30g shallow planning - Ideas?

[jdavid]

Hey guys. I am in the progress of a build right now for a 30g 24x12x12 Rimless tank. The tank is drilled and reef ready. It's made to be a frag tank, but I just really dig the idea of a shallow reef.

I told myself that I was OK with a rimmed tank because the rimless tanks were a bit out of my price range. It just so happens that I was over at a friends house and he had a 30g rimless that he wasn't using. Now it's sitting here, and the stand build is coming along very slowly but I just haven't had the time and resources. However, I am finally nearing completion. You can easily find what has turned into somewhat of a full length novel/build thread in the DIY section. It's called "skinning a 2x4 stand", but early in the thread I decided to build my own start to finish. The stand will be white, and so are the lights that will hang above the tank.

Heres what I've got lined up so far (with the help of some great friends/members of this club)

30g Rimless RR
Stand (in progress)
Taotronics 120w Dimmable LED (blue/white, no optics)
Sump waiting for pickup (hopefully the skimmer will fit)
Reef Octopus DNWB-150!! waiting for pickup
Good amount of rock to work with

Still need a pump, etc.

I'm not sure exactly what to do with the tank! It would be really cool to stack the rocks coming out of the water and plumb the return up through the scape to cascade back down into the tank. I could have some cool land/sea crabs. I don't know if I could pull it off, but it would be cool.

I'd like to try some SPS.

Some corals that I have already that could go in the tank

Turbinaria
Dendro
Red/blue rhodactis mushroom
Orange plate
Frogspawn
Trumpet
zoas

maybe a few more without thinning out my other tanks too much. And a RBTA could go in as well. I just lost most of my nicer corals in a really stupid top-off flood, so I'm going to have to acquire some more.

I'm really open to any ideas that anyone has for this tank. Or any advice. I'm sure theres plenty that I haven't considered

Stocking the tank with fish will be one issue. I'm not currently willing to put a top in. I'd like the tank to be viewable from the top down.

When I start assembling the tank I will start a build thread. Hope somebody has some ideas that I could bring to life

I'm excited

 

[franciscosalazar]

Clams =)

 

[jdavid]

I could go for a clam or two.

CHECK THIS OUT. HOLY CR@P

 

[1mbrews8]

^ love that tank! havent seen it/remembered it for quite some time. One of my top 10... maybe even top 5 tanks of all time!

 

[picoreefguy]

josh you sure about the tank diminsions? that only adds up to like 15 gallons a 20 long is 30x12x12. sounds like a cool project though.

 

[1mbrews8]

yeh, i was thinking 24x24x12

 

[heathlindner25]

JDavid;896116 wrote: I could go for a clam or two.

CHECK THIS OUT. HOLY CR@P
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/">http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/</a>[/QUOTE]

Sailfin in 10" of water , seems wrong....

 

[jdavid]

It is 24x24x12

IDK why I wrote that

That tank is so sick. I'm doing something like that. I want the crabs!!

I'm pretty sure that is where I originally got the he idea from, but I didn't know how amazing what I was looking at was. I had just started researching reef tanks when I saw that (I believe) or something similar. all I can say now is.. wow.

The tang in a 60g is sketchy. I promise no tangs in my 30 lol

Edit: you can see he has multiple pairs of clowns too, but I doubt it's an issue with that huge carpet. Idk. And there's a lionfish. But the scape is killer. I have a piece I could use for the top.. it's sitting on its side as the base of my whole scape in my 29 lol

 

[hiimsean]

I saw an awesome shallow 30g with a few different "levels" and a nice carpet nem on the top level

 

[curtismaximus]

HiImSean;896491 wrote: I saw an awesome shallow 30g with a few different "levels" and a nice carpet nem on the top level

+1

If I ever get the chance to have a shallow tank I would love to have a blue carpet nem! Also I love the rock that sticks out of the water with the coastal crabs.

Shallow tanks are unique and give you a chance to house unique creatures. I would take advantage of it!

 

[curtismaximus]

Here is a cool tank I just found!

 

[jdavid]

That's a lot of lookdowns!

I'm pretty bummed to learn that the crabs I want are not even in the trade. Anyone know a reefer on the west coast? I guess I would have to pay someone to collect them for me if its even legal

Edit: I want these crabs so bad I'm not even concerned with fish. They will host a carpet!! Who needs fish??

 

[curtismaximus]

JDavid;896719 wrote: That's a lot of lookdowns!

I'm pretty bummed to learn that the crabs I want are not even in the trade. Anyone know a reefer on the west coast? I guess I would have to pay someone to collect them for me if its even legal

Edit: I want these crabs so bad I'm not even concerned with fish. They will host a carpet!! Who needs fish??

Forgot about this tank! This is one of my favorites also!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhIlripJmA&feature=youtube_gdata_player">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhIlripJmA&feature=youtube_gdata_player</a>

The answer is Saltwater Fiddler Crabs. This guy had had a few in his display and they are just as cool and available!

Edit: This is where I got that video from. This video might give you some cool ideas as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dmoQuXRu7Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[jdavid]

They may ease the pain but my heart will still long for Pachygrapsus crassipes

 

[dball711]

Keep searching! Join one of the westcoast club forums. Check RC, I am sure there are a coupe. Post what your looking for and let us know what you find. For me, half the fun in this hobby is the chase.

Edit:

JDavid;896116 wrote: I could go for a clam or two.

CHECK THIS OUT. HOLY CR@P
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/">http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/</a>[/QUOTE]

I say, "go the holy cr@p route".

 

[lagunareef]

So you can't find the crabs you want but you do know where to find mangroves if you wanted some...:shades:

 

[ringo®]

JDavid;896116 wrote: I could go for a clam or two.

CHECK THIS OUT. HOLY CR@P
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/">http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/211082-konolua-volcano-tank/</a>[/QUOTE]


Crap.....I should have never clicked on that

 

[jdavid]

lagunareef;897369 wrote: So you can't find the crabs you want but you do know where to find mangroves if you wanted some...:shades:

Lol yup

Edit:

Ringo®;897371 wrote: Crap.....I should have never clicked on that

Do you now have to own a volcano tank as well?

The way my Stan is coming out I'm gonna have to give mine a Greek name

 

[ringo®]

JDavid;897389 wrote: Lol yup

Edit:

Do you now have to own a volcano tank as well?

The way my Stan is coming out I'm gonna have to give mine a Greek name

Costalotaclees?

 

[jdavid]

Not bad!

Lol my Stan. My stand**