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Brad's Natural Reef | Powered by NanoBox | Pics pg 24


brad908

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Hey Everyone - Last November I went to the California Academy of Sciences and fell in love with their mangrove displays. Between the visit and Giga's mangrove work, I knew I had to set up a mangrove tank. I quickly gathered up old equipment and made an 18" mangrove macro tank that quickly became my favorite tank I have ever put together.

After having the tank up for about 10-11 months, I've decided it is time to combine my mixed reef tank and my mangrove macro tank. Shout out to Giga for inspiration, Dave for the NanoBox lights and help, and Hey for the help planning.


Equipment

  • 48x18x14 Starfire SCA Aquariums
  • 24" NanoBox Hybrid | 4 v3 pucks with 2 24" T5
  • Ecotech MP10
  • Jebao WP10
  • Jebao RW4
  • 22x16x15" Synergy Sump (not currently in use)
  • Mame Overflow (not currently in use)
  • Bubble Magus Curve 5 (not currently in use)
  • Hydor L40 (not currently in use)
  • Apex Jr. (not currently in use)
  • Elos Osmo ATO Controller (not currently in use)

Fish

  • Black Ocellaris Clownfish
  • Regular Ocellaris Clownfish
  • Pajama Cardinal - x10
  • Blue/Green Chromis 
  • 6line wrasse

Macro Algae's

  • Caulerpa Prolifera
  • Halimeda Opuntia
  • Botryocladia
  • Hypnea Pannosa
  • Coralline Clusters
  • Corky Finger
  • Tan Spiny
  • Tan Candelabra
  • Purple Ribbon
  • Purple Candelabra

  • Rhipocephalus phoenix

Coral

  • Hammer's - x3
  • Duncan

FTS
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  • Like 7
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Scape explained.

 

FTS. The eggcrate is about 47x17, tank will be 48x18. I will cut off all the eggcrate at the end, just want to show scale.

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Looking straight on from the side of the tank. In this picture you can see the 12x6x6" valley and the cave to the right.

 

Working from left to right.

 

1. On the long slanting piece on the left there will be turtle grass and pine cone algae. This section will be all sand based.

2. Directly in the middle is they valley. The vertical pieces of egg crate will be covered in rock.

3. The cave. You can see the opening. The entire inside will be rocked and there will be a WP10 pushing out water from the back.

 

There will be a cave entrance from the valley. Haven't decided if he entrance should be low and on the bottom, or directly in the middle surrounded by rock.

 

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Angle

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There will be about 24" of mix reef islands. Shallow sand bed

 

Mangroves will be in that squared off back right corner

  • Like 7
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think this is the most pumped i have ever been for a first post

I am really excited for this tank. This is going to be beautiful

Thanks! Really looking forward to this one

 

Some inspiration

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  • Like 6
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Have you thought about fish selection yet?

I will have my clown pair, 3 longspine cardinals, and a chromis from combining my two tanks.

 

I was also thinking a kole tang, 3 or so anthias (not sure on type), and probably a bunch more chromis. I really want a lot of fish. Need to keep the macros happy with a large bioload.

 

This cave I am building will be pretty massive, would be cool to have something make a home in it. Wish a lionfish would work.

 

Plus a bunch of crabs and shrimp.

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The cardinals and chromis are going to look incredible within the Mangrove roots. Kole tang would look real nice in there as well. Are you going to attempt any SPS with the high bioload? That may be tough

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The cardinals and chromis are going to look incredible within the Mangrove roots. Kole tang would look real nice in there as well. Are you going to attempt any SPS with the high bioload? That may be tough

 

Unfortunetly I won't have the epic mangrove roots, yet. Takes years and years for a root system, and mine are only about 2 years old. I envy what Giga had, but he grew his outside in freshwater for like 5 years.

 

There will be SPS, I am pretty confident the macros and mangroves will handle the high bioload and provide excellent water quality. But I am not going crazy with SPS, just some caps, a few plating acros, and easier stuff like birdsnests and slimers.

  • Like 1
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Is anyone here, or know of anyone, that is skilled at wood working? Or has a laser to cut wood?

 

I'm looking to get two 30x30" panels cut for the stand with a specific pattern.

 

Similar to this

img38m.jpg

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Thinking of stocking:

 

  • True Perc clown (transfer from my mixed reef tank)
  • Black Ocellaris clown (transfer from my mixed reef tank)
  • Longspine Cardinalfish x3 (transfer from my mixed reef tank)
  • Flame or Potters Angel
  • Kole Tang
  • Bartlett or Dispar Anthias x3
  • Green Mandarin...once established

I know its risky, but I might try a dwarf lionfish.

  • Like 2
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HarryPotter

Glad they sent me a CAD mock up prior to building, this would have been a disaster

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48x18x14 not 48x14x18

 

SHIT that would have stunk!

 

What was their estimate on $$ for this? The sizing is perfect.. Like this is my dream tank haha

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SHIT that would have stunk!

 

What was their estimate on $$ for this? The sizing is perfect.. Like this is my dream tank haha

 

48x18x18 = $600 < ADA's is $700

48x18x12 = $300

48x18x14 = $400 < one I got

 

The front and 2 sides are starfire. I didn't do an overflow, but it is $50 for one. I would have just drove over to the ADA store, but really didn't want 18" height again.

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hahaha damn glad you caught that before you got the crappiest surprise ever. Shoulda been like who the hell orders a custom 55 guys?! worst dims ever. hell im all for marineland discontinuing all rimmed tanks they make and just do their breeder sizes in rimless.

  • Like 1
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Progress. Don't worry about all the black, that will be taken care of at the end

 

Front%20Tank_zpstggqu661.jpg

Side%20Tank_zpsletiddur.jpg

Angle%20Tank_zpscunwchoa.jpg

 

Wanted to do more but spent the weekend on the coast

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  • Like 5
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Tank building is starting today, they're aiming for end of August.

They are also going to do the back panel in starfire for free

  • Like 2
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