"The Cavernous Reef" - A 180G Build
- Thread starter rickcasa
- Start date
rickcasa
New member
Thanks. I'm not a planner with to do lists and itemized parts lists. I wish I were. So I need to sketch out my ideas, ad nauseam, sometimes. But I do need to catch myself from going too far with the graphics and just get on with building!
rickcasa
New member
I was thinking a bit more about the holey roof.
You might want to start out with a sheet of cardboard first to experiment as to where, how many, and how big to make the holes. Live with each version for a few days until you find your final solution. A sheet of acrylic is going to cost you major bucks and you will want to do it right the first time.
Dave.M
lol...I'd sure impress my mom if I made this build Basilica themed!
But good point...but once decided, thinking ahead about a semi opaque blue acrylic with holes, or black with transparent blue inserts for the holes. Boy, see there, I just spent the money you saved me on blue sheets!
rickcasa
New member
Duly noted. And having read though your build, you're a man to learn from. THx!
rickcasa
New member
And if you see others online that may help me make this vision come to life, please post here. Images of the deep blue sea is awe-inspiring.
rickcasa
New member
The seller of this tank did mention that the tank setup including the plumbing was designed and provided by Miracles. I believe their pricing for parts is on their website.
Northside Reef
Premium Member
but it is going to save you endless trips to the hardware store man. You have every fitting nicely detailed!
I wish I would have done the same.
petere1989
New member
looks like an awesome build. hanging on for this one! good luck!
muttley000
MTS Sufferer!
Love the illustrations, tagging along.
rickcasa
New member
Hard to blame my 3 girls for the slow progress of this build, but ya it's their fault....esp the newborn. Serves me right for thinking I should have anytime to enjoy a hobby. :spin2:
Hang in there with me folks, I still need you every step of the way. Cheers.
rickcasa
New member
Let me do some leg work for you. I know a Derek there and he's been prompt with my emails in the past. It wouldn't hurt to buy a couple of spares for myself.
rickcasa
New member
It was quite an eyeopener to discover so many different ideas of rockscaping here in RC. I read a lot of builds here, quite the creative bunch, and a few are downright ingenius.
So convinced the eggcrate/foam method is the way to go, off shopping I went which was easy enough...found everything for stage 1 in one place.
The green can here is Great Stuff Pond and Stone, a black foam. This is better than the regular one (red can) because it's infused with carbon particles and wont breakdown from over exposure to light like the other one would. Bought a bottle of Gorilla glue to bond rocks together but found that it really wasn't necessary as the black foam is strong enough to hold a good size rock up. Eggcrate and cable ties completes the list. Make sure you get at least the 14" ties if you plan on attaching rocks bigger than 5 pounds.
So convinced the eggcrate/foam method is the way to go, off shopping I went which was easy enough...found everything for stage 1 in one place.
The green can here is Great Stuff Pond and Stone, a black foam. This is better than the regular one (red can) because it's infused with carbon particles and wont breakdown from over exposure to light like the other one would. Bought a bottle of Gorilla glue to bond rocks together but found that it really wasn't necessary as the black foam is strong enough to hold a good size rock up. Eggcrate and cable ties completes the list. Make sure you get at least the 14" ties if you plan on attaching rocks bigger than 5 pounds.
rickcasa
New member
Coming along pretty well actually. I'm working on the right side of the tank first...the cavern with the overhangs. This brought out my inner sculptor as I carved the 'marshmallows' that form when the foam expands. Really impressed how hard the foam dries and bonds to anything it touches.
Behind the eggcrate where I shaved off the excess foam...they puff out in all directions.
Tomorrow, I'll look for some coarsely crushed corals and epoxy to cover up the black foam, Stage 2.
Behind the eggcrate where I shaved off the excess foam...they puff out in all directions.
Tomorrow, I'll look for some coarsely crushed corals and epoxy to cover up the black foam, Stage 2.
Tinkanator2000
New member
In your ATS picture I see the top of the one side is cut low. That's not your intended return to the sump is it?
Tinkanator2000
New member
Scratch that, just noticed the bottom opening
I feel your sweet pain on the newborn front...:beer:
rickcasa
New member
Rigid foam board is used to build the columns and overhangs. Now it looks odd at the moment but I'm actually thrilled to be working with such a light and forgiving material. When I set out to build this concept, I was planning on working with aragocrete and dry rock so the foam not only allows me to dry fit and position it to find the profile I'm after, but it may get me to adding water in this tank quicker....no weeks of curing the lime out of the cement.
This certainly takes me back a dozen or so years back in art college sculpting and working with tools. I could spend way too many hours perfecting the shape, colour and texture of the structure but knowing that when coraline bonds and I start to add zoas and corals and placing feather dusters, coco worms, cerianthus and other diverse critters to it, it won't matter too much.
This rigid board is so cool...it gives me something to work with when I cover it pond foam. With it I'll be adding dimension and detail like stalactites and holes for the fish to swim through. I know a lot of foam will be tough to keep in place so I'm going to anchor it down with a large rock at the base of each foam column and even on it's sides. This column will be superficially attached to the ceiling. I don't want to glue them together for maintenance purposes but I'll want it to look seamless. I may only have 2 columns as I dont want to crowd the fish.
This ceiling plays a key role in this concept. It will be opened up a bit in the middle, but more importantly it will have holes strategically placed to give me that 'shafts of light' effect that Dave succinctly described it. I'll carry the rock effect past the waterline so it looks realistic but not past above the eurobracing as I still want a sleek and clean looking tank from the outside.
This certainly takes me back a dozen or so years back in art college sculpting and working with tools. I could spend way too many hours perfecting the shape, colour and texture of the structure but knowing that when coraline bonds and I start to add zoas and corals and placing feather dusters, coco worms, cerianthus and other diverse critters to it, it won't matter too much.
This rigid board is so cool...it gives me something to work with when I cover it pond foam. With it I'll be adding dimension and detail like stalactites and holes for the fish to swim through. I know a lot of foam will be tough to keep in place so I'm going to anchor it down with a large rock at the base of each foam column and even on it's sides. This column will be superficially attached to the ceiling. I don't want to glue them together for maintenance purposes but I'll want it to look seamless. I may only have 2 columns as I dont want to crowd the fish.
This ceiling plays a key role in this concept. It will be opened up a bit in the middle, but more importantly it will have holes strategically placed to give me that 'shafts of light' effect that Dave succinctly described it. I'll carry the rock effect past the waterline so it looks realistic but not past above the eurobracing as I still want a sleek and clean looking tank from the outside.
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