New setup with "pseudo substrate"

[Todd March]

Thought I would post a few updated shots of my tank as well...

The coralline growth for this tank has been phenomenal (I think due to the high strontium content of my Schuran CA media), and has grown incredibly well on the lower light region of the faux substrate. The tank is a little over 6 months old, and around 70% of my substrate is covered in coralline growth; in particular, areas where the substrate had chipped offââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âleaving exposed areas of Starboardââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âhave been rapidly colonized by the coralline, making the substrate look that much more seamless and natural...

I'm enjoying this tank with the faux substrate immenselyââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âhardly any algae growth, fast coralline and coral growth, little vacuming and a fantastic looking bottom... It's the lowest maintenanceââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âyet best lookingââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âreef tank I have ever had in 18 years of reefin'. Just great...!

Non-reefers have often commented, "I like that purple and pink bottom"...!

 

[G-money]

Looking real nice, Todd. I don't get that same nice purple coralline growth on my substrate - it's kind of a mixture of all kinds of things - but mostly only pink/red coralline. Maybe it's the Strontium factor because I don't have much more light than you do...

Here are a few more pics:
back of tank:

One of my favorite Acros:

...and a Turbinaria:

 

[Northside Reef]

are there no fish in the tank?

 

[G-money]

are there no fish in the tank?

Of course there are.
I don't bother waiting around for them to pose, though...
There's a foxface, coral beauty, bicolor blenny, a mandarin and two black saddleback clowns.

 

[Northside Reef]

AH lol sorry I did not see them, for some reason my computer at home shows pictures very dark, this one at work the pictures are very bright and easy to see. I have played with the brightness and contrast but I still can't get them bright enough on that old computer

 

[Fishysan]

G-Money & Todd, did you guys use the grey PVC cement/glue or the pink/purple stuff?

I suspect grey.. but thought to ask. I'll be picking up some HDPE tomorrow & start gluing sand on.

Thanks much for sharing your ideas and photos over time!

 

[G-money]

The stuff I used was clear - cement, not primer.
I think it was Oatey's brand from Home Depot - comes in a green and white can.

 

[Todd March]

I used the clear PVC cement as wellââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬ÂOatey as well, the LO-V.O.C type....

Your tank looks great, Graham.. The corals are really doing well... I only have around 10 corals (almost all Acros), and really need to get serious about stocking...! Your tank has inspired me...!

 

[Fishysan]

Great thanks guys.

Haven't seen clear PVC cement, but hadn't looked yet going to HD now. Thanks!

Oh yeah - pink's the primer. Forgot. Was mostly thinking the grey stuff. hehe Been a while since I've done plumbing. Gonna be doing tons this summer.

 

[trueblackpercula]

This has been the most use full tread I have read in a wile wow. You have now opened up so many new ideas for my new cube 30x30x30 tank. I was thinking of going DSB than BB now it might even be bothÃ" Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ"šÃ‚º I would like to see a close up picture of the bottom of your tanks just to see how they age. I was contemplating a while ago with 2 inch Styrofoam and carving dips in it and then gluing sand to it so that it would have a natural appearance. What do you thing about this? Thanks so much for the great idea and please post some pros and cons.
Thanks
Michael

 

[trueblackpercula]

This has been the most use full tread I have read in a wile wow. You have now opened up so many new ideas for my new cube 30x30x30 tank. I was thinking of going DSB than BB now it might even be bothÃ" Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ãƒ"šÃ‚º I would like to see a close up picture of the bottom of your tanks just to see how they age. I was contemplating a while ago with 2 inch Styrofoam and carving dips in it and then gluing sand to it so that it would have a natural appearance. What do you thing about this? Thanks so much for the great idea and please post some pros and cons.
Thanks
Michael

 

[G-money]

I've got a load of pics on my website.

I don't think the styro would work because it's going to be hard to get anything to adhere real well to it long-term. Don't use silicone as an adhesive no matter what you do.

Pros - no sand blows around, easier to vaccum than sand, detritus doesn't sink into the bed and cause nutrient buildup, stuff grows on it.

Cons - variable durability, definitely doesn't look like sand after a while (but not unnatural either), traps some detritus whereas BB traps basically none, stuff grows on it.

 

[jmx2]

Why do you say not to use silicone? Just wondering as I just finished a rather tedious fish project using just that.
Thanks

 

[G-money]

It won't hold gravel for very long. I used it along the sides of the board to hopefully hold some gravel and make the bottom look seamless. Now all I have is a bead of dimpled silicone running the perimeter of the bottom.

 

[luckycat]

I agree with g-money. I used silicone on the seams of cutting board w/epoxy/sand mix on top, then put some gravel on the silicone...the gravel doesn't seem to hold well everywhere in the silicone.

 

[G-money]

Some updated pics:

So overall, still pretty happy with the tank and choice of substrate. I'm still dealing with a plague of bubble algae, but I'm pretty sure this is a result of having old live rock. The rock was "cooked" for 2 months before this setup, but Valonia is a very persistent beast. Being that there is a lack of any other type of "nuisance" algae (and Valonia is not associated with high nutrients like hair and other algaes) I have to say the substrate has served its purpose - to help me keep nutrients low in the system. I do think that a bare glass bottom would be well-encrusted by now, though. Next time, I'm leaning toward bare glass...

 

[otolith]

Looks great, Graham.

One of these days we'll work out a trade. I have a piece of Oregon with your name on it.

 

[melev]

It looks beautiful. :thumbsup:

 

[Lunchbucket]

that a crayola table??

Lunchbucket

 

[G-money]

Thanks Derek and Mark!

Lunch, I bought it as a wild Acropora plana. Not sure what a crayola table is...but I'm pretty sure on the plana part with mine.
I've had it for a little over a year now. Probably my favorite if I had to pick .