Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)
- Thread starter nineball
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khaosinc
The cyborg reefer
thanks for taking the time to keep this thread updated. I love watching a well planned out build and look forward to seeing the results. I tend to take a very haphazard approach to everything (including my tank) and do to some major set backs it is all but on hold now. Take time experimenting with the magnets, it takes a little time/practice to make sure you don't scratch up the tank.
I have the mag float 510A and I know it handles 1 1/4 quite well, and is almost to much for the 1" on my display sides. Adding additional covering for them is a very good idea in my experience.
Not much useful else useful to add... I feel like I should actually do something with my tank now..
I have the mag float 510A and I know it handles 1 1/4 quite well, and is almost to much for the 1" on my display sides. Adding additional covering for them is a very good idea in my experience.
Not much useful else useful to add... I feel like I should actually do something with my tank now..
nineball
Active member
Once upon a time, a bazillion years ago, on a wild weekend in St Lucia (talk about a blind date gone right!!!) I woke up in a small resort on the side of a hill called Anse Chastanet. It was a small bay with black volcanic sand. It was the first time I had seen or felt it and I was quite taken with it as I snorkeled a short distance to an inshore reef. As I approached the reef the sand changed or should I say morphed into pure white soft sand. The transition took place with white ripples or stripes appearing in the solid black volcanic sand and then became black stripes on white sand untill the black stripes were no more. Very, very striking and if I was doing only one structure it would probably be that one. Start out at one end of the tank in black sand and end up in white at the other end. Seeing this phenomena occur naturally in nature would make it very real.
But then there was another time off Port Douglas near the Great Barrier Reef where................
But that's for later.....
Peter
mr.wilson
.Registered Member
I would buy the Mag-Float the next size down (extra large) for the ends. It's a lot easier to use with less drag and more maneuverability. You can mix and match with the extra large magnet (3/4" - 1 1/4") on the inside and the professional size (1.5" - 2") on the outside. This also helps get closer into corners. Bigger cleaning pads on the magnet also help. If you ever want to decrease the strength of the magnet, simply use a thicker pad on the outside and or inside of the magnet. Increasing the distance between the magnets decreases the pull and makes it easier to slide around.
You can find lots of references to Mr. Clean pads if you do a search. A friend of mine mentioned his client using ones with Febreze (scented odour killer). That's not a good idea
http://blog.fragd.it/2009/03/03/a-magic-tool-to-clean-your-acrylic/
http://web1.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1815040&page=2
mr.wilson
.Registered Member
Don't get too attached to the sand mix you end up with... the fish will only break your heart when they destroy it.
nineball
Active member
I agree, any non-metallic substrate will work. It took me awhile to get used to the idea that you can use anything other than aragonite for a reef tank. I'm even convinced silica sand is okay, but it will scratch the tank like a diamond.
In the old days we relied on calcareous substrate for chemical buffering of carbonates (DKH) and PH. Now we have (Nilsen) kalkwasser reactors, calcium reactors, and metering pumps to get the job done. In reality, any substrate is going to get coated with biofilms and cease to dissolve, so the buffering capacity is negligible in saltwater. It's a different story with African Cichlid tanks, but we'll save that discussion for another forum
What do you have planned for maintaining water chemistry Peter? Other than a spare bedroom for Michael
The whole question of water quality management beyond the basics will be introduced when I can devote sufficient bandwidth in the proper context of the build. I suspect there will be a wide and diverse set of opinions on what is or is not appropriate. The technology is changing at light speed and it will be a subject that is respected in the discussion in this thread. I expect we will all learn something valuable and the good capn will have good material for his log. I would however like to formally launch the subject of water quality as I plan to handle lighting in the same manner.
Peter
Aquarist007
New member
I just have to link this thread to the log book thread and I'll have enough material for other reefers to read until xmas:dance:
nineball
Active member
Thank you khaosinc and welcome to the group. If your experience in this thread helps you to return to your build then this has certainly been worthwhile. Thanks also for the confirmation on the magnets......
Peter
nineball
Active member
I sensing quite an eventful evening with the taste of salt and the smell of ozone coming up soon.......:celeb2:
Peter
socalireefer
In Memoriam
During the course of a few weeks off and on, i just finished catching up.
Its simply a awesome inspirational build, Congrads! Thanks for sharing.
Have you checked out this Tunze cleaning Magnet, its insanely expensive but cost doesnt seem to be a deterrent here,lol
http://fishsupply.com/stz-mg22057.html
Its simply a awesome inspirational build, Congrads! Thanks for sharing.
Have you checked out this Tunze cleaning Magnet, its insanely expensive but cost doesnt seem to be a deterrent here,lol
http://fishsupply.com/stz-mg22057.html
Aquarist007
New member
tagging along... I'm one of the guys that looks at pictures only because 57 pages of reading would **** off the gf
You mean you get your girl friend to read the threads to you---now that's a girl friend:dance::thumbsup::lol2:
and I thought I was clever getting my dog to answer some of my posts
nineball
Active member
Peter I don't think these fish will disappoint you when it comes to sand-sifters. One of the nice things about them, at least in my experience, is that they stay on the bottom unlike the yellow head or dragon gobies that work the sand well but swim up when processing the sand and dump it all over your corals and rock work. I highly recommend the "orange spotted diamond head'" variety. My pair are almost always together working the sand side by side all day. I have a few wrasses that like to follow them around looking for worms and other morsels that they often dig up when sifting.
In regards to the rubble idea, if you look at this "then & now" picture from my build thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16971082&postcount=1485
you'll notice I added rubble in the front center area because over time the sand was displaced by the flow. For what it's worth it looks much more natural in person because you can see how the two types of media blend together. The picture makes it look much more stark than it actually is.
PauChi
New member
I've heard and read of so many proponents of deep to very deep sandbeds for tanks and I like the RDSB method best and Peter ... if you do end up with a RDSB, how deep do you think it's gonna be? And I'm just wondering out loud if it's possible to plant mangroves in the RDSB section ... just a crazy thought as mangroves do grow embedded in stinky swamp muddy substrate.
Thx,
Paul
Thx,
Paul
nineball
Active member
"orange spotted diamond head'" it is then. Thanks Greg. Great context for the first fish selection. The rubble absolutely adds depth and character to your tank. That is phenomenal growth in one year by the way. Well done.
Peter
nineball
Active member
tagging along... I'm one of the guys that looks at pictures only because 57 pages of reading would **** off the gf
Good choice BPro and definitely a wise decision!
Welcome to the group.
Peter
nineball
Active member
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