A Suichoku Tana Style hardscape lagoon project: Part 1

[coralfarmer]

Here's some new pics of my latest hardscape project .

Next is to add more shelf rock and a few small branching pieces .

 

[andrepeixoto]

Looks very cool! I like the open aquascape with lots of room for water flow.

 

[gonzalez78]

Looking good James I'm just not a big fan of that real reef rock I know it's better for the wild reefs but still don't like the look.

 

[coralfarmer]

When it's finally covered with coralline algae it's hard to tell the difference .
I'm more concerned with introducing unwanted pests into the tank . Like gorilla crabs , bristle worms , aptasia
and all sorts of weirdness .
But the environmental impact is something to think about especially in this hobby .

 

[coralfarmer]

Finished the hardscaping . Just have to wait 48 hours for the epoxy to fully cure .

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[mav3rick478]

Nice, are you going to put sand or do bare bottom?

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[juniorrocketdad]

That scape is awesome, great look, lots of room for flow and good places for coral

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Do you have to cure real reef rock

 

[coralfarmer]

Nice, are you going to put sand or do bare bottom?

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I'm going to use Caribsea Aragamax sugar sized Aragonite . About an inch or so .


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[woodnaquanut]

Looking good, James.

That tank looks familiar!

 

[coralfarmer]

Do you have to cure real reef rock

I usually treat it like any other live rock and generally monitor water quality for Ammonia , Nitrite.
After I have complete the hardscape I wait 48 hours to let the epoxy cure . Then I fill with freshwater for 48 hours to rinse off any epoxy debris and let the epoxy cure underwater . I find if I just fill a tank up with saltwater and start the tank up the Alk is generally high . Filling with freshwater for 48 hours tends to fix the issue.



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[coralfarmer]

Looking good, James.

That tank looks familiar!

I'm hoping when I'm done with it you won't recognize it


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[juniorrocketdad]

What kind of epoxy do you use?

 

[swk]

I'm hoping when I'm done with it you won't recognize it


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Is this the leemar cube that resides at a local fish and reptile emporium?

 

[mav3rick478]

<Cough> Cotati <\cough>

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[coralfarmer]

I use Poly Gem epoxy . I have some past posts where I explain how to use it . Maybe I repost .

http://www.polygem.com/products/zoopoxy


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[Ssteve]

Hopefully you can talk them into changing more than just their aquascape on that tank.

Any reason behind the suger sized sand? Can you get away with that and somewhat high flow?

 

[coralfarmer]

I mainly like the esthetics of fine aragonite sand . Plus gobies can easily sift thru the sand . Clean up crew also can turn the sand eliminating any brown diatom build up .
It is also bright white which helps reflect the light back towards the surface which benefits the corals . And I find it is a great way to maintain the buffering capacity of the water .
And when it starts to look bad it's super easy to siphon it out and put a fresh layer in .
As for the high flow blowing the sand around . I just manipulate the flow pattern to avoid that.
In a shallow lagoon style tank I keep the water flow towards the surface . This helps gas off the CO2 in the water and can help reduce algae growth .


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[1kwksvt]

Got a chance to check out your work. It looks great james

 

[coralfarmer]

Sean , Thanks for the kind words .


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