My minimalistic 180g SPS tank

Aquascape looks amazing!! I think corals are pretty close, might have space issues with growth. Once established they they grow quickly!
 
jaxspsreef said:
Aquascape looks amazing!! I think corals are pretty close, might have space issues with growth. Once established they they grow quickly!
Click to expand...

Thank you!!

I am hoping I have that problem, it would be a good problem to have :)

In the case of that, I would sell my least favorite ones but I do have most on 1-2 inch frag plugs so I can move them and still have a large portion of their base.
 
Awesome start! I'm starting up a smaller SPS tank and really would like to simulate this aquascape; any advice for somebody trying to copy this??
 
childress5tyler said:
Awesome start! I'm starting up a smaller SPS tank and really would like to simulate this aquascape; any advice for somebody trying to copy this??
Click to expand...


What size tank?

Depending on how small you are going to go, I would try to have the rock height in the middle of the tank so if you can get a big base rock (if you can somehow make it smooth on the bottom that would be great to be more stable) that is like 3 inches below that, so if your tank is 20 inches tall get a base rock that is around 6-7 inches. Then you want to get smaller branch tonga from BRS or a LFS. Then really all you do is use zipties, silicone (not that much) but I used a lot of the marco rock cement which worked very good. Make sure you have patience when doing it.

One thing I had to do since my tank is large. I actually have a large piece of PVC on the left side that I covered with cement and then rubbed agronite sand all over it to make it look exactly like live rock.

It definitely was frustrating at some points but overall I couldnt be more happy with how it turned out. Just be patient and everything will work out. I did it over a week, with a small amount at a time and let it dry out.
 
codydemmel4 said:
What size tank?

Depending on how small you are going to go, I would try to have the rock height in the middle of the tank so if you can get a big base rock (if you can somehow make it smooth on the bottom that would be great to be more stable) that is like 3 inches below that, so if your tank is 20 inches tall get a base rock that is around 6-7 inches. Then you want to get smaller branch tonga from BRS or a LFS. Then really all you do is use zipties, silicone (not that much) but I used a lot of the marco rock cement which worked very good. Make sure you have patience when doing it.

One thing I had to do since my tank is large. I actually have a large piece of PVC on the left side that I covered with cement and then rubbed agronite sand all over it to make it look exactly like live rock.

It definitely was frustrating at some points but overall I couldnt be more happy with how it turned out. Just be patient and everything will work out. I did it over a week, with a small amount at a time and let it dry out.
Click to expand...

I'm going to be running a 28 gallon Deep Blue rimless SPS reef. I've been out of the hobby for 3 years or so and this is my "getting back into the hobby after college" tank. It needs to be small enough for an apartment but still have a little bit of space to grow.

I appreciate your advice, I've seen several time before where the aquascape depended on zip ties, etc. Regarding the marco rock cement, where would you recommend getting this from? Also, did you have any issue cycling your tank with dry rock?

Tyler
 
childress5tyler said:
I'm going to be running a 28 gallon Deep Blue rimless SPS reef. I've been out of the hobby for 3 years or so and this is my "getting back into the hobby after college" tank. It needs to be small enough for an apartment but still have a little bit of space to grow.

I appreciate your advice, I've seen several time before where the aquascape depended on zip ties, etc. Regarding the marco rock cement, where would you recommend getting this from? Also, did you have any issue cycling your tank with dry rock?

Tyler
Click to expand...

That's a nice tank. Definitely use zip ties and if I were to do it over, I would use them first then the cement to hide the zip ties even though eventually I am sure mine will be covered with coralline algae but oh well.

Regarding the marco rock cement, just search it on google and youll see it.

I used a product called startsmart complete, which helped with the cycle but of course using dry rock you will have the uglies and other signs of the cycle, just have to go a little slower and I wouldnt add any expensive SPS or fish till you are 100% positive your tank is cycled.
 
codydemmel4 said:
That's a nice tank. Definitely use zip ties and if I were to do it over, I would use them first then the cement to hide the zip ties even though eventually I am sure mine will be covered with coralline algae but oh well.

Regarding the marco rock cement, just search it on google and youll see it.

I used a product called startsmart complete, which helped with the cycle but of course using dry rock you will have the uglies and other signs of the cycle, just have to go a little slower and I wouldnt add any expensive SPS or fish till you are 100% positive your tank is cycled.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I'm planning to thoroughly let my tank cycle before I throw anything in, like ~3 months.
 
some night shots

some night shots

took some night shots to show how good the PE is but its hard to see.

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1447_zpsvn3sst8t.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1447_zpsvn3sst8t.png" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1447_zpsvn3sst8t.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1442_zps56vvfsdo.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1442_zps56vvfsdo.png" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1442_zps56vvfsdo.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1445_zps1edrhqni.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1445_zps1edrhqni.png" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1445_zps1edrhqni.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1446_zpsjai8nstf.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1446_zpsjai8nstf.png" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1446_zpsjai8nstf.png"/></a>

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1444_zps3cy5vnar.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1444_zps3cy5vnar.png" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1444_zps3cy5vnar.png"/></a>
 
just bought some new milles im excited to get

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/YellowMilleColony-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE75_zpsbboeosnk.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/YellowMilleColony-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE75_zpsbboeosnk.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo YellowMilleColony-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE75_zpsbboeosnk.jpg"/></a>




<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/DoubleMille-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE50_zpsh7uvogqw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/DoubleMille-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE50_zpsh7uvogqw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DoubleMille-RetailPrice100SALEPRICE50_zpsh7uvogqw.jpg"/></a>

On this one, these are obviously two different corals. Should I frag them so they dont touch or wont they kill eachother?
 
Nice! They both look like millies. They shouldn't be too agressive to each other.. you might get away with leaving them close together.
 
got the frags/colonies and here they are in my tank.

i did dip them but do you guys still suggest to frag them off this base? If i do this the colonies will im sure break and i will lose all the encrusting base on them.

<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1482_zpsr5nkepo0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1482_zpsr5nkepo0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1482_zpsr5nkepo0.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/codydemmel4/media/new%20180/IMG_1483_zpsffvmh5qg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah230/codydemmel4/new%20180/IMG_1483_zpsffvmh5qg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1483_zpsffvmh5qg.jpg"/></a>
 
If I can convince you of anything it would be to take a decent weekly FTS. I saw a picture of my tank from 3 weeks ago and was astounded at the growth. In real time you don't see it, but looking back just a bit you'll see a ton of progress.
 
Rakie said:
If I can convince you of anything it would be to take a decent weekly FTS. I saw a picture of my tank from 3 weeks ago and was astounded at the growth. In real time you don't see it, but looking back just a bit you'll see a ton of progress.
Click to expand...

I definitely will. I am also trying to get some more closer pictures of them too so i can see the difference in pe, color and growth too. since i only have a phone camera its not the easiest
 
I have my lfs cut those bases off. I don't put want bars or frag plugs in my tank from other sources. Don't worry about losing the encrusted part it'll grow back fast. The acros pest suck to get.
 
Pife said:
I have my lfs cut those bases off. I don't put want bars or frag plugs in my tank from other sources. Don't worry about losing the encrusted part it'll grow back fast. The acros pest suck to get.
Click to expand...

I wasnt really worried about losing the encrusted part, i was more worried about breaking the colony apart as I would just be using a little fragging supply thing and it 100% would break apart the colony when cutting the base off

Yeah but at this point does it even matter since its been in the tank since Wednesday now? I also am worried that I may already have AEFW, i could not find any worms or eggs but on the one frag that ive had for a long long time it looked like it had bite marks. i also dip everything in bayer but maybe something slipped by. i am getting a better magnify glass on saturday well hopefully its better and i will go from there. I just threw out the frag that looked like it had bite marks, wasnt the best frag anyways.

none of my other corals show any sign of aefw but i will continue to monitor the tank very closely.
 
Tanks looking well. That scape is pretty cool. You've got so many cool pieces. In my new tank I'm trying my best to keep acro numbers low lol :)
 
Tank looks great. Like everyone said, I too love the scape. Man I hope you didn't get AEFW. That is why they say cut all of the frags/colonies off of the base. Bayer gets rid of the live ones but not the eggs. Eggs are usually on the base. Good luck.
 
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