d2mini's "Essential Focus" Mixed Reef Build

[d2mini]

Here's wider shots of the house and location of the future tank... the white wall near the wall of sliding glass doors.
That wall is about 73" long. A 60" tank should fit nicely there.
If you go back to the beginning of this build, that's actually where I was thinking of placing the Elos originally.
But now this wall got quite a bit larger since it was built out to accommodate the cabinetry.

 

[HolisticBear]

Here's wider shots of the house and location of the future tank... the white wall near the wall of sliding glass doors.
That wall is about 73" long. A 60" tank should fit nicely there.
If you go back to the beginning of this build, that's actually where I was thinking of placing the Elos originally.
But now this wall got quite a bit larger since it was built out to accommodate the cabinetry.

A beautiful home. Well done Sir. I loved your ELOS setup, I followed it from the beginning starting a few years ago.

I went with a custom tank this round and the process was so smooth and I got exactly what I wanted, that I can't imagine not going custom in the future. I think it gets a bad rep, but there are some stellar vendors.

 

[d2mini]

A beautiful home. Well done Sir. I loved your ELOS setup, I followed it from the beginning starting a few years ago.

I went with a custom tank this round and the process was so smooth and I got exactly what I wanted, that I can't imagine not going custom in the future. I think it gets a bad rep, but there are some stellar vendors.

Thanks!

Custom gets a bad rep??? My previous several builds were all custom.
I only went with the Elos this time because I just didn't feel like dealing with the wait and they had a dimension that worked for me.

 

[d2mini]

So since I won't have a big tank for a few months I decided to set up a simple Betta tank with a few plants in the interim.

It's an Utum Nature Systems 30c (approx. 12x12x12)
Lighting is the ONF Flat Nano. Filtration is just a wee little sponge filter. And a heater.
Some moss and a couple other plants, not a lot in this tank.
And the star of the show... a Nemo Galaxy Koi Betta.
Been set up for about a week and just got the plants in last night.

Brought home the tank and aquascaping materials from ADG Houston...

Got it set up and in place and running.... Dawg for scale.

And now...

 

[Spanky05]

Dangit....



Now I want a freshwater nano

Well done, sir!

 

[SneakyTortuga]

So since I won't have a big tank for a few months I decided to set up a simple Betta tank with a few plants in the interim.

It's an Utum Nature Systems 30c (approx. 12x12x12)
Lighting is the ONF Flat Nano. Filtration is just a wee little sponge filter. And a heater.
Some moss and a couple other plants, not a lot in this tank.
And the star of the show... a Nemo Galaxy Koi Betta.
Been set up for about a week and just got the plants in last night.

Brought home the tank and aquascaping materials from ADG Houston...

Got it set up and in place and running.... Dawg for scale.

And now...

I’ve always wanted to do a nano planted tank I just shudder at the thought of having to maintain another tank lol.

Well done sir...

As for your kitchen [emoji1362]. wow. Looks amazing

 

[Hreef]

Looks as neat as i knew it would[emoji41][emoji106]I need to renovate Beto The Bettas home[emoji846]

 

[d2mini]

Looks as neat as i knew it would[emoji41][emoji106]I need to renovate Beto The Bettas home[emoji846]

HA!!! Beto the Betta in 2020!

 

[Bpb]

Best of luck on planted tanks. To me, an elite planted tank is more difficult and labor intensive than an sps reef is. I liken sps reef keeping to fitness. Provide correct building blocks, put in the work, have patience, and you’ll look good (or better). It’s just a matter of time.

A nice nature, iwagumi, or Dutch aquascape is more like painting, or playing an instrument. You’ve either got it or you don’t. There’s just that extra element of talent from an artistic standpoint I definitely did not have.

 

[Victoria M]

Dangit....



Now I want a freshwater nano

Well done, sir!

Me too!

 

[d2mini]

A nice nature, iwagumi, or Dutch aquascape is more like painting, or playing an instrument. You’ve either got it or you don’t. There’s just that extra element of talent from an artistic standpoint I definitely did not have.

Yeah, the aquascaping is my favorite part of aquariums so the (almost) instant scape of nature aquariums is very appealing to me.
People seem to change them up often, too.
My struggle will be that i have zero understanding of the various plant types, their requirements, etc. So huge learning curve there.
And if you think coral names are hard to remember... plant names are insanely difficult! lol

 

[Brew12]

And if you think coral names are hard to remember... plant names are insanely difficult! lol

You should work on renaming them and selling them at a massive profit.
If people will spend $10 on a Marsilea Hirsuta just think how much they would spend on that same plant if you renamed it a D2M Lumbering Hulk!

Hey... it works in the coral world....

 

[d2mini]

You should work on renaming them and selling them at a massive profit.
If people will spend $10 on a Marsilea Hirsuta just think how much they would spend on that same plant if you renamed it a D2M Lumbering Hulk!

Hey... it works in the coral world....

Don't think that hasn't crossed my mind! ;Hilarious

 

[reefwiser]

The big problem with plant names as they use the Latin names instead common names for the most part.
Plants also grow fast so they are always being cut and trimmed and you end up with tons on cuttings that live and grow. Where as corals have tenancy to stun and die [emoji3]

 

[Chrisfish]

Beautiful home, beautiful freshwater planted tank, can’t wait to see the new SW tank

 

[d2mini]

Beautiful home, beautiful freshwater planted tank, can’t wait to see the new SW tank

Thank you.
You'll have a long wait on that, though. The big tank is going to be fw planted, too.

 

[Wazzel]

So that's why you sold everything off. Nice remodel.

 

[Spanky05]

Hey D2,

With your Elos, what did you do re the drain control to make it silent?

Got mine wet a few days ago and it’s not noisy by any means but it will have a slight gurgle every now and then. Did you use your gate valve or the top control panel more to zero it in? Currently running w the gate valve 100% open and the drain control on the top at 50%.

I realize it may take a week or 2 for it to break in but was curious where you made your adjustments.

 

[d2mini]

Hey D2,

With your Elos, what did you do re the drain control to make it silent?

Got mine wet a few days ago and it’s not noisy by any means but it will have a slight gurgle every now and then. Did you use your gate valve or the top control panel more to zero it in? Currently running w the gate valve 100% open and the drain control on the top at 50%.

I realize it may take a week or 2 for it to break in but was curious where you made your adjustments.

Gate valve on the drain above my sump. I left the Elos drain control on top of the overflow at 100% open and just used the gate valve to control the flow. With the water level around the water level marking on the side glass of the overflow it was silent.

 

[Spanky05]

Thanks. I’ll give that a go!

On a different note, what macro lens would you recommend to a beginner that isn’t crazy expensive?