415 Gallon Plywood Tank Build

lubeck

lubeck

Active Member
Looking really nice. You need one straddling between the two rocks where there is the black leg of the bar stool running between them. Lol. JK. You prob don't want to be told stuff like that. I always wanted to know when people do connect their scape how the heck do they actually get it in the tank?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lubeck http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1780#post_3504343
Looking really nice. You need one straddling between the two rocks where there is the black leg of the bar stool running between them. Lol. JK. You prob don't want to be told stuff like that. I always wanted to know when people do connect their scape how the heck do they actually get it in the tank?
No way!!!!! That's exactly what I'm looking for....I need critiques.....No one is above or beyond anothers inquisitive eye for details....Curious the there is a slight difference between the 1st pic and 2nd pic of the rock work.....The 1st pic I moved a piece over spanning I think the area your referring to.....In the second pic the piece is actually on the other side, but kinda sits down more flush and really isn't noticeable. I actually favor pic 1, but the piece that creates the arch isn't really secure.....It's stable, but really no good way to pin it due to it be very thin and on the very edges......
Not all pieces are solidly connected.....There are a few pieces that are totally bonded, but most I tried to epoxy the rod into 1 of the pieces and not the other, so that I can pull them apart and soak and allows me to easily put them back together from pictures, and makes it easier getting into the tank itself.....My big issue is it's almost a 2 man job since I have to access it totally from behind, which means I have to climb up the ladder and actually climb inside the tank and position everything.....Could do some from the front, but trying not to lean over the front of the tank due to scratching, and I've buffed the front panel already due to my granddaughter......
Most pieces that are pinned I used maybe 3"-4" acrylic rod and once it slips into the other hole that doesn't have any epoxy it is really a snug fit....You almost have to twist and wiggle the pieces to sit snug.....Thought about opening the holes a bit more, but actually liking the fit, because it feels really solid.....
I'm toying the idea of making some type of arch work or floating ledge, but not sure exactly how I would tie it together and how visible the clear acrylic would be in water once it's in. I'm guessing it would be hard to pick up on the acrylic frame work, and once covered in coraline and rock you wouldn't see much.....The bad thing about it is that I have tons of rubble and such to cover the frame work, but 2 part epoxy like West doesn't stick to acrylic and the putty epoxy just isn't the ticket for that sort of project IMO.......Any ideas/suggestions.......
 
lubeck

lubeck

Active Member
I love the arc in pic 1. I was referring to pic 2 though favoring the left side of the pic where the arc should go You can see an electrical outlet in the back ground and where the stool leg is, that's where another arc should go.
Why do you want to soak the rocks again? What do you really think is left in the rocks that would be that damaging that can't or wouldn't be taken care with the initial cycling period?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lubeck http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1780#post_3504350
I love the arc in pic 1. I was referring to pic 2 though favoring the left side of the pic where the arc should go You can see an electrical outlet in the back ground and where the stool leg is, that's where another arc should go.
Why do you want to soak the rocks again? What do you really think is left in the rocks that would be that damaging that can't or wouldn't be taken care with the initial cycling period?
Pic 1 is my favorite by far.....Working on the right hand side, and that is where I'm considering doing something creative with some square acrylic stock, bending it making some type of arch or "surround" and tying it into the rest of the structure.....Some challenges are that it needs to be light weight, natural looking and be completely hidden (acrylic stock), but needs to just "pop out" at you......
I want to soak the rock again, because I wasn't totally pleased with the 1st go round.....Actually I had a pump malfunction that actually drained the vat on the garage floor, and being 4 hours from home all week, it was totally impossible to talk anyone through the process of trouble shooting what happened and how to fix and get it back going again, so basically I started the process 2 days before I left home, and day 2 away from the house the issue arose and was shut down till I got back home and got a bit impatient and started working on the layout, and did contemplate redoing anything and just putting it in the tank and "going for broke".
Probably not a big deal....I didn't go crazy and do the acid bath, but want to try to get as much if not all the dead organics off the rocks and out of the crevices as possible.....This right here could be IMHO could be a major setback for some who don't full think through things.....Most just get rock and "plop" right in the tank it goes.....Even with LR itself; even through the shipping process there is still a good bit of die off regardless what we think, and without clearing away the die off we just compound the issue by putting it into a tank and then feeding it tons of light, and then we have the dreaded algae issues, and we spend weeks, months, years chasing the "tail"......I'm hoping; trying to eliminate that aspect this go round......You can employ all the fancy gadgets in the world to try to combat or head off the issue, but why not take the steps from the onset and get a leg up and hopefully with this process offset some of the setbacks some suffer, and figure going through this process and then once inside the DT employing GFO will be able to absorb and control the other phosphates......
 
marvelfan

marvelfan

Member
I like the first pic with the arch.. That's somewhat the look I'm trying to achieve. pillars and arch's with shelves for corals.
Nice job! I bought 100 lbs of dry rock for my 120 gallon. I also want an open look, but that much rock takes up a lot of space! I may have to just throw some of it in the sump if I can't at least get the illusion of an open reef.
Keep it up!
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Thanks Joe.....I know it's tough....Actually the pictures are the same shots, just I moved 1 rock between the 2 pictures....I moved the arch piece in the first picture to deeper in the structure on the 2nd picture on the right....Kinda hard to pick the arch piece that I moved in the 2nd picture.....
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarvelFan http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504477
I like the first pic with the arch.. That's somewhat the look I'm trying to achieve. pillars and arch's with shelves for corals.
Nice job! I bought 100 lbs of dry rock for my 120 gallon. I also want an open look, but that much rock takes up a lot of space! I may have to just throw some of it in the sump if I can't at least get the illusion of an open reef.
Keep it up!
Yeah I might pick up another 100lbs just to give me more to work with......The nice thing is I can send and email and let him know exactly what I'm looking for and I can also give him some visual shots of what I'm working with and towards.....
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Got home later than normal tonight.....PB definitely looks better than this morning......Man the only thing I changed was adding PE Mysis to his diet.......Still eating like a pig though.....That's why I call him "Piggy"
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about the tang, Shawn. How long have you had that one now? Last set of pics are looking good.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I've had the PB since April.....He has been perfect, but know these guys can be touchy......This morning looked, better, but still not up to his normal....Appetite is just as strong and the odd thing he's always stayed away from Nori, and holy moses he devoured it for some unknown reason......This evening he looks a tad better, and currently pacing back and forth waiting his midnight snack....I like to tease him with the food cans....He's like a dog doing tricks for treats at feeding time......
Strange thing is my buddy has a Hippo that exhibits ich from time to time as mine just did.....2 different fish, but weird....He's had his Hippo almost 5 years now......
 
srt8

srt8

Member
Trying to be prepared for down the road if I need to treat a fish for ich or something.what is the best solution? Maybe a spare ten gallon tank on hand with medication and heater? And some kind of water mover ? Help ?
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504625
Strange thing is my buddy has a Hippo that exhibits ich from time to time as mine just did.....2 different fish, but weird....He's had his Hippo almost 5 years now......

I've heard claims that with a good diet and practices that it can be kept in check for long periods of time if not eradicated. In times of stress you might see it pop up and then seem to disappear. Good thing I guess is that the main tank isn't going yet so you've got time to try and eradicate it if you can. Did I hear you were doing hypo?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504650
I have heard that ich is getting resistant to certain treatments....Not sure the truth in that.
Haven't used any treatments on him Krista.....I'm not one to medicate or sorta preventative medication type unless I see an issue.....I bought him from a very reputable guy over on RC, and have had him since April with no issues whatsoever....I've actually been super diligent on 15 gallon water changes weekly and his diet has always been varied, the only complaint I've had with him is that he wouldn't touch Nori......Then I decided to add mysis into his diet and wham......Could have just been a freak thing, but nothing out of the routine was done.....Heck even when I was in Jersey, I'd have my daughter before she left for work video tape him eating 2x a day and send it to me.......
Today he actually looks and appears to be his normal self......I just find it hard to believe or even believe the QT myth/legend as I might call it works completely or will eradicate it......I mean almost 8 months in QT.......
Quote:
Originally Posted by SRT8 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504635
Trying to be prepared for down the road if I need to treat a fish for ich or something.what is the best solution? Maybe a spare ten gallon tank on hand with medication and heater? And some kind of water mover ? Help ?
Honestly I'd go as big as you can fit an afford on a QT......Really depends on the size of fish your going to quarantine as well.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504644
I've heard claims that with a good diet and practices that it can be kept in check for long periods of time if not eradicated. In times of stress you might see it pop up and then seem to disappear. Good thing I guess is that the main tank isn't going yet so you've got time to try and eradicate it if you can. Did I hear you were doing hypo?
No Corey.....Had thought about hypo, but was a mere glimpsing thought and never gave it a 2nd thought.....Weird thing is now he eats the Nori.....I can barely get the clip into the tank before he's on it......Maybe he was a bit pissed when I had mentioned I was going back to Jersey........
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/376802/415-gallon-plywood-tank-build/1800#post_3504762
No Corey.....Had thought about hypo, but was a mere glimpsing thought and never gave it a 2nd thought.....Weird thing is now he eats the Nori.....I can barely get the clip into the tank before he's on it......Maybe he was a bit pissed when I had mentioned I was going back to Jersey........

Could be. I'd keep a close eye for sure. I remember when I got my tank and both of the tangs had broke out really bad right after I first brought the system home. It came and went quite a bit in the begging and I wasn't sure what it was. But then it was all the time when I could see the spots. Unfortunately I killed em accidentally trying to treat them.

When the wife surprised me and brought the power brown tang home it came down with it also. But I only saw it once right after we got it. But then we moved and I decided the best thing to do was hypo all of my fish when I took the display down. I did for about 8 weeks. Never saw the Ich again after that on any of my fish.
But I've read quite a few instances even on this site where it seems like hypo is just not working or having any effect for some folks. So, who knows? Perhaps it's all a matter of timing or maybe there are some strains of the parasite that are more resistant to hypo than others. Copper seems most effective. I guess if he still looks good by the time the tank is going then you're gonna have to make the judgment call.
 
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