My 34g Rimless With AI Sol Blue

[reefaddictx]

After debating getting out of the hobby, somehow I ended up working on two smaller tank projects yet alone still keeping up with my 400g and the 175g frag tank. Luckily I already had all my old equipment to start this build.

After keeping up with the 400g and the frag system. I realized I bought all these expensive gadgets and equipment and in the long run i ended up not even using them. So with this build I am going with a different route and keep it with the basic guidelines. KEEPING IT SIMPLE. But we'll see how that goes since theres a lil spending habbit in all of us.

Heres the tank and equipment list.

Tank:
34g Solana Rimless with AIO Filter box removed
Dimension: 20x20x20

Stand:
Custom DIY built with 2x4 and plywood
Dimensions: 20x20x36

Lighting:
Currently AI SOL NANO
Will be switched to AI SOL BLUE
Mount: AI EXT TANK MOUNT AND RAIL

Filteration:
Aqua C Remora HOB Skimmer
Aqua C intank media Containter with carbon and gfo

 

[reefaddictx]

Building the stand.

I've always liked modern stuff with clean lines and was always interested in modern stands. I went and searched trying to find a already build stand or a modern night stand. I had no luck and the quote to build one was out of my budget. I ended on taking this project myself and im pretty satisfied with the results.




I was in a dilemma of keeping the wood grain color since the new modern now a days is pine colored wood. I couldn't decide wether to stain it mocha black or just paint it black or white.

First attempt I decided to stain it mocha but ended up not liking the results as I would have had to put a million coats of stain just to get the results I wanted.

I gave up on the stain and went with a gloss black paint. This decision made my life way easier and in less of a time I had my stand painted.

I chose to go with black instead of white to contrast the colors so it can bring out the colors in the corals that will be stocked.

Here is the final results:

 

[reefaddictx]

Since the factory filter box from the solana was removed, It cleared up the glass on the back wall showing all the wires and protein skimmer. That brought up another issue. To most people painting any tank with paint will devalue the tank in which I was in debate on a solution.

I knew I didn't want to permanently paint it. I also didn't want to go cheap and did the normal black paper back ground that everyone does.

One day when I got home my brother was painting his car with a rattle can. So I asked why he was doing it bootlegged and if he was afraid it would come out wrong. He said nope, this black paint peels off when you want to. Thats how I found my solution. This product was called PLASTIDIP.



This product spreys on and when dried is able to peel off with ease and wouldn't damage or stain the previous surface.

Before:


The black background also blended in well with my media container and hid everything well.

After:

 

[reefaddictx]

Since I was starting new with this tank build, I decided to start off with brand new rocks and ordered a bulk from Bulk Reef supply. They ran out of tonga branch and i wanted to stray away from the normal fiji rocks so i chose to go with Pukani rocks. I chose Pukani because the rock isn't as dense as most other rocks that wouldnt be so heavy that it would cause a lot of water volume loss. Pukani is also very pourious with a very intricate look and texture. What i also like is that it could be sawed or chizzled to the shape and texture of your liking.

I've always been into bonsais and the aethesics of the look and did my rock work based upon the Juniper plant cascade style.



I ended up bonding two pieces of pukani together to make the free floating end of the rock work to give it more of the caskade look giving it the minimalist look and alot more surface on the sand bed to add more corals.



Sps will be placed on top to grow and cover the top give it more of a forest/ Mountain look.

 

[reefaddictx]

I am currently waiting for the fedex truck to deliver my AI EXT MOUNT so i can mount my AI SOL Blues today. Previous picture shows the tank with the AI NANO.

The AI NANO seemes to be enough to light up the tank but will be using it on another build.

Waited a whole week to get the mounts shipped to me. Seems even longer waiting on the truck to arrive.