drummereef's 180g in-wall build

[drummereef]

Along with the photos, I took another FTS video tonight. Still working with the white balance but in any event, Enjoy!!


Best viewed in either 720p or 1080p HD.


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[Taqpol]

The new aquascape looks amazing, and you still managed to keep visible sand between all three islands all the way back to the glass! I really like all the caves in your far left island, and I'm sure the fish will appreciate them too. Who said a minimilast aquascape couldn't also be functional?

 

[drummereef]

The new aquascape looks amazing, and you still managed to keep visible sand between all three islands all the way back to the glass! I really like all the caves in your far left island, and I'm sure the fish will appreciate them too. Who said a minimilast aquascape couldn't also be functional?

Thanks Alex! Glad you like it.

 

[drummereef]

OK guys, need help... What are some recommendations as to some good starter SPS for the tank. I'm wanting to stick with branching species as opposed to tabling corals, for space reasons etc... I'd like to fill in the bottom areas around the rock structures with some LPS or something to soften the space. Ideas??

 

[Taqpol]

Hands down green slimer. Put it on your middle island as they seem to grow best in lower light. I also like basically all of the ORA corals, especially if you can get frags from someone local.

 

[psteeleb]

I like the green slimer - it's a healthy and tank proven acropora

I'd also consider a birdsnest, stylophora or polcillipora as they tend to be pest free, decent growers, and pretty forgiving to a new tank set up

 

[dancewithethan]

OK guys, need help... What are some recommendations as to some good starter SPS for the tank. I'm wanting to stick with branching species as opposed to tabling corals, for space reasons etc... I'd like to fill in the bottom areas around the rock structures with some LPS or something to soften the space. Ideas??

How about this Blue/Green Staghorn? I have been eyeing this one for sometime, but my tank has no room for it.

http://www.barrierreefaquariums.com/productcart/pc/Aussie-Blue-Green-Stag-59p10495.htm

Best

 

[CoralFiend]

What about millepora? Good starter SPS. Hardy, colorful, grows well and has awesome polyp extension when it's happy.

 

[drummereef]

All great suggestions guys. :thumbsup: And all the above are corals that I can see myself keeping, and are right for the look of what I'm going for. Much appreciated!

Keep the ideas coming... :beer:

 

[drummereef]

UPDATE:


I made it to the LFS tonight, first time in over a month. Picked up some more MB7, another filter sock I use when cleaning the tank, some Nassarius Snails, and a bottle of live copepods. Here's the details...


So there's a local hobbyist that is now raising live copepods in my area. They come in a bottle with a visible amount of phyto in with it. Seems like a lot more active pods than I've seen with the stuff that has to be shipped in. Currently the bottle is floating in the sump but I plan on releasing them into the tank shortly after the lights go off. I will turn off the return pump and skimmer for a bit and hopefully they will find a home in the rocks.

The pods are marked as "Cabremo - Live Copepods", and are specifically Tigriopus californicus pods.

Here's one of the Nassarius Snails I added tonight. My favorite kind of snail.

Mr Shrimp came out for dinner so I snapped a quick picture.

Fishy friends.

 

[cromedogg33]

Hey Brett,

Still lurking your thread. I've decided I don't like the idea of hanging my lights directly from the ceiling and am going the route you took. Do you remember how much shipping was from esto connectors and the time frame it took to recieve everything?

 

[drummereef]

Hey Brett,

Still lurking your thread. I've decided I don't like the idea of hanging my lights directly from the ceiling and am going the route you took. Do you remember how much shipping was from esto connectors and the time frame it took to recieve everything?

From what I remember it was reasonable, $12-15 which is typical of items this size. I forget exactly but it was no more than 3-4 days shipped. I didn't have any negative feeling buying from them and in fact when I needed more bracing for the rack I ordered from them a second time. I would do it again if I had reason too.

 

[cromedogg33]

Thanks Brett,

I think I'm going to order a bit on the heavy side of connectors and maybe a extra stick of tubing just in case. Connectors can go bad/too big/bent and you can never have enough of the tubing. Thanks again as always.

Should have my take wet by the end of the year as a goal!

 

[drummereef]

Thanks Brett,

I think I'm going to order a bit on the heavy side of connectors and maybe a extra stick of tubing just in case. Connectors can go bad/too big/bent and you can never have enough of the tubing. Thanks again as always.

Should have my take wet by the end of the year as a goal!

:thumbsup:

 

[drummereef]

Just getting ideas here... But what's everyone's preferred method of mounting stony corals? Do you like plugs, or just superglue and epoxy, etc...? Also, what's the best method for flexibility down the road in case I want/need to move the corals to a new area of the tank?

 

[aquaph8]

Brett,
Somehow I got unsubscribed so its been a while. The tank is looking great. Mounting stony corals has always made me pull my hair out. Nothing really works under water all that well, so I always find myself pulling rocks out and then using a combo of superglue and epoxy. I just wish someone would come up with a better product. Well anyways, Im back on board and cant wait to see where your beautiful tank goes in 2011.

 

[psteeleb]

Just getting ideas here... But what's everyone's preferred method of mounting stony corals? Do you like plugs, or just superglue and epoxy, etc...? Also, what's the best method for flexibility down the road in case I want/need to move the corals to a new area of the tank?

I would drill all my live rock with a bunch of 5/16" holes (need to confirm size) for 1/4" pegging using rigid airline tubing or a acrylic rods

I have two flat rocks I use as my frag grow out areas that have been drilled with large enough holes for standard reef plugs "“ this way I don't have any un-natual looking frag racks in the tank

Once a frag is grown out I'll remove it from the plug, clean the base inspecting for potential dead spots and or pests and trim accordingly then re-mount the frag to a rock that has been pre-drilled for pegging. The rock size and shape will vary depending on the type of coral and mounting orientation. For example a staghorn will get mounted on a larger rock with a flat bottom where a tabling acro will get a random shape rock that will be mounted to the side of a piece of live rock.

This way all SPS (other then encrusting types) can easily removed for inspection, cleaning or relocation. I'll see if I can find some pictures from my old 300 build.

 

[psteeleb]

UPDATE:


I made it to the LFS tonight, first time in over a month. Picked up some more MB7, another filter sock I use when cleaning the tank, some Nassarius Snails, and a bottle of live copepods. Here's the details...


So there's a local hobbyist that is now raising live copepods in my area. They come in a bottle with a visible amount of phyto in with it. Seems like a lot more active pods than I've seen with the stuff that has to be shipped in. Currently the bottle is floating in the sump but I plan on releasing them into the tank shortly after the lights go off. I will turn off the return pump and skimmer for a bit and hopefully they will find a home in the rocks.

The pods are marked as "Cabremo - Live Copepods", and are specifically Tigriopus californicus pods.

Here's one of the Nassarius Snails I added tonight. My favorite kind of snail.

Mr Shrimp came out for dinner so I snapped a quick picture.

Fishy friends.

nice additions and great pictures - did you use the video camera?
also - your tank may be so pristene you may want to consider dosing a little phyto to feed the pods, or get some macro algea going in your sump

 

[zmckenzie]

I always told myself with my next build I would drill holes to peg but even with that you only have a month or so to move the coral if it grows over the peg onto the rock. However, with the rock you used it would seem like you would have enough small gaps to push plugs in which I think would be the better route seeing your rock is already in the water. That is just my two cents worth for you from a guy is currently tankless.

 

[drummereef]

Brett,
Somehow I got unsubscribed so its been a while. The tank is looking great. Mounting stony corals has always made me pull my hair out. Nothing really works under water all that well, so I always find myself pulling rocks out and then using a combo of superglue and epoxy. I just wish someone would come up with a better product. Well anyways, Im back on board and cant wait to see where your beautiful tank goes in 2011.

Thanks for getting back on board and for the ideas. Glad to have you back!

I would drill all my live rock with a bunch of 5/16" holes (need to confirm size) for 1/4" pegging using rigid airline tubing or a acrylic rods

I have two flat rocks I use as my frag grow out areas that have been drilled with large enough holes for standard reef plugs – this way I don’t have any un-natual looking frag racks in the tank

Once a frag is grown out I’ll remove it from the plug, clean the base inspecting for potential dead spots and or pests and trim accordingly then re-mount the frag to a rock that has been pre-drilled for pegging. The rock size and shape will vary depending on the type of coral and mounting orientation. For example a staghorn will get mounted on a larger rock with a flat bottom where a tabling acro will get a random shape rock that will be mounted to the side of a piece of live rock.

This way all SPS (other then encrusting types) can easily removed for inspection, cleaning or relocation. I’ll see if I can find some pictures from my old 300 build.

I think I might use a modified version of this. As zmckenzie says below, the rock I'm using has all kinds of holes and voids where I'm sure a small frag plug would fit easily. I could use a tiny bit of epoxy if the plug feels loose, but only enough to hold it to the rock. That way in the future I'd be able to remove the coral and plug if the situation arises.

nice additions and great pictures - did you use the video camera?
also - your tank may be so pristene you may want to consider dosing a little phyto to feed the pods, or get some macro algea going in your sump

Those were taken with my still camera, Canon XSi 18-55mm stock lens. And a little Lightroom love. Good ideas with feeding the pod population, I hadn't thought about that. Any particular phyto product you recommend?

I always told myself with my next build I would drill holes to peg but even with that you only have a month or so to move the coral if it grows over the peg onto the rock. However, with the rock you used it would seem like you would have enough small gaps to push plugs in which I think would be the better route seeing your rock is already in the water. That is just my two cents worth for you from a guy is currently tankless.

I can definitely see this working while still allowing me the flexibility to move the corals later. As I was saying to Pete, I could easily use samll plugs in the holes that are already in the rock. I'd add a small amount of epoxy to the plug if it feels loose but only enough to hold it to the rock by friction, not necessary "stick" it to the rock which tends to not work all the time.