Newtybar's 65g Long and Shallow 60x18x14

Newtybar · Jun 24, 2015

I suppose I should have been satisfied after escaping near disaster when my IM Nuvo 24 cracked, managing to save 80% of the livestock and transferring into a nice, new Fusion 30L. The hunger was not satiated, however. After learning a bunch from this forum, I want to do things the right way and do things exactly the way I want without compromise (ok, not completely without compromise, but mostly...).

Found a decent deal on craigslist for a 65 long the seller was using as a frag tank and since I love shallow tanks, I bit.

Equipment List (06.24.2015):

Display Tank: 60x18x14 and 1" thick acrylic tank (compromised here, truly wanted Starphire but the deal was good).
Stand: Custom built stand
Sump: Aqueon Proflex Sump - Model 4, 45 gallon
Skimmer: Reef Octopus 110 EXT Recirculating
ATO: Tunze Osmolator 3152
Wavemaker/Flow: Maxspect Gyre XF 130
Lights: Nano Box Duo x 2

Newtybar · Jun 24, 2015

The beginning:

Stand is built and buffing out the acrylic.

Buffing out the acrylic was a PAIN. 800 grit wet sand, 1500 grit wet sand, 2000 grit wet sand, 3000 grit, Nuvo Stage 2 with random orbital, Nuvo Stage 1.

Newtybar · Jul 7, 2015

Preview - painted the outside of the stand piano white. Going to make the doors gray wood grain.

Took a weeks worth of painting, sanding and buffing.

Used truck bed liner on the inside then added the plumbing. Got a bit aggressive with the pvc cement heh. Will fill with water tonight.

Newtybar · Jul 14, 2015

Water tested, ran bleach through it a day to kill off bacteria, drained and brought it into the house. I live in California, hopefully my neighbors don't report me for water usage during the drought

Glad I didn't go larger because at these dimensions it is bordering on too big...lol. Still working on the doors.

Newtybar · Jul 29, 2015

Added the lights, need to hide cables and figure out a setting for the gyre

shiftline · Aug 23, 2015

Looking good!

Newtybar · Aug 25, 2015

Thanks shiftline!

Updated FTS (the doors fit fine...I just didn't close them all the way):

Newtybar · Oct 14, 2015

Added some pieces that I acquired from Reef-A-Palooza and my LFS (Iconic Reef in Huntington Beach). Slowly but surely the tank is chugging along.

Trying not to move too fast, but it is tough. Also, still some of brown algae bloom remaining, but it is dying off.

Here are some updated pictures...sorry for the phone camera quality, I will whip out my DSLR when I am not as lazy.

Here's a FTS from the side angle

A bright pink/orange bubble tip anemone (view from the back as it is facing the other way) I got from Iconic post for a good deal.

A maxima clam I got from Clammania at Reef A Palooza...odd how it is turquoise from top down but purple when viewing normally.

Ahruk · Oct 15, 2015

Beautiful tank! Love the dimensions on it.

SchnitzelReef · Oct 20, 2015

Very cool setup. Long shallow tanks really look cool when they are aquascaped right...and you def did it right. Tank looks awesome!

gmhammes · Nov 12, 2015

like the setup. something similar to what i'd like to do when funds become available

EW_Fish · Nov 12, 2015

Love shallow tanks. Great job. Very cool dimensions .

rajkovich207 · Nov 12, 2015

I was going to grab a clam from clammania at our latest aquarium expo. I heard there was a mixup with water and he lost a bunch so I grabbed one from someone else. It didn't make it 24 hours... Should have gotten one from clammania as yours is looking sweet!

Newtybar · Nov 13, 2015

Thanks everyone! As for that clammania clam, there was an unfortunate accident where it fell into the shaded area and passed away without me noticing....

Newtybar · Nov 13, 2015

Deciding to take things slowly, the clam I bought from reef a palooza never got comfortable, fell off the rock under shaded area and died. Found the fire shrimp picking off its remains.

Gunk continues to grow on the rocks. My monticap cracked in half when I tried to re glue it to the rock. I don't have the most delicate hands.

Hardware wise: I switched out the Gyre and mounted two Jebao RW8s with a wave controller on the overflow pointing the opposite direction facing each corner of the tank...I actually like the flow much better for this set up. Not to mention the near elimination of visible wires...I hate wires.

FTS 11.12.15:

Some additional tank shots: