Bonsaii Frag Tank

[akabryanhall]

True bonsai can be completed with rods: glass, pvc, as well as others. And epoxy.

I was also inspired to go bonsai.

Click or copy this link to c an exellent job at bonsai.

Reef Central Online Community - Bonsai Tree inspired Aquascape

unfortunately I am not any good at artistic stuff, and this will probably turn out mediocre, I kinda feel bad calling it a "bonsaii" frag tank, especially seeing aquascaping like that

 

[helfrichgolby]

unfortunately I am not any good at artistic stuff, and this will probably turn out mediocre, I kinda feel bad calling it a "bonsaii" frag tank, especially seeing aquascaping like that

To each his own. As long as you are happy thats all that matters. I have the bj and bpc pending hopefully i am able to close on both. I spent about 6+ hours on setting up my aquascape after weeks of searching for the perfect flat rocks. And truely still am not content.

 

[akabryanhall]

To each his own. As long as you are happy thats all that matters. I have the bj and bpc pending hopefully i am able to close on both. I spent about 6+ hours on setting up my aquascape after weeks of searching for the perfect flat rocks. And truely still am not content.

lol being content seems to be almost impossible in this hobby. you got a tank thread up anywhere? Would love to see your tank and corals!

 

[helfrichgolby]

I would but i am just a rookie with a chalice obsession. That is what got me into the hobby nowadays. However, am still having flow problems as the vortec m20 and the cleaning crew does not seem sufficient. I dont know what to do with my brown algae problem. I don't have a skimmer and well i am having many problems still. will post pics of my tank here if that is fine with you.

 

[customcolor]

for one.....you will need to silicone all that down to the tank bottom or add 3 times more weight in rock to them racks

for two.......i hope your going to cover all that foam with epoxy after you drill the holes for the plugs....teh uv from the lights will turn that foam brown and will break it down to the point that it will crumble when you touch it...


you should have used black pond foam...with the carbon in it, it will stand up to uv.....


.....trust me im a foam expert

3 tanks with foam rock work....oldest is 2 years old and all have no epoxy covering them

 

[akabryanhall]

Thanks for the advice custom, any particular resin that wont be toxic? I dont have a ton of foam on there 10lbs of rock wont hold it down? Can i apply silicon to the bottom of the rock then submerge it, or am i going to have to drain the tank?

 

[customcolor]

i do beleave Hobby Lobby has these.

you will have to drain the tank and make shure every and i do mean every thing that the silicone will be sticking to has to be try.....use some rubbing alcohol to clean the glass though....just dont take a chance with a frag rack.....come home one day to see it upside down and all the frags laying on the ground..:sad:

 

[starfish]

High end fw planted tanks by "Amano" do themes like this but I have never seen it done in marine tanks.Please keep us posted with pics to see how this tank develops. Very interesting.

 

[akabryanhall]

i do beleave Hobby Lobby has these.





you will have to drain the tank and make shure every and i do mean every thing that the silicone will be sticking to has to be try.....use some rubbing alcohol to clean the glass though....just dont take a chance with a frag rack.....come home one day to see it upside down and all the frags laying on the ground..:sad:

Thanks man, I will check it out. I see two small problems I need to overcome, first would be when I drill the holes, then epoxy, how do I coat the walls inside the hole without closing it up. The second would be how to seal the underneath, where the eggcrate is exposed. I guess I could foam the bottom and seal it, or I could fill in each square with epoxy, will be a pain, but doable. Should have used the black foam..

 

[akabryanhall]

High end fw planted tanks by "Amano" do themes like this but I have never seen it done in marine tanks.Please keep us posted with pics to see how this tank develops. Very interesting.

Thanks starfish, I have seen some amazing stuff in planted tanks, will keep posting pics.

 

[akabryanhall]

So, we have a new coral being sent out tomorrow, Tyrees Superman Chalice. It was sent last week, but the delivery company messed up I think, the water was warm by the time it got to me.

 

[customcolor]

the epoxy is only to block the uv rays from breaking down the great stuff....i wouldnt worry about the underside....well unless you decide to have a light on the bottom of the tank

 

[akabryanhall]

the epoxy is only to block the uv rays from breaking down the great stuff....i wouldnt worry about the underside....well unless you decide to have a light on the bottom of the tank

Good to know, I've also decided to keep plugs in the holes even if they are bare to keep light from getting in there. Thanks for your help on this.

 

[cmjreef]

So, we have a new coral being sent out tomorrow, Tyrees Superman Chalice. It was sent last week, but the delivery company messed up I think, the water was warm by the time it got to me.

Doesn't that chalice grow painfully slow? How often do you guys frag and trade each piece?

 

[akabryanhall]

Doesn't that chalice grow painfully slow? How often do you guys frag and trade each piece?

Pretty sure it does but whatever. We are still pretty new so we have not fragged anything yet. we buy once a month usually, take a month off when there is a local frag auction.

 

[akabryanhall]

So I have epoxied the foam with loctite epxy, thinking about adding another coat.

 

[akabryanhall]

So I got the tank finished, there are a few things I need to work out, but you get the idea. I think it will look cool once the coralline grows over the foam.

 

[macclellan]

Looks like poo. Literally.

Eggcrate covered with coraline still looks like eggcrate.

Try again with more rock, less foam, and cover the foam with rubble. It will come out better the second time.

Please take that constructively. Best wishes with the tank.

 

[akabryanhall]

Probably could have made it through the day without your post. It was my first diy project, and it kinda came out bad, but i am not going to spend another 150 bucks re-buying everything to "do it again" Its a frag tank, it looked better in my mind, but glad to know it came out looking like ****. thanks again and have a good one.

 

[IntDboy]

Hey dont worry, As long as the water quality is great and corals thrive....You will have great results. this is a hobby have fun it was your first DIY it can only get better with time. Good luck with it!!