Has anyone tried a different theme other than "coral reef"?

[xtm]

Has anyone tried a different theme other than the regular reef setup that we always see? I'm thinking about a FOWLR kind of setup but the theme is actually "taken" under the pier... something like this:

So no corals... just inverts like starfish and snails, maybe two damsels. For the substrate I'll just go to the local beach and get some sand.. I will use a dark background... and for the pier posts, I'll go with cork bark and tie a rope around it. Sounds like a ton of work but I think it'll be worth it. (what do you think?) Actually this might be easier since strong lighting is not required.

Another theme that I've always dreamed of is a Kelp Forest theme... that is just soooo cool! Has anyone ever tried keeping kelp in their tanks? How was it?

I'm still in the research part...I appreciate any opinions and suggestions, warnings, etc. Will definitely post pics IF I decide to go with it.

Thanks!

 

[CrystalAZ]

Well, you could certainly do it.

I would be very careful about figuring out what materials to construct your pier posts out of. You want to find something that A. doesn't ROT and B. doesn't have any type of chemicals that may leach into your system.

I have seen a few themed tanks on here. One person had a pirate tank with gold pieces and a sunken ship. One had a tank themed like the ocean by his home - full of bottles and junk.

Personally, the cool thing about that pic you posted is the feeling of depth it gives, and I don't know how easy that would be to convey in an aquarium.

Good luck though, and keep us posted (pun intended ).

Crystal

 

[Madoktopus]

thers a cool book around by nilsen and fossa? called reef secrets that has biotope setup ideas for a deep reef,pizza anemone tank,gorge,cave,mangrove,etc.. its really good!

 

[Putawaywet]

Since I didn't exactly have the size of tank to do something like in your pic, I had to compromise and work within the confines of my 90gal cube.

Brett

 

[Dino]

:thumbsup: To both of you! To me "normal" reef tanks just aren't that amazing, sure they're interesting but to me its just not natural to see 50 corals cramed into a 4ft area. I really like seeing tanks like these. I think there is a couple people with tanks down in the macroalgae forum that have done the seagrass bed theme.

 

[EmergencyDpt]

Good idea about the pier.
The kelp however is very hard to keep. It requires lots of nutrients which in turn make the water turbid. Monterey bay aquarium has kelp and would be a great resource for you if you decide to go that route. They pump fresh bay water into the display tanks all night which is pretty cloudy I'm told. During the day they filter the water, clearing it up so people can look at the fish.

 

[Paul B]

I guess I am the guy with the bottles and the junk that I picked up diving locally in NY. I agree with you that a straight coral tank is getting a little passe. Not that coral is boring but I don't want my tank to look like everyone else's tank. I also have some rusty chains in there.
Take care
Paul

 

[MinibowMatt]

XTM---where are you gonna get your tires from? you may have to look into ATV tires or bike tires....LOL

 

[Tunguska]

Even if you don't want any corals, you may want to consider live barnacles. You would definately have to feed lots of phyto, but you wouldn't have to worry about much nuisance algae with so little light. You would need posts that would last a while though. (don't use treated! )

 

[Dino]

Also another thing you'll have to keep in mind is how to get the posts to stay on the bottom. Yeah wood floats, and if its a big piece it'll take a lot of force to keep it on the bottom! Also wood tends to release tannins and lower ph (not sure if this will be an issue in SW, but it might).

 

[scottfarcuz]

You could epoxy shells to pieces of 4" or so PVC pipe and stand them up to look like pier posts.

 

[xtm]

Putawaywet.. that is AMAZING!! That's exactly what I have in mind.. I have some questions:I noticed that you have some metals submerged in that setup..

1. don't they release small trace of copper that might kill the inverts? (like barnacles, etc)
2. Also, what about the rust-- does it hurt any inhabitant?
3. What kind of filtration do you use?
4. What's your maintenance like? (any additives? frequency of water change?)
5. Where did you get your barnacles from?

PaulB, I also like those bottles idea.. it gives you that sense of 'reality' when viewing the tank... it looks exactly like that when you dive under the pier! I have always admired people who push the hobby to the next level and 'dare' do something different.

scottfarcuz, that's a great idea! I'll try that too. Thanks!

 

[toonces]

putawaywet

putawaywet

dude,
you can't post a killer aquarium like that and not tell us the specs!

actually, i just moved to the chesapeake bay and had an idea to do something similar. i'd love to get more info about your tank.

are the mussels and banacles real?
what did you make the pilings from and are they treated if they are wood?
fish list? i can see the pj cardinals.
etc.
nice tank!

 

[slik_dude@yahoo]

A LFS called THE FISH STORE AND MORE in Atlanta has a display tank of the "rigs". Nice idea.

 

[badonkadonk]

If you want to get actual pieces of piers that have been in the ocean, check with the Department of Beaches and Harbors. There is usually some project underway to replace existing piers or maintenance that generates such "waste." And ask for some names/number of some of their contractors - you might have better luck dealing with the people that actually do the work. The actual piers are usually pretty large, you might have to quarter them or get supporting cross members instead.

 

[Lures and Jigs]

putawaywet, I love your tank display set up! any information/pics on how you did it?

thanks.

 

[xtm]

XTM---where are you gonna get your tires from? you may have to look into ATV tires or bike tires....LOL

I'm thinking about skateboard wheels... LOL

Another thing that I was thinking of is a "crash site".. I'll buy a huge toy plane and set it up so it looks like this:

Overtime, coralline and other stuff will start to grow on the plane and it will look "natural"..

 

[xtrstangx]

xtm: Go buy a $15 model from like Hobby Lobby and glue it together with your coral's epoxy. No need to paint as it will get covered wil coraline and you'll get a real looking plane.

 

[nme1337]

At the last FMAS show there was a tank that was made entirely with animals caught in his back yard (lives on an intercoastal waterway canal) It was extremely cool and was kind of like peering into a certain part of the ocean. Ive also seen tanks done by oceans. Like a pacific tank. Or and atlantic tank.

 

[Ludwigia73]

I was there when he put it together... He caught all the stuff, brought in the pieces of rock infested with black bay scallops, and threw it all together in 15-20 minutes. Hate to say it, but it was one of the most interesting tanks there.