Poidog's 70g Tech Tank Build

[xtlosx]

Well if your getting no glare from the TV from the lights then Livin room it is- I like to enjoy the tank while watching TV and looking over and seeng my tanks beauty...

We have our tank in the family room across from the TV and don't have any issues with it.. I like being able to sit at the kitchen table and stare at my personal slice of the ocean. You get used to the power heads, and the noise of everything. My drain isn't the quietest, but my Wife & I actually like the background noise.

 

[poidog81]

Thanks all. We decided it's going in the sunroom, where the black sofa is at in that picture. That way it has it's own room, but it's still viewable from the family room.

It's been moved from it's current location, in the sun room, already. It's positioned over a stud for hanging the light fixture (about 5" away from the wall - leaves plenty of room for electrical and ballasts). We also filled it up with hose water to leak test, and everything passed.

We're going to get ride of the current leather furniture in there and get 2 of those leaning bookshelf from Crate and Barrel to flank either side of the tank. Then opposite the tank we'll get two comfy chairs and a table.

The rest of my rock comes in today, so I can start laying out the aqua scape and start filling it up. It's gonna be a long fill up process!

 

[tabby1222]

The tank is going to be gorgeous! That seems like a great place!

 

[poidog81]

I remember the one thing I hate about this hobby.... aquascaping.

So the rest of my BSR Fiji rock came in today... Got a total of 110 lbs, ended up using 80 lbs in the tank. It took me from 6pm to 12am to come up with this last scape, which is about the 5th reincarnation of it. I tried to make as many spots for SPS with overhangs and caves. Please give me your suggestions/critisms. I want this to be the best it can be, because once I put the sand in and fill it up, I'm not moving rocks again!

Sorry for the crappy iphone pics

 

[badazztealcobra]

Looks a little too much like a pile of rock to me (unless the pictures are completely not doing it justice).... When I do aquascaping I always try to start with the largest rocks on the bottom and space them away from each other, then the next row bridges the gaps of the first row, and so on.... Usually ends up with tons of nice overhangs and caves for the fish.... My first attempt in my old 180 looked just like that and people suggested changing it, and I was so glad I did.....

We had a little harder a time with the 18" depth of my brothers 90g, but we got some really nice caves and overhangs done, just not as much depth as we had hoped for....

Then I used the same on my current 90g.... TONS of overhangs and caves (nevermind the bad color from the camera phone, makes it look pink for some reason)....

Keep in mind that you put 80 pounds of dry rock in..... once it's live and wet, its probably closer to 120-140 pounds worth.

The biggest thing is how YOU like it. I know a ton of people love the pillar look, but it's not for me. Some people love the wall look, but it's not for me either. I like to be able to see to the back pane in some areas, it lets me know there's plenty of caves and overhangs...

 

[poidog81]

Thanks that helps. I do have to say it does look better in person than the photos, but I was afraid it does look too much like a pile of rocks. It is really difficult because BRS sent me too many large rocks, so they are too big for my tank dimentions. I like the look of your current 90g. I think I'll tear it down and try again. My fingers are sore like I sad I hate aquascaping. I'd pay someone to doo it!

 

[BADGUS]

I hate aquascaping. I'd pay someone to doo it!

I can help you there,would take a frag or 2 in exchange :spin1:

 

[poidog81]

Gus, I may need your help. I'm going to try again tonight. I also emailed BRS saying that I wasn't too happy getting 1/2 an order of large rock, when I only asked for a few.
I looked at it again this morning, and it doesn't look bad, but could be better. I had the mentality that you won't see it when its covered with SPS after 6 hours last night!

 

[poidog81]

Hubby says to leave it that he likes it, but knows I won't be calm until I get it how I want it. haha he said that he likes it cause there is plenty of room for the fish to swim and lots of rocks to put coral on. Anyway, need some more critics (positive or negative). Here is another picture with some sunlight, so it gives it a different look. What I'm not liking is how vertical it is.

 

[SkullV]

It needs more depth. It looks like a dense wall of rock right now. I can play around with it if you want when I come up to pick up the PA stuff if it ever gets there. You saw my aquascape when you were here .

In addition to what you saw in my new tank I'm quite partial to the "cove" look that I had in my old Nanocube:

 

[poidog81]

it needs more depth. It looks like a dense wall of rock right now.

+1

 

[BADGUS]

LMK,needs depth and shape,looks like a wall IMO.

 

[poidog81]

I'm seeing if BRS will let me exchange the Fiji for the Pukani. The Fiji is just too dense/heavy for my smaller tank footprint. If it was 24" wide it would work out a lot better.

 

[nanonubey]

I like the way Ted and Btc did their aquascaping. I don't think they sent you the right pieces for your tank's dimensions. I'd ask for some long skinny pieces or unique shapes. I too went for a more open look in my new tank instead of the wall look.

<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=dn0oc1" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/dn0oc1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

This picture dose'nt do mine any justice but I can't get a good one yet.

 

[poidog81]

Completely agree. Does it take BRS long to reply to emails? is been a few hours now and they're on the same time zone!

I like the cove look too as that is how my nano is set up too.

 

[ashtree68]

I agree about needing some more depth in it. I like having a bit more open area with over hangs and such. Is there anyway you can take a hammer and break up some of the larger pieces, its a crap shoot but sometimes with a screwdriver you can chisel it into more of how you want it.

As others have said if you need/want help I like aquascaping and could come and help sometime.

 

[poidog81]

I could hammer it, but then the rock will look like crap cause you'll have all that "cut" edges visible.

 

[ashtree68]

I could hammer it, but then the rock will look like crap cause you'll have all that "cut" line visible.

In your tank? It'll be visible for a week, tops, then get be covered in corals and coralline algae.

 

[poidog81]

Ya, I see your point. I'm just not happy with the sizes/shapes/ and denseness of the rocks I got. Only abut 1/2 of a 100 lb order is really usable for my tank/preferences.

I'm leaning towards the reef saver rock too. Opinions?

 

[Tank2379]

I would have just gone with the Dried Deco rock they sell the sizes and shapes would actually work way better than what you have now... just my .02