Working on the colorful stick tank
- Thread starter jamnman
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jamnman
Member
Originally posted by dreuster
wow....I'm suprsied the clams are stable in that placement? How did you manage to keep them from falling/jumpin off? That's some mad skills.
That one corner is the lowest flow area in the tank.
I put that rock there just for them.
Luckily they both attached.
bill f
Member
Jamnman or Tony - I've read a few of Tony's recent comments on BB tanks and I like the way yours looks. Just a couple of quick questions for you if you don't mind me jumping in.
Obviously, there's no build up of waste or uneaten food that can get trapped in a DSB or a shallow SB. But do you run or can you run a fuge with a DSB and LR to build up pod population and to help with any additional waste removal. Or does that defeat the purpose on a BB.
Regular maintenance for the BB, do you siphon/vacuum any visible build up?
What about snails and other organism that normally burrow in the sand? No need for them? Hermits will stay on rocks I guess.
I've read before that some people use this "Starboard" (white cutting board)material. Have you seen or heard? Or just go BB?
What about cycling a new tank with a BB, Use uncured LR and the raw shrimp thing?
Does LR just sit on bottom, my new tank is acyllic (scatches) What would you recommend?
I'm setting up a new 180 (thinking FOWLR) love angels so obviously not reef safe.
Can't think of anything else right now. Sorry to HI-JACK!
Obviously, there's no build up of waste or uneaten food that can get trapped in a DSB or a shallow SB. But do you run or can you run a fuge with a DSB and LR to build up pod population and to help with any additional waste removal. Or does that defeat the purpose on a BB.
Regular maintenance for the BB, do you siphon/vacuum any visible build up?
What about snails and other organism that normally burrow in the sand? No need for them? Hermits will stay on rocks I guess.
I've read before that some people use this "Starboard" (white cutting board)material. Have you seen or heard? Or just go BB?
What about cycling a new tank with a BB, Use uncured LR and the raw shrimp thing?
Does LR just sit on bottom, my new tank is acyllic (scatches) What would you recommend?
I'm setting up a new 180 (thinking FOWLR) love angels so obviously not reef safe.
Can't think of anything else right now. Sorry to HI-JACK!
tony detroit
Active Member
Originally posted by dreuster
wow....I'm suprsied the clams are stable in that placement? How did you manage to keep them from falling/jumpin off? That's some mad skills.
Another thing I've seen done is on flat pieces of rock, you can mound up clumps of 2 part epoxy so they're kind of stuck in place. Do not put these directly on the clam itself, only on the rock around it. You kind of set a "perimeter" so to speak, so that it can't rock itself off. I've done the same thing with large pieces of SPS.
tony detroit
Active Member
Bill,
You can run a fuge if you want to, I don't strictly cause I ran outta room. . I don't think I'd throw sand in there, just grow plants is all I would do.
You'd cycle a BB tank just like any other tank.
I don't syphon or vacuum to clean the detritus. I run 2, tunze 6200's and 2 seaswirls on a Iwaki70, so I've got a lot of flow. Close to 12,000gph, and its totally random direction flow. I don't get much buildup. I plumbed a seperate T on my drain manifold and I divert flow through there with a hose hooked up to rinse buildup inside the sump. Plumbing can make a tank 10x easier to run when done correctly.
Most people just fluff it up with a turkey baster a couple hours before they pull their filter pads/change the water.
The main purpose of starboard is to keep the bottom glass from shattering in the event of a rockslide. If you ziptie your rocks together/epoxy them you shouldn't have that problem. Starboard is probably safer, but I couldn't stand to look at 3 pieces in my tank. It's a pretty tricky cut to make it look professional in a 175Bow with 2 centerbraces. I just went without it. My bottom is 3/4'' anyhow, so I'm not too worried about that cracking.
You can run a fuge if you want to, I don't strictly cause I ran outta room. . I don't think I'd throw sand in there, just grow plants is all I would do.
You'd cycle a BB tank just like any other tank.
I don't syphon or vacuum to clean the detritus. I run 2, tunze 6200's and 2 seaswirls on a Iwaki70, so I've got a lot of flow. Close to 12,000gph, and its totally random direction flow. I don't get much buildup. I plumbed a seperate T on my drain manifold and I divert flow through there with a hose hooked up to rinse buildup inside the sump. Plumbing can make a tank 10x easier to run when done correctly.
Most people just fluff it up with a turkey baster a couple hours before they pull their filter pads/change the water.
The main purpose of starboard is to keep the bottom glass from shattering in the event of a rockslide. If you ziptie your rocks together/epoxy them you shouldn't have that problem. Starboard is probably safer, but I couldn't stand to look at 3 pieces in my tank. It's a pretty tricky cut to make it look professional in a 175Bow with 2 centerbraces. I just went without it. My bottom is 3/4'' anyhow, so I'm not too worried about that cracking.
bill f
Member
Thinking about the starboard idea, my acryllic has the three holes at the top and I dont' think they would fit. I did hear that they only come in something like 3 foot section so there would be seems. I'll have to check if they will fit. I know its the bottom of the tank but it is acryllic and would scratch (makes it easier for algae to build up.
You do run a sump? What do you have in there? My mechanical filter is just one of those "socks" in the sump with a heater and Skimmer.
What about the cleaning crew?
I'm really considering this. I have a 4 inch DSB now and it blows everywhere, goby's dig under the LR.
Guess you don't have burrowing fish? I do like some of those.
You do run a sump? What do you have in there? My mechanical filter is just one of those "socks" in the sump with a heater and Skimmer.
What about the cleaning crew?
I'm really considering this. I have a 4 inch DSB now and it blows everywhere, goby's dig under the LR.
Guess you don't have burrowing fish? I do like some of those.
bill f
Member
Tony, do you think you could post a picture of what your running under the tank? What is your mechanical filter?
Thanks for the help.
My nitrates seem to be stuck at 40. I do 2 20% changes a month (at least for the last 3 months). They aren't budging.
I'll have to admit my bioload is high so I'm probably just maintaining. The new tank will help.
Thanks for the help.
My nitrates seem to be stuck at 40. I do 2 20% changes a month (at least for the last 3 months). They aren't budging.
I'll have to admit my bioload is high so I'm probably just maintaining. The new tank will help.
tony detroit
Active Member
I'll try and get a pic up tonite for you.
My sump is just for the skimmer, filterpads, and a common area for drain for dosing pump/ calcium reactor, overflow drains, return pump, etc. Having a sump makes things much easier.
I have some burrowing fish, 2 engineer gobies. Been with me for a while now. They don't seem to mind, they're getting along just fine. They're always next to each other, I'm hoping they'll mate sooner or later.
For clean up crew, in a 100gallon, try 250 Astrea Snails, and 100 Hermits for a couple months and see how it goes. That's a little on the low side. If you see more crud or algae on the rocks add some more.
My sump is just for the skimmer, filterpads, and a common area for drain for dosing pump/ calcium reactor, overflow drains, return pump, etc. Having a sump makes things much easier.
I have some burrowing fish, 2 engineer gobies. Been with me for a while now. They don't seem to mind, they're getting along just fine. They're always next to each other, I'm hoping they'll mate sooner or later.
For clean up crew, in a 100gallon, try 250 Astrea Snails, and 100 Hermits for a couple months and see how it goes. That's a little on the low side. If you see more crud or algae on the rocks add some more.
tony detroit
Active Member
Leave it or scrape it, whatever you like to look at. Personally, I like coralline, it out competes other algaes. A kent aquascraper will pop that stuff off really quick, one scrape.
I'll try to get the pics up before midnite, got a lot going on tonite.
I'll try to get the pics up before midnite, got a lot going on tonite.
tony detroit
Active Member
1
tony detroit
Active Member
Guts......
tony detroit
Active Member
The reef looks like !!!!!!!!!. Give it some time and it'll color back up a bit.
Tank blowout set me back a bit. Going on week 6 now. Getting some good growth though, here's a pic of a cap that decided to go up the overflow box.
Tank blowout set me back a bit. Going on week 6 now. Getting some good growth though, here's a pic of a cap that decided to go up the overflow box.
yosemite sam
Active Member
I wish my reef looked the same kinda !!!!!! as yours. 
Did you loose any corals when the tank broke? What skimmer do you run? A guy I know here in NY has a monster one similar to yours on his 120. His tank is amazing too.
Did you loose any corals when the tank broke? What skimmer do you run? A guy I know here in NY has a monster one similar to yours on his 120. His tank is amazing too.
tony detroit
Active Member
I lost a couple corals, not too much though. Just a buncha browning.
MY skimmer is a H & S A200-2x-2001.
MY skimmer is a H & S A200-2x-2001.
tony detroit
Active Member
Yup, just LR.
I put a new filterpad in every 4 days.
No worry about staying up.
I put a new filterpad in every 4 days.
No worry about staying up.
tony detroit
Active Member
Thanks
3, 250W 20K's.
3, 250W 20K's.