Joe's 190g 60x36x20 SLOW Mixed Reef Build.......
- Thread starter Jflip2002
- Start date
I have an electricity leak somewhere in the tank, and I cant figure it out. Here is what I have tried:
1) changed the power strips
2) Changed the extension cord
3) Unplugged each individual item one at a time and theres still some voltage in the tank
The only time the voltage goes away, is when ALL the power is off. Im not good with electronics, so does anyone know what this could be? The powerstrips are the same ones that came with the unit, so I have no idea on their condition.
1) changed the power strips
2) Changed the extension cord
3) Unplugged each individual item one at a time and theres still some voltage in the tank
The only time the voltage goes away, is when ALL the power is off. Im not good with electronics, so does anyone know what this could be? The powerstrips are the same ones that came with the unit, so I have no idea on their condition.
Well it looks like one of the powerstrips linked to another was causing the electricity/voltage leak. So that one was thrown away, now we're doin great.
So I have decided this tank is going to be BB, at least for the foreseable future. I am going to run my return, to a spray bar. So with headloss, it'll be around 800 gph. I think if thats not enough to lift everything up, and get it to the overflow, it should at LEAST be enough flow to push it to the front of the tank, so I can suction it during water changes.
I really like the look of sand, but I really really hate the look of cyano and other algae. I do hate algae more than I like sand. This really seems like the only way for me to achieve a clean tank, with little to no detritus left in the way.
Ive seen others with beautifully clean tanks, with sandbeds. but Im paranoid =)
So I have decided this tank is going to be BB, at least for the foreseable future. I am going to run my return, to a spray bar. So with headloss, it'll be around 800 gph. I think if thats not enough to lift everything up, and get it to the overflow, it should at LEAST be enough flow to push it to the front of the tank, so I can suction it during water changes.
I really like the look of sand, but I really really hate the look of cyano and other algae. I do hate algae more than I like sand. This really seems like the only way for me to achieve a clean tank, with little to no detritus left in the way.
Ive seen others with beautifully clean tanks, with sandbeds. but Im paranoid =)
So I reaquascaped! I didnt like HOW open the tank was. It didnt really look open and nice (Like Mike and Terrys), it just looked empty IMO. I couldnt find that right balance. So I decided to g owith a sort of more traditional lay out, with the left side being a 3 rock island, so the fish can swim around it, and under the little bridge I made.
I also only have 1 lumenarc set up right now. Im in a bit of a dilemma. I dont have money for salt (literally, ZERO MONEY til payday), and the tank my clam is in right now is filthy. So I dont know what to do. The 190g tank is at 1.20-1.21, so its incredibly low as far as salinity goes. But I think the clam is going to stand a better chance in there, rather than in my dirty 60g.
Pics are a little blury, since I was swishing all the detritus off the rocks that I could. Im starting to like my BB more and more as it grows on me again. I got the vote of confidence from Rachel too, she said it looks "cleaner". I thought the average person would think it was ugly, but I guess not.... or she has learned her habbits from me lol
I also only have 1 lumenarc set up right now. Im in a bit of a dilemma. I dont have money for salt (literally, ZERO MONEY til payday), and the tank my clam is in right now is filthy. So I dont know what to do. The 190g tank is at 1.20-1.21, so its incredibly low as far as salinity goes. But I think the clam is going to stand a better chance in there, rather than in my dirty 60g.
Pics are a little blury, since I was swishing all the detritus off the rocks that I could. Im starting to like my BB more and more as it grows on me again. I got the vote of confidence from Rachel too, she said it looks "cleaner". I thought the average person would think it was ugly, but I guess not.... or she has learned her habbits from me lol
mcliffy2
New member
I like the scape for the most part. One suggestion, if you can come up with a couple more pieces of rock. Right now there are three "high points" along the back created by the rock, and they are all the same height. Some variance would be cool, try adding a rock to the top of the far left pile. also a smaller rock extending the middle bridge out further to create two small lagoons, would be cool.
Im gonna leave that left side along, I like it how it is. Though I may get rid of that bridge all together ... Theres a guy with a nice large tonga covered in shrooms though, so that may look cool. I am going to add another large rock on the very far right side, making a high point. And I hope to get some sort of rock, or foam some medium sized rocks together, and have the middle part under the brace reach the very top. Then I can pile some lower light need corals on there, like Shrooms, Zoas, and Xenia.
I'll fiddle with it a little big more tomorrow, I'll take your advice, and we'll make some comparisons. I have a larger rock on the right side thats kinda lost in this whole mix.
Im just workin with what I have now though =)
I'll fiddle with it a little big more tomorrow, I'll take your advice, and we'll make some comparisons. I have a larger rock on the right side thats kinda lost in this whole mix.
Im just workin with what I have now though =)
Im gonna leave that left side along, I like it how it is. Though I may get rid of that bridge all together ... Theres a guy with a nice large tonga covered in shrooms though, so that may look cool. I am going to add another large rock on the very far right side, making a high point. And I hope to get some sort of rock, or foam some medium sized rocks together, and have the middle part under the brace reach the very top. Then I can pile some lower light need corals on there, like Shrooms, Zoas, and Xenia.
I'll fiddle with it a little big more tomorrow, I'll take your advice, and we'll make some comparisons. I have a larger rock on the right side thats kinda lost in this whole mix.
Im just workin with what I have now though =)
I'll fiddle with it a little big more tomorrow, I'll take your advice, and we'll make some comparisons. I have a larger rock on the right side thats kinda lost in this whole mix.
Im just workin with what I have now though =)
mcliffy2
New member
I actually like this setup more because you've created interesting open space. The one big thing to consider tho is that the shelves you created may be too close to the surface. Your SPS could be hitting the surface of the water in 6 months 
I'd try to make one high point and have the rest with 10" or so between the water surface if possible. This will give your SPS plenty of room to grow in. You could just take the 2 rocks on the left and put the top one on the bottom next to the other rock, that would also give you more surface for corals 
I'd try to make one high point and have the rest with 10" or so between the water surface if possible. This will give your SPS plenty of room to grow in. You could just take the 2 rocks on the left and put the top one on the bottom next to the other rock, that would also give you more surface for corals Whatcha think about this Mike? I adjusted the left pile, added a mini pile in the middle, and readjusted the right stack so its directly under the opening... Kinda bad pics, since its cloudy after the move and added salt. Drilling the flatter piece and making an overhang is a good idea. Maybe put a piece of PVC in the hole to keep em binded together.
mcliffy2
New member
Its getting there. I like the right side - I'd leave it. Maybe try moving the little rock in the middle to on top of the left pile, then move the whole pile over slightly to the right, or you could move it away from the wall and out to the middle a bit (a la the rock in invincible569's tank). I think you are getting pretty close, but I know you want that perfect scape
Alright, so I added a rack in the tank today. So it lifted the right side up a little more. I still need some more rock, I wanna fill in between the two stacks. So I can fill that middle section up with shrooms and zoas. And maybe make an overhang coming out. This is the set up for now lol.
That tang is a camera hog now lol.
That tang is a camera hog now lol.
Thanks! Glad I got the approval
I will move that clam, He was just put in the safest spot at the time, so no rocks fell on him. I think Im still going to get a little bit of rocks to fill up the back wall a little though. Im pretty content with this rock work this time though.
I will move that clam, He was just put in the safest spot at the time, so no rocks fell on him. I think Im still going to get a little bit of rocks to fill up the back wall a little though. Im pretty content with this rock work this time though.
So now Ive got yet another idea. I am going to get a couple (or maybe just one) cinder blocks, and have them covered with this concrete/salt mixture, to make them look like rocks. The top will be totally flat, and the bottom of my man made shelf will be totally flat also. This will then make it lay flush on one another. It'll take a good 6 weeks to cure though.
Ive seen tanks with cinder blocks before, and it looked awesome, even with the blocks exposed. This wont be exposed, you'll just see a couple caves made by the cinder block openings. Ive even found these blocks with holes cut out of the sides as well, so some flow can get through there.
Heres a link to a pic of a tank with some cinder blocks.
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f77/bricks-60063.html?highlight=cinder+blocks
And a link to the rock mix:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=807988&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
This is gonna be a little while in the making, but I think it'll look killer when its all said and done... Now I just gotta find some white/light portland cement.
Ive seen tanks with cinder blocks before, and it looked awesome, even with the blocks exposed. This wont be exposed, you'll just see a couple caves made by the cinder block openings. Ive even found these blocks with holes cut out of the sides as well, so some flow can get through there.
Heres a link to a pic of a tank with some cinder blocks.
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f77/bricks-60063.html?highlight=cinder+blocks
And a link to the rock mix:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=807988&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
This is gonna be a little while in the making, but I think it'll look killer when its all said and done... Now I just gotta find some white/light portland cement.
