Dawn On The Reef

[ben1987]

yeah they are. i wouldnt stick directly to the back. do it on egg crate then it can be removed if needed

 

[charlie2005]

Thats what I was thinking but what do you suggest I do when I get to the part with the gates leave small spaces between the media? I suppose it wouldn't matter as long as I don't block the weir on the top the flow should be ok??

 

[BigC]

Hi Charlie,
I dont mind you copying my idea at all, even improve on it if you can, My tank is a standard (Home Built) 24X12x18ins all glass tank which is drilled and links to a 12x12x18ins, 3 compartment sump.
I would cut your egg create and leave easy access to the grates, you can cover them if you so wish as I cant see a real big issue here as the rockwall is pretty open and water will get through if its for the intake. out flow is a different matter though and I wouldn't cover anything that will block the outflow side of things. Make it in such a way that you can remove it easily for cleaning etc. Go for it and lets see the results.

OK Guys as you well know last weeks fiasco with the Pistol Shrimp bulldozing its way around my tank, nearly drove me to throwing in the towel, a lot of work and time had gone into the structuring of that tank, not to everyones taste I know, but I quite got quite attached to that scape. I had to take everything out, right down to the sand bed and rebuild. I even called in sick to work to facilitate such a huge task. It took aroung 3 hours to catch the bloomin shrimp, who now incidentally resides in the sump (click bloody click). The total revamp took around 10 hours. I'd made a colossal mistake buying that Shrimp Goby partnership. The Goby is fine and is quite happy in his new surroundings albeit minus his partner.
Below are the pics of the new scape. I dont really like it as I think there's something lacking from this one compared to the last, but I guess I'll have to live with it. Lost a few corals namely the Torch Coral which I have replaced with an Elegance. Replaced some Zoas and some Xenia. I going to get some elongata type Xenia and some Yellow Sand Polyps to complete the present setup.

Thanks for looking, Couple of weeks should see things back on track
See what you all think.
Still Gutted
BigC

 

[connorsbala]

Not bad at all though!
Ah, we all make purchases like that

 

[BigC]

I could have hired a JCB for an hour for £49 and done less damage than that little bugger. He dug under every rock and made large mounds of sand for fun. He just went beserk. Anyway the tanks getting back on track, maybe needs a little more tinkering.
Regards
BigC

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I really like the new scape!

With the Xenia elongata dont put it to close to anything that you like. It moves very quickly and takes anything it comes into contact with along for the ride. In your tank I imagine its going to grow like a weed as well.

 

[BigC]

Cheers Barney,
Plans are to stick a bit way up high on RH side top and a little piece to the left of the Finger Leather at the back.
I'll keep an eye on it.
Regards
BigC

 

[ben1987]

hey BigC, really glad you stuck with it. I like the new look aswel, Those Duncans have gone great guns. Shows how awesome your water stats and maintainace must be. Something a bit taller growing behind the leather in the middle may look good. Il be well chuffed if my tank ever looks half as nice as yours

 

[BigC]

I was actually lookin for a Red Gorgonian for that very spot Ben
Regards
BigC

 

[ben1987]

good call. that will look really nice

 

[seffieuk]

I really like the new look and the Elegance is gorgeous - want one of those one day

Seffie x

 

[Trod]

Looks fantastic BigC
10 hours That is incredible, you have made me think twice about doing it now.
How did you go about it, if you don't mind me asking, did you use another tank to store everything in?
All the corals still look great they seem to have coped with it very well.

 

[charlie2005]

BigC

Got a 600 x 600 egg crate kindly donated by a customer of mine which is used in the suspended ceiling industry ( I presuming that it will be ok to use?)

A question for you has doing the back drop affected any of the factors in the tank i.e Nitrates etc? Just when out on my travels I called into a fish shop to purchase some of the Biorb media you used, they asked me what it was for so I told them and they disagreed with it saying it would cause major problems in the tank and the media would suck all the goodness from the rocks and water?
I didn't see how this was possible so I thought i'd ask you the question having done it already.

Cheers

David

 

[ben1987]

they all said stuff like that to him when BigC did his, he did it and it worked. They said a load of much would trap in the gaps and lower the water quality. Obviously not when you look at the quality of his corals

 

[BigC]

they asked me what it was for so I told them and they disagreed with it saying it would cause major problems in the tank and the media would suck all the goodness from the rocks and water?

This as I have proved is an old wives tale, I forget how many reef aquarists (skeptics) said the same things to me when I first mentioned that I was going to do this. It will all end in tears I was told. Well the proof is in the eating of the pudding. Yes I had all the usual problems with algae etc which comes with the setting up a new tank, par for the course as they say. But interestingly enough no real algal issues on the rockwall. why I dont know, maybe its the material.
Anyway each and everyone of those aquarists have come back and commended me on a job well done.
I'll leave you to decide if it works or not.

How did you go about it, if you don't mind me asking, did you use another tank to store everything in?

Hi Trod, No Problem. I used a couple of large plastic storage bins from IKEA. (Quite large actually and around £6 ea. they come in handy) small heaters and powerhead in each and thats it.

I really like the new look and the Elegance is gorgeous - want one of those one day

Hi Sef,
Thanks, but it was quite expensive though. Best not to think too much in monetary terms whilst purchasing coral.

Regards
BigC