Mangrove lagoon

[pgravis]

Adding a tank into my system and thought I’d do a little documenting. I’ll be adding this tank to my existing system (60 cube). This tank started as a tank for my daughter (The kid’s 20 gal fusion), but it was too much work running two systems, and I pulled it down maybe a year or so ago and moved the anemones and clowns down to my fuge. I didn’t want to get rid of any of them, as my kids were attached, and I special ordered the midnight lightning clown in, and I couldn’t put them in my main display because it already had clowns, and I didn’t want to risk losing coral to the nems. Bounced a lot of tank ideas around, but finally got my wife to like the idea of a mangrove style tank next to one of our south windows.

 

[pgravis]

Now that I knew what style tank I was doing, the quest to find the perfect tank and stand started. I knew I could only manage one system, so something drilled was a priority, and the spot in front of the window could only accommodate something 24” wide. The IM 25 gallon lagoon EXT fit the bill perfectly. And luckily I was able to get one before they are discontinued (sounds like they haven’t moved all that well). Marine depot has them on a great sale, and free shipping. For the stand, I have been wanting to do an “ikea hack” style project.
The inspiration:

My version:

Still need to attach handles, but pretty happy with how it’s turning out. Got the notification that the tank is out for delivery, hopefully on Tuesday.

 

[jeeperreefer]

very nice stand !

 

[LadyMac]

Lovely stand!

 

[motortrendz]

Looks awesome, what kind of wood did you skin it with?

 

[pgravis]

Lovely stand!

Thank you!

 

[pgravis]

Looks awesome, what kind of wood did you skin it with?

Thanks! The top and bottom are cabinet grade oak plywood, and the sides and drawers are oak.

 

[pgravis]

Worked on the details today! Attached handles, bought some plumbing. Trying to decide if I should go Black pvc or the standard schedule 80 gray I don’t think it will be seen, but might as well make it blend in as much as possible. Tank still scheduled for delivery Tuesday. Need to find some mangroves, and get the sand and rock prepped. Kind of thinking of going with a sugar fine sand, but I’m hesitant with the storms I’ve heard of.
Anyway, on to today’s pics.

 

[Goodair]

Following! I want to build a mangrove tank aswell, plumb into main tank kinda like "second refugium" with some cardinals and long spine urchins or something small where a lid isn't really needed, but this is a project down the road. Curious how your will come out.

 

[pgravis]

Well, today’s update is really no update, or at least no fun updates! Spent yesterday adding plumbing from the basement sump to roughly the area the new tank will be (plan to come up through heat vent). While setting up the plumbing, got a random text from someone asking if I had ordered a tank from marine depot, and if so, they had received my shipping details and tracking number in error and found my number on the invoice and wanted to forward it along. They had ordered a tank from marine depot as well. Aside from the small scale privacy breach (name, address, phone number) by marine depot, I was relieved to see why the tracking number they sent me wasn’t working (it was a fedex tracking number, the one I was sent by the random person was for Central Freight). Initially the new tracking info said estimated delivery was today (same as the email from marine depot). Today I check my email to see repeat emails from marine depot saying package was being prepped for delivery and they would email me a tracking number once the item was sent. I respond to the email, asking them to clarify the confusion from the last round of emails, and subsequent text from person receiving my info. Still no reply, call the freight company, they say package is in california, from Vegas, and that it hasn’t had an updated move since yesterday.
So, now tank is actually farther away from my house than when it started, I have no updates on when it may show up, or if it has even shipped yet. Classic build thread delay!
Hopefully have news sooner rather than later. One benefit of the delay, is that the mangroves I ordered may beat the tank here, and I also might be able to get some of the new branch rock shapes that real reef rock showed off at reefapalooza to use in the setup.

 

[pgravis]

Tank has been within an hour for 2 days and no call to schedule delivery...Not that it matters as I’ve been at work since Wednesday and don’t get home early enough to do anything about it, but it would have been nice to have something scheduled!!

 

[Devaji]

Worked on the details today! Attached handles, bought some plumbing. Trying to decide if I should go Black pvc or the standard schedule 80 gray I don’t think it will be seen, but might as well make it blend in as much as possible. Tank still scheduled for delivery Tuesday. Need to find some mangroves, and get the sand and rock prepped. Kind of thinking of going with a sugar fine sand, but I’m hesitant with the storms I’ve heard of.
Anyway, on to today’s pics.

WOW that is one nice stand. is the inside a file cabinet? love what you did to it coma eout so very nice!

 

[pgravis]

WOW that is one nice stand. is the inside a file cabinet? love what you did to it coma eout so very nice!

Thank you! I believe it was a dresser or something similar to that. I did consider using a file cabinet, but I already had this, so decided to use it.

 

[pgravis]

The mangroves came yesterday. A good variety of heights and root structure. Put them in some low salinity water (1.010 or so), as i wasn’t sure what they were acclimated to. And give them a little sunlight to perk back up. Over the next few days I’ll keep increasing salinity. I’ve never done anything like this, so, hopefully I’m going down the right path!

 

[reeftheory]

Those mangroves look awesome

 

[pgravis]

Well, good thing I was home today, and that I only ordered a 25 gallon. Tank showed up with no notice that it was coming, and whoever loaded the semi didn’t see the part about needing a lift gate, because it didn’t have one! Either way, tank showed up in what appears to be great shape. Driver was nice and excited to hear it was a saltwater setup, said it was a bucket list item for him, but for now he just has a tank full of feeder guppies.
So, now I need to wrap up plumbing, get sand, mix water, and get this thing wet!
I have also been Contemplating some fish moves. Don’t want to duplicate what I have, so I may move the bangaii’s from the main display over, as I think they’d look good in with mangroves. Also, trying to decide what to do with my clowns. Besides the lightning destined for this tank, I have an extreme snowflake and black phantom in my main display. Had them since that tank was new, so 5 or so years. They have been hosted in my euphylia without issue until about two weeks ago. One of my hammers started to be more retracted, and I’ve noticed they seem a little more aggressive in the euphylia. Not sure if they are getting ready to lay, which has never happened, or if it’s something else. Either way, it might be time to move them. But then I have the odd one out. Hmmm. Decisions!!
Anyway, here are today’s pics!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Love this build. I would love to have a mangrove setup with tons of small blennies to swim around the roots and such.

 

[Perry]

Nice, I too have a mangrove reef, looking forward to seeing your build! Best of luck with this project

 

[Mayerlyn A]

Worked on the details today! Attached handles, bought some plumbing. Trying to decide if I should go Black pvc or the standard schedule 80 gray I don’t think it will be seen, but might as well make it blend in as much as possible. Tank still scheduled for delivery Tuesday. Need to find some mangroves, and get the sand and rock prepped. Kind of thinking of going with a sugar fine sand, but I’m hesitant with the storms I’ve heard of.
Anyway, on to today’s pics.

Totally love this kind of DIY stuff. What a great idea

 

[Perry]

BTW, the setup is beautiful, the stand, those mangroves look super healthy, NICE!