Envision Reef

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

After several years and a tremendous amount of work over the past couple of weeks, my eight foot reef has a heartbeat again. More updates, specs, and photographs to come, but for now, please enjoy this video of my tank before Hurricane Sandy:

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

Here's my original sketch design for the tank:

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

I completed work on my tank room last week.
Before:

After:

Mike_J · Jan 3, 2017

Really nice job on the tank, John! I'm really digging the dimension. Thanks for sharing it with us. CT here too!

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

Specs:
Envision Acrylics 1" Rimless Polycast Acrylic 96x25x14 146 Gallon Shallow Reef

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

Thanks Mike! I had almost forgotten what a project starting a tank of this size was!

- so rewarding though!

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

I had sold my old RO/DI unit, so I picked up an AquaFX Barracuda Glacial 4 Stage at a LFS. I also picked up a third gen Eshopps R100 Refugium. This is a well designed and nifty sump with slow flow fuge, trickle wall, and panel adjustment for skimmer compartment water level.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

The rock work is Carib Sea Life Rock- Shelf. This dry rock is made from all natural calcium carbonate and contains no cement. It's injected with color and bacteria, and it was chosen as the most sustainable, yet natural occurring, option.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

Equipment So Far:
96x25x14 1" Acrylic Tank With Peninsula Overflow
Custom Built Stand
Eshopps R-100 Refugium 3rd gen
Maxijet 1200 Return
Cobalt Neo-Therm 300w split heater
Hagen 820 Top off pump with ATO
2 Aqueon 1650 Circulation Pumps

I'll be using a 72" Current USA Marine IC LED mounted with dual brackets and the Loop system Manifold and eFlux 660 Wave Pump

InsaneClownFish · Jan 3, 2017

Goals and Expectations:
This reef will be completely sustainable. I want to create a piece of living art that is completely ecologically sound. I'm a conservationist at heart, and our oceans and natural reefs are an invaluable resource that I believe we as hobbyists take for granted. My goal is to show that a completely sustainable and aqua cultured system can be one of the most inherently rewarding endeavors- without one spec of life removed from the ocean. It's important to support aquaculture endeavors put forth by Garf, ORA, Sea and Reefs etc.

The other main goal will be to run the reef as low energy as possible. I really believe with new technology and careful choices a reef aquarium can have all the niceties of higher end "gas guzzling" equipment on a fraction of the wattage.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 4, 2017

First picture of the tank running again! I've added one bag of Caribsea Indo Pacific Black Live Sand just to see how it would look and help with the cycle. Speaking of cycle, there are two previously frozen cocktail shrimp in the refugium to get things going. I'll be adding equal parts of SeaChem Gray Coast Calcite, SeaChem Silver Shores, and Caribsea Indo Pacific Black Aragonite(Calcium Carbonate)- This should give the overall silvery gray look I'm going for.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 4, 2017

This is what it looks like when you get tired of waiting for your RO/DI to fill Brute Containers. I ended up using half vapor distilled water and half RO/DI for the start up. It didn't help that I ran the first 8 hours with the flush kit open...

My youngest son helped me move my couch back in the tank room. This is the view while sitting on the couch...relaxing

Ljaus · Jan 4, 2017

Great to see you return to the hobby. Definitely following this one, I really like the tank dimensions.

K&AReeFers! · Jan 4, 2017

I like your goals and wish you good luck. Would love to know a bit more about the tank and the equipment you will be using.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 4, 2017

Thanks Ljaus! I'm glad to be back!

K&A I've listed pretty much all the equipment I'll be using, like I said, this will be pretty low tech. Let me know if you have specific questions about the tank and equipment list or my reasoning behind some of the choices. Id' be happy to share!

K&AReeFers! · Jan 4, 2017

Is your light the pro? If so what are your setting you are planning to run? I have a set of the pros on my tank and always interested in how people are running them.

InsaneClownFish · Jan 4, 2017

K&A I'm planning on using the Marine IC Led. This is the new one designed to work with the Loop system. I was planning on a 7 hour photo-period, but as far as settings I'm not entirely sure how I'll run it until I actually order one.

I'm looking forward to playing with the pump at a low setting in periodic gyre mode to sync with rolling cloud cover and storms. I mainly keep softies. I love a "moving" reef, so this should be plenty of light to start with, and since I'll be bracket mounting it should be fairly easy to add a second if need be.