The Volcano Tank - Konolua
- Thread starter Konolua
- Start date
dogstar74
Premium Member
Love the improvement. It will be astounding when the central pool grows in full of zoas. It's like haveing a top down, zero edge in the middle of your regular tank.
I am really liking the overhang on the left side.
To make the putty look more realistic in the future, you should take a dry piece of coral and press it into the mud once the main portions have been set. This should give it a textured appearance rather than the smooth fingerprint appearance.
Will all the water in the bowl drain out if the power goes off? If that happens will you need to be home to prevent a large die off of the life forms in the bowl? Could you perhaps have the hole above the minimum water line so that if the power goes out, the pool just keeps the water in there? Also if you drilled right in the bottom of the pool, it would seem the water would drain completely to prevent this just put a small piece of rigid tubing into the middle and extend the pool bottom up with a small mound of epoxy or rock and make it water tight so the water would stay in the top pool.
Looks great!
Aaron
I am really liking the overhang on the left side.
To make the putty look more realistic in the future, you should take a dry piece of coral and press it into the mud once the main portions have been set. This should give it a textured appearance rather than the smooth fingerprint appearance.
Will all the water in the bowl drain out if the power goes off? If that happens will you need to be home to prevent a large die off of the life forms in the bowl? Could you perhaps have the hole above the minimum water line so that if the power goes out, the pool just keeps the water in there? Also if you drilled right in the bottom of the pool, it would seem the water would drain completely to prevent this just put a small piece of rigid tubing into the middle and extend the pool bottom up with a small mound of epoxy or rock and make it water tight so the water would stay in the top pool.
Looks great!
Aaron
jdaniels175
New member
I have to admit I was a bit upset when I first saw this tank, because I have always wanted to do a "tide pool" set up, and you beat me to it! You have, however, pulled off this idea far better than I ever could have. Thank you for creating an inspirational tank, it is truly one of a kind and incorporates so many elements in a natural and aesthetically pleasing way. I can't wait to see the bigger tank!! Keep up the good work.
Konolua
New member
Hey Konolua how does it feel to be such a inspiration to the communityBTW i hope you dont mind, i stole one of your pics for my PC background.
Thanks! You know, it is funny, because so many people have communicated with me about the style of tank. Maybe not doing a "Volcano Tank" or whatever, but the idea of removing all wiring, plumbing and etc. to create a tank that looks "clean" as well as awesome. Now, tons of people have better growth in their corals and stuff, and sure, now that I upended the rock work, I will have a set back on growth, but I think this new set up will really allow for so much versatility.
Glad you like it and thanks to EVERYONE for your awesome comments, both here on Reef Central and on my website. Much appreciated!
:love2:
Konolua
New member
I am uploading a video as I type. I am loading it at a higher quality so it may take a little while, but will be up tonight. Hope you like it.
Konolua
New member
The original one had zero smell because I used dry lace rock, rather than live rock. This modification did take one of the rocks that was in the water and it is now out. There is only a smell when you get close to it (bending over to see the basin), but nothing dramatic.
I knew it was gonna happen though, and I did scrub that part a bit before I set it up.....
Oh well, once a reefer...
Konolua
New member
Actually, that is exactly what I am doing! I built the main "fortifications" and will be putting in the finishing touches this weekend. When I took some of the rock out of the tank, I needed to make what is now the front rock. When doing that, I had a ton of bits and pieces and I was also going to in bed them and use them as texture! Funny you said that. Further still, I will be adding some cyanoacrylic glue for texture, since the lacerock itself has white parts.
For the rock, when the power goes out, the bowl keeps all the water. There are very slow seeps from the epoxy walls, but that takes it down about 10%...much like how the tank itself drains. Since the waterfall tubes all have open ends, very little water backflow happens, and the return to the basin is actually very high. None of that was planned either......just some great luck there. The one hole the basin had in its bottom was glued in with a scallop shell and cyanoacrylic glue and is totally water proof.
What is funny about this whole thing is that it was spontaenous and unplanned, so I had limited to to work. My original intent was to take it down and do a freshwater plant tank with bamboo sticking out, driftwood sticking out and some freshwater crabs. Decided against it because my wife liked saltwater better. Unfortunately, I like setting up crazy things rather than maintaining the tank. That is why I am saving all of my good ideas and planned hardwork for the BIG tank to come! That one is going to have completely fabricated "rock" that I will make from scratch. The idea on that one is going to be maximizing crab-viewing angles.....
When that one rolls around, I will ask for some of your ideas because you seem to think along the same lines I do! Love to hear some of your ideas then too!
Konolua
New member
Here is the new video. Hope you like it!
http://www.konolua.com/RSS/Volcano_Tank/Entries/2010/10/5_The_Basin_Tank.html
http://www.konolua.com/RSS/Volcano_Tank/Entries/2010/10/5_The_Basin_Tank.html
reeftanknewbie
New member
Still by far the nicest tank I have ever seen. Wish I still lived in CA so I could have seen it in person. Are there any issues with excessive evaporation due to the water running over the rocks? How about temp shifts in the pools? I wish I had your creativity to come up with ideas like yours. Thanks for sharing your art.
Konolua
New member
Nah.....thought there would have been at the beginning, but found out it is slightly more of a nusiance than a normal tank. In fact, maybe less because the water is cooled by the rock and water fall, rather than heated. I am monitoring the basin now, because that IS different from before, but so far, it seems fine. I think it is because the basin turns over so fast. It's a pretty strong waterflow....
reeftanknewbie
New member
Oh I see. I was thinking the MH lighting would have heated the basin up quickly due to it's water volume but I guess the flow through it keeps it from occurring. Can't wait to see how the basin matures and what takes up residence in the space.
serpentman
part time superhero
Really cool. Although I thought the original idea was very cool, I like this much better. Even in photo's it looks much more natural. I've often thought about setting up a tide pool tank but struggled with having the "tide" come in and out. IMO, this is even better, the best of both worlds. Great job, keep us posted!
truebeliever71
Premium Member
Kyle,
Just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying... AWESOME TANK!!
I'm in the process of getting what I thought would be my dream tank, a 120G (4x2x2) but now I'm having second thoughts. I've always wanted to a saltwater tank with land extending from the water like I've done in the past with one of my cichlid tanks.
What is the glass thickness of your tank? I'm wondering if I can do a mod on the 120 I'm getting and cut it down a bit.
Just wanted to echo what everyone else is saying... AWESOME TANK!!
I'm in the process of getting what I thought would be my dream tank, a 120G (4x2x2) but now I'm having second thoughts. I've always wanted to a saltwater tank with land extending from the water like I've done in the past with one of my cichlid tanks.
What is the glass thickness of your tank? I'm wondering if I can do a mod on the 120 I'm getting and cut it down a bit.
Konolua
New member
Thanks! The glass is 1/2". Even though it is a rimless tank, it is so short that thick glass isn't necessary like on normal rimless glass tanks.
If you like crabs too, you can do an African Cichlid tank and have the same style of protrusion for African Land Crabs. They need the salt in the water like the cichilds do.
BUT, the salt water version is a lot more interesting due to the life that occurs. For instance, the amount of copepods in that upper basin is already ridiculous! That stuff is cool and would be missing from a freshwater tank. Good luck regardless! ANY tank is awesome in it's own right!
truebeliever71
Premium Member
Thanks for replying. I picked up my 120 tank today (got an awesome deal) and am trying to figure out what I'm going to do. It's definitely going be a reef tank.
moevilla
IRS Benefactor
Kyle, how many lbs of rock do you now have? And the number of fish? Your tank is very original. I am not impressed with most aquarium designs out there but yours really stands out. I have considered creating a similar setup and design, I hope you don't mind if I incorporate some of your design elements.
Konolua
New member
You know, I am no longer sure. What I do know is that there is a lot of surface area of rock.....giving me still a healthy biometric reading. it's funny, but I really can't answer that!
In fact, I was expecting a bit of a spike of something through the typical cycle process since the redo, but that has not been the case. I am however running through an algae bloom now, which was fully expected. Many corals are really enjoying the new layout. My monitporas in particular. They look like fuzz balls. Their extension is amazing. Zoanthids look good, and the anemone is giant. Lost a small green star polyp colony, but two other small green star polyp colonies are much better now than previously. The clams are stupid-huge! I love the look of the clams. Especially since I am priviledged enough to look down on them, rather than at angle or through the glass.
What was your design idea?
