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Cultivated Reef

TheDoogan's Shallow Rimless Reef


thedoogan

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Here we go!

 

Equipment

  • Tank: 24x24x11
  • Lighting: Ecotech Radion
  • Flow: Vortech Mp10
  • Backup: Ecotech batter backup
  • Return Pump: Eheim 1250
  • Heaters: 2x 75 watt Ebo-Jager
  • Skimmer: SC-60
  • Controller: Neptune Apex with Temp/pH probes
  • TopOff: Breakout box/2 float switches, Aqualifter
  • Quarantine: Basic 10 gallon, Maxi-jet 900, Ebo-Jager 50 watt, Aquaclear 20
  • Bio-Filtration: 50 lbs Marco dry rock - Key Largo
  • Extra: Maxi-jet 400

 

Design

Inspiration

 

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I'm not sure what i'm going to do for this control panel yet. Either a wood door or somehow glass...

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Stand

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I'm considering connecting an ADA Mini-L to the sump to function as a refugium/deep sand bed/super dope second display. The purple and green box on the right side are the energy bar 8 and apex module. The grey floating box is an old DIY LED fixture I will be using for the refugium. I think it's 5 white Cree Xr-e and 6 blue. The tall green box in the back 10 gallon tank is the skimmer, return pump will be on the right. Not 100% sure how to go about plumbing the 10 gallon and ADA together.

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The green box on the top is the Ecotech power supply and the pink is battery backup. I'm very unsure about what to do with the battery backup. I don't think I want to install it up top as it weighs 17-20 pound. I'm not sure if having that extra stress on the top of the frame is a good idea. It will be very cramped under the stand so I'm considering putting it under the frame with holes drilled through the back to access the ports.

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Questions, comments, suggestions, warnings please!

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About to build the stand. I just need to figure out what to do with the vortech battery backup first :unsure:

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Had to get my baby in the background into the picture :D

The most overly complicated dry rock seeding. It gave me a good chance to test out the Apex controller and learn the programming though.

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Any thoughts on where to install the battery backup?

Maybe a shelf using two 2x4 pieces (in bright green) screwed to the top of the frame?

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Or a sheet of MDF board screwed to the top of the frame?

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Do you think this will be to much weight and stress the top of the stands frame? the sump LED could also be bolted to this shelf adding maybe another 5-7 pounds to the batter backup.

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I don't think I would put the backup over water :-) maybe mount it to the back of the stand off one of the 2x4 main braces?

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Rollermonkey
I don't think I would put the backup over water :-) maybe mount it to the back of the stand off one of the 2x4 main braces?

 

 

Yeah, high capacity battery in an enclosed space with high humidity?

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I don't think I would put the backup over water :-) maybe mount it to the back of the stand off one of the 2x4 main braces?

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Really pushing for every idea hhaha B)

The plan now is to have the stand/tank pushed back very close to wall. Not sure there is room for a battery back there.

 

this is so ####ing awesome. cant wait for more.

Thanks, lets just hope I can pull some carpentry skills out my ass.

 

Yeah, high capacity battery in an enclosed space with high humidity?

I plan on using two 3.5" or two 5" pc fans on the back wall of the stand. One intake and one exhaust.

You think this will still be to humidity for the battery?

 

 

There is some room to the side I was planning to use for an ATO reservoir but I could always relocate that...somewhere.

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You're probably right, I'll see if I can find a good safe spot. Bad idea to mount the radion power source on the top frame aswell I take it.

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Deleted User 4
Yeah just not a good idea on the battery... I would really mount it on the back if it were me

 

+1

 

You're probably right, I'll see if I can find a good safe spot. Bad idea to mount the radion power source on the top frame aswell I take it.

 

+1

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  • 4 months later...

Sorry for the complete lack of updates! It's been a long time and I have been busy! I promise to make this update good :happy:

 

The first display tank I had built had some serious issues and had to be sent back. I found a new builder who was great to work with but it ended up taking months with the glass supplier sending the wrong stuff. Including a shipment of all black glass. It finally arrived and looked great, starphire and black glass overflows :)

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I picked up two baby clowns which were apparently born at the Vancouver aquarium. Of course, they came with ich. They were kept in a 10 gal fish QT with an aqua clear and went through hypo-salinity + tank to tank transfer with 5 gal buckets to rid the ich. The process was pretty annoying keeping up with water quality but it worked and I have not seen any signs of the parasite since.

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While waiting for the display tank I setup my coral QT which will inevitably become a frag tank/grow out.

The tank is a 20 gallon long with 10 gallon sump. I drilled it for two herbie overflows, the first attempt did NOT go well. I didn't use a guide and totally %$#%^ the glass so I ended up breaking that tank down and used the glass for the over and sump baffles. The second attempt at drilling I used some foam as a guide which made the process very easy.

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The coral QT was originally kept on some Edsal "heavy duty" shelving in a spare room with the 10 gal fish QT. The shelving is supposed to be good for up-to 1400 pounds but the main supports started bowing in a few days which had me freaking out. I ended up just building my own stand for the coral QT which worked out far better.

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The first coral to hit the QT were two small green birdsnest colonies. Why not test out the system with some SPS right? I ended up getting a great deal on these and they have been doing good with lots of new growth. Not the best polyp extension lately though, not sure why.

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A tiny tip broke off while transporting them to my tank so I though i'd glue this TINY piece and see how it does. Since this shot it's actually done well and doubled in size.

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So 10pm the night before I leave for a 5 day trip to Mexico city my building JUST posted a notice in the elevator that the hydro will be shut off for servicing.......during the second last day of my trip....for 6-7 hours!

I ended up putting the clowns into the coral QT and hooked up my MP10 with battery backup.

I got back and everything looked better than when I left.

 

Finishing off the stand build took a lot more time than I thought. Primer, painting, sanding, painting, polyurethane finish.

Attention to detail...

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And a new addition to the QT, metallic green torch. A beautiful large piece.

 

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Pissed off after a revive dip

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Video

Doing much better now

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For the main display tank sump I decided on a large cube design that basically takes up the entire space of the cabinet. I wanted to add the most water volume possible with the largest areas for skimmer, future reactor additions as well as a large refiguim + deep sand bed space. I ended up building this one myself and it it turned out ok! The water test was a bit scary.

 

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The aluminum mount for the radion was a pretty difficult stage in this build.

Not having proper tools for bending metals I heated the aluminum with a propane torch (it reaches the proper temperature when sharpie marker evaporates off the aluminum) I then bent the metal with it jammed in between the balcony railings outside :) I actually worked out very well and came out with a nice arc close to my design. The final mount has more optional holes to adjust the light higher or lower.

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And the destruction of my living room for electrical and plumbing

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We have light! and began the filling of the tank!

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The aquascape and mess begins

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Hoping something good emerges from that milky mess of a tank.

 

Jam packed sump

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Cable management!

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Leak detection points around the side and back of the stand and inside the cabinet

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Still room for another vortech controller hmmmmm....

Hopefully I can get my pH higher

 

Thats the tank!

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All three sides are easily detachable for access to the ram packed cabinet.

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Some macro shots of the green birdsnest, pissed off and moving it.

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And thats it! Just have to finish added a second float for ATO and wait for the cycle!

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