Why does everyone...

[DJG]

I originally went with the coral bommy concept- two bommies connected by an overhang. Eventually, coral growth takes over and you lose some of the original effect.

David

 

[taku]

Wow beautiful tanks Thanks for sharing!

Alaskan Reefer - How do your fish act toward all the open space on the right? Do they investigate that area of the tank at all or do they just stick to the rocks?

 

[rdmpe]

Here is mine, a 180 with three islands (one island is not done yet, need more LR) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=6698681#post6698681

 

[HartfordWhalers]

nice tanks above

 

[Danster]

My 2 cents.... I'm one of the guys that just likes alot of LR. But I can understand how you would like the openness but when it's too open it looks like somethings missing. Of coarse this is easy for me to say considering I have 225 and even with alot of LR I have alot open as well.

 

[vessxpress1]

I guess the more larger the tank the more freedom you have. This is a really interesting post. I think people use a lot of LR for what's been said:

1. Filtration

2. Different levels of coral

3. The fish will fight over territory.

These 3 things would get more compounded as you talk about a smaller and smaller tank. Also allows you to put more highly light dependent corals towards the top. I don't think my tank would be that interesting without a lot of LR and even less fish. But I'm only working with 3' too. I do enjoy new ideas on these large tanks. Inspires me for future projects. Great looking tanks.

 

[rdmpe]

I have a ton of open space right now, but after I have some big sps colonies in there, it will fill in a lot... Have to leave plenty of room for years of coral growth.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

My fish swim in the open area most of the time the lights are on. In and out of the rock, yes, but mostly in the wide open space -- especially the tang.

I think it can be done minimalist, but you do have to pay attention to filtration since massive quantities of LR can alleviate lots of common problems. I have an oversized (for the tank), highly effective skimmer (Euroreef CS-180), solid flow (32X turnover), and a macro refugium, albeit a small one.

Meanwhile, the tang is swimming circles in the vortex/venturi/whatever where the Tunze streams cross -- near the right front.

 

[taku]

Awesome discussion, thank you everyone!

Another thought -- the filtration benefits of the LR are probably maximized by the water movement in a display tank... the LR doesn't have garbage settling all over it like it could/would in a slower moving refugium or LR holding tank connected to the display.
What are your thoughts on having powerful pumps in a LR holding tank, in order to maximize the filtration capability of rock. Is it a necessary thing if there's minimal LR in the display?

 

[taku]

Thanks to Anemonebuff for posting his tank in another thread! I wanted to link it here for people following this thread to see as well:

 

[clord]

DJ Nutz over at CSI because of you and I think it was Dans pictures I know have a nice saltwater tank.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Taku -- I personally think you should maximize flow in the display tank regardless of your setup -- as much as your livestock can be happy with. My display LR is always very clean except for a few spots that I hit with a turkey baster every week or two. With a minimalist type tank, it's probably even more important to have strong flow. A LR holding tank would be a decent idea, but stuffing vacant areas of the sump should do the trick fine.

That Anemonebuff tank is sweet!

 

[gfk]

clord, i think it was my pictures :finger1:

 

[taku]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6834648#post6834648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Alaskan Reefer
Taku -- I personally think you should maximize flow in the display tank regardless of your setup -- as much as your livestock can be happy with. My display LR is always very clean except for a few spots that I hit with a turkey baster every week or two. With a minimalist type tank, it's probably even more important to have strong flow. A LR holding tank would be a decent idea, but stuffing vacant areas of the sump should do the trick fine.

That Anemonebuff tank is sweet!

Oh I didn't mean for it to sound like giving up good flow in the display for good flow in a LR holding tank... I still need great flow in the main tank.. I'm just thinking in addition to that, could it help to add strong flow in the LR holding tank as well...

Clord -- that's awesome