600g Acrylic reef
- Thread starter pwhitby
- Start date
Sorry for taking so log to reply Alien, yeah it really did. It took 2 weeks out of my time schedule....but things are back online again.
I just did the first part of the drilling,
I aded all the updates in my other thread on our clubs forum.
if anyones interested, take a look and feel free to ask questions, make comments. This pics up from where I left off on this thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=665314&perpage=25&pagenumber=11
if anyones interested, take a look and feel free to ask questions, make comments.
Paul.
I just did the first part of the drilling,
I aded all the updates in my other thread on our clubs forum.
if anyones interested, take a look and feel free to ask questions, make comments. This pics up from where I left off on this thread.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=665314&perpage=25&pagenumber=11
if anyones interested, take a look and feel free to ask questions, make comments.
Paul.
Well....heres an update, its been a while. Most details are in the thread linked to above
I finally managed to get time to work on my new rack working:
The problem was the rock was too intrusive and not at all natural looking. Ultimately it came down to rushing the job and not spending the time to do it properly. I corrected one side (left side) this weekend.
The old rack work was a two tiered piece that extended 30 inches forward and was about 18 inches tall: When the rock was laid on top it just looked like a big hump:
so........
I wanted to create a more open and natural looking structure. I alos wanted to take advantage of the way the lighting falls on the sand. Heres what i did.
I stripped the rock out, removed the rack. I then made a nbew rack that was only 10 inches tall. This was tall enough to go over the top of my CL returns. The rack was 10 inches wide, and extended around the LHS back corner to come forward by 12 inches. The idea was to make a tunnel extending from the LHS corner to the middle back.
I then made two PVC holders to support two pillars of rock:
First off I drilled a bunch of the flatter pieces of rock i had. I did this one end where possible. Then I made the holder:
to show how it assembles, here a couple more pics:
one of the pillars was placed at the back near the rack and the other in the middle of the LHS. The rock was added to them and then rock jumbled about the base to make canyons and hide the opening of the cave.
Corals were placed on and around the pillars, some holes were bored into the LR to make space for frags.
Here is the LHS middle pillar:
the LHS in total
Unfortunately, pictures dont capture the depth that re-scaping has made. I am very happy with the improvements. Now I need to work the same ideas on the RHS.
P.
I finally managed to get time to work on my new rack working:
The problem was the rock was too intrusive and not at all natural looking. Ultimately it came down to rushing the job and not spending the time to do it properly. I corrected one side (left side) this weekend.
The old rack work was a two tiered piece that extended 30 inches forward and was about 18 inches tall: When the rock was laid on top it just looked like a big hump:
so........
I wanted to create a more open and natural looking structure. I alos wanted to take advantage of the way the lighting falls on the sand. Heres what i did.
I stripped the rock out, removed the rack. I then made a nbew rack that was only 10 inches tall. This was tall enough to go over the top of my CL returns. The rack was 10 inches wide, and extended around the LHS back corner to come forward by 12 inches. The idea was to make a tunnel extending from the LHS corner to the middle back.
I then made two PVC holders to support two pillars of rock:
First off I drilled a bunch of the flatter pieces of rock i had. I did this one end where possible. Then I made the holder:
to show how it assembles, here a couple more pics:
one of the pillars was placed at the back near the rack and the other in the middle of the LHS. The rock was added to them and then rock jumbled about the base to make canyons and hide the opening of the cave.
Corals were placed on and around the pillars, some holes were bored into the LR to make space for frags.
Here is the LHS middle pillar:
the LHS in total
Unfortunately, pictures dont capture the depth that re-scaping has made. I am very happy with the improvements. Now I need to work the same ideas on the RHS.
P.
this may help visualize it a little better:
http://www.flowinghand.net/images/dscf0303.avi
http://www.flowinghand.net/images/dscf0302.avi
its slightly blue since i cant white balance with my digital camera in movie mode.
Hopefully, you get the idea.
P
__________________
http://www.flowinghand.net/images/dscf0303.avi
http://www.flowinghand.net/images/dscf0302.avi
its slightly blue since i cant white balance with my digital camera in movie mode.
Hopefully, you get the idea.
P
__________________
purpletang26
New member
hey paul i would like to see a diagram of the lighting on the tank when you get a chance. trying to figiure something out for my 857gallon thanks chris
I have 6 400w bulbs at present. On the LHS of the tank the5re are 4 bulbs ( 2 over each opening) and on the RHS there are 2 bulbs, 1 each central to each opening. I added 2 T5s last night to the front of the RHS and will add another 2 T5s to the back soon.
I am experimenting with MH-T5 combos.
Paul.
I am experimenting with MH-T5 combos.
Paul.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Im sure you've seen it already but have you checked out the lighting on the current TOTM? I would definately say he is running a combo of T5s and MH.
Also, I definately like the new aquascaping better. It's much more dynamic and interesting. You will get a lot more enjoyment out of it IMO.
If you didnt notice..........my aquascaping mimics Ralf's. He and I have spoken with each other a couple of times. His tank is more open than mine, so that lighting works well for him. I am trying to go with a row of 4 MH down the middle supplemented with 2 rows of T5s (one in front and one behind) each of which has 2 or 3 T5s in.
So far, I like the color of the two T5s I have infront of two of the 400w halides.
I now have to work on rescaping the other side....but all in its own fair time.
P.
So far, I like the color of the two T5s I have infront of two of the 400w halides.
I now have to work on rescaping the other side....but all in its own fair time.
P.
Hi all.........
well the left side is pretty much done. I made two more pillars same as the last two, did a wrap around ledge across the far left side corner. The wrap around ledge allows fish to move from the left corner of the tank to the right back corner without becoming visible. There is also an entrance/exit in the midle. The fish do seem to like that extended tunnel.
Anyway:
here are a few pics;
The new pillar narest the middle of the tank
the two pillars:
and a really crappy, but fast loading mini video of the layout.
the tank still needs to clear a little after the rearranging. Once it does so i will take more pictures.
Paul.
well the left side is pretty much done. I made two more pillars same as the last two, did a wrap around ledge across the far left side corner. The wrap around ledge allows fish to move from the left corner of the tank to the right back corner without becoming visible. There is also an entrance/exit in the midle. The fish do seem to like that extended tunnel.
Anyway:
here are a few pics;
The new pillar narest the middle of the tank
the two pillars:
and a really crappy, but fast loading mini video of the layout.
the tank still needs to clear a little after the rearranging. Once it does so i will take more pictures.
Paul.
