Done with LR: See my pictures & tell me what you think....

dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
I have decide this is enough LR. 7 "Large" Fiji Live Rocks, and 9 "Medium" Live Rocks. Some have not fully cured yet. I like this setup, but I need to figure out how to permanently affix the top 4-5 rocks. The rest of the stack is in no danger of falling down, but the top tier needs to be secured. I am open to constructive feedback on my design, as well as opinions on how to secure that top tier.
Picture from the front.

Picture from the left side.

P.S. Considering the ratio of LR & Live sand to actual water, I doubt I will have any issues with bio-filtration. Thoughts? I made three different stacks, taking all of it out and putting it all back in twice. This is a very frustrating step in the process. I am glad it is over...
 
speg

speg

Active Member
man that's a tall tank...
Not to try and change your mind...but imagine how cool this tank would look if you built the liverock all the way to the top.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Originally Posted by dutchswan
http:///forum/post/3285549
P.S. Considering the ratio of LR & Live sand to actual water, I doubt I will have any issues with bio-filtration. Thoughts? I made three different stacks, taking all of it out and putting it all back in twice. This is a very frustrating step in the process. I am glad it is over...
Your bio-filter is off to a good start, yet it is very easy to over stock a tank so don’t put the cart before the horse. Test the waste numbers after each new addition…
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
yeah, one huge column of rock all the way to the top would be sweeeet! You'd want to glue them together or something though so they can't fall voer and break the glass.
That said, I do like what you've got there allready. How deep is that tank?
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by Jstdv8
http:///forum/post/3285613
yeah, one huge column of rock all the way to the top would be sweeeet! You'd want to glue them together or something though so they can't fall voer and break the glass.
That said, I do like what you've got there allready. How deep is that tank?
Tank is 30" tall. I am very very sad. I finally have it the way I want it...and have decided to epoxy it all together now. Trying to figure out how to do this and have it look the same. What a pain. But I think it will be worth it in the end. I did purchase one more piece of live rock...a large one to cap off the top :) I want to be able to put corals on the top...if I build it all they way up...this wont be possible.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Wait, you said some of the LR is not fully cured, yet you have a clownfish in there still???????
As for the design, it looks good. I'd try to find some branch pieces just to add more variety, but that's about it.
I highly recommend that you DO NOT glue, apoxy, etc. Try to get the rocks to fit together like a puzzle. With some trial and error you should be able to get each piece to lock together. The reason I never recommend gluing rocks to each other is for things like:
- trying to get out a dead fish
- finding a bad hitchhiker in your tank and need to get them out
- you buy that one coral that just won't it in your rock work without some rearranging
- if you ever upgrade to a bigger tank, your glued rock becomes a PITA
 
hunt

hunt

Active Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3285672
I highly recommend that you DO NOT glue, apoxy, etc. Try to get the rocks to fit together like a puzzle. With some trial and error you should be able to get each piece to lock together. The reason I never recommend gluing rocks to each other is for things like:
- trying to get out a dead fish
- finding a bad hitchhiker in your tank and need to get them out
- you buy that one coral that just won't it in your rock work without some rearranging
- if you ever upgrade to a bigger tank, your glued rock becomes a PITA
I agree. I would be over run with aiptasia if i did that. Half of the anemones are in the backk of the rocks where i have to move the rock to kill the anemone. and every once in a while i get sick of how it looks and rearange it
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Not related to your LR, but how much surface water agitation is there at the top? Are the pics deceiving me or is it really not that much?
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
I like it alot. I would try to build up a litter farther if possible...without glue or drilling though IMO. Adding some different shapes and sizes of LR would add more variety, but like I said...I think its great the way it is. I can't wait to see this tank filled up with corals and a few more fish. Good start
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3285676
Not related to your LR, but how much surface water agitation is there at the top? Are the pics deceiving me or is it really not that much?
The Emperor 400 sucks quite a bit of water each minute and comes back out two bio wheels. THe thing is 3" shy of taking up the entire back of the aquarium. You do not see surface agitation due to the exposure of the camera (1 Second). 1 Second may not seem like a long time, but in camera years that is a lot of time. If I did 1/250 of a second...you would see ALL of the movement. :)
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by gio28
http:///forum/post/3285678
I like it alot. I would try to build up a litter farther if possible...without glue or drilling though IMO. Adding some different shapes and sizes of LR would add more variety, but like I said...I think its great the way it is. I can't wait to see this tank filled up with corals and a few more fish. Good start

Well, I decided to take off the top two pieces, and attach them to a third with apoxy. It is making for a larger flat "disk" of sorts. The bottom of the disk has large areas pertruding while the top of the disk is flat. This will allow me to create a sort of "hat" that sits on top of the rock pile...ensuring the top does not tumble down the mountain killing everything in its path. The course pertrusing edges of the bottom "hugs" and hangs over the next layer down providing pressure to keep everything else in its place (kind of like a keystone). So it will sit a little higher, with a plateau that is wider than the middle. This will give a lot of surface areas of corals. If it ends up being too flat, it will be very easy to set a large rock atop the plateau.
Lower rock will not be "glued" together per se, but I will put apoxy between the ends of any "wobbling" pieces. It is not enough to test it with vertical pressure. If a heave anemone climbs up the side, it has to be able to handle the asemmetrical weight distribution.
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3285672
Wait, you said some of the LR is not fully cured, yet you have a clownfish in there still???????
I put two clowns in way to early. Classic newbie mistake, so I am told. One of them died. This one almost died, but after two different QT, he is fully recovered. At this point he is my "canary in the coal mine" so to speak. I am also testing the water daily, photographing the results, and posting them on this forum.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Yes, I remember you putting the clowns in too early. However, now that he's there, you must only add FULLY cured live rock. Anything else can and will be detrimental to your water parameters and therefore your fish as well. Basically, if you use anything but FULLY cured, your tank will go into cycle again.
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3285706
Basically, if you use anything but FULLY cured, your tank will go into cycle again.
I am aware of the consequences. For me, this was the best route because i wanted to get my aquasuperstructure built. If it has to cycle again; then sobeit.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by dutchswan
http:///forum/post/3285750
I am aware of the consequences. For me, this was the best route because i wanted to get my aquasuperstructure built. If it has to cycle again; then sobeit.
OK....you made the inital noob mistake by adding the clowns too early...BUT now that you know better...how can you say so be it to the possibility of another cycle and this clown you still have suffering

You say you have a qt???? why not put the clown in there until you are certain there will be no additional cycle....
to not do that NOW shows bad choices...not noobiness
 
gio28

gio28

Active Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3285776
OK....you made the inital noob mistake by adding the clowns too early...BUT now that you know better...how can you say so be it to the possibility of another cycle and this clown you still have suffering

You say you have a qt???? why not put the clown in there until you are certain there will be no additional cycle....
to not do that NOW shows bad choices...not noobiness
+1
 
dutchswan

dutchswan

Member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3285776
OK....you made the inital noob mistake by adding the clowns too early...BUT now that you know better...how can you say so be it to the possibility of another cycle and this clown you still have suffering

You say you have a qt???? why not put the clown in there until you are certain there will be no additional cycle....
to not do that NOW shows bad choices...not noobiness
My "quarantine tank" was an 8 QT metal cooking pot. My wife wanted it back. Call me a heathen and send PETA after me, but I would like to point out again that FISH ARE INCAPABLE OF FEELING PAIN. Their reactions to changes in external stimuli is reflex, not a response to pain. Now, I do not want my clown to struggle, but I can assure you he is not suffering. It is well documented by world renowned neurologists that fish lack not only a sophisticated enough nervous system, but also necessary brain function to interpret signals even if they did exist. That is to say a fish is not self aware (the run on instinct). Besides, the clown will help cycle the tank more quickly. Now....feel free to tell me how I am wrong.
 
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