Mariner 130 by ESHOPPS Build... (or Built, more accurately). :)

[Jesse Sunday]

After a few years here and a few tanks... I guess it's time to officially do a build thread!

Forgive me; I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to document, but if anyone has questions, please ask!

I'll post more pictures and details later this weekend once I get the rockwork back in the arrangement I want. (excuse the messy scape; everything went into brute trash cans for over a week as I waited for the ESHOPPS to be delivered)

 

[tbrown]

It's on!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

It's on!

Right!? All it took to get me here was the Red Sea Parting (or silicone failing, as it were)...

I will say that Red Sea, even though I bought my tank secondhand and it was well out of warranty, did offer a nice discount on a replacement tank. The Reefer XXL 625 G2 (the same size as the Mariner 130) would have been significantly less expensive than the Mariner. But once I saw the 130 setup in my LFS, I knew I wanted it.

I love the tank! The 19mm glass looks soooo nice and the braced bottom and "armored" corners really make me comfortable with the longevity.

Overall impressions are that it feels bigger than I thought it would... given that it's only a foot wider than my previous tank, it seems to command a presence where I have it. (the same spot the old tank was)

Also, with my former tank (4'), I only really needed 4 AI 16HDs, but now with the wider 130, I really want two AI 64s, so ignore the temporary 64 on one side and 4 16s on the other.

I'm doing something a little different with the sump... I just have floss overtop of the filter chamber, I haven't installed the socks yet because I knew the socks would get dirty fast with putting my old rocks back in and I didn't have replacements handy. So, eventually, the chaeto will likely move from that chamber. But, I have some algae growing in the sump with a Neptune GRO lighting it up. (permanent mounting of the Gro is coming, I know where it is will be bad if the filter chamber gets clogged and it overflows)

 

[tbrown]

Yeah, I printed filter cups for mine and am using Polyfil.

Did you end up going with the new sump or reusing your old one?

 

[tbrown]

Nevermind, looks like you used the new one.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Yeah, I printed filter cups for mine and am using Polyfil.

Did you end up going with the new sump or reusing your old one?

Oh, that's smart; I'll look into that. (first, I need reef-safe filament though)

Ya, I like the new sump design! It allows enough space for a nice refugium and I really like that it has about 4" of clearance on either side. Perfect for a ReefCan or something similar for top off. (previously, I had a gravity fed top off, so I need to get something quick - I'm guessing that the larger tank will lose more than the .75G/day I was at earlier)

 

[tbrown]

Oh, that's smart; I'll look into that. (first, I need reef-safe filament though)

Ya, I like the new sump design! It allows enough space for a nice refugium and I really like that it has about 4" of clearance on either side. Perfect for a ReefCan or something similar for top off. (previously, I had a gravity fed top off, so I need to get something quick - I'm guessing that the larger tank will lose more than the .75G/day I was at earlier)

Maybe. You have a higher humidity than me. I'm out here in the desert in AZ. My 125 was evaporating about 8-10 gallons every week but that's a 6' tank with lots of surface agitation for evaporation for cooling purposes.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Maybe. You have a higher humidity than me. I'm out here in the desert in AZ. My 125 was evaporating about 8-10 gallons every week but that's a 6' tank with lots of surface agitation for evaporation for cooling purposes.

Well, it's confirmed! I need a top-off quick!

Leaning toward the Neptune ATK v2 since I already have a few Apex parts and peices... anyone have experience good/bad or recommendations for another system?

 

[tbrown]

I've never used Neptune stuff so I can't help you there.

 

[nickng]

Right!? All it took to get me here was the Red Sea Parting (or silicone failing, as it were)...

I will say that Red Sea, even though I bought my tank secondhand and it was well out of warranty, did offer a nice discount on a replacement tank. The Reefer XXL 625 G2 (the same size as the Mariner 130) would have been significantly less expensive than the Mariner. But once I saw the 130 setup in my LFS, I knew I wanted it.

I love the tank! The 19mm glass looks soooo nice and the braced bottom and "armored" corners really make me comfortable with the longevity.

Overall impressions are that it feels bigger than I thought it would... given that it's only a foot wider than my previous tank, it seems to command a presence where I have it. (the same spot the old tank was)

Also, with my former tank (4'), I only really needed 4 AI 16HDs, but now with the wider 130, I really want two AI 64s, so ignore the temporary 64 on one side and 4 16s on the other.

I'm doing something a little different with the sump... I just have floss overtop of the filter chamber, I haven't installed the socks yet because I knew the socks would get dirty fast with putting my old rocks back in and I didn't have replacements handy. So, eventually, the chaeto will likely move from that chamber. But, I have some algae growing in the sump with a Neptune GRO lighting it up. (permanent mounting of the Gro is coming, I know where it is will be bad if the filter chamber gets clogged and it overflows)

Tank looks great!

 

[nickng]

By the way is the overflow completely silent and drain completely silent?
Thanks

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

By the way is the overflow completely silent and drain completely silent?
Thanks

Great question! I saw another thread somewhere that said the drain/overflow was very noisy, so I was worried.

@ESHOPPS.INC did a wonderful job and I have my overflow and drain nearly silent... I have the primary drain set to about 50% open and that keeps the water at the right level in the overflow to be very quiet. In fact, because the tank is so tall, I didn't even hear the overflow "noise" until I was getting close enough to take this video.

The sump is quiet as well. I am not using the socks yet, just floss as my tank settles, so I imagine it'll be even more quiet when I use the socks.

I apologize in advance to those who can't view the attached videos. I have to get my YouTube account fixed before I can upload/link from there.

Here are a few videos of the overflow and sump...

 

[nickng]

I was eyeing the Mariner 130 since it was launched but couldn't see an example of it at any local fish store. Well this week one of the local fish store in Mass, "love the reef" made an annoucement that they will be supplying the eshopps tank. Hope I get to see one in person. Also is the overflow cover made out of acrylic or poly-carbonate that doesn't warp?
I like the sump, it's simple and can easily fit a reefmat in that filter space. Great for someone like me who have to travel out of town on short notice.

 

[nickng]

Another question, how well does the neptune gro light grows the red ogo? is it one of the better lights for a refugium?
And I see you have both Chaeto and Red Ogo. Have you had problems with one of the macro algae outcompeting the other one and ending up with one of the macro-algae species dying off.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

I was eyeing the Mariner 130 since it was launched but couldn't see an example of it at any local fish store. Well this week one of the local fish store in Mass, "love the reef" made an annoucement that they will be supplying the eshopps tank. Hope I get to see one in person. Also is the overflow cover made out of acrylic or poly-carbonate that doesn't warp?
I like the sump, it's simple and can easily fit a reefmat in that filter space. Great for someone like me who have to travel out of town on short notice.

I think once you see it, you'll be sold!

The overflow cover is glass! (with glass "guides") No warping there.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Another question, how well does the neptune gro light grows the red ogo? is it one of the better lights for a refugium?
And I see you have both Chaeto and Red Ogo. Have you had problems with one of the macro algae outcompeting the other one and ending up with one of the macro-algae species dying off.

Well, my refugium is a work in progress... in my previous tank, I had the GRO (and an AI16 at full blast) set to go on at 8:30 pm and off at 10:00 am.

The Red and Chaeto were thriving. I had to split the Cheato every few weeks, but the Red just keeps growing, slowly, even though it's a favorite snack of the snails I have in my sump.

In this setup, I'm only using the GRO, so I'll let you know how it goes, but so far, it's been fine. I might be adding another light once I finalize how I want the sump organized.

 

[tbrown]

This just gave me a cool idea! I recently set up a little Anemone tank for my Joker Anemones. If I moved them over to the sump and just swapped the lighting schedule by 12 hours I could keep the Nems in a more controlled environment!

 

[nickng]

Well, my refugium is a work in progress... in my previous tank, I had the GRO (and an AI16 at full blast) set to go on at 8:30 pm and off at 10:00 am.

The Red and Chaeto were thriving. I had to split the Cheato every few weeks, but the Red just keeps growing, slowly, even though it's a favorite snack of the snails I have in my sump.

In this setup, I'm only using the GRO, so I'll let you know how it goes, but so far, it's been fine. I might be adding another light once I finalize how I want the sump organized.

Thanks I really want to grow out some red ogo to feed a tang

 

[josh57]

Excited to get my 100 soon. How are you liking the 130?