RichConley
New member
One thing that would be neat, is if you went further, and made about 2 feet below the stand line, then you'd be looking down at a lot of the corals, which would be pretty cool, IMO.
Sand = natural?
- Thread starter tacocat
- Start date
Sounds like a cool idea. To replicate the first pic would seem to take nothing more than to cover the floor of the tank with coral and let them grow into large colonies to cover eveything.
Sand is I beleive found more so on the lagonal type of reefs which is where you will find lot of the LPS, softies and mushrooms vice the SPS.
Sand is I beleive found more so on the lagonal type of reefs which is where you will find lot of the LPS, softies and mushrooms vice the SPS.
mikeguerrero
New member
Just thought that one should know that every BB reef has sand in their tank in theory not practice....
Have we all forgotten simple physics?
Where does glass come from?
Here is the formula for those that have forgotten....
Window Glass
100 lb Sand
33 lb Lime
30 lb Soda
10 lb Salt
Okay BB reefers have to appreciate sand for that....
MG
Have we all forgotten simple physics?
Where does glass come from?
Here is the formula for those that have forgotten....
Window Glass
100 lb Sand
33 lb Lime
30 lb Soda
10 lb Salt
Okay BB reefers have to appreciate sand for that....
MG
tacocat
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6874179#post6874179 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeguerrero
Just thought that one should know that every BB reef has sand in their tank in theory not practice....
Have we all forgotten simple physics?
Where does glass come from?
Here is the formula for those that have forgotten....
Window Glass
100 lb Sand
33 lb Lime
30 lb Soda
10 lb Salt
Okay BB reefers have to appreciate sand for that....
MG
Lost me there. I believe we were discussing alternate methods to tank aquascaping and display.
mikeguerrero
New member
I'm simply saying glass is made from sand, BB users love the clean look without the sand....
You speak about acros in the wild not having sand around....
I'm saying the BB reefer can appreciate what sand does to create glass to have that look....
I'm staying in the realm of aquascaping being seen as BB and Sand; just that BB does have sand in theory not practice...
You speak about acros in the wild not having sand around....
I'm saying the BB reefer can appreciate what sand does to create glass to have that look....
I'm staying in the realm of aquascaping being seen as BB and Sand; just that BB does have sand in theory not practice...
tacocat
Premium Member
One thing I have learned is that stock stand sizes are terrible. A buddy of mine has one that is 44" tall. The top of the tank is at eye level, so you get to look down at the corals, but you don't have to crouch down to see anything.
He has a kitchen table in the same room which uses stool. So if you want to sit down, you aren't looking up at it. It works out well, and gives you more display and setup options.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
While we are primarily caring for our cnidarian friends ... we are also `creating a picture' in our tanks - mixing color and form into a very stylized and unusual groupings as would be found in nature.
Use of the tank in the room, IMO is one of the neatest things when you can do it. Thankfully, I have a move in 5 years to dream about ... will have my checklist of ways the house needs to be set up
The use of something to cover the lower part of the tank is interesting ... `floating reef'. Great idea to consider.
A LFS near me recently re-aquascaped creatively holding a large Tonga-branch structure above the left 3' of the tank, a slope from near the water's surface to just above the floor of the tank in a very gentle slant - 1" PVC hung from the back side [in wall tank] supporting it. If they would block the view of the bottom of the tank ... it would look much more like it was just a piece of reef in the wall. Really great aquascape, and thinking about this all day ... one that would benefit from some of the ideas thrown around here.
Given the amount of time we spend on our tanks, it's good to think of ways in which we can show them off better.
Use of the tank in the room, IMO is one of the neatest things when you can do it. Thankfully, I have a move in 5 years to dream about ... will have my checklist of ways the house needs to be set up
The use of something to cover the lower part of the tank is interesting ... `floating reef'. Great idea to consider.
A LFS near me recently re-aquascaped creatively holding a large Tonga-branch structure above the left 3' of the tank, a slope from near the water's surface to just above the floor of the tank in a very gentle slant - 1" PVC hung from the back side [in wall tank] supporting it. If they would block the view of the bottom of the tank ... it would look much more like it was just a piece of reef in the wall. Really great aquascape, and thinking about this all day ... one that would benefit from some of the ideas thrown around here.
Given the amount of time we spend on our tanks, it's good to think of ways in which we can show them off better.
I read this thread earlier at work, and have not stopped thinking about the ways/possibilities in which this could be achieved. One thing I was thinking about, pending specific tank size and amount of "open air" at the bottom, you could make a smooth edge on the bottom corners and run some flow "kriesel" style, "updrafts" so to speak on both sides. It would sure keep the crap suspended well in a tank like this.
tacocat
Premium Member
We did a behind the scenes tour of the kriesel tanks at MBA.
http://www.cvreefers.org/showthread.php?t=1033&highlight=jellyfish
I think if the inlets and outlets of a closed loop were below the rockwork, it would be highly effective. You can probably a generate 500x turnover rate without any ill effects. Heck if you can do it view a surge, it would create a wave like motion across the tank.
http://www.cvreefers.org/showthread.php?t=1033&highlight=jellyfish
I think if the inlets and outlets of a closed loop were below the rockwork, it would be highly effective. You can probably a generate 500x turnover rate without any ill effects. Heck if you can do it view a surge, it would create a wave like motion across the tank.
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sfsuphysics
Active member
This is a perfect example of something that is "more natural" .
You mentioned in your first post about having a more "natural" look. If you look at those SPS dominated reefs you'll see that they are so densely clustered that you can't see what's under them. So if you have a tank that is like this then sure I'll give it the natural "thumbs up" Mike of approval
. I think the natural aspect comes from the time it'd take to get to that level of density. Having a rock bottom though *shrug* fancy name for really big crushed coral if you ask me. Now as was mentioned sand mimics that barrier where the sand meets the reef which people see as natural. Now which is better for the health? I believe I'm out of 10 foot poles, so I'll leave that for someone else/other topic
NoSchwag
Premium Member
Honestly no one that sees the tank even notices the bottom. They might if I had a sandbed that has any type of age to it, I mean I know that when I take the girl to the LFS, she notices the sand.
The first thing people notice when they see my tank is how clean and clear the water is. That was actually the first thing the guy delivering the couch today said. How big of a dork am I that I turned the lights on when I saw the delevery truck outside..
The first thing people notice when they see my tank is how clean and clear the water is. That was actually the first thing the guy delivering the couch today said.
How big of a dork am I that I turned the lights on when I saw the delevery truck outside..Amphiprion
Premium Member
Aww, come on guys! I guess my detritus-bottom movement fell through before it even started .
.
clkwrk
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6876488#post6876488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NoSchwag
Honestly no one that sees the tank even notices the bottom. They might if I had a sandbed that has any type of age to it, I mean I know that when I take the girl to the LFS, she notices the sand.
The first thing people notice when they see my tank is how clean and clear the water is. That was actually the first thing the guy delivering the couch today said.
I agree even those who never even seena tank don't ask where the sand is . There is just too much to keep their attention.
I like sand but I doub't I can get it to stay down with 100-135x in the tank and my sps like their flow so.......
wastememphis
New member
" 1. Increased water volume without the need for more powerful lighting."
If you extended the tank and filled the bottom with sand how would that increase the water volume?
Do you have any more pictures of a reef that you're talking about, other than the first page ones?
I've read some good ideas, but what about this...
if you had room would it be just as effective to have a remote stand bed in say a 55gallon tank connected to you're display, that way you could see it without looking under the starboard or rocks, like a DDDSB refugium.
If you extended the tank and filled the bottom with sand how would that increase the water volume?
Do you have any more pictures of a reef that you're talking about, other than the first page ones?
I've read some good ideas, but what about this...
if you had room would it be just as effective to have a remote stand bed in say a 55gallon tank connected to you're display, that way you could see it without looking under the starboard or rocks, like a DDDSB refugium.
G-money
Premium Member
Everyone seems to be focusing on aesthetics with little mention made to functionality. If I have two choices between my tank where #1 is more visually appealing and #2 is more functionally sound for the tank, I know which one I'd choose.
If you've ever seen a tank full of healthy, thriving corals, you aren't likely going to remember what was or was not on the bottom of the tank. If you do, the fact that someone has no sand isn't going to make their thriving tank look "ugly". It's a very old argument IMO and not an argument where the best interest of your corals comes first...
A glass bottom becomes covered in the same things that encrust the "base" of the pics you see at the top of this thread. Yes, that is "more" natural.
If you've ever seen a tank full of healthy, thriving corals, you aren't likely going to remember what was or was not on the bottom of the tank. If you do, the fact that someone has no sand isn't going to make their thriving tank look "ugly". It's a very old argument IMO and not an argument where the best interest of your corals comes first...
A glass bottom becomes covered in the same things that encrust the "base" of the pics you see at the top of this thread. Yes, that is "more" natural.
