Oyster Reef Ecosystem Tank
- Thread starter Chasmodes
- Start date
Chasmodes
Well-known member
I think that they'd all do OK in warmer water. The naked gobies and skilletfish are also found in Florida. The blennies can be found from Delaware all the way down to Cape Canaveral, Florida, and two other blennies in the genus can be found in other Florida and Gulf waters. These fish can be found in the shallows in the summer in the Chesapeake, and during hot summers, the temps can be in the 80's. These fish live in extreme conditions, from cold winters through hot summers in our area. I don't see any problems with them being able to adapt to a warm reef life.
McPuff
New member
Very cool. I'll have to see if I can find a way to get some, perhaps in the spring.
McPuff
New member
Not that I know... but who knows, I may find a car that I need and it happens to be in Maryland. :0)
Chasmodes
Well-known member
OK, this isn't related to my oyster reef tank, but, I've mentioned my FW build before and thought that by keeping tabs on it here once in a while, it might give me and others ideas about future DIY scaping stuff. This time, it's about roots. I began my fake sycamore roots (after scrapping my old work). Here is the latest post about that progress:
I finally got my butt in gear and started back on the roots. I don't know if you all remember, but I scrapped my last attempt because, I just didn't like the way it was turning out. So this time, I decided to start by building the frame first, and not try to work details in as I went, and I'm much happier with the progress. Basically, I worked with just CPVC pipe, CPVC fittings, a heat gun, and a few zip ties to build the frame. I'm almost done with the frame, then I'll apply the CPVC glue and lock it up. I'm making these roots removable to make maintenance on the tank easier. Here is what it looks like so far:
Full tank shot:
Close up:
Here is what it looked like before (ugh):
Next steps:
* Glue the CPVC structure together
* Glue some rope and other detail materials in place with a hot glue gun
* Wrap as much pipe as I can with plaster gauze to give stuff something other than a slippery surface to cling to
* Apply some spray foam to some areas for bulk and to get rid of straight lines to make it more realistic.
* Carve the foam to finish the base skeleton of the roots
* Apply grout for the next most outer layer of the roots to provide the final amount of bulk and sculpting for realism.
* Paint and seal with Drylok mixed with cement die to provide the final details and realism but also to seal in the grout to prevent pH issues.
I finally got my butt in gear and started back on the roots. I don't know if you all remember, but I scrapped my last attempt because, I just didn't like the way it was turning out. So this time, I decided to start by building the frame first, and not try to work details in as I went, and I'm much happier with the progress. Basically, I worked with just CPVC pipe, CPVC fittings, a heat gun, and a few zip ties to build the frame. I'm almost done with the frame, then I'll apply the CPVC glue and lock it up. I'm making these roots removable to make maintenance on the tank easier. Here is what it looks like so far:
Full tank shot:
Close up:
Here is what it looked like before (ugh):
Next steps:
* Glue the CPVC structure together
* Glue some rope and other detail materials in place with a hot glue gun
* Wrap as much pipe as I can with plaster gauze to give stuff something other than a slippery surface to cling to
* Apply some spray foam to some areas for bulk and to get rid of straight lines to make it more realistic.
* Carve the foam to finish the base skeleton of the roots
* Apply grout for the next most outer layer of the roots to provide the final amount of bulk and sculpting for realism.
* Paint and seal with Drylok mixed with cement die to provide the final details and realism but also to seal in the grout to prevent pH issues.
Wow, that looks great! Nice job! I can see that it will work, visually. You set yourself a high standard with your wall. Making a root structure that is it's equal must be very challenging. You've just about done it! A little finish work and you're there. Can't wait to see the finished product! It's going to be amazing!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Thanks Michael. I had a mental block about this project, and then just decided to dive into it again. Once I got going, everything started to fall into place, and I got excited about it again. We had to leave to go to my family's holiday celebration yesterday, and, although I knew we had to go, I didn't want to stop working on it. So, when we got home, I ran downstairs and worked on it until midnight. I can't wait to get back to it now. I was unsure of my new plan for these roots up until this. So, hopefully, in the end, they'll look real. We will see! Since I'm making them removable, if they don't work out, I can yank them out and just go look for a piece of real driftwood. I think it will work though!
I know what you mean, having a mental block. The project is difficult and there's no guarantee it will turn out well. That is exactly what slowed me down, getting my tank back up and running.
But now you've turned the corner and you're off to the races! Happy rootin'!
But now you've turned the corner and you're off to the races! Happy rootin'!
Chasmodes
Well-known member
This will be my first FW tank in 20 years since I set up one for my daughter. That project didn't last long, LOL. This one will. It's a native FW tank. I had one like it in my younger days when I lived at my parent's house, and the tank was awesome and fun. I made the mistake of putting three large crappie in that tank and they ate all of the minnows, shiners, darters and sculpins. Then, I added a big largemouth bass that ate the crappie. After that, the bass committed suicide, so I ate him! It was a sad meal though, because that fish was my pet for about a year before he died.
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Hey everyone. I made more progress yesterday. First, I glued all of the PVC joints. I tweaked a little bit by bending some more of the existing pipe, then bent and added another pipe. After that, I zip tied it and a couple different thicknesses of rope to help break up the straight edges and give the main roots more bulk. Next, I'll use a hot glue gun to affix the rope a little more in strategic places, maybe add some more, to create more knots and ridges and stuff, and add more detail. I may add some smaller "twigs" as well in strategic places. Once I'm done with that detail, it will be time to foam, to get rid of straight edges and evidence of pipe fittings, and to consolidate the pipe and rope into the overall shape of each root. I'll have to do some carving and sanding after that to finalize the shape. Once that's done, I'll coat it with grout to give the entire structure rigidity, weight, form, and bulk, and hopefully the overall smooth texture characteristic of sycamore roots. The final step will be to paint the structure with Drylok mixed with cement dye to seal everything in and give it a final touch of realism.
The issue that I'm struggling with now, although I'm not near that step, is what color to paint the roots. Should I paint them to look like the roots would look like if not yet submerged? Or, should I paint them to look like they've been underwater a long time. What do you think? I'm leaning toward the latter. Eventually, stuff like algae will build up on them, but I don't think it would look like they do in the wild for years, and I want that realism right away.
Pics of my progress:
I also glued my DIY spray bar for my canister filter together. This will channel water over the top of the roots, while a large powerhead, hidden within the roots, will push water through the roots and the tank and provide most of the flow. I figured that this current arrangement would best mimic current through a natural undercut root against a cliff. I had to trim the root structure and inch or so to get it to fit correctly. Here is what it will look like from above the tank:
The root structure as it looks like today:
Full tank shot:
The issue that I'm struggling with now, although I'm not near that step, is what color to paint the roots. Should I paint them to look like the roots would look like if not yet submerged? Or, should I paint them to look like they've been underwater a long time. What do you think? I'm leaning toward the latter. Eventually, stuff like algae will build up on them, but I don't think it would look like they do in the wild for years, and I want that realism right away.
Pics of my progress:
I also glued my DIY spray bar for my canister filter together. This will channel water over the top of the roots, while a large powerhead, hidden within the roots, will push water through the roots and the tank and provide most of the flow. I figured that this current arrangement would best mimic current through a natural undercut root against a cliff. I had to trim the root structure and inch or so to get it to fit correctly. Here is what it will look like from above the tank:
The root structure as it looks like today:
Full tank shot:
Chasmodes
Well-known member
Hi everyone. I added more structural detail including a tree root knot and an area where bark wore away, and some twig like roots. I also added one more small root to break up the large open space a bit. I was going to apply some hot glue on some key spots so it holds tightly during the foaming step, but, I'm out of hot glue sticks, so I'll have to pick some up tonight. After I hot glue everything in place, then it's foaming time. Here are some pics of the progress:
Some detail added to the long root:
The knot:
The worn spot:
The overall structure:
Fitted in the tank and a close up in the tank:
Some detail added to the long root:
The knot:
The worn spot:
The overall structure:
Fitted in the tank and a close up in the tank:
Looking' good! I have the feeling you're going to have some great looking roots! You say you're going to foam them?
Oh, I see. I asked because the foam is nearly impossible to control. You must be planning to trim/shape it after applying it, right?
McPuff
New member
Have you considered using hydraulic cement instead of foam? You'd have an easier time forming it as required. Downside is that you can't do a ton after it cures. But it wouldn't float! e-marco 400 is easy to work with and will even cure when wet. No leaching either.
Looks really good so far.
Looks really good so far.
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