The Fringe - Coastal Reef Flats

[Whiston]

The Fringe - Coastal Reef Flats

Hey, I'm Andrew, and it's moving time!
Moving time means a new tank and a new build, so it couldn't be more exciting. Out of my crummy apartment into a much larger place with room to store everything required for my tank, and enough closet space for my winter jackets to boot.
My new tank is a custom dimension starphire (or equivalent low iron glass) built by Concept Aquatics. It is an open spaced theme with a lot of swimming space, modeled after the shoreward side of the reef flats. I picture sitting on the beach, under some palm trees, looking out to the reef and ocean ahead, all from the comfort of my living room.

So feel free to tag along. All criticism, input, and encouragement is welcome!

[Proteus]

For pics of tank yet

[Whiston]

Equipment list as intended so far (subject to change) is as follows:

Display tank: 40x30x18 (roughly 90 gallons) 3 sided starphire with starphire eurobrace, external overflow (3x1") and dual 3/4" returns
Sump: 36x18x16
Return pump: Mag 9.5
Skimmer: SWC 120 (needs to be upgraded, thinking Vertex Omega maybe)
Controller: Apex
Powerheads: Vortech MP 40W-ES (x2)
Lights: AI Vega (x2)

Stand is built from wood, with maple ply and oak trim. Unfortunately I didn't document the building of the stand very well, but here it is most of the way done with the sump in for a test fit.

[Proteus]

Looks good.

Have you bought your Vegas yet

[Whiston]

I have one so far.
I have mixed feelings about it, but I have mixed feelings about all the LED's I have seen.

I'm pretty torn between getting the second one for the tank, and going in a different direction, but I'm not persuaded by other fixtures yet to change my mind one way or the other. Although I hear the Mitras is full of persuasion!

[kien]

[lockrookie]

It is an awesome pic I wish I could get my water clearer.

[Whiston]

To be fair, the tank has so much new water in it, it hasn't had much of a chance to get dirty yet. That will come with some new fish.

Speaking of which, my first addition to this tank.
These guys get quite large in the wild, but I think it's a welcome change to the usual foxface or one spot. I didn't have very much bubble algae, but a frag came in with a bit some time ago, and this guy has already decimated whatever was in the tank. Pretty awesome.

[Whiston]

Here's a full shot of the tank from the living room side.



Now I need to deliberate over my lighting solution.
I have one Vega as it is, but if instead of adding a second unit, I could get by with a single GHL unit instead, then I would consider selling this one to keep it to a single fixture. Although even with a GHL, I was considering adding some lighting on the back side of the tank to keep corals behind the rockwork towards the outsides.
Or I could build my own fixture, but that would require a good amount of work and planning to get it to look sufficient for our main living area.

Opinions anyone?

And anyone who has a GHL want to swing it by and hold it over my tank to compare it? Might help twist these rubber arms of mine.

[kien]

I love that rabbit fish! Tank looks nice from this view too!