Waterbox REEF 130.4 build thread

Jessica · February 14, 2021, 7:09pm

Hello everyone! Welcome to my build thread on my new Waterbox REEF 130.4 system!

I currently have a 24 gallon nano tank that has been up for 2.5 years and a 14 gallon coral quarantine tank so this is a big upgrade for me!

The display is 96.3 gallons and the sump is 30.6 gallons. Both are made out of Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass. The stand is made out of UV coated plywood. The display will be lit by two AI Hydra 32HDs.

I anticipate this will be a slow process. But as they say nothing good happens fast in this hobby !

Here are pictures of it arriving in December 2020.

image|375x500

Jessica · February 14, 2021, 7:16pm

TheEngineer · February 15, 2021, 12:06am

Woo hoo! Congrats!

Donavon · February 15, 2021, 12:11am

The whole set up looks great. I love the AI Lights, @kyle.mench has them on his tank, I love the way his tank looks

houndsbayman · February 15, 2021, 1:25pm

That setup is awesome! You are going to enjoy that tank. Will be watching the progress on the build.

Jessica · February 20, 2021, 12:03am

I’m getting stuff together to start a Negative Space Aquascape (NSA). I plan on creating maybe 3-4 separate rock formations by supergluing then mortaring together broken up pieces of Marco rock.

22.5 lb. Bahama Aragonite Sand - MarcoRocks

Insta-set Super Glue Accelerator - Bob Smith Industries

E-Marco-400 Aquascaping Mortar Complete Kit - Grey - MarcoRocks

Large Foundation Reef Saver Dry Live Rock - MarcoRocks

Small Foundation Reef Saver Dry Live Rock - MarcoRocks

Reef Saver Shelf Aquarium Dry Live Rock - Marco

Reef Saver Aquarium Dry Live Rock - MarcoRocks

Gluemasters thick viscosity glue

Mason chisel with Hans guard

2 lb sledge hammer

davisgregg33 · February 20, 2021, 1:54pm

Looks like your cat is wondering what the heck your up to.

Jessica · February 23, 2021, 1:04am

This is version 1. I’m not in love with it but it is the best I’ve come up with so far. It is not quite as NSA as I was planning. It’s like a hybrid rock wall/NSA.

MarineMike5 · February 23, 2021, 5:25am

Keep playing. You can do better than that.

houndsbayman · February 23, 2021, 2:03pm

Aquascaping, probably will be the one decision you have to spend more of your time deciding on what looks the best formation. Many factors come into play. such as tank size, the kind of coral, swim room for your fish, trying to get maximum flow through out the entire tank.
Thru the years I have learned that my first aquascape has grown from it’s original design. Rocks were added, and then to get better flow coverage, rocks were removed.
Be patient. Find the best design that you like and go with it.

TheEngineer · February 23, 2021, 2:56pm

I like the design personally. You have plenty of depth and not a ton of shaded areas you won’t be able to put any coral. If I had to pick something to suggest changing, perhaps the flat shelves. I’ve just never been a fan, but it depends on what you’re planning to put on top of them.

Jessica · February 25, 2021, 10:35pm

I think I will keep this rock structure as one of 3 I plan on making. What do you guys think?

bz350 · February 25, 2021, 10:39pm

that’s awesome!

SizzleFun · February 26, 2021, 12:43am

Very cool and versatile. It looks good as is and would also look great with corals on it.

MarineMike5 · February 26, 2021, 6:37am

That looks better. This should do well with coral growing in. Nice job.

Jessica · February 27, 2021, 9:44pm

I’m hoping to grow an arch of coral with the 2 new structures. One of the semi arch structures is slightly pulled forward to add depth. I like this layout the best so far. I have not decided if I love it yet.

bz350 · February 28, 2021, 2:39am

looking much better. Like you said, the depth is very important. My displays are only 18in front to back. I wish i could have taken better advantage of lower rockwork in the front to higher rock work in the back.

Are you planning to attach corals with glue/Epoxy? It was alot more work, but i went with fiberglass rods. It was super tedious, makes moving colonies around very easy. Some of the rock was too dense to drill however.

Jessica · February 28, 2021, 1:45pm

I plan on using glue for the corals. Did you use the rods as frag plugs or to support your Aquascape?

bz350 · February 28, 2021, 6:34pm

both. I copied coral euphoria - on youtube- So my rock structure can be completely disassembled. Then i drilled more holes in the structure. I used a 1/8 diamond hole saw to cut shallow holes in small piece of rubble and glued the fiberglass rods in place. So i have “custom” frag mounts that can be moved all over the tank, without really disturbing anything.

Jessica · March 2, 2021, 8:42pm

I added the mortar today. I need to go back and do a few areas on the underside. I’m then going to adhere sand to the seams with a skim coat of mortar to mask the grey color.