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Chris' Reef Savvy Shallow (1 Viewer)

I tried a few things, but it wasn't worth the hassle. A few minutes with the Dremel and all of my original plumbing plans worked like a charm. After a short detour caused by Uncharted 4, I finally got some time over the long weekend to finalize and glue the plumbing. I ran a leak test for a few days and didn't find (m)any leaks, so the next step is to empty it out and get it moved to its ultimate location in the room and get some saltwater mixed up. I will have to spend some time working through the heights of each overflow inlet to eliminate sound; my first attempt wasn't ideal.
 
ChristopherKriens said:
Next step is to empty it out and get it moved to its ultimate location in the room and get some saltwater mixed up. I will have to spend some time working through the heights of each overflow inlet to eliminate sound; my first attempt wasn't ideal.
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Nothing works better than a handful of guys standing around after the tank is moved and drinking some suds to figure out how to make it quiet!
 
The cycle has started! A short video with Dave Brubeck to kick things off.

[video=youtube;EXnJxIXYGgQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXnJxIXYGgQ[/video]
 
A proper photo of the sump all plumbed up. The water is cloudy from adding more bacteria than I needed.



I've decided on sticking with Radions for this build. I know them well, and it will make transitioning coral between tanks pretty painless. Even though I've got significantly less water, I'm going to need to add four units to cover the larger surface. Hanging is going to be difficult with the positioning of the tank and joists, and I already have plans to move the tank a few inches, so I'm going to try out EcoTech's rail mounting system which I've seen but have yet to work with. If I hate it, I can always revisit the hanging option as the RMS converts to a hanging kit pretty easily.

Starting out with:

4 Radion XR30w G3
4 RMS Arms
4 RMS Slides
2 40" RMS Track
 
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Smart choice to keep the lighting the same as your display.
And you'll be able to transfer any lighting programs between the two systems rather easily.

I'm using the RMS Arms and Rails with my Radion that's on my Fluval and I actually like it a lot.
I'm able to slide the light fixture out of the way when I'm doing any maintenance and taking photos; similar to my canopy on the 120gal. And if I really need to remove the light completely from the tank, it's very easy to do as opposed to a hanging fixture.
 
Looking good so far Chris! Sump looks really pretty.

Is the skimmer a Vertex Omega?
 
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jlanger said:
I'm able to slide the light fixture out of the way when I'm doing any maintenance and taking photos; similar to my canopy on the 120gal. And if I really need to remove the light completely from the tank, it's very easy to do as opposed to a hanging fixture.
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Thats good to hear. I'm a little hesitant because I have a tank that's viewable from three sides, but two of those will have mounted arms. I might try mounting the other way, so that one set of arms is against the wall.


coralreefer said:
Is the skimmer a Vertex Omega?
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It's a Vertex Omega 150. It chose me, but I like it so far.
 
These were much easier to hook up than I thought. I'm not used to actually finishing a project without having to run to the store or order something else. Everything you need is in the box, down to the tools and locks for routing the wiring. I really like that the Radions can be rotated 90º and everything slides in two dimensions; nothing is permanent. They also look really sharp and accent the clean lines of the XR30 fixtures.

My only hesitation is that this tank is going to be best viewed looking down, and mounting the lights this way obstructs viewing pretty significantly; something of a unique problem for this setup. I could switch to 20" bars with hanging kit instead of the 40" rail kit and have a lot more room to work with frags (and take photos) on all three sides.

Last week, I added what will likely be the only resident of the tank, a 4 inch tang - Ctenochaetus flavicauda. He's appreciating the light and has been much more active. This is the first new tang I've acquired in years and the first time I've kept a bristletooth, so it's an interesting experience for me.



 
The lights look very nice on the tank. Using a hanging kit would be just as nice if not better imo.

Picture of the tang when you get a chance :)
 
Yeah, the Ecotech mounts are simple to install and use. Looks good.

If you want less obstruction from above, turn the fixtures 90º to run under the rails. You've created a grid with the rails and fixtures oriented in perpendicular planes; stay parallel. Your tank is basically square so there should be similar light coverage in that arrangement.

A hanging system will allow for less obstructed viewing, but it could "raise" other issues. A hanging system would require some method for moving the lights out of the way; if you want that option. And in regards to overall appearance, the power cords would then be visible and need to be addressed.
There's probably a couple of ways to utilize a tv wall mount with the lights to address these two issues. The canopy I built for the SF couple used one to move the canopy off the tank.
I'm sure you'll figure this out soon enough.

I think you're going to enjoy your new tang.
The bristletooths are great fish that work for their keep and have a great dispositions. Every reef tank I have ever set up has had a Kole Tang.
 
Fishfoo said:
Picture of the tang when you get a chance :)
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He's still pretty skittish, but is starting to learn that I'm the food source, so I should be able to get some good photos soon.

I just realized that you can see him a little in the corner of the first tank photo.


jlanger said:
If you want less obstruction from above, turn the fixtures 90º to run under the rails. You've created a grid with the rails and fixtures oriented in perpendicular planes; stay parallel. Your tank is basically square so there should be similar light coverage in that arrangement.

A hanging system will allow for less obstructed viewing, but it could "raise" other issues. A hanging system would require some method for moving the lights out of the way; if you want that option. And in regards to overall appearance, the power cords would then be visible and need to be addressed.
There's probably a couple of ways to utilize a tv wall mount with the lights to address these two issues. The canopy I built for the SF couple used one to move the canopy off the tank.
I'm sure you'll figure this out soon enough.

I think you're going to enjoy your new tang.
The bristletooths are great fish that work for their keep and have a great dispositions. Every reef tank I have ever set up has had a Kole Tang.
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I have rotated them since the photo. The tank is a couple of inches wider in that direction, so it makes sense to orient them that way.

Thank you for reminding me of the cord issue; that would be twice as annoying with two separate rail kits. I think I will just enjoy it this way for now, and reconsider down the road when I'm actually working in the tank. It's all theory at this point.

I'm amazed at how well these tangs clean flat surfaces. As this is my first tank where I'm going EZ mode (bare bottom), it's already very appreciated.
 
Here's a quick photo of the tang. I'm still working on finding the sweet spot for this lighting. The spot and stripe pattern are very reminiscent of the Kole tang, as are signature yellow eyes. Behind the head is where the differences start with a lighter red body. The caudal fin changes from pure white to a charcoal depending on mood.

 
Beautiful Tang, one of my all time favorites. Been on the hunt for one but everytime i find one available something is going on where the timing isnt right. Hope he does well for you!
 
Great looking tang, Chris.
But, come on! You gotta put something in that tank! ;)
Looks like the poor fish is floating through the void of outer space above the atmosphere.
 
New tank looks great Chris! I love the shallow reef savvy's ;) I am really kicking myself for letting mine go in the move..

Also, I am so jealous of your Whitetail Bristletooth, one of my all time favorites!

As for the lighting dilemma (if you can call it that), it looks like you ended up putting the back end of the tank flat against the wall. I really think if you had a machine shop fabricate and powder coat two 90 degree metal brackets (a rounded 90 degrees), and screw them into the wall over the tank It would make it look very modern. Of course you would then hang the Radions to the arms via the hanging kit. Just my .02 I've never had Radions or the hanging kit so I am just throwing ideas out there, I think it would look very cool and a sleek alternative to the hanging kit going straight into the ceiling or fixed to the sides of the tank. I also have no idea how much it would be to have metal cut and bent like that but hey.. it would look sweet!
 
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Enough of this equipment business for now. The first coral I've added (technically speaking) is the Fox Flame. This an acro that I've kept an eye on for a while. It first began appearing in early 2014 and is probably synonymous with the "Burning Candle." The axial corallites are yellow-green and the radials also get a splash of color in high light. The polyps themselves have no color that I can see. The base is normally red, although everything I've added so far has gone to the light side so it may continue to be pink for awhile until I get things dialed in.

 
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