The Hawaiian inspired over-build ( 300g system)

TellyFish said:
I am still researching on this. I fear you may be correct, but I have seen it claimed both ways. I know clarkii clowns are naturally symbiotic with H. Malu and not perculas. Then again, most of my info is found on the internet, so... :confused:

If anyone has any sourced links on this subject, or first-hand experience, please feel free to chime in.
Click to expand...

http://www.mauioceancenter.com/inde...tent=marine_detail&cat=1&CRid=13&limitstart=0

Anyone trying to "find Nemo" while snorkeling off Maui will be searching in vain. Clownfish, also known as anemonefish, are found in the western Indo-Pacific region, but not in Hawaiian waters.
Click to expand...
 
TellyFish said:
I am still researching on this. I fear you may be correct, but I have seen it claimed both ways. I know clarkii clowns are naturally symbiotic with H. Malu and not perculas. Then again, most of my info is found on the internet, so... :confused:

If anyone has any sourced links on this subject, or first-hand experience, please feel free to chime in.
Click to expand...

I have the book mentioned above (The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes by John P. Hoover) and have been to Oahu and Maui several times and you definitely won't be seeing clownfish in Hawaii.

You should definitely pick it up if you're really interested in the biotope aspect of your project.
 
Stumped said:
You should definitely pick it up if you're really interested in the biotope aspect of your project.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stumped, I am going to go grab that book.

So H. Malu appears in Hawaii, but there are no symbiotic relationships with H. Malu in Hawaiian waters?
 
nixer said:
looks like a nice setup. that stand is pretty overdone though.
Click to expand...

Well, it is the Hawiian OVER-build. ;)

The main reason it looks so heavy is the 3" steel piece around the edges. This was done so I could recess the aquarium down into the stand by about 1.5". This allows me to hide the foam and plywood sheets from view and gives the illusion that the aquarium is sitting on solid steel.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=stand2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/stand2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=stand1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/stand1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=stand3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/stand3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
i understand that. im an ironworker and have been welding since i was very young.
i was more along the lines refering to the bracing. unforunately they dont make L shaped tubing, unless you go with a fabricated tube(which tends to get expensive)
personally i would of just used a flat bar on the tubing so it didnt stand away from the tank so far, but your setup looks good. id like to see the completed stand.
 
nixer said:
id like to see the completed stand.
Click to expand...

Hi Nixer, there are a few pics of the finished stand earlier in the thread. Was there something specific you wanted me to get a picture of?

As for the tubing, I requested to have the ledge. I wanted to have somewhere to set tools while working in the tank. It also gives off a more industrial vibe, in keeping with the theme of my build. :D
 
Some notes on aquascaping-

I will be using a simple method utilizing standard cement to bond the rocks together at key points. Once structural stability is achieved, I will connect other points for visual/aesthetic purposes. (more on this below...)

Since I had laid out my rocks beforehand to get a rough idea of the shapes, I was then able to plan out approximate coral placement in more detail.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=coralFeatures.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/coralFeatures.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=geologicalFeatures.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/geologicalFeatures.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

After some evaluation, I ended up spreading the rock pieces out a bit to make more room for branching corals. I am still working out the details of the anemone, so that may end up changing down the line.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=aquascaping.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/aquascaping.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I began by mixing up some thick cement.
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0726.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0726.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I select the area I would like to connect.
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0728.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0728.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Add in the cement and smooth it out
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0729.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0729.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Another fresh connection:
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0731.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0731.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Once I have the connecting cement looking how I wanted, I then add a pinch or two of aragonite sand so it blends in better.
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0732.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0732.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0720.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0720.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
I repeated the same process around the bottom of the structure using paper to support the cement. Once the paper is removed it gives the impression of naturally formed columns resting "on" the substrate.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0745.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0745.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0747.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0747.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0750.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0750.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=IMAG0754.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/IMAG0754.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

At this point its back to plumbing and looking forward to having water in this thing...
 
sfsuphysics said:
domino damsel, when young apparently.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. So it looks like my perculas will be setup in the frag tank along with my lyretail anthias and reef chromis--in the "non-hawaii" part of the system, lol.

Anyone have any experience with domino damsels? Are they as awful as some of the others? Seems like they start out pretty easy on the eyes, and then they get sort-of fugly as adults. :lol:
 
Last edited:
nice build!
i like the scaping too!

+1 on the cement question?
did you mix the cement with sand or you used sand only to cover it?
 
GvineReefer said:
What kind of cement did you use to bond the rocks together?
Click to expand...

"portland type I"
<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=cement.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/cement.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

It was dirt cheap, but carrying that bag on my shoulder was no joke. I wish I could have found it in a smaller quantity, this is enough to pave a sidewalk.
 
...and the very modest beginnings of the Ardrino reef controller. This will follow 'hydra' logic in that I will be using it in conjunction with stand-alone controllers (such as the Ranco temp controller for heat). The audrino will be in control of non-life support systems such as lighting, skimming, ozone, and some of the flow. Ultimately, server based control and alarms via my android phone is the goal.

<a href="http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/?action=view&current=audriuno.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1184.photobucket.com/albums/z332/tellyFish/audriuno.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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