Mariner 130 Build thread

[mrcote1]

After being out of the hobby for about 4 years, im back (for the 4th time). This time im setting up the new Eshopps Mariner 130.

Aquascape is good to go and ive got the following equipment:

2x XR30 Radion G6 Blue Lights
2x MP40mQD powerheads
vectra M2 return Pump
Nyos Quantum 220 skimmer
IM Helios 700w Smart Heater

All the rock is marco rock and I used emarco400 for the aquascape. And I got 80lbs of special grade aragonite for the sand

 

[mrcote1]

Stand setup

 

[mrcote1]

 

[mrcote1]

Got the tank filled with water yesterday and all the silt is now cleared up. Put a couple pieces of live rock in to speed up the cycle. Now for the 3 week wait before I put in fish

 

[ChrisV]

Looking good!!

 

[Kymot]

Looks super duper awesome, how do you like the tank build quality? Thinking of upgrading to a larger from redsea 250

 

[Reefried]

Wow! Nicek looking set up

 

[mrcote1]

Looks super duper awesome, how do you like the tank build quality? Thinking of upgrading to a larger from redsea 250

I absolutely love it. Really good build quality. A couple things about the sump and the plumbing could be better though. The IM smart heater doesnt fit very well in the sump so any heater 15" or up has to be at an angle in the sump (no big deal) and the plumbing actually didnt reach the sump inlets, so I had to use thick foam under the bottom. Other than that, stand and tank are built extremely well

 

[mrcote1]

 

[mrcote1]

Got the Kraken Reef lid installed tonight. Fish will be arriving from Dr. Reef next thursday!

 

[mrcote1]

UV installed and starting to fill with coral and fish

 

[Reefried]

Looking good. What are your plans, mixed reef? Some SPS?

 

[NeverlosT]

That looks killer so far! How will you handle ALK.CA.MG? Dosing or CARX or Kalkwasser? The system is so clean. Will you just do monthly water changes to keep traces in balance? Do you run a controller like Apex or Hydros?

Such an excellent start to a tank, I am sure that the uglies ll come soon, but I hope that you get through them quickly!

 

[mrcote1]

Looking good. What are your plans, mixed reef? Some SPS?

Yup mixed reef! Im thinking SPS on the top peaks of the rock works, tons of Euphyllia, then zoas, acans and other filler corals between all the euphyllia

 

[mrcote1]

That looks killer so far! How will you handle ALK.CA.MG? Dosing or CARX or Kalkwasser? The system is so clean. Will you just do monthly water changes to keep traces in balance? Do you run a controller like Apex or Hydros?

Such an excellent start to a tank, I am sure that the uglies ll come soon, but I hope that you get through them quickly!

Thanks! Honestly, my last systems I had never did good and I way over did everyrhing. My last tank I had a Display on my first floor and plumbed a large sump into my basement with multiple reactors, a huge refugium all sorts of dosing pumps, etc. I had a PAR meter and mapped everything out and tested every parameter under the sun. None of the coral did good and I struggled with growth and color for years until i finally tore the system down.

On this system. I havent tested a single parameter (seems wild i know) and will go off of corals health as an indicator. Eventually ill start testing calcium and alk once its filled but I think im going to shoot for frequent small water changes to keep parameters stable. Currently im doing 5 gallons a week but will probably bump that to 5 gallons twice a week once i fill with coral

The system is incredibly healthy and its 2 months old now. Loaded with pods and corals all retained outstanding color and polyp extension

Also no controller. I have the IM smart heater, and all Ecotech pumps and lights so I use the Mobius system. I also bought the Redsea ATO for a leak indicator and temp gauge so i could get alerts if something goes out of wack while not home

 

[Spaceman]

Beautiful tank! The kiss method is always the best in a reef! Going by coral health is really my biggest tell in my new system and seems I can see a issue before I can test for it with my water volume...looks amazing keep it up will be epic in a short period of time!!

 

[mrcote1]

Updated pictures of the tank! Picked up like 11 new corals from the FFM including a holy grail. Euphyllia coral are growing insane fast

 

[mrcote1]

 

[mrcote1]

 

[Cpage101]

looking good!