Lucas's Rimless Shallow Reef - Long overdue update!

There was nothing but a pile of lumber, some sheets of glass, various odds and ends, and an imagination. Taking all the lessons learned from my previous tank, I am building this one from scratch for the long haul. ;D

Concept

This tank will be a rimless 26"x26"x10" shallow mixed reef. As a square tank, it should be viewable on all four sides, incorperating a very modern yet simplistic look to the stand and aquascaping. Lights will be mounted quite high above the tank to allow top down viewing. Everything will be custom DIY.

Equipment

- Starphire glass on all four sides
- Full spectrum 33 LED build from RapidLED
- Custom build sump including a DSB and frag prop area
- Bubble Magnus NAC3 skimmer
- MP10
- BRS bio pellet reactor with EcoBak pellets
- Reefkeeper lite

Corals

Tyree Ponape Birdsnest
Red Birdsnest
Orange Digitata
ORA Green Birdsnest
Tyree Undata Monti
Blue Stag Acro
Red Mushroom
Blue Mushroom
Blue Striped Mushroom
Green Striped Mushroom
Purple Fuzzy Mushroom
Green Palys
Pink Palys
Branching Frogspawn
Zoa, Eagle Eyes
Zoa, Gorilla Nipples
Zoa, Alpha and Omega

Inverts

Tiger Snapping Shrimp
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Fighting Conch Snail
Turbo Snail
100x Dwarf Cerith Snails

Fish

Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish
Flame Dwarf Angelfish
McCosker's Wrasse
Ocellaris Clownfish
Green Reef Chromis
Red Band Hi Fin Goby (with Tiger Snapping Shrimp)

The Beginning

Framed:





While I was framing, some packages arrived:



So I started working on the LEDs (a big shout out to exactlyobp for his planning help!):





And it's nearly impossible to find a cord with 10 wires in it (for the light), so sticking with the theme, I did it myself:




That's all for now, but I'm planning to get the system wet within 3 weeks, so stay tuned, it'll go by fast!

~Lucas

 

I love shallow tanks! Will it be rimless?

Your plans look great. I'm sure it will turn out nice.

Subscribed to your thread.

 

Thanks Seano. Yes, it will be rimless. Thank you for asking, I have fixed my post.

 

awesome start, cant wait to see the finished product.

 

Love the tank! Can't wait to see more pics

 

Looking good Lucas

 

Yeah, Lucas!!! I was waiting for this thread as my own!!

Good looking LED! No test run pic or nothing??


Shin

 

Thanks chelsea, I can't either!

Thank you. I actually have a few more, but am out of state right now. The stand is almost compete. Just needs doors and stain.

Thanks John!

No test run yet. Still haven't hooked up the drivers. I'm building a control panel, so dry run to follow that. Can't wait though! I did nearly blind myself on the first led I tested... They are bright 8)

 

Speaking of, you should list all the LEDs and other parts that you're using when you have a chance.

I love the black heatsink. Gonna be one sleek setup!

 

The build is looking great Lucas! Glad to see your still in the hobby and doing good!