Shallow Reef Tank

racin2438 · May 12, 2017

Hi Guys,

Am looking to start up another tank, a 60g shallow tank, 48X24X12 overflow box and 3/4" return. Was looking to see if anyone here has some pictures of theirs to get ideas on setting one..I have 4 mangroves that I'd like to incorporate in a section......Thanks in advance for your pic ideas....

Already have ..
150g
60g,
60g
40g....

Now I'd like to try a shallow reef..

Daniel@R2R · May 12, 2017

I don't have any experience to share, but here's a bump.

Jimbo662 · May 12, 2017

I just set up one that's about 45g. 36x24x12. see build thread below. I'm loving mine.

cnseekatz · May 12, 2017

My tank is 36x24x12. A little shorter than yours, but I love it. Top down views of a shallow tank are the best.

AlexG · May 12, 2017

I used to have this size tank setup for clams and LPS it was a great tank to have eye level when sitting in a chair while also providing a great top down view. I will see if I can dig up some old pictures.

AlexG · May 12, 2017

Here are some pictures of my old 48x14x12 clam tank

racin2438 · May 12, 2017

What was the calcium level you ran on this....clams suck up a lot right?

AlexG · May 12, 2017

racin2438 said:
What was the calcium level you ran on this....clams suck up a lot right?

Yes the clams were growing like crazy and needed a lot od dosing to maintain Calcium & Alkalinity. To be honest I don't remember but I was probably between 400-450 with a ton of manual dosing each week. At the time I had this tank I was in college working at a LFS along with working for aquarium maintenance business and most of my paycheck went into buying clams or corals. I used Detroit tap water and ran a really dirty tank but the clams & LPS loved it. The caulerpa was growing to the point of spawning every few weeks and the clams loved it. That tank was ran on 2 x 175w 10000K MHs with nothing else to supplement the light. I would not run a tank like this again but it was a cool tank and I loved the size. In my current build the 480 gallon display is in a way like this tank just a lot bigger being 96x48x24 and I have the option to view from above which really shows off a lot of the corals and clams better than a side view. When the 2003 blackout hit I lost a few clams and corals and the reality hit that I was close to moving out of the house and had no savings so I broke the tank down and sold off all of the clams and coral which I regret to this day as my 3 original corals I bought were in that tank.