for layering different corals are very welcome!

MnFish1 · Feb 8, 2022

fishmandan said:
Also, anyone with suggestions for favorite corals of particular colors or recommendations for layering different corals are very welcome!

Various Montipora in layers - you can get purple, orange, green, - could be pretty. Zoas as well - Though I don't personally care for them

fishmandan · Feb 9, 2022

Day two update.
First is a picture of Shep who we are designing the tank for. Second is the current iteration of the scape I have been toying around with. I originally thought of four separate islands, but went down to two. Size and shape of the rock available and the ability to make larger color areas if necessary are the current factors in consideration.

Story time, most of the rock came from a local meteorologist. I pulled up to his house and thought, “I grew up watching your weather reports every day.”

fishmandan · Feb 11, 2022

Not much to update today, but trying to build the habit.
BRS, rodi system is up and installed. I also have the epoxy to begin making the rock work permanent.

OrchidMiss · Feb 11, 2022

fishmandan said:
Pardon the old parking string, but so we begin! After delays due to snow, ice, and a hospital stay the 300 is here.

Non reef things first. This build is going to be a bit unique. We are in the process of converting the garage into a therapy room for our middle child. He has had a rough entry into the world and has a long list of medical diagnoses. His brain injury has led to damaged vision which is why we are setting up this tank. Working with Shep’s neuro-ophthalmologist and his therapy team we came up with a plan. Instead of the typical mixed colors the goal will be large stripes of single colors in a grid. Almost similar to a rainbow.

Now on to the reefing info. Goal is a lps heavy mixed reef. Fish stocking will probably be a large school of anthias. Shep can’t see patterns well so most things will be mostly solid colors or black and white(high contrast is good). Everything else is still in the planning stage.

The lfs that services the local children’s hospital is helping with design and choosing equipment. I will be updating as we go.

I love everything about this build!!!!!!!!
I will be following along closely and GREATLY looking forward to all the photos!
I'd love to help out if possible! I'm gonna send you a message

fishmandan · Feb 11, 2022

MnFish1 said:
Various Montipora in layers - you can get purple, orange, green, - could be pretty. Zoas as well - Though I don't personally care for them

I’ve been looking at montiporas today. I do think they would be great for what I’m looking to do.

fishmandan · Feb 12, 2022

Just a small update. Started with epoxy on the rock work. And got the brute trash cans in place for mixing station.

fishmandan · Feb 13, 2022

Just a few of the pieces I have been epoxying this weekend. It’ll be a couple of weeks before I have help to finish it all up. We decided to focus on more negative space and trying to create ledges. With the stripes of color design, having multiple ledges we can work with will allow for shades of the same color to lead the eye naturally and provide the best habitat for our creatures.

Based on suggestions I’m currently thinking the main corals will be Montipora for structure, zoas to keep colors aligned, micromussa as contrast pieces, and then a mix of what is available to fill in.

fishmandan · Feb 14, 2022

No tank update pictures so just a picture of the cute kid.
equipment update.
lighting: 4 viparspectra 165 will be suspended 12-16 inches over the tank. I’m still decided how exactly I want to do that. Lights are all here now after being lost in shipping few a few days.
Heaters: 2 brs 300w heaters are now here. I also have 3 heaters from an old tank as emergency backups.
Sump: converting the old discus tank into a sump, plan is to use the mesh from brs as compartment dividers. Plan is a large refugium, section for extra rock to cure(mainly rubble for future coral additions), skimmer, and return section.
Flow: fx350 and fx250 gyre from the tanks previous owner came with it.
Overflow:large ghost overflow has been ordered
Skimmer:in the works still

fishmandan · Feb 16, 2022

To start here are a few of the considerations on stocking fish for low vision. First is that black and white are the highest contrast colors. Second, small patterns and complex patterns simply look like a blur or aren’t visible at all. Third, solid colors are always the best choice behind black and white. Last consideration is needing mix of slow and fast movement. All of that said, this list is super general and based off our experience and Shep’s therapists and Dr’s which give biased information for our situation. Aka I’m not a dr I have just spent the last 3 years researching since Shep’s birth. Hopefully something will be helpful for someone who has a vision impaired person in their household or are seeking to add inclusivity.

Current stocking ideas:

Tangs:yellow, purple, and convict

Anthias: 10-12 total most likely lyretails

Clowns: 4 black and white clowns

1 royal gramma

1-2 Lawnmower blenny

Undecided on a wrasse or angel(open to suggestions) too many patterns and uncertainty so far. Also considering a group of green chromis but undecided if their movement makes up for the uncertainty of if Shep will see them well.

Doctorgori · Feb 16, 2022

Fu man chu lion? they are pretty slow moving,

fishmandan · Feb 16, 2022

Doctorgori said:
Fu man chu lion? they are pretty slow moving,

I’ve not considered a lion before, I’ll do some research on them!

fishmandan · Feb 21, 2022

No real updates. Between a lack of nursing coverage and a sick older brother we have basically done nothing the last several days. I did take a couple of hours to fix some pieces of the scape that I didn’t glue well enough. All equipment has now been ordered, just waiting on things to arrive and life to calm down a little.

fishmandan · Feb 24, 2022

Mantis shrimp is a cool shot I got at a LFS I visited when seeing my sisters family this weekend.
Thanks to a helpful member here in r2r the skimmer is here and assembled! The tank for Shep is progressing along. I still have a ton of work to do but ideas from here on r2r and visiting several lfs has given me tons of info on this unique build.

fishmandan · Mar 1, 2022

International wheelchair day update. Our old freshwater tank is broken down and i will finish cleaning it out. This tank will be used as the sump for the 300.
On a side note, my epoxy work on the dry rock did not pass the cat test. It was below freezing so we brought the cat in for a couple of days. He tries to nap on top of the rock work and it collapsed under him. So back to the workbench.