Joe's 190g 60x36x20 SLOW Mixed Reef Build.......

Eeek, ok...gotta be honest here, I think that cinder block tank in that thread looks like you know what...maybe you have something different planned tho, I'm having trouble picturing it. I really like how you have it tho, I think its the right amount of rock and will look awesome grown in :)
 
I feel like I need more rock, personally. I dont want the cinder block to be exposed, it wont be. Im going to put cement and salt mixture over the cinder block, to make it look more lik a rock, than cinder block. Im just going to be using the cinder block as a base, since it already has caves made. I'll have some rocks in front of the cinder blocks anyhow, they'll be burried behind the two rock stacks that I currently have. They'll mainly be used to lift up this shelf that I want.

Then, Im going to make some more, to support that rock lift on the right hand side. Rather than a couple rocks, which might shift and what not.

I like the canyon type look that I have going, but I think the tank would be complete with a shelf type overhang coming out a good 12-14" from the back of the tank, and maybe a little rock wall on top of the shelf, going to the very top of the tank.
 
Also, I dont know if this sounds stupid or not, but I was thinking of making litle mounds, about the size of a fist, with a hole on the top big enough to fit a frag plug in it. That way I can have some lower light SPS towards the bottom of the tank, and they already have their own little stands. Then when I add sand, it'll cover the bottom of these guys a bit. Enough to where it looks more natural at least.
 
Lol, so here is a quick mock up...

tankmockup.jpg


Thats what I have in mind, what do you think bout that? The cinders will be totally covered in contrete, and wont even be rectangular. I'll put enough so they look more like rocks. I just didnt wanna cover them up too much in that drawing, so you could tell that they are still cinders.
 
Right now the lights up about 12" off the water right now. I forgot to mention that also, Im going to build a light rack this weekend. I found that 90 degree angle iron (even though its aluminum) at home depot. Im going to make a rack thats 48x20. The 20" will be just enough for the lumenarcs to sit on., and Im going to have more 20" slots running perpendicular to the 48" long pieces, so I can slide the lumenarcs around if need be. Its also wide enough that I can mound a couple T5 retros to the underside of the angle iron. The stuff was cheap, only like $7 for a 96" piece, which is all I need length wise. So this weekend will be productive....

1) Paint floor in side room a deep deep blue.
2) Make light rack
3) make fake rock
4) Paint stand possibly (Though I may just wait til I move, so I cant paint UNDER the tank too)
5) Add sand possibly.
 
I think that will look nice as well, I say go for it, and see how it looks. I also like the idea of some nice acros on the BB. Similar to what Leonardo did with his formosa forest....

Looking forward to seeing the progress this weekend.
 
The #1 thing that is stopping me from going BB is the fact that you can see the wood under the tank. I really shoulda taken my time, and painted the bottom outside of the tank. Im kicking myself for not painting that, or the stand. I got in too big of a rush, as soon as I got that RODI unit. I just dont like viewing my tank, and seeing the bottom looking like my reef is on a board lol.

We'll see how it goes. I cant add the rock for 6 weeks anyhow. I will add a little sand this weekend though. Paint the floor, hang up some BMW, Dinan, and Jordan stuff, and it'll then be my room lol.
 
Why dont you just use starboard? I think you can place that in the tank, you would have to remove the rocks, but you can recreate the aquascape w/o too much hassle...
 
Because then I have an ugly slab of white plastic in my tank. I think my sandbed will be successful this time. Last time I just wasnt good with my husbandry, because Id have to go to the water machine to do water changes and top offs. Now that I have my own machine, I'll be better with it. I think a SSB will be ok, I hope at least. I'll just have to do 10g a week water changes.

I was looking at my sump today, and I have a decently thick layer of detitrus on the bottom of it. Its great, the tank is crystal clear. All I did was use that 10g tank inside the 60g tank, and that is my only "baffle". No micro bubbles, and detritus settled in the sump. I think thats considered a success.

We'll see how the rock works out this weekend. Im going to make a nice support for that acrylic sheet holding up the rocks. Instead of ugly PVC underneath there. That'll also free up another decent sized rocks, I can probably place on top of the shelf Im making.
 
So on another site, there have been MANY people talking negative about these plans. Saying Im torturing the fish, using them as guinea pigs, etc. Since Im adding sand to this tank. I dont see there being a problem, am I off base thinking that? I plan on rinsing the dust off the sand, then letting it soak in RODI water and some tank water. So it can become a little live before I add it to the tank.
 
Also... Im getting close to buying some T5 supps. I was really debating just buying a Tek T5 fixture thats 48" with 4 bulbs. I wonder if that'd look clunky, or if Id be better off just buying 4 bulb retros with stand offs.
 
So because I didnt listen to a few idiots, who think they know all, my thread was removed lol. Heres my message:
CVR Warning

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Regard This As Your First Warning....
Reason: Flaming

You Have Been Flagged........ Take It How You Will!!!
Personally I'd Prefer That You Keep Comments
Regarding Your Livestock And How You Run Your Tanks To A Minimum..... We Have A Lot Of Folks Reading This Forum And I Don't Want Them To Get The Wrong Idea About How To Run A Tank
Thanks For Understanding......
Stoker

Lol, So I guess my methods arent the same as theirs, so my thread was removed. CVreefers.org is probably the worst ran "local" website Ive encountered.
 
Too many people have had phosphate probs and issues with detritus using starboard. Just go back to sand :)

I love this tank. The dimensions are great...glad to see it finally with a lil water ;)
 
Thanks Insane! I plan on going to sand, maybe tomorrow even. Im gonna let it sit up a tub though, and get a little live outside of the tank, rather than in the tank and risk a cycle.

Here are a few pics of the rocks I made yesterday.
002-8.jpg


004-7.jpg


003-17.jpg


005-4.jpg


I think it'll look nice in the back of the tank. I plan on stacking some real rock on top of it a little, to hide it, and stash the former cinder blocks behind some piles of rocks. You wont really be able to see it too much. but I think even if you can see a little of it, it wont look bad. We will just have to see in 6 weeks how these guys look.
 
Right now it does, when its dry. I have it in a tub of water, and it looks a little better. If worst comes to worst I just wasted $15, lol.
 
I was a little worried, but that looks really good :) Can't tell the dimensions of it, but you might end up with some of your other live rock in the sump to make room for that nice work....
 
Thanks for the words ;)

That table is about 30" wide, and about 20" deep. It was my old 29g table, so thats just a guess. For some perspective on the size. I just now went ou to change the water in their tubs, and a lot of those lumps dissapeared. Theyre now holes. These guys are decently light, I used tons of the salt, probbaly 5:1 rock salt to cement.

I figured when I said cinder blocks, and linked that pic, youd think that I was gonna just pile cinder blocks in my tank lol. I WAS going to use hole cinders. Good thing I didnt, these rocks are already pretty dang big as it is.
 
Alright, so I added some sand today. The water is still a LITTLE cloudy, but I gave the sand a good rinsing or 5.

002-9.jpg

004-8.jpg

007-4.jpg

008-2.jpg


For reference of that swimming room in front, that tang is pretty good size now. hes the size of my palm, so he seems real happy with this new room.
 
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