EvolutionZ's Shallow reef build.

evolutionZ · 04/27/2013, 06:54 AM

i've been reefing for about 5 - 6 months now with a small 1ft cube and the poison got me and i upgraded to a tank 8 times larger.

Tank size : 120x60x36cm (12mm rimless)
Sump tank : 35x50x45cm (6mm)
Skimmer : Deltec MCE 600
Lighting : Maxspect G2 170W (26 white, 22 RB, 8 Violet)
Return pump : Eheim 1260
Chiller : Teco TR15
Substrate : CaribSea Special Grade reef sand (40lb)
Wavemaker : Jebao WP-40

filtration :
30kg Live Rocks, Rowaphos (with TLF reactor), biopellets and chaeto

Planned corals :
Mixed reef (softies and LPS mainly)

Hectic morning, went to buy Live rocks and few packs of NSW. Tank haven't arrive yet.

started scaping. using 2 main big rocks and afew other smaller rocks. total 30kg used. should be settled for this

Tank arrived hours after settling for the scape. loving the shallow look!

Sump tank, due to cabinet's not meant for sump (reuse cabinet from freshwater set up), have to customise an empty tank to be my sump. using overflow box to send water down.

first time having a big rimless tank!

lights are hanged.

Right now waiting for silicon to fully cure, before testing tank with water. will then start scaping the rocks on monday (2 days later) and filling with salt mix and start cycling!

old tank!

Thanks for viewing!

evolutionZ · 04/28/2013, 10:13 AM

Some updates.. filled the tank and sump with DI water straight to test for leak and to test out my overflow box..

previous owner mentioned he use 2400l/hr pump for the box. However my 1260 (2400l/hr) was too strong for the overflow box to handle. i'll be sourcing for a ball valve to restrict the flow of the 1260.. Reading online suggest that using ball valve on centrifugal pump like 1260 would not damage/overheat the pump, but instead, improve the pump life span since its gonna work less. Anyone know where to find ball valve to fit a 25/34mm pipe?

overflow and return..
the U-pipe in the overflow box is 1" diameter so it should be able to handle 2400l/hr pump.. no idea why it cant.. the return flow feels really strong though!

testing out the wp-40.. great waves at w1! but worried it may splash out..

Sump tank.. hopefully still got space for some chaeto

live rock still in pails.. each pail have a powerhead circulating the water.

cugly · 04/28/2013, 01:22 PM

Cool....great start

Poolman21 · 04/28/2013, 01:29 PM

Vary cool tank.

jdm1114 · 04/28/2013, 02:08 PM

Whats a wp 40?

goma · 04/28/2013, 02:12 PM

Good start!

rovster · 04/28/2013, 05:31 PM

Looks great, but I'd drill it now before your too invested in the build. Love rimless shallow tanks. Will be following.....

Charley Diesing · 04/28/2013, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdm1114

Whats a wp 40?

Its a new powerhead on the market. Look up the JeboWp40. Very powerful. I just doubt it's durability. As its rather cheap.

evolutionZ · 04/29/2013, 10:00 AM

Mixed salt with existing DI water in tank and 25kg of rocks went in.. no idea how to scape it so i just placed it as per previous planned scape.. seems like its totally different.. probably will have to play around for the moment.

evolutionZ · 05/07/2013, 07:45 AM

Update:

new corals addition.. corals and fishes are doing very well.. been doing Microbe-lift Nite-out II daily and also Red Sea Reef Energy A & B (2.5ml daily). probably will give grotech line a try after my red sea finishes.

Some corals pics :

pink tip elegance.

zoas

green Brain coral.. this particular piece had become everyone's favorite coral with its bright luminous color! getting a red one soon!

New addition added just one hour after placing in tank.. Yellow Lobo.. adds a spark of yellow to my tank!

GSP glued to overflow box.. hopefully will spread fast and cover the whole box!

Got this birdnest from a kind reefer when i bought his elegance, he fragged most part away so trying my luck with the remaining ones. doing pretty well with nice PE.. hopefully its color will retain..

top view

Livestock!

Banggai Cardinal..

my mandarin from my old 34L.. much more pods for him!

Got 2 of this lovely tuxedo urchins! superb at eating brown algae (which is currently blooming in my tank) however its been attaching to some of my zoas frag and carrying them around..

evolutionZ · 05/07/2013, 07:46 AM

My sump tank.. Deltec MCE 600 (great skimmer) on the left, eheim 1260, Rio pump (chiller and 2 TLF 150 reactor feeder pump). Currently only running rowaphos.. will be running biopellets once more livestocks go in.. chaeto in a breeder's net but im thinking of DIY-ing a partition using eggcrates.

FTS. added a SunSun 3000l/hr wavemaker blowing at the back.. thinking of changing to 5000l/hr model instead.. still waiting for my universal laptop adapter to come so i can run W1 or ELSE mode on my wp40 at lower flow..

angle view

Light is currently 10" above water level.. running 9 hours but mainly the blues and some white. rest of the whites only comes on for 2 hours a day now.. worried my corals may bleach.

simply switch on feed mode on my wp40 and enjoy the top view..

Thanks for viewing!

Monkeyfish · 05/07/2013, 12:29 PM

Nice set-up! Isn't the WP40 a bit much considering all of the softies and lps?

jm23 · 05/07/2013, 12:41 PM

I love shallow tanks. Looking forward to see this thing grown in.

jdm1114 · 05/07/2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Diesing

Its a new powerhead on the market. Look up the JeboWp40. Very powerful. I just doubt it's durability. As its rather cheap.

Thanks, I just purchased one for my dads 180

frgarcia · 05/07/2013, 07:01 PM

Shallow tanks always look better IMO. Great start! Very impressive.

codyreed29 · 05/07/2013, 07:12 PM

Jus opting for a little lesson Gate valves are your friend. They cost a bit more than a ball valve. Something i wish i had picked up in the begining. Damn I am still a learn while doing.

greech · 05/07/2013, 07:30 PM

Really great start. Love the carpet lobo!

What lighting is that?

evolutionZ · 05/08/2013, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeyfish

Nice set-up! Isn't the WP40 a bit much considering all of the softies and lps?

Thanks! indeed its overpowered but im currently running on L mode only.. still can push a hell load of current right to the other end though.. this monster sure is powerful! im waiting for my universal adapter to come so i can run it at a lower voltage. will be adding SPS after a few months too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm23

I love shallow tanks. Looking forward to see this thing grown in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frgarcia

Shallow tanks always look better IMO. Great start! Very impressive.

Thanks! i've been admiring shallow tank for a long time before setting this up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by codyreed29

Jus opting for a little lesson Gate valves are your friend. They cost a bit more than a ball valve. Something i wish i had picked up in the begining. Damn I am still a learn while doing.

the ball valve i got was original eheim so i guess it should be fine..

Quote:

Originally Posted by greech

Really great start. Love the carpet lobo!

What lighting is that?

i love the lobo too! have never seen a yellow one..or i should say i've yet to come across any bright yellow LPS.

Its a maxspect g2 170w (26 CW, 22 RB, 8 violets). my friend will be passing me his Razor 27" next month and will be using that instead.. will have to hang high to cover the 48" length.

evolutionZ · 05/09/2013, 04:05 AM

agree with u bro!

updates on water parameters :

SG 1.025 ( Refractometer)

Taken with API :

Ammonia : 0
Nitrite : 0
pH : 8.2

taken with Salifert :

nitrate : 1ppm ( low range reading method)
Phosphate : 0
Calcium : 400
mg : 1400
Alk : 7.8

few days ago nitrate was around 2.5.. after adding Chaeto and running reserve lighting cycle.. seems like it helped to reduce my nitrate..

Ca and Alk seems a little low.. got to start dosing 2 parts.

ptreef · 05/10/2013, 09:54 AM

Very nice looking tank! Like the look of shallow tanks as well.

DO you have a link for the adapter your getting for the WP-40?

evolutionZ · 05/14/2013, 08:53 AM

Some updates!

a green gonipora i got over the weekend. opening beautifully!

Close up

pink tip elegance.

green brain, notice the feeding tentacles.. was feeding the tank with brine shrimp and rotifers..

GSP mat! noticed i have 3 GSP type here..

yellow lobo

emerald green zoa

anyone fancy a heart shape zoa?

SPS i got from another bro, PE is good and coloring up well.. can see some new growth.. notice the monti on the left growing too..

another 2 mini acro frag.. got it yesterday. slight PE as of now.

evolutionZ · 05/14/2013, 08:54 AM

a pair of True perc i got from CF.. really like the pattern. really greedy whacking both normal or algae pellets like as if they have not been eating for a long time.. However they have been hanging out on the top left corner for the past few days since i got them. Hope they'll move near the rocks soon.

Banggai cardinal..

FTS.. pardon the container on the top right.. was feeding my sun coral.

Thanks for viewing!

NeilFox · 05/14/2013, 09:13 AM

Wow. Nice to see some real live rock for a change!!! Looks great. keep posting!

Sugar Magnolia · 05/14/2013, 09:20 AM

Really nice!

More info on gonioporas - a very difficult coral to care for. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/nftt/index.php

ptreef · 05/14/2013, 09:30 AM

Which is easier again/....goni or avelopora....
And which has how many petals?

04/27/2013, 06:54 AM	#1
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	EvolutionZ's Shallow reef build. i've been reefing for about 5 - 6 months now with a small 1ft cube and the poison got me and i upgraded to a tank 8 times larger. Tank size : 120x60x36cm (12mm rimless) Sump tank : 35x50x45cm (6mm) Skimmer : Deltec MCE 600 Lighting : Maxspect G2 170W (26 white, 22 RB, 8 Violet) Return pump : Eheim 1260 Chiller : Teco TR15 Substrate : CaribSea Special Grade reef sand (40lb) Wavemaker : Jebao WP-40 filtration : 30kg Live Rocks, Rowaphos (with TLF reactor), biopellets and chaeto Planned corals : Mixed reef (softies and LPS mainly) Hectic morning, went to buy Live rocks and few packs of NSW. Tank haven't arrive yet. started scaping. using 2 main big rocks and afew other smaller rocks. total 30kg used. should be settled for this Tank arrived hours after settling for the scape. loving the shallow look! Sump tank, due to cabinet's not meant for sump (reuse cabinet from freshwater set up), have to customise an empty tank to be my sump. using overflow box to send water down. first time having a big rimless tank! lights are hanged. Right now waiting for silicon to fully cure, before testing tank with water. will then start scaping the rocks on monday (2 days later) and filling with salt mix and start cycling! old tank! Thanks for viewing!

04/28/2013, 01:22 PM	#3
cugly Dansreeftank Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: chula vista Ca Posts: 1,388	Cool....great start __________________ 48x30x20 Leemar rimless starphire panels, lit by an Ati hybrid powermodule, apex controller with apex dos, ghl dosing, mp40qd and tunze. And korallen skimmer.

05/07/2013, 12:29 PM	#12
Monkeyfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island (NY) Posts: 4,077	Nice set-up! Isn't the WP40 a bit much considering all of the softies and lps? __________________ Eric "One thing that humbles me deeply is to see that human genius has its limits while human stupidity does not." Current Tank Info: Taking a break

05/07/2013, 07:30 PM	#17
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Really great start. Love the carpet lobo! What lighting is that? __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

05/14/2013, 09:20 AM	#24
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Really nice! More info on gonioporas - a very difficult coral to care for. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/nftt/index.php __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/28/2013, 10:13 AM	#2
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	Some updates.. filled the tank and sump with DI water straight to test for leak and to test out my overflow box.. previous owner mentioned he use 2400l/hr pump for the box. However my 1260 (2400l/hr) was too strong for the overflow box to handle. i'll be sourcing for a ball valve to restrict the flow of the 1260.. Reading online suggest that using ball valve on centrifugal pump like 1260 would not damage/overheat the pump, but instead, improve the pump life span since its gonna work less. Anyone know where to find ball valve to fit a 25/34mm pipe? overflow and return.. the U-pipe in the overflow box is 1" diameter so it should be able to handle 2400l/hr pump.. no idea why it cant.. the return flow feels really strong though! testing out the wp-40.. great waves at w1! but worried it may splash out.. Sump tank.. hopefully still got space for some chaeto live rock still in pails.. each pail have a powerhead circulating the water.

04/28/2013, 01:29 PM	#4
Poolman21 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Waterford CA Posts: 133	Vary cool tank.

04/28/2013, 02:08 PM	#5
jdm1114 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delaware Valley, PA Posts: 415	Whats a wp 40?

04/28/2013, 02:12 PM	#6
goma Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Melbourne, FL Posts: 62	Good start!

04/28/2013, 05:31 PM	#7
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	Looks great, but I'd drill it now before your too invested in the build. Love rimless shallow tanks. Will be following.....

04/29/2013, 10:00 AM	#9
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	Mixed salt with existing DI water in tank and 25kg of rocks went in.. no idea how to scape it so i just placed it as per previous planned scape.. seems like its totally different.. probably will have to play around for the moment.

05/07/2013, 07:45 AM	#10
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	Update: new corals addition.. corals and fishes are doing very well.. been doing Microbe-lift Nite-out II daily and also Red Sea Reef Energy A & B (2.5ml daily). probably will give grotech line a try after my red sea finishes. Some corals pics : pink tip elegance. zoas green Brain coral.. this particular piece had become everyone's favorite coral with its bright luminous color! getting a red one soon! New addition added just one hour after placing in tank.. Yellow Lobo.. adds a spark of yellow to my tank! GSP glued to overflow box.. hopefully will spread fast and cover the whole box! Got this birdnest from a kind reefer when i bought his elegance, he fragged most part away so trying my luck with the remaining ones. doing pretty well with nice PE.. hopefully its color will retain.. top view Livestock! Banggai Cardinal.. my mandarin from my old 34L.. much more pods for him! Got 2 of this lovely tuxedo urchins! superb at eating brown algae (which is currently blooming in my tank) however its been attaching to some of my zoas frag and carrying them around..

05/07/2013, 07:46 AM	#11
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	My sump tank.. Deltec MCE 600 (great skimmer) on the left, eheim 1260, Rio pump (chiller and 2 TLF 150 reactor feeder pump). Currently only running rowaphos.. will be running biopellets once more livestocks go in.. chaeto in a breeder's net but im thinking of DIY-ing a partition using eggcrates. FTS. added a SunSun 3000l/hr wavemaker blowing at the back.. thinking of changing to 5000l/hr model instead.. still waiting for my universal laptop adapter to come so i can run W1 or ELSE mode on my wp40 at lower flow.. angle view Light is currently 10" above water level.. running 9 hours but mainly the blues and some white. rest of the whites only comes on for 2 hours a day now.. worried my corals may bleach. simply switch on feed mode on my wp40 and enjoy the top view.. Thanks for viewing!

05/07/2013, 12:41 PM	#13
jm23 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 83	I love shallow tanks. Looking forward to see this thing grown in.

05/07/2013, 07:01 PM	#15
frgarcia Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Long Island Posts: 21	Shallow tanks always look better IMO. Great start! Very impressive.

05/07/2013, 07:12 PM	#16
codyreed29 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 892	Jus opting for a little lesson Gate valves are your friend. They cost a bit more than a ball valve. Something i wish i had picked up in the begining. Damn I am still a learn while doing.

05/09/2013, 04:05 AM	#19
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	agree with u bro! updates on water parameters : SG 1.025 ( Refractometer) Taken with API : Ammonia : 0 Nitrite : 0 pH : 8.2 taken with Salifert : nitrate : 1ppm ( low range reading method) Phosphate : 0 Calcium : 400 mg : 1400 Alk : 7.8 few days ago nitrate was around 2.5.. after adding Chaeto and running reserve lighting cycle.. seems like it helped to reduce my nitrate.. Ca and Alk seems a little low.. got to start dosing 2 parts.

05/10/2013, 09:54 AM	#20
ptreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 746	Very nice looking tank! Like the look of shallow tanks as well. DO you have a link for the adapter your getting for the WP-40?

05/14/2013, 08:53 AM	#21
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	Some updates! a green gonipora i got over the weekend. opening beautifully! Close up pink tip elegance. green brain, notice the feeding tentacles.. was feeding the tank with brine shrimp and rotifers.. GSP mat! noticed i have 3 GSP type here.. yellow lobo emerald green zoa anyone fancy a heart shape zoa? SPS i got from another bro, PE is good and coloring up well.. can see some new growth.. notice the monti on the left growing too.. another 2 mini acro frag.. got it yesterday. slight PE as of now.

05/14/2013, 08:54 AM	#22
evolutionZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 684	a pair of True perc i got from CF.. really like the pattern. really greedy whacking both normal or algae pellets like as if they have not been eating for a long time.. However they have been hanging out on the top left corner for the past few days since i got them. Hope they'll move near the rocks soon. Banggai cardinal.. FTS.. pardon the container on the top right.. was feeding my sun coral. Thanks for viewing!

05/14/2013, 09:13 AM	#23
NeilFox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: DuPont, WA Posts: 947	Wow. Nice to see some real live rock for a change!!! Looks great. keep posting!

05/14/2013, 09:30 AM	#25
ptreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 746	Which is easier again/....goni or avelopora.... And which has how many petals?