150 finally up and running

[mike89t]

Well after about a year of research and swiping credit cards I finally have my 150g up and running. Here are some photos with the LR and Reef Ceramics:

 

[NaClH20NMYVEIN]

Looks great!

 

[RayinAZ]

Very clean set-up! I like.

 

[lakebound]

Love the back reef ceramics. Thumbs up!:thumbsup:

 

[Cody Ray]

My only qualm is the ceramic background, but I will hold off on a final judgment until it has some coralline and corals growing on it. Looks pretty sweet though!

 

[mike89t]

My only qualm is the ceramic background, but I will hold off on a final judgment until it has some coralline and corals growing on it. Looks pretty sweet though!

The Ceramic really stands out right now because it is so white. When it becomes covered in coraline it should look just like the LR. The overflow should also become covered in coraline and you won't have the drastic black and white contrast you see now.

I also did some minor modifications. On the right side I moved a piece of LR so that the Island clearly looks separate from the back wall. I think this helps give the illusion of more of a canal between the LR and Reef Ceramic back wall.

Then I added another small cave and more of a peak to the left island that looked kind of flat before.

Here is a close up of the island on the left side of the tank. You can see the new peak and a large cave I created on the bottom right side of the Island.

 

[kirstenk]

Looking good! I forget..what are going to keep?

 

[mike89t]

Looking good! I forget..what are going to keep?

SPS and fish for the most part.

 

[mjstech]

where did you get the sand from?

 

[mike89t]

where did you get the sand from?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8119&ref=3532&subref=AT&N=2004+113554

 

[tigerarmy40]

are you planning on putting epoxy on the over flow?

 

[mike89t]

are you planning on putting epoxy on the over flow?

I'm just going to wait and let it get covered in coraline.

 

[mike89t]

Finally got my Canopy and T5 lighting all wired up. Here is the final product:

 

[kris101]

Did you make the ceramic back ground. If so how did you make it?

 

[mike89t]

Did you make the ceramic back ground. If so how did you make it?

Nope purchased it from:

http://www.captiveoceans.com/products-RE_reefceramic.html

I did look into makeing my own but didn't have the time. There is a thread in the DIY forum that I started which discusses making your own reef ceramics.

 

[kris101]

thanks for the info. They make some pretty neat stuff. I wonder if over time the become biologically active like rock is.

 

[mike89t]

thanks for the info. They make some pretty neat stuff. I wonder if over time the become biologically active like rock is.

They will become pretty much just like live rock. The ceramic is porous so it will become full of bacteria. I've already noticed a bunch of pods calling the ceramic walls home. As soon as they become covered in coraline they will look just like the LR.

 

[kris101]

This seems like a really good alternative to liverock when comparing $$. I was looking at a package deal on their site and it seems to e pretty cost effective to use it my 210 g that I am just starting to build.

 

[mike89t]

Originally posted by kris101 This seems like a really good alternative to liverock when comparing $$. I was looking at a package deal on their site and it seems to e pretty cost effective to use it my 210 g that I am just starting to build.

It isn't cheap. Cost me $160 per 30lb wall which is about how much you pay for good live rock. IMO you still need some LR so that you can seed the ceramics with life.

 

[mike89t]

Well I've moved some rock around and was able to hide the center overflow some so that there isn't such a dramatic break between the ceramic walls. Here is a photo of the new Aquascape. There was still a bit of a sand storm when I took this photo: