My 65 Gallon Mixed Reef

[biggles]

I use bubble algae to glue my rockwork together.

That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it!

Sorry about your recent troubles Biggles, but also looking forward to the recovery!

Lol bubble algae hey Mark........ :spin3: 'biological adhesive' has a ring to it mate

I made a start and pulled the arch away - lots of stuff fell off the spot where it joined the back rocks.

Swapped the raft and arch rock - it was a tad stressful lifting that raft over the arch and i basically bumped into everything from the front glass to the acros - i found that swearing profusely at Potatohead who was on my hand the whole time eased the tension :smokin: Potatohead is going to be a bloody pest all day i can tell as he insists on supervising the construction work going on. He's extremely excited at the newly exposed rock with 'stuff' growing on it.

Discovered that in order to sit the arch on the ledge i'll need to remove a lot more acros than i thought so i'm having a coffee now and pondering my next move.......... this is now a dynamically evolving scape scenario which simply means i have no idea what to do now..........:fun5:

 

[biggles]

Trial fit before i mix up some putty and cement the join, it looks better in person so i'm going to go for it lol. I had to wedge a small rock under the back ledge as the weight of the arch was moving the ledge down a bit making everything a wobbly mess. I'm also going to super glue the end of the arch to the glass bottom which won't actually lock it up but it will make it less likely to pivot on me when i'm attaching acros to the arch.
As you can see the number of acros now blowing around the bottom is growing.......... no idea what i'll do with the raft rock on the right yet but i'll have a play with that once i get the arch locked into position. Notice i snapped the top off one of the bright green stag branches on the raft - Potatohead really copped a mouthful when that happened.......

The yellow tang has decided that hiding under the browned out red table is a good option, the clown bit me twice on the forearm - no idea why he did that but he's not a happy camper lol. Going to glue the arch and go get some groceries while everything sets, multitasking........

 

[Fishy 1]

hope the move goes well biggles. i think potato head and you will be brought closer by this experience :lolspin:
let us know how it goes mate :thumbsup:

 

[Dummyforclownfi]

This has been the most interesting thread I have ever read. you sir are a very interesting person.

 

[biggles]

hope the move goes well biggles. i think potato head and you will be brought closer by this experience :lolspin:
let us know how it goes mate :thumbsup:

Thanks buddy

This has been the most interesting thread I have ever read. you sir are a very interesting person.

Thanks mate, 'you sir are a very interesting person' sounds like something a psychiatrist would say to a dangerously insane patient as he backed out of his office to call the police...........

Whilst i was out buying food young Kevin attempted to remove a dying stag from the middle of the raft. He was unaware that the spot he chose to lever the chisel against was actually the raft 'keystone'. There was no explosion, just a slow house of cards falling as the domino effect rippled throughout the raft acros.......... or so Kevin said......... i don't do such stupid things ! :rolleye1:

I've decided the best course of action is to make another coffee and watch some 'Deadliest Catch' episodes whilst pretending the tank is all finished. It takes years of SPS experience to be able to make such a call, newer reefers should keep working on the tank........

 

[biggles]

Color correction is getting worse with every post lol, par for the course. The colors aren't quite as bad as the pics i posted so far but i'd rather err on the side of washed out rather than some of my previous pics which look like saturation city Check out what used to be a very deep blue stag stuck into the green monster's heart, it's looking touch and go as to whether it turns around or blows up suddenly Long way to go before i'll feel at ease with the tank and what's going on with the water but the new scape is like a fresh start for me

I had a tinker and got this far today, spun the raft around and shoved it against the rock the arch used to rest on so i have a nice ledge jutting out to the right down low. Stuck the humilis that was on the raft in a hole far left down low on the arch and there's a small opening still there which one of the anthias has taken up residence in - i think that's his new sleeping spot
Heaps of stuff still rolling around the bottom but i've had enough for today.
I think it's looking ok at this stage - just need to guard the tank from Kevin during the night in case he gets another brainwave......... :deadhorse1:
Everything on the bottom needs a home as it's all nice colored stuff when i'm not trying to poison it with bad water..........:facepalm:

The scape saga and more pics will continue tomorrow lol.

 

[Fishy 1]

biggles its like reading a dramatic and exiting novel :lolspin:
but i recon its a good to call it a day as theres no point being frustrated and make bad moves:thumbsup: just kick back and plan your attack for tomorrow

 

[SonnyArba]

Hi Biggles, :wavehand:

Croatia's been following you all the time, and I just can't believe what you have been through. Definately hard times for you and anyone who ever experienced losing corals, especially when you live in EU where a good looking frag costs 100 USD and more, and availability is even bigger issue. I am not as self confident reefer as I am "Biggles confident", :lol2: so I would bet you will make your tank beautiful as it once was, and that will very soon. As soon as your parameters are ok, you can stock the tank with new pieces of lost species.

Wish you luck and looking forward to see more good news and pictures. :thumbsup:

 

[glaukos]

I really really like the way you deal with it biggles buddy!:beer:
Hope that everything will get better soon and if they don't i'm sure you will make the tank look amazing again,in zero time:thumbsup:

Love the changes to aquascape

 

[troubadour11]

Everything on the bottom needs a home as it's all nice colored stuff when i'm not trying to poison it with bad water..........:facepalm:

:idea: Let me be the first to volunteer a nice and welcoming home all ready and prepared for adoptions for any of those nicely colored pieces along the bottom. Best to strap up Kevin with the jetpack from the movie The Rocketeer and overnight them to my tank. I'd hate for them to stay in your poison water ;-) :smokin:

Well, I hate that you have poison water too... but you know... in light of the circumstances, it's the best I can offer from the other side of the globe :bum:

The 'scape work is looking awesome. I LOVE how you positioned the archway rock. It makes for a cool rock "TOE" sticking out into your bare bottom... :eek2: :facepalm:

That archway is going to look stellar when you finish tinkering and get the raft.... ummmm... reassembled, I guess. After Kevin removed the Keystone for the raft, did he get put in timeout?

 

[biggles]

biggles its like reading a dramatic and exiting novel :lolspin:
but i recon its a good to call it a day as theres no point being frustrated and make bad moves just kick back and plan your attack for tomorrow

Thanks Fishy, i always get there in the end but it's usually a bumpy reef road i travel........

Hi Biggles,

Croatia's been following you all the time, and I just can't believe what you have been through. Definately hard times for you and anyone who ever experienced losing corals, especially when you live in EU where a good looking frag costs 100 USD and more, and availability is even bigger issue. I am not as self confident reefer as I am "Biggles confident", :lol2: so I would bet you will make your tank beautiful as it once was, and that will very soon. As soon as your parameters are ok, you can stock the tank with new pieces of lost species.

Wish you luck and looking forward to see more good news and pictures. :thumbsup:

Nice to hear from you Sonny, i appreciate my Croatian reef brothers following along :wave: I know you guys have to pay ridiculous prices compared to those of us lucky enough to live near the GBR, i imagine you'd be a lot more depressed than i am losing 17 SSC frags and branches in the last month........ :facepalm:

I really really like the way you deal with it biggles buddy!:beer:
Hope that everything will get better soon and if they don't i'm sure you will make the tank look amazing again,in zero time:thumbsup:

Love the changes to aquascape

Thanks Mike, we'll get things back on track soon i'm sure - need to so i can stick it to Bello and Sahin who've been sneaking up on me with color bombs dropped out of nowhere........ :angryfire:
The arch where it is now looks way better than where it was previously and not having that high rock right in the middle of the tank allows me to sort out the flow issues i was having easily.

 

[biggles]

:idea: Let me be the first to volunteer a nice and welcoming home all ready and prepared for adoptions for any of those nicely colored pieces along the bottom. Best to strap up Kevin with the jetpack from the movie The Rocketeer and overnight them to my tank. I'd hate for them to stay in your poison water ;-) :smokin:

Well, I hate that you have poison water too... but you know... in light of the circumstances, it's the best I can offer from the other side of the globe :bum:

The 'scape work is looking awesome. I LOVE how you positioned the archway rock. It makes for a cool rock "TOE" sticking out into your bare bottom... :eek2: :facepalm:

That archway is going to look stellar when you finish tinkering and get the raft.... ummmm... reassembled, I guess. After Kevin removed the Keystone for the raft, did he get put in timeout?

Hey Troub, glad you like the new rock work so far mate There's about 20 acro's attached to it so the effect once in position was pretty instant and dramatic - just the way i like it lol.
It's Mothers Day in Aus today, i rang mom at 8am which always ensures i beat my two siblings - not hard because both of them struggle to get out of bed before midday.......... 'Happy mothers day mom' was greeted with 'Thank you, yes Kevin called a little while ago to wish me well'.................. he's up in his tree smirking as a type this ! :deadhorse1:

Blue plus dawns over the battleground.....................

 

[Fishy 1]

:idea: Let me be the first to volunteer a nice and welcoming home all ready and prepared for adoptions for any of those nicely colored pieces along the bottom. Best to strap up Kevin with the jetpack from the movie The Rocketeer and overnight them to my tank. I'd hate for them to stay in your poison water ;-) :smokin:

Well, I hate that you have poison water too... but you know... in light of the circumstances, it's the best I can offer from the other side of the globe :bum:

The 'scape work is looking awesome. I LOVE how you positioned the archway rock. It makes for a cool rock "TOE" sticking out into your bare bottom... :eek2: :facepalm:

That archway is going to look stellar when you finish tinkering and get the raft.... ummmm... reassembled, I guess. After Kevin removed the Keystone for the raft, did he get put in timeout?

Hahahaha troub I some how don't think that's what biggles meant by "the one's on the floor need a new home" but good try :thumbsup:

 

[biggles]

Pretty much done now, left quite a few choice spots for cool new acros that i'll be hunting once again in a few weeks time....... trying to keep things at similar heights to avoid massive PAR increases made things trickier than i thought they were going to be.
I ended up using 3/4 tube of putty which required turning the skimmer down a long way or it would've boiled over. Very pleased with the lower more open front, the raft rock sticks out towards the front about mid tank now but you can't really see it in the FTS. In the end shot you can see the ledge jutting forward.
I'm going to take that rock with the regrowing red shrooms on it to the LFS after my failed attempt to kill them off. They charge $10 a polyp for nice red ones so i'm sure i can swap it for a new acro as it has about 15 on it. As long as i get a nice acro i'll be happy and i'm sure they'll be happy with the swap.

I carpet bombed the back of the arch with staggy acro pieces, from the end the display now looks like a cross between a peninsula and a regular scape. Still need to work out where to shove the flubber and that acro on the tip of the arch is about 3/4" off the bottom lol - i forgot to allow for sand and no way am i lifting that up as the whole bloody scape would probably implode....... that acro is going sand diving down the track.

I've done this kind of thing a few times before and i have to say if you think it's stressful just making a nice rock scape don't ever try doing it when 60-70 acro pieces are attached - what a pain in the bum job is all i can say lol...... i reckon Potatohead spent at least an hour in total on my hand and arm today so it was xmas for him. :rolleye1:

 

[Fishy 1]

hey buddy glad you finished the job looks sweet:thumbsup:
can't wait to see the acro you pick out when you swap the shrooms

 

[troubadour11]

Hey there Biggles,

It looks like things got accomplished without to many casualties of war this weekend! :thumbsup: I'm liking the new layout. But slap a diaper on that bad boy so we can get rid of the bare bottom now ;-) Haha. All in good time I'm sure. Or not, whatever floats your boat. I just like the sandy bottom look :hmm5:

Here's a question or two for you. How do Acans grow? Fast/slow... encrusting over rockwork? Should they be kept on their own separate piece because they'll over take other corals? Hard to frag if their on a rock tower that can't come out of the tank easily? Placement for lighting and flow are typical for most LPS? Just wondering. You've mentioned them a few times to us and we keep checking out the choices at the LFS when we are there... Like this weekend...

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:smokin::uzi:

We didn't come back with any Acans this time though. But we may have stumbled across a couple other solid choices this trip.

You're looking good though. Some solid 'scape work done and now to get those colors back to popping! :thumbsup:

 

[Bello]

It's looking good biggles :thumbsup:, just got back from out of town

I like the arch, has a natural look to it. Think the single bigger structure does look more natural than the rafts :thumbsup:

Now all we need is some recovery and some awesome growth and colors :thumbsup:. Hope some of the prized pieces are still salvageable

 

[martinphillip03]

OMG! Where is the Christmas tree?

Marty

 

[biggles]

hey buddy glad you finished the job looks sweet:thumbsup:
can't wait to see the acro you pick out when you swap the shrooms

Thanks Fishy, i was too lazy to bother taking the shroom rock back so it's in the sump lol - i did however visit Reeflections aquarium - a LFS with coral tanks that would turn Sahin and Bello into gibbering idiots..........

Hey there Biggles,

It looks like things got accomplished without to many casualties of war this weekend! :thumbsup: I'm liking the new layout. But slap a diaper on that bad boy so we can get rid of the bare bottom now ;-) Haha. All in good time I'm sure. Or not, whatever floats your boat. I just like the sandy bottom look

Here's a question or two for you. How do Acans grow? Fast/slow... encrusting over rockwork? Should they be kept on their own separate piece because they'll over take other corals? Hard to frag if their on a rock tower that can't come out of the tank easily? Placement for lighting and flow are typical for most LPS? Just wondering. You've mentioned them a few times to us and we keep checking out the choices at the LFS when we are there... Like this weekend...

We didn't come back with any Acans this time though. But we may have stumbled across a couple other solid choices this trip.

You're looking good though. Some solid 'scape work done and now to get those colors back to popping! :thumbsup:

Hey Troub, sand will be going back in once i'm happy with the corals health and the water is stable in relation to nutrient levels.
I know nothing about acans mate, i know they're easy to keep as even i don't kill them....... i may or may not have just bought a second acan btw........ :smokin:

It's looking good biggles :thumbsup:, just got back from out of town

I like the arch, has a natural look to it. Think the single bigger structure does look more natural than the rafts

Now all we need is some recovery and some awesome growth and colors. Hope some of the prized pieces are still salvageable

Hi mate, glad you like the big changes, i added a new piece of LR on the right since the pic which completes the look i want perfectly. While nothing is regrowing yet i haven't seen any new tissue loss for about a week now so i'm sure the acros will perk back up in time.

OMG! Where is the Christmas tree?

Marty

Hey Marty, i killed the tree when it was in the sump and everything in that section crashed. Lost a lot of nice 1" frags on that bloody tree including 4 SSC frags.


I walked into Reeflections and couldn't believe my eyes - a 5" long echi branch that had been in the shop TWO WEEKS ! The branch end where it had been snapped off had encrusted over - in a shop tank and in two weeks. You know your LFS is the place to go for SPS when you see that sort of recovery on the corals in their care.
They went from halides which worked great to kessil's which browned out all the SPS to new LED units that are obviously working well considering the state of their acros since removing the kessil 360 lights. Proof is in the pudding for me and i've finally seen an LED light that i'd try if the Radium factory burned down........:blown: Pretty sure they were called Razor's and they were super thin units but very powerful looking at the light they were punching into the water.

I wasn't at all surprised to discover that Kevin is running a book with the fish on how quickly i'll kill this echi, the really disappointing thing was the clown who is out of picture bottom left turning on me - i thought we were pals.......

 

[Bello]

Hahahaha, nice edit, biggles .

Glad to hear that there's no further drama :thumbsup:. So now you've gone back to being sneaky eh? Buying echis and flubber and god knows what else? :smokin:.

The echi looks great; good PE already :thumbsup:. You're a lucky bastard, and I'm happy that you were able to find one so quick.

And did I just hear that you liked an LED light? Are you thinking about moving away from the Dark Radium Side finally ? BTW, interesting fact, my DIY LED's were setup very similar to the MaxSpect Razor config that you saw.....now I just need to fix my f#$#%#$ water