Need some advise about TBS & Marco Rock

[snodine]

I have almost completed the set up of my 130 gallon system and am in conversation with Richard (until he went on vacation) about what he suggests for the package. He suggested a package for a 100 gallon with 120 lbs of sand. The extra going into a refugium with macro algae. I have ~50 lbs of dry, clean Marco rock I ordered months ago. I soaked it in vinegar and scrubbed the heck out of it and it has been sitting in a Rubbermaid tub for weeks. My plan is to use the Marco rock in the center of the tank because I have a glass center brace that is going to prevent good lighting from reaching the middle of the tank. My aquascaping goal is to have towers or mounds of TBS rock on either side of the center leaving the center more or less open for critters to hide and fish to swim.

Here are some pictures:

Sump (the Center part will be the refugium with TBS sand and macro algae):
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tank with just water (looks kinda forlorn!):
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I have been reading this forum for a long time and been totally envious of everyone's great looking tanks. I just hope mine looks even half as good.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Steve

 

[HowardW]

<<< I have a glass center brace that is going to prevent good lighting from reaching the middle of the tank. >>>


That's not a big concern because TBS rock does not require high PAR or intense lighting and a glass center brace wouldn't make a huge difference anyways. I would also soak that marco rock for a good long time and make sure you removed any possible dead organic material from it.

 

[divemonster]

Hi Steve! That's an Oceanic tank! I have 2 of them and I know what you mean about the glass in the middle.

Are you going to do a pair of triangular island shapes with a swim channel down the middle for fishes? From what I've seen it's fairly easy to construct but offers eye-catching and complex viewing angles, plus you'll have lots of places for sessile invertebrates.

 

[snodine]

Teri, that is the plan. I may actually end up with 3 piles of rock - right and left ends with TBS rock and Marco in the middle. This will provide areas for swimming around the rock and places to put corals as time goes by. I am looking for a more open look rather than a big wall at the back of the tank. The tank is in-wall with only the front being viewable from the living area. I want to fill the middle of the tank leaving areas behind and around the rocks for critters to hide and swim. This will also facilitate keeping the sides and back clean and help prevent areas of stagnant water. I put the Marco rock in last night to get a feel for the amount of space it takes up. I concentrated the rock more or less in the middle of the tank under the glass brace. There was a bit more than I expected. I'm going to leave it in the tank until the TBS package arrives and then do some arranging.

 

[divemonster]

I did a wall down the middle aquascaping because I did not have the artistic vision to create the "islands" with the channel. I've been re-thinking it though. The current aquascaping is not as efficient as it could be.

Your tank is going to be absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see pictures when you start putting the live rock in.

 

[snodine]

Well, I hope it looks OK. I've been working on this for over a year. I had to cut a hole in the basement wall and construct the 15 foot long stand. As is my typical way of doing things, I over-engineered the stand. I think it could hold up my truck! Doing the electrical work was fun - especially when I tripped a circuit breaker while my wife was working on her computer. "Woops - sorry Honey! When was the last time you saved that document? That long ago, huh?"I've been researching and reading and buying equipment a piece at a time. I stumbled across this forum and the TBS site on the web and have learned a lot. I might have Richard's instructions for installing the package memorized by now. I will certainly post pictures here when I start with the live rock.

 

[divemonster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13146588#post13146588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
Well, I hope it looks OK. I've been working on this for over a year. I had to cut a hole in the basement wall and construct the 15 foot long stand. As is my typical way of doing things, I over-engineered the stand. I think it could hold up my truck! Doing the electrical work was fun - especially when I tripped a circuit breaker while my wife was working on her computer. "Woops - sorry Honey! When was the last time you saved that document? That long ago, huh?"I've been researching and reading and buying equipment a piece at a time. I stumbled across this forum and the TBS site on the web and have learned a lot. I might have Richard's instructions for installing the package memorized by now. I will certainly post pictures here when I start with the live rock.

Then all of your effort and research will make for an even more stunning display! It sounds like you have had alot of fun setting it up. It took us close to a year to get our tank up for many of the same reasons. Husband did the wiring and although it did not involve tripping any circuits, he did manage to burn out his circuit tester.

Your comment about over-engineering the stand made me laugh out loud! This hobby does seem to attract the "over-engineers." What about the plumbing? The pics I've seen of different systems definitely support my theory about "over-engineers" and this hobby

As for having the instructions for installing the Package memorized...LOL...you're definitely hooked and you have just started. Keep up the good work and the entertaining posts! Looking forward to those pics for sure

 

[snodine]

Actually the plumbing has been the simplest part. I could not find a way to make it more complicated.

The water return to the far right of the tank (looking from the fish room) and the return pump is on the far left of the sump. The pipe runs up and over and down. Pretty simple but effective.
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2118.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is a few pictures of the tank with the lights on and the Marco rock in. These pictures are of the front of the tank.
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2143.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2142.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2142.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is a picture of the back of the tank showing the plumbing and light setups.

<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2146.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2146.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/?action=view&current=DSCF2145.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/snodine/DSCF2145.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I just finished putting all the lights together. I need to tidy things up a bit but the look will stay basically the same.

It will be exciting to see how everything will change with the addition of the TBS rock! Hurry back Richard!