60 Gallon Shallow Build

[RedOtterCoral]

Excited to start my build thread for my 'get back into the hobby tank'.

The tank is pretty unique, a former petco acrylic frag tank purchased from another R2R member.

This is how it looked when I brought it home. Peep the wife's cat already sticking his nose where it doesn't belong haha.

It came with a very old (and loud!) T5 fixture that I've since removed. My lighting for this build will be a combo orphek or3 with radions.

I hope to have it cycling by the end of May. I had it in my mind that I'd have fish by now, but kiddo takes priority and I've been at the mercy of the US postal service lol.

I got the rock scape to a point I'm pretty happy with, and have gotten most of the plumbing in place.

With my scape, I'm trying to show some variety which definitely is a struggle with such a shallow tank.

I've run I into my fair share of issues and setbacks so far, like my hanging nut for the lighting not being machined

But it's finally getting close. I'll be sure to update this thread as I get closer to finally kicking things off.

Thanks for following!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Following along!

Great to have you along! Do you keep any SPS in your tank? Ultimate goal for me is a mixed reef but SPS dominant.

 

[RedOtterCoral]

After ups and downs and postal delays, I was able to finalize the fixture and hang my lights

The lighting is 2 radion xr15 pro gen 4s, with an orphek or3 blue on either side.

 

[vandy]

After ups and downs and postal delays, I was able to finalize the fixture and hang my lights

The lighting is 2 radion xr15 pro gen 4s, with an orphek or3 blue on either side.

Love how the old gen 4s grow coral. I have two over my tank as well!

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Love how the old gen 4s grow coral. I have two over my tank as well!

Ah that's great! Yes I've heard good things about them as well. I got a great deal on the pair locally, and I'm thinking with the supplemental or3 lights I should get good growth and color.

Do you grow any SPS or LPS under them?

 

[Drewerd7]

Awesome tank dimensions.. looks very modern and cool.
Looking forward to seeing that puppy wet!
Only downside to those dimensions (BIG, WIDE, OPEN surface) is that it'll make you want to snorkel in it every time you look down! lol

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Awesome tank dimensions.. looks very modern and cool.
Looking forward to seeing that puppy wet!
Only downside to those dimensions (BIG, WIDE, OPEN surface) is that it'll make you want to snorkel in it every time you look down! lol

Oh 100% lol. Doesn't help that it's shorter by nature as a frag tank so I look down into it every time I enter the living room.

On a plus side, my favorite tank view IS top down so this tank was a definite win for me

 

[Drewerd7]

I also just picked-up some used Gen4 XR15s.. excited to get them on my system.
Let us know how they perform! -Drew

 

[RedOtterCoral]

I also just picked-up some used Gen4 XR15s.. excited to get them on my system.
Let us know how they perform! -Drew

Will do! Good luck with your new lights!

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Leak test went off without a hitch! I've drained the test water out, and am now in the process of making the initial salt water.

A lot of hurry-up and waiting on the RO water lol.

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Officially wet and sandy!

I got the saltwater in place last night, and started the cycle. I'm using live sand as well as some fritz to help kick things off.

I was kicked into the basement, which while it is a bit of a bummer I've told the wife now I'll have room for a future frag tank lol.

This is what the sump looks like. I'm a bit annoyed with how chaotic the cables are, but I think I can get them a little more organized.

I have some doors to put on the stand to make things look cleaner, but I want to ensure everything is running as expected for a few days before I do.

Final image is the top-down shot, which I already know is going to be my favorite view once I get corals in there.

Thanks to anyone following along!

 

[herozero]

You bet I'll follow along for another fellow shallow reef build!

 

[RedOtterCoral]

You bet I'll follow along for another fellow shallow reef build!

Ah fantastic! You're tank looks great. Love your yellow tang, ideally that's going to be my 'show' fish for this tank.

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Added in some 'live rock' rubble today from my LFS

They claim its real live rock, but I think it may have been that eco seeded rock.

Either way it has been there and cycling for a while in their store so I'm confident it's going to help establish the tank more efficiently.

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Added in some 'live rock' rubble today from my LFS

They claim its real live rock, but I think it may have been that eco seeded rock.

Either way it has been there and cycling for a while in their store so I'm confident it's going to help establish the tank more efficiently.

Took out a flashlight after the rock got settled and noticed some feather dusters, so this has more life than I expected which I'll take as a definite win!

(Especially since these two pieces only cost me $3!)

 

[RedOtterCoral]

The tank had its first occupants. A firefish making himself at home

As well as a lubbocks fairy wrasse who hides anytime I come by but when I sit away from the tank he dives in and out of the rock to nail the mysis I'm feeding.

 

[Arkayology]

First inhabitants! Nice!

 

[RedOtterCoral]

Both the firefish and lubbocks have settled in pretty nicely to the tank and are used to our morning and evening feedings.

While they have explored the tank, they tend to hang out together in one specific cave/structure for most of the day.

The firefish will swim in the current sometimes while the wrasse bebops around the rock structures and explores the caves, but for the most part they seem to want to hang out together lol

 

[RedOtterCoral]

We have some more life!

I lost the firefish, despite him eating and seemingly adjusting well.

I've since added a tomini tang and a comb wrasse

And they both are piggy eaters haha. I think the comb has put on an ounce since I got him

He was sold to me as 'similar to the yellow coris' which I had on my last tank and loved. Found out that was a misnomer and he's gonna be a bit bigger and more headstrong lol, but I think we should be good.

Thanks to @Slocke for the help with ID.

I've also started adding in a few tester corals, all who seem to be adjusting well. I've added a green goni, birdsnest and then a myster brown out acro, just to see if the tank can support the stories.

(Apologies for the blues, gotta up my camera game)

I've been pleased with the goni so far. It looks much happier in my tank than it did in thr LFS. Adding in a pair of chalices later in the week for some more color pop!