Reefer 170 SPS Bonsai (Est. August, 2020)

[Spencer]

Tank: RS Reefer 170 (~43g total) - Started 8/23/20
Lighting: GHL Mitras in 24" AL Hybrid Fixture
Dosing: GHL Doser 2.1
Skimmer: Coral Box D300+ from Reefbreeders
Circulation: 2x RS-M from Reefbreeders
Return: Platinum DC Blue 800
Heater: 150w Jager w/Cobalt controller

Supplements: BRS Two-Part
Salt: RS Blue Bucket
Rock: Tropic Eden Supreme Tonga Branches (12lbs)
Sand: CaribSea Fiji Pink (20lbs)

Supporters (go check them out!): Reefbreeders + GHL USA

Not on the forums much or just want pictures? Follow the tank on Instagram here!

Status: Planting frags!

Premium Aquatics really hooked me up with nice tonga branches. I think the Tropic Eden rock is well worth the money and likely an underrated product!

Inspiring tanks...

 

[Spencer]

~~~~~ UPDATE TIME ~~~~~​

I was up till 3am last night making the aquascape, filling the tank, turning the pump on and cleaning up! (about five hours total)

Feel free to ask questions. Here's my review (along with pics!)...

This was my first time doing a fully branch-based scape and it turned out really well. Of course, it takes some patience and skill to fit things together but selecting these rocks ahead of time for their gnarled look made my life a lot easier for designing a cool scape. The biggest caveat to this rock is that it definitely lacks surface area. For this reason, I will maintain a shallow sand bed along with the cycled bio-brick and rubble in the sump.

I used AquaMaxx Reef Welder (Purple) and I think I'm a fan! I supplemented with glue but I used welder for all major joints (ten separate pieces make up the scape). It matches the color of the rock perfectly and it held stuff together pretty darn well. When a joint or 'smush' of welder didn't secure, it was obvious and I could just piece off and try again. When the plastic didn't secure, it was generally because the area was too wet or the plastic needed to be re-heated with water (lot of trips to the microwave).

This product is very similar to the polymorph material you can find on Amazon BUT you really don't need a liter of the generic stuff for $15 imo. Get 250 or 500mL of the aquarium-branded product for the same price and have a little extra security/credibility. I used only about ~150mL of the 'plastic epoxy glue'. I will definitely use it again in the future.

Return pump, skimmer, hybrid fixture have arrived. Circulators got delayed. Talking to GHL about the other stuff. Bulbs ordered.

 

[melanotaenia]

Looks good. Best of luck with your build; I also had a similar idea of doing a Bonsai in my RSR170, however, after the Acros filled out, it looks more like a giant Acro forest instead!

 

[Spencer]

Looks good. Best of luck with your build; I also had a similar idea of doing a Bonsai in my RSR170, however, after the Acros filled out, it looks more like a giant Acro forest instead!

I'll check it out! I certainly won't complain when things fill in and the tank is mature. I expect to get pretty full on corals. I gave myself a bunch of spots to plant at different heights. The different angles will help with shading.

 

[ScottB]

I am a fan of the aesthetics you present as inspirational. I think your sculpture looks real nice. One thing to keep in mind is height of the overall structure. Unless your 170 is viewed from a seating position -- or is sitting on top of a tall stand -- try to keep your height below 2/3rds of your water level.

a) allows for growth
b) minimizes how much viewable space will be shadowed (dead space)
c) maximizes viewing angle of desirable corals
d) gives you more options for managing flow in the tank

I've made the mistake of building too tall more than once. It is hard to picture the problem until it becomes an obvious problem. Some of my favorite aquascapers only build to 1/2 the water height.

 

[Spencer]

I am a fan of the aesthetics you present as inspirational. I think your sculpture looks real nice. One thing to keep in mind is height of the overall structure. Unless your 170 is viewed from a seating position -- or is sitting on top of a tall stand -- try to keep your height below 2/3rds of your water level.

a) allows for growth
b) minimizes how much viewable space will be shadowed (dead space)
c) maximizes viewing angle of desirable corals
d) gives you more options for managing flow in the tank

I've made the mistake of building too tall more than once. It is hard to picture the problem until it becomes an obvious problem. Some of my favorite aquascapers only build to 1/2 the water height.

I made my scape with these factors in mind and am an experienced hobbyist (just haven't used R2R in the past).

 

[Spencer]

All four T5 bulbs are pumping along with both Reefbreeders RP-M's!

Also, I ordered some Miracle Mud and have my GHL Doser and Mitras LX7204 on the way!

Asa a reminder, you can follow the tank build on Instagram here!

 

[Spencer]

Some livestock added! In addition to the peppermint shrimp and six zebra turbo's, I added 3x Banghai cards, a Neon Goby, and a Tailspot Blenny.

I lowered the flow to gradually build up the cards' swimming muscles. I think there's a 60% chance the larger two pair off and muscle the runt...we'll see.

Everyone is happy and eating and hopefully moving the cycle along!

 

[Spencer]

Fuel for my future SPS!

 

[Spencer]

What would the R2R community like to see out of this tank?
Ferocious acro growth? Haha

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Looking great already!!

 

[Spencer]

Looking great already!!

Thanks, big cheese. Quite a badge collection!

 

[Spencer]

Two weeks into cycle...diatoms!

 

[Spencer]

Update as we approach 3 weeks!

1. We had a diatom bloom for ~3 days (days 14-17)
2. I cleaned glass and stirred up sand
3. Had a bacteria bloom in response, skimmer started cooking!
3b. Got my Mitras and Doser 2.1 (go GHL!), tank is being lit by just the Mitras for now (less light for diatoms)
4. Now, the tank still has a little bit of cloudiness and very light diatoms on sand but mostly chilling

TL;DR -- Without testing, I can safely say this was a productive week in terms of my tank cycling and going through the nitrogen cycle

My lighting is going to be nuts with the hybrid setup! I think I'll get a junky test frag and some test kits tomorrow

 

[Spencer]

Clean and cycled!

 

[Spencer]

Battlecorals pack is coming Thursday!

 

[Spencer]

Battlepack has arrived! Happy one month anniversary!


Left to right: Miss Scarlet, Frankenberry, Glo Stick, BC Peril Betty, Ultimate Table, Hyperberry, North Star Clathrata, Heroberry
Colors in pic are accurate. Hyperberry and Glo Stick are the brightest, Peril Berry has a nice Pearlberry-esque texture. NSC almost looks like a red planet.

Look forward to planting these pieces this weekend! Really hope everything acclimates well and starts growing in a few weeks!

 

[Spencer]

Can you guys help me find a shelf/cabinet solution for the space next to the tank?? (ideally avoid DIY)
Dimensions (LxWxH): 18-24" x 12-18" x 36-48"
3-4 shelves, able to support a 15g ATO reservoir on the 2nd shelf (to gravity feed sump)

1. Half of one of these would be great.
2. Dimension-wise, this in black would work well. BUT I would need to remove the third shelf and it can't hold the weight. Almost need this but anodized aluminum or stainless steel.
3. ...Sort of like this. Weighted to 100lbs per shelf. Idk if I'm just grabbing bricks to add support...18x18" footprint is nice.

Space I'm filling and recent BRS order...

 

[SliceGolfer]

I use this wire metal shelf next to my Nuvo 20 to hold my dosers and reservoirs. Never tried to test the 200lb per shelf capacity. Dunno if this is tall enough for your needs.

 

[Spencer]

I use this wire metal shelf next to my Nuvo 20 to hold my dosers and reservoirs. Never tried to test the 200lb per shelf capacity. Dunno if this is tall enough for your needs.

This may be the best option I have. Good suggestion!