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

[Jesse Sunday]

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!

Ohhhh, I like that idea! A friend of mine says that he can cause his nems to split by adjusting their light cycle... obviously, that's a lot easier to control in the sump.

 

[tbrown]

Ohhhh, I like that idea! A friend of mine says that he can cause his nems to split by adjusting their light cycle... obviously, that's a lot easier to control in the sump.

It happened yesterday!

Now I'm trying to decide if I want to do a sand bed for some Macros or maybe a small Wrasse to eventually move to the Display Tank.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

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

That's awesome! Congrats! There are a few things I'll mention about the setup to help you through the process.

1) The hinges (labeled 4 and 4.1) are NOT interchangeable... i.e., make sure you have "4" on either side and "4.1" in the middle. Ask me how I know.

2) The Sump, as fitted by the overflow drain pipes, sits in the middle of the cabinet. If I had it to do over again, I would have shortened the drain pipes so that the sump would sit 3" closer to the right wall, leaving more space on the left for an ATO container or other equipment.

3) My "Return Pipe" (pipe 7 in the included PDF) was too long. It required about .5" cut down before it would allow the "T" to align through the overflow. I think mine was plumbing mistake, but super easy to remedy. Just don't get frustrated if the "fit" isn't 100% initially.

Hopefully, that makes sense... let me know if you have questions, and I'll try to respond with pics.

Keep us posted!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

It happened yesterday!

Now I'm trying to decide if I want to do a sand bed for some Macros or maybe a small Wrasse to eventually move to the Display Tank.

Love it!!! I had a bunch of broken shells ("borrowed" from Siesta Key) covering the bottom of my previous sump, about 3-4" deep.

But since the ESHOPPS sump has a larger area / footprint, I didn't want them sparsely covering the bottom, so I just put some of them in a basket. I might add more when I get back to the beach. ( @nickng , coincidentally, that's where I picked up the red ogo)

 

[nickng]

Love it!!! I had a bunch of broken shells ("borrowed" from Siesta Key) covering the bottom of my previous sump, about 3-4" deep.

But since the ESHOPPS sump has a larger area / footprint, I didn't want them sparsely covering the bottom, so I just put some of them in a basket. I might add more when I get back to the beach. ( @nickng , coincidentally, that's where I picked up the red ogo)

Thanks, looks like you get good results with the stuff from the sea near you. Btw do you quarantine the red ogo that you get from sea before putting it in the tank?

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Thanks, looks like you get good results with the stuff from the sea near you. Btw do you quarantine the red ogo that you get from sea before putting it in the tank?

Welllllll, stupidly (from what I gather now) NO, I didn't quarantine anything. BUT, it turned out just fine. I started with a bunch of sargassum and some deadman fingers in addition to the reg ogo.

The only "negative" was that I ended up with a BUNCH of Spirorbid Worms that started appearing on the back of my tank (and LOTS in the overflow) - but other than unsightly, they're really good filter feeders.

So maybe I dodged a bullet... but, next time I'm at the beach, I'll keep an eye out for a really striking piece if I see one.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Happy Saturday, All!

Just an update on the @ESHOPPS.INC Mariner 130 after a month and a half of running it.

I love the sump and how large and open it is! I'm not running a protein skimmer but rather using the space for a refugium, and my algae is growing like crazy and keeping my No3 and Po4 to a minimum. (In fact, I'm going to ramp up my feeding and cut my chaeto in half later today)

I love the simplicity of the tank. Coming from the Red Sea tank previously, this is just so much more pleasant to look at and operate.

I'll try to get some pictures of the tank and livestock/corals later today so I can look back in a month and see the growth.

Have a wonderful weekend Reefers!

 

[AnnaKAF]

Hi, first of all thanks for sharing the experience! I’m here for some advice from you. I bought myself same tank, Mariner 130. And I’m new to the hobby. I used to have a freshwater tank, but always dreamed of a reef tank. Here I am. I want to start a refugium in the sump, but, since I never did that, and there isn’t too much information on Mariner’s options of how to do it, I would appreciate more information on “how to”. My tank is one week old. And the LFS guys installed it, put the socks in (BTW, trickling is LOUD down into the socks), put, but not activated the skimmer (I know it’s early), in the middle bay. So where I put my macroalgae? They said I can move the skimmer to the third bay, but I read that order of socks-skimmer-refugium-return is the ticket. There won’t be place for skimmer where the socks are. And, you mentioned you would post videos on YouTube. Are they available yet? TIA

 

[tbrown]

Hi, first of all thanks for sharing the experience! I’m here for some advice from you. I bought myself same tank, Mariner 130. And I’m new to the hobby. I used to have a freshwater tank, but always dreamed of a reef tank. Here I am. I want to start a refugium in the sump, but, since I never did that, and there isn’t too much information on Mariner’s options of how to do it, I would appreciate more information on “how to”. My tank is one week old. And the LFS guys installed it, put the socks in (BTW, trickling is LOUD down into the socks), put, but not activated the skimmer (I know it’s early), in the middle bay. So where I put my macroalgae? They said I can move the skimmer to the third bay, but I read that order of socks-skimmer-refugium-return is the ticket. There won’t be place for skimmer where the socks are. And, you mentioned you would post videos on YouTube. Are they available yet? TIA

Are you planning on running a skimmer and refugium?

For me it's usually one or the other in a 3 section sump.

 

[AnnaKAF]

Are you planning on running a skimmer and refugium?

For me it's usually one or the other in a 3 section sump.

Thank you, that’s something to think about… Actually this 3 sections sump is the only thing I don’t like about the setup.

 

[tbrown]

Thank you, that’s something to think about… Actually this 3 sections sump is the only thing I don’t like about the setup.

I've had both in the past (AR and RS series) and I prefer the straightforward flow in these 3 section sumps more, but it's just personal preference.

One option (if you're not running socks like me) is to make the sock section the Fuge in a basket, similar to how Jesse did. That would allow you to use the skimmer section for the skimmer. Also, depending on the footprint of the skimmer and the return pump you're running, they both might fit in the return section.

 

[AnnaKAF]

I've had both in the past (AR and RS series) and I prefer the straightforward flow in these 3 section sumps more, but it's just personal preference.

One option (if you're not running socks like me) is to make the sock section the Fuge in a basket, similar to how Jesse did. That would allow you to use the skimmer section for the skimmer. Also, depending on the footprint of the skimmer and the return pump you're running, they both might fit in the return section.

The first picture is how they left the skimmer after they put together the aquarium. And said that I can move it to the return section, but will there be anything to skim there??? Shouldn’t there be clean water?
I fiddled a bit with moving the things around, and fit the skimmer instead of one of the socks. I will adopt the idea of 3d printing a new fitting though, if you all think it will be a good idea. But since the socks section and the skimmer section don’t have a barrier in between, will my future copepods be sucked into the skimmer?

P.S.: sorry, it’s not my thread, I hope I’m not spoiling it here with all my questions and thoughts…

 

[Jesse Sunday]

P.S.: sorry, it’s not my thread, I hope I’m not spoiling it here with all my questions and thoughts…

Don't apologize! I love seeing others' @ESHOPPS.INC tanks! (Speaking of, I need to add my pics to the new thread @tbrown started. Thank you for tagging me!)

This is just my personal opinion. I am not using a skimmer... I find that the refugium that I've created in the sump is pulling everything out that I would need. More, in fact, since I'm having trouble keeping N03/P04 levels up and having to "halve" my chaeto every few weeks.

As for the sound, I've found that simply using filter floss in place of the socks provides enough filtration AND reduces the noise significantly. I cut roughly a 10"x12" piece and tuck it back between where the drain pipes come into the sump and then press it down through the first filter sock hole so that it's about 2" lower than the filter sock platform. That provides a nice "ramp/guide" for the water to flow down into the sump. I'll take pictures tonight if you need help visualizing.

With some rock and rubble in the sump, I have a TON of pods!

I have a Neptune GRO light flush on the left of the sump (shining directly through the acrylic into the filter chamber) and an AI 16 mounted over the sump to provide additional light.

Looking forward to seeing more of your tank setup @AnnaKAF !

Jesse

 

[AnnaKAF]

Don't apologize! I love seeing others' @ESHOPPS.INC tanks! (Speaking of, I need to add my pics to the new thread @tbrown started. Thank you for tagging me!)

This is just my personal opinion. I am not using a skimmer... I find that the refugium that I've created in the sump is pulling everything out that I would need. More, in fact, since I'm having trouble keeping N03/P04 levels up and having to "halve" my chaeto every few weeks.

As for the sound, I've found that simply using filter floss in place of the socks provides enough filtration AND reduces the noise significantly. I cut roughly a 10"x12" piece and tuck it back between where the drain pipes come into the sump and then press it down through the first filter sock hole so that it's about 2" lower than the filter sock platform. That provides a nice "ramp/guide" for the water to flow down into the sump. I'll take pictures tonight if you need help visualizing.

With some rock and rubble in the sump, I have a TON of pods!

I have a Neptune GRO light flush on the left of the sump (shining directly through the acrylic into the filter chamber) and an AI 16 mounted over the sump to provide additional light.

Looking forward to seeing more of your tank setup @AnnaKAF !

Jesse

Thank you!!!!

 

[nickng]

The first picture is how they left the skimmer after they put together the aquarium. And said that I can move it to the return section, but will there be anything to skim there??? Shouldn’t there be clean water?
I fiddled a bit with moving the things around, and fit the skimmer instead of one of the socks. I will adopt the idea of 3d printing a new fitting though, if you all think it will be a good idea. But since the socks section and the skimmer section don’t have a barrier in between, will my future copepods be sucked into the skimmer?

P.S.: sorry, it’s not my thread, I hope I’m not spoiling it here with all my questions and thoughts…

How about getting a small 2-5 gallon acrylic tank and put that in the other section of the cabinet and drill two pipes into the middle separating wall of the cabinet and use a small/weakish pump to push water via one pipe into the return pump section? Abit like what’s done in the big Red Sea MAX S-1000

 

[AnnaKAF]

How about getting a small 2-5 gallon acrylic tank and put that in the other section of the cabinet and drill two pipes into the middle separating wall of the cabinet and use a small/weakish pump to push water via one pipe into the return pump section? Abit like what’s done in the big Red Sea MAX S-1000

Thank you for the idea, I actually already have the 12g ATO in the right section of the cabinet. So for now leaning towards Jesse’s idea. But I already have skimmer. So still thinking))