Bryan's sexy Custom LeeMar Shallow Lagoon Reef 36 x 13 x 13 Rimless Starphire

[reeferguy]

After a loooonnnggggggg wait i finally got my tank in from Coral Gazers. The tank was built by LeeMar its 36 x 13 x 13 starphire w/ diamond polished edges centered internal overflow, black back and bottom panel. Tank looks really great couldn't have expected any less from LeeMar. My plans for the tank is a mixed reef with some SPS and mainly LPS.

Equipment:

Bridgelux DIY Dimmable LED's with 14 blues, 14 whites, 6 UV, 2 red, each at 3 Watts
36" retrofit t5 bulb - Don't know which two I should go with any help would be great. but for now i was thinking 10k?
20 gallon Long sump with 3 chambers + refugium
Eshopps 120 skimmer
Vortech MP10Wes
Mag 9.5 return pump
~30 pounds of fiji pink live sand
~30 pounds of that purp LR from my current tank


I built a DIY stand for the tank haven't had time to finish the cabinet doors or paint so I will get to it this weekend. It is nice and high how i like it 43" High, no bending over!

Here are some teaser pics to give you guys an idea... I will post more through out the build process.

QUESTION:
What are your guys thoughts on Mangroves?
What spectrum t5 bulbs should I use?
Should I put a DSB in the fuge or any sand at all??
Is the Mag 9.5 too much for a 28"??

Please post your past experiences regarding my question, I would be greatly appreciate any suggestions.:hello:

 

[reeferguy]

got the stand painted, doors are painted as well just waiting to finish everything in the sump before installing the doors. My girlfriend decided to go with the black and gold theme i think it turned out pretty good. I'm happy with the out come so far.. taking it slowly. havne't had much time because a bunch of exams this week.

Got some sand in..

 

[El Dude]

Great start!

 

[Surgical]

Im really diggin the dimensions on that tank! Cant wait to see what it looks like stocked.

 

[reeferguy]

Thanks guys.. I can hardly wait myself! Just finished w the plumbing who woulda known plumbing can be so expensive .. Tore up my hands doing the returns inside the overflow box such a tight squeeze. If you decide on getting 2 holes drilled for return on your overflow box be warned its a bi**ch pics coming up shortly

 

[akpoly]

Much better dimensions than those ADA 12 gallon tanks! Looking good

 

[francis2t]

Hi Bryan! Nice start!

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I'm no expert, but I have messed with LEDs and t5s alot.

Since u decided to run 14B/14w LEDs, I would go with all ATI Blue + t5 bulbs. When running a t5/led fixture, I would recommend a 4:1 (blue:white) ratio. Those 14 whites will overpower ur 14 blues very fast. U will have to have ur blues at 100% and ur whites at 25% and that will probably be a 14k look. U lose a lot of par keeping ur whites at 25%. If u maxed out ur whites at 100%, ur tank would look like 10k (look like there was no blue at all).

Ok so now if u want a 14k-16k look, u can run all Blue+ bulbs and turn ur whites up to say maybe 50% without washing out all ur blues. (Might even be able to run ur whites at 100%, t5s are pretty strong)

If u were to run 10k t5 bulbs, with ur color ratio u chose on ur LEDs, ur tank will look 10k and there will be no "pop" or actinic look.





Sent from my iPhone

 

[reeferguy]

It really doesn't look flooded with white i think it has a nice magenta color and blue. I do need to order different optic lens for the lights for more spread these are only 30% spread im going to order 60% spread. BUT the spread is really good once i raise the light. I am going to build a hanging canopy to enclose the LED and the T5's as far as colors i think i might do the KZ fiji purple and the KZ fiji pink. As for now there does look like a ton of pop the purple coralline algae pops and the pink on the rocks pop even more. Im pretty satisfied with the DIY.

I do need to add more LR and rescape im not loving the aquascape to much.

Sorry for the poor quality pics they were taken from my iPhone..

Now for the good stuff.. The pics

Plumbing

Dry sump

Wet sump with DSB and mangroves and chaeto

Fully dimmed down

both blues and whites turned 80% up..

 

[reeferguy]

I need to get a camera...

 

[akpoly]

wow that looks bright. what's going to go in the center?

 

[reeferguy]

wow that looks bright. what's going to go in the center?

Yeah it is pretty bright.. I will make a video later once i build the hanging canopy the pics don't do it justice. A little more live rock with a anemone island will be in the middle.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Since ur fixture is so much smaller then ur tank, I'd recommend going with 80* optics.

Careful with 10k bulbs. T5s overpower LEDs, especially white bulbs. Look at the ATI Coral + bulb(its close to a 14k). Also the royal blue LEDs put out a lot of purple, not sure if u would like the Fiji purple bulb.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[reeferguy]

I think you're right I might do an actinic blue and a red/pink bulb? What do you think nick or 2 actinics?

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I personally like the 20k look. With ur current setup, I would run 1 coral+ and 1 Blue+. Some of those pink/pure actinic bulbs don't put out as much par as the blue+/coral+. I think u will be happy with that combo


Sent from my iPhone

 

[SchnitzelReef]

The coral+ is supposed to have a lot of the red spectrum. I really like it. I would start with the setup I suggested and if ur not happy, u could always sell those bulbs and try something diff.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Dion_Blaster]

nice start!

 

[reeferguy]

^ yeah i'll try it out that color combo Nick. Thanks for the info bro.. Waiting for tank to cycle.... i hate this part