150 Rebuild: New rockscape and going bare bottom!!
- Thread starter TheAquatect
- Start date
TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
I am favoring B myself. I still have quite a few rocks with corals on them to round out both options, this is just the basic framework.
I got my rock from BRS originally and added as time went on but yes, its from my DT. The bleach did an amazing job with the organics, I had quite a bit of bubble algae on one rock, now I would not be able to tell you which rock that was.
I'm hesitant to use bleach unless I really have to. I've soaked in RODI twice now and let dry in the sun, a little scrubbing in between, and I'm hard pressed to see any organics left. Might be some in the nooks and crannies, I'll soak a few more times tho...
Option b looks better for coral placement imo
Option b looks better for coral placement imo
TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
I also read up on hydrogen peroxide but opted for bleach due to availability. It airs out in a few days but its also negated by the vinegar (acid vs base) to a degree. I did not have the time to cook the rock as you are doing but I am expecting a quick cycle as my sump and refugium are still up and running and I have about another 30 lbs of live rock from the DT that I will be adding back.
Then after ALL that, I get to set up for medicated quarantine for the fish. :spin2:
TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
Everything I read noted them as reef safe. But wear gloves when cutting and handling unless you like bits of fiberglass in your skin.
Mine were orange but not painted, its in the resin.
MrHarvard
"ship it"
I like the first piece you made It looks a lot like the bonsai tree piece I made for my cube. I would make a couple of those and put one at each end that would give you space for grow out or maybe a ledge to connect them. I really enjoy working with small pieces with lots of character with no set idea in mind and just seeing what comes together. Here is a link to the bonsai inspired piece I made I only used epoxy no rods.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2396321
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2396321
TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
Yes, exactly. I drilled the holes and cleaned them out with some compressed air, then I would cut the rod to fit and then wrap it in water weld and push it into the hole. wrapping it from top to bottom kept me from worrying about seeing the orange. I was really amazed at how the epoxied rod alone was able to hold the rocks together.
Thanks! I know I've looked at that thread before, I really like that bonsai look as well. Small rocks do seem to work best, I started out using bigger rocks on the first set and I found the second set to be much easier to shape using smaller rocks. height and counter-balance were my next biggest concerns as these guys are around 23" tall.
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TheAquatect
I Could Stop If I Wanted
Been a bit busy to post, but here is the latest update on the rock redo. I got the new rock in and mixed up some new saltwater and let her sit for a week to make sure there was no cycle occurring. I left my sump up and running so I was not expecting a long cycle. Coral are in and a few more rocks than I would like, but still working on coral placement.
I'm doing weekly water changes of 20g, total volume is 170g, so just a hair over 10% weekly. I'm still seeing hair algae growth off the old rock so I'm running GFO which is helping but I think my sump is feeding it too, so I'll be cleaning that up next now that the tank is stable. Thanks everyone for the help/opinions!!
Next on the list is fish and quarantine then I can get back to adding coral.
:celeb1:
I'm doing weekly water changes of 20g, total volume is 170g, so just a hair over 10% weekly. I'm still seeing hair algae growth off the old rock so I'm running GFO which is helping but I think my sump is feeding it too, so I'll be cleaning that up next now that the tank is stable. Thanks everyone for the help/opinions!!
Next on the list is fish and quarantine then I can get back to adding coral.
:celeb1:
IrishTang
Member
Looks good, I really like the idea of the fiberglass rods as I was always afraid to drill huge holes in my rocks for PVC. There is nothing better than being able to start fresh in this hobby. Learn from the mistakes you made the first time. I tell my wife I dread the day I don't have any more room for coral in my tank. Thankfully she caught the reef bug as well so I sense an upgrade in my future!
