"The Cavernous Reef" - A 180G Build

[rickcasa]

Wonderful rock work, way to think outside the box!!

Great job!

Nice job! Its going to look great.

Wow, just wow. What a work of art. Hats off to you.

This is fantastic already. I can't wait for the finished product. WTG! Tagging along.

I love that idea!

Thanks for encouragement fellow reefers. As much as I'm enjoying this form of aquascaping I'm anxious to get some water in this tank and see the water flow in action. These are a couple of my concerns:

1. My rock colunns and bonsais are quite large and with the standard placement of the 2 MP40s on either end of the tank, I anticipate major decrease in throughput. I was hoping to get some decent wave going...is this possible? Or am I going to have to settle for just random turbulence.

2. Both overflows may not handle the same water volume. The cavern side will be somewhat obstructed by the overhang as it fully encloses it. I may need to open up or carve out a channel for the surface water to reach the overflow.

3. If the primary function of Closed loops is to keep the detritus suspended for the overflows for export, do I aim the output nozzles up?

Thoughts?

 

[rickcasa]

I know you have your lighting already which i have never seen your kind of fixture in person, but it would be cool to see what a Kessil 360w would do on your build since they put off so much shimmer
What a neat idea you had hope it works great for you long term as i am sure some will follow with there builds if it does!

I've seen 1 Kessil on a cube and was impressive but I want to see it in a series of 3 or 4.

And thanks for chiming in for support. The techniques I've used here are mostly pioneered and implemented by RC contributors that have proven long term track records.

Edit: This just in. I checked out a Kessil video from a recent post here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA3UHJ-ZgOg&sns=em
Too much shimmer. Nature of LEDs I suppose but this one is not for me. The light movement that's suited for my build is more like a waltz, using a dance analogy. Looks like a Kessil is a trippy house electro mashup.
I miss T5s.

 

[nanoohio]

Really like how unique your making it. It's very one off and awesome excited to see that clown trigger swim through that GSP/Zoa garden cavern! Can't wait for water to get in there, gonna be a groundbreaking day! Keep the updates comin def subbed!

Btw my ten min break at work turned into a half hour! Couldn't stop reading

 

[rickcasa]

Really like how unique your making it. It's very one off and awesome excited to see that clown trigger swim through that GSP/Zoa garden cavern! Can't wait for water to get in there, gonna be a groundbreaking day! Keep the updates comin def subbed!

Btw my ten min break at work turned into a half hour! Couldn't stop reading

Haha...that's what RC has been for me too. Information and idea overload and a great time waster. ..in a good way.

I sure hope these salty pets appreciate the lengths we go through to make their homes as close to the paradise they were unceremoniously plucked from. Ya I know not even close, but despite our selfish reasons we do try.

Thanks for following!

 

[rickcasa]

I need advice on the best way to cure the rocks and cycle the tank at the same time. Did that sound redundant? There's fake foam rocks, dry marco, dead fiji and pukani which I cooked with bleach and muratic acid. I also plan on adding about 75lbs of my best live rock from my 90g reef. So I guess I need a schedule of some sort. Note that I also have 200lbs of unopened live sand. When do I put these in?

How's this?

1. Disconnected from the sump, fill up the 180 with Ro water and the MP40s and CL will be on full blast. No sand, no light. This is to rinse out any toxins or residue from rock cooking or the solvents, epoxy, fiberglass. After 3 days of soaking, drain 75%-100% of the water.

2. Fill up with fresh Ro/Di. Add salt to 0.020. Let water circulate for a day before adding live sand. After 2 days raise the salt to .025 then add live rock. Connect to sump. Regular light schedule.

3. Dose Prodi Startup. How long until it takes effect?

3. For the next 2 weeks, start 2 part dosing and use tried and true methods to accelerate coralline production.

4. If water chemistry is good. Add one damsel.

Did I forget something??

 

[SushiGirl]

Not sure what the benefit of lower salt to start off with is. The dosing, i'd not waste the stuff until the initial cycle is complete (ammonia & nitrite back down to zero after the spikes). I wouldn't count on a 2 week timeframe, may take longer. Is there a reason for the damsel? Unless you want a damsel, I wouldn't add one. If you want one, I wouldn't add it first as they can be aggressive to new additions once established.

 

[Aquatron]

+1 with above........some add a heater too? As you know there is a difference between cleaning rock and tank cycle. A couple of quick videos about above at the Bulk Reef Supply site at their rock area

 

[Allmost]

this looks amazing ! well done would love to see it in person. let us know if you need help.

but with rock works like that, this calls for an Azoox reef

 

[rickcasa]

Not sure what the benefit of lower salt to start off with is. The dosing, i'd not waste the stuff until the initial cycle is complete (ammonia & nitrite back down to zero after the spikes). I wouldn't count on a 2 week timeframe, may take longer. Is there a reason for the damsel? Unless you want a damsel, I wouldn't add one. If you want one, I wouldn't add it first as they can be aggressive to new additions once established.

True, I guess I forgot to add that I may do a massive water change (50%) for peace of mind after the first salt bath. By adding salt, I feel it may perform a better job of 'scrubbing' toxins off the entire aquascape. So in that regard, may as well add the salt at the initial rinse.

The damsel I speak of is a current resident ( 9 other blue. Neons ) of my 90. Coolest little buggers but wont make a dent to other bigger playmates. Collectively they add sparkle as they dart in and out of crevices playing tag with each other. So they wont be sacrificed at all during the cycle. Thx SushiGirl!.

 

[rickcasa]

+1 with above........some add a heater too? As you know there is a difference between cleaning rock and tank cycle. A couple of quick videos about above at the Bulk Reef Supply site at their rock area

Ah yes the heater, that's important. I have to get submersibles coz it'd be impossible to hang ones I have off thr eurobrace. ll never be called anal but I'd like to start off the cycle right...I'll check the videos out thx!

 

[SushiGirl]

I forgot the tank size. Shouldn't have an issue with a damsel in there LOL.

 

[rickcasa]

this looks amazing ! well done would love to see it in person. let us know if you need help.

but with rock works like that, this calls for an Azoox reef

Wonderful, a local reefer!! Where abouts? I'm in west Pickering. I'm pretty much keeping this under the radar from local forums but I'm starting to find myself out my element (sps) now that I'm close to getting this thing wet.

Azoox!! Never heard of it but i just checked it out...wow love it!! Total eyecandy. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Eud]

Wow, this is great. It's not just the cavern effect, but the finish on the foam rocks is very nice. Looks very natural. Often the foam walls need a lot of time underwater and lit to fade in to a natural look.

 

[MathiasM.]

Good morning,

I really like the look of your new tank! Do you think the coralin algae will cover the
foam with the same speed as it does on normal rock?
A few days ago I read an article about foam as a base structure, very interesting.
=) I wish you all the best with this greet build! When I set my new tank next year, I hope I got your permission to copy some of the stuff you do=)

Greetings
Mathias

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

That has to be one of the most original aquascapes that I have seen. What are your thoughts on the Razors? I know its new into the build but I was curious.

 

[rickcasa]

The Rock Structures

The Rock Structures

I've been hard at work these past few days working on perfecting the rock sculptures maybe even going overboard in touching up the black foam but I wanted to make sure the texture looks like real rocks. Fiberglass resin is easy to work with but man does it stink!! I may have unnecessarily killed some brain cells inhaling too much of it brushing on multiple layers.

So here's the lineup from left side of the tank to the right :

Tall Bonsai - front

Tall Bonsai - back

Front Bonsai
I basically zip tied some cool looking flat rocks and dead coral on a from made of ABS pipes and fittings and best of all also doubles as the closed loop intake with 3 strainers. I think it turned out fairly well.

Front

Front Right

Front back

Close up

The underpinnings...work in progress.

It took about a dozen different tries to come up with this form but I like the sweeping effect this one will create on the lower half. This also has 2 removable upper shelves for corals, the highest one of which I will add later once I set up the shadow box.

 

[rickcasa]

The Cavern Structures

The Cavern Structures

Cavern facade - front

Back

Inside ledge - which I may connect to the return plumbing directing the water to the front of the tank.

Column that will support this ledge

The Rock wall

The Overhangs/Stalactites

 

[Aquatron]

Fun to watch

 

[rickcasa]

Here's the detail of the rock work around the right overflow. Last minute decision to close up the gap between the opening and the rock wall with guess what, more foam.

I'll be trimming the foam flush with the opening and reinstalling back the weir.

 

[SushiGirl]

Make sure you keep coral growth away from your closed loop system. One guy that spoke to our club said he had to shut his down because of it.