Tank of the Month - November 2007
- Thread starter Skipper
- Start date
Thanks Paul,
When my corals grow up, i hope they look just like yours !.
Matt,
I vacume the sand weekly and some sand is lost, but atleast one a month i will pull sand while vacuming on purpose.
Yes it clouds the tank for the day when a new bag is added, but i just expect that now.
Freed,
I noticed after hand feeding the fish for the first year, that the triggers were the dogs of the bunch.
They needed to pat me down on every occasion to see if i had treats .
It was kinda neat at first, but definatly a problem when thier teeth grew a little.
They actually jammed themselves into the cone of my hand in those pictures looking for morsels, and this was common.
For the last year i havent done this because it got a little out of control when gluing frags, rock placement, and small marks on my skin would promote sampling...
As you can see in the pics the tangs got quite comfortable too, but atleast they only plucked an arm hair or two a day.
Dustin,
The front and side viewing panes are glass, and 3/4" laminated Starphire.
Datonarick,
I preglued structures of pvc, of the shapes that i had wished to see.
I then drilled holes throught the framework, to avoid stagnant areas aswell as have areas to mount rock to.
The base structures looked much like this when trying to get the shapes.
In that picture, this was the base structure, and a piece was made to come down to touch it, but is supported by the eurobracing of the tank.
The top piece was hung down.
Then it was just a matter of coral and small rock placment for the next little while... this was difficult as i had a hard time being patient for the corals to hide PVC that i could still see.
Some of it got pretty tedious as you can see in this photo, the little pieces needed attention too.
I kept the structures very simple in hopes the corals would do the finishing work.
Most of the layout :
Thanks Ziggy,
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...threadid=686757
Marc.
When my corals grow up, i hope they look just like yours !.
Matt,
I vacume the sand weekly and some sand is lost, but atleast one a month i will pull sand while vacuming on purpose.
Yes it clouds the tank for the day when a new bag is added, but i just expect that now.
Freed,
I noticed after hand feeding the fish for the first year, that the triggers were the dogs of the bunch.
They needed to pat me down on every occasion to see if i had treats
.It was kinda neat at first, but definatly a problem when thier teeth grew a little.
They actually jammed themselves into the cone of my hand in those pictures looking for morsels, and this was common.
For the last year i havent done this because it got a little out of control when gluing frags, rock placement, and small marks on my skin would promote sampling...
As you can see in the pics the tangs got quite comfortable too, but atleast they only plucked an arm hair or two a day.
Dustin,
The front and side viewing panes are glass, and 3/4" laminated Starphire.
Datonarick,
I preglued structures of pvc, of the shapes that i had wished to see.
I then drilled holes throught the framework, to avoid stagnant areas aswell as have areas to mount rock to.
The base structures looked much like this when trying to get the shapes.
In that picture, this was the base structure, and a piece was made to come down to touch it, but is supported by the eurobracing of the tank.
The top piece was hung down.
Then it was just a matter of coral and small rock placment for the next little while... this was difficult as i had a hard time being patient for the corals to hide PVC that i could still see.
Some of it got pretty tedious as you can see in this photo, the little pieces needed attention too.
I kept the structures very simple in hopes the corals would do the finishing work.
Most of the layout :
Thanks Ziggy,
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...threadid=686757
Marc.
FunkieReefJunkie
Member
The aesthetics of every aspect of this tank just blow me away. Inside and out you've done a beautiful job!
shred5
Premium Member
I have to say I have been in the hobby a long time and very few tanks just blow me away anymore, but wow that is awsum. It is not so much the life inside the tank even though it looks awsum too and is going to look spectacular in a few years, it is the tank and the fact you built it your self and the other equipment. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your tank it was very interesting. You should write a article for reefkeeping magazine on how you built the tank.
Come to think about it why do they not have a diy section to begin with in reefkeeping magazine.
Dave
Come to think about it why do they not have a diy section to begin with in reefkeeping magazine.
Dave
JRaquatics
New member
Fudge: love your tank. I have been watching your tank build since your first posted it. Have always loved you rock structure. Geat job. Another amazing tank.
Skipper
Premium Member
We used to when the magazine started. Since then, I've asked many times with a sticky thread in the DIY forum for authors to write DIY articles. Only a few people were interested, and of those, they all said I could use their thread for an article. That's not quite the same as actually WRITING an article, hence, none were used. Bottom line... no one stepped up to write an article.
Midnightbreeze
New member
Wow, you must have scoured the global outlets for all that coral variety.
blue_monkey
New member
Fudge,
Your tank is absolutely amazing. Congratulations on a well deserved "Tank of the Month" award. I doubt that anybody has put more into this hobby than you have. You have inspired me (Don't worry, I won't tell my wife it was you).
Enough of the flattery, I have a question: What weight of fiberglass cloth did you use on your tank? Are there any special considerations that need to be made for a reef tank?
Thank you!
Your tank is absolutely amazing. Congratulations on a well deserved "Tank of the Month" award. I doubt that anybody has put more into this hobby than you have. You have inspired me (Don't worry, I won't tell my wife it was you).
Enough of the flattery, I have a question: What weight of fiberglass cloth did you use on your tank? Are there any special considerations that need to be made for a reef tank?
Thank you!
Last edited:
mlandrigan
New member
What sand do you use? When I've tried replacing sand (I've been using white play sand (southdown) it looked pretty much white. Could only see about 6-10 inches into the tank. Is this the same degree as you experience or is my sand just much more filthy? I've tried prerinsing it and that helps somewhat. I am just nervous that it is to 'thick' for the fish (I don't have any corals right now). Any thoughts and do you have a picture of after you do this?
I just thought that if I used a 2'' piece of PVC I could pour the sand in through there to limit the agitation.
Thanks,
Matt
chaseracing
Premium Member
I think we all strive to have a tank like this someday. Do you charge an admission fee?
-=E=-
-=E=-
Thanks all, i am glad you liked it.
Blue Monkey,
I dont remember the weight, it wasnt the thickest....it was more like middle of the road, so that i could work with it a little easier as i was a rookie with fiberglassing.
Considerations... i think i would have to say i would vacume it next time...to get a nicer finish, it drives me nuts thast i cant clean the back and side wall very easy.
Bracing, ply is very flexible so bracing properly is one point i would not overlook on ply tanks. Resins wont like to be bent and flex too much after curing.
Matt, i used Caribsea`s aragamax select, and i place the whole bag in my sink and poke small holes in the bottom.
I cut the top of the bag off and rinse this way.
The i place the whole bag into the aquarium and slice it with a razor..this seems to keep clouding to a minimum, but a days worth is expected.
Ive tried using the pipe, but its tedious, bordering on painful.
Growurown,
With the old pumps and skimmer it was ridiculous, there was a total of 3-5800 seq at one point.
Now its 3 darts in total including the skimmer.
Lighting is about 2000 watts.
I would guess at an average consumption of 4000-4500 watts at peak use.
Bourbeaue,
Yes they are in the main display. They are not as agressive at eating, though i will usually throw nori in and attract all agressive fish....then ill fire some pellets in and they get them fairly easily.
Marc.
Blue Monkey,
I dont remember the weight, it wasnt the thickest....it was more like middle of the road, so that i could work with it a little easier as i was a rookie with fiberglassing.
Considerations... i think i would have to say i would vacume it next time...to get a nicer finish, it drives me nuts thast i cant clean the back and side wall very easy.
Bracing, ply is very flexible so bracing properly is one point i would not overlook on ply tanks. Resins wont like to be bent and flex too much after curing.
Matt, i used Caribsea`s aragamax select, and i place the whole bag in my sink and poke small holes in the bottom.
I cut the top of the bag off and rinse this way.
The i place the whole bag into the aquarium and slice it with a razor..this seems to keep clouding to a minimum, but a days worth is expected.
Ive tried using the pipe, but its tedious, bordering on painful.
Growurown,
With the old pumps and skimmer it was ridiculous, there was a total of 3-5800 seq at one point.
Now its 3 darts in total including the skimmer.
Lighting is about 2000 watts.
I would guess at an average consumption of 4000-4500 watts at peak use.
Bourbeaue,
Yes they are in the main display. They are not as agressive at eating, though i will usually throw nori in and attract all agressive fish....then ill fire some pellets in and they get them fairly easily.
Marc.
Similar threads
