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CalmSeasQuest
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Thanks WY
I just completed the next piece, using a process I'll call Micro-Plane Fragging. It includes multiple paper-thin sections of coral harvested with a scalpel and placed much in the way you would apply gold leaf (it will make more sense when you see it.)
I'm cautiously optimistic that it will work as imagined, but I'm going to wait a couple days to make sure it's viable before adding to the tank and photographing.
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Thanks WY
I just completed the next piece, using a process I'll call Micro-Plane Fragging. It includes multiple paper-thin sections of coral harvested with a scalpel and placed much in the way you would apply gold leaf (it will make more sense when you see it.)
I'm cautiously optimistic that it will work as imagined, but I'm going to wait a couple days to make sure it's viable before adding to the tank and photographing.
This sounds very interesting! How do you feel about staring a discussion thread on micro fragging?
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CalmSeasQuest
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Sure Rev - Just as soon as I have half-a-clue as to what I'm doing
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CalmSeasQuest
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This next piece is definitely the "ugly duckling" of the bunch. Had I not promised photos soon, I would have let this one grow out a few weeks to become a bit more presentable.
I've had a Tryee Toadstool in my tank for a couple of years...
As of late it's begun dropping a couple baby's each month so I thought I might as well find a use for them. I let a Toadstool Frag grow on top of some rubble rock, then using a Dremel, cut-off all but a sliver of the rubble rock leaving a slightly concave attachment point. This was then attached to the top of an acrylic cabochon.
For the second coral on this peice, I affixed a small frag of GSP to a magnet frag and placed it on on a side wall of my tank. Over the next month or so, it covered the frag disc and began to cover the glass in a paper-thin purple film (no polyps were yet visible.) Using a scalpel, I lifted this film from the glass walls and affixed it to the cabochon using a tiny amount of Cyanocrylate around the edges.
Remember, I told you this tank was going to be "abbynormal"
Over time, the GSP should completely cover the cabochon right up to the stalk of the Toadstool. As the cabachon is suspended a couple inches above the sand bed, it should be easy to prevent the GSP from spreading beyond this piece.
I'll have photos of the new Picassos soon as I'm picking them up from Tal later this afternoon.
I've had a Tryee Toadstool in my tank for a couple of years...
As of late it's begun dropping a couple baby's each month so I thought I might as well find a use for them. I let a Toadstool Frag grow on top of some rubble rock, then using a Dremel, cut-off all but a sliver of the rubble rock leaving a slightly concave attachment point. This was then attached to the top of an acrylic cabochon.
For the second coral on this peice, I affixed a small frag of GSP to a magnet frag and placed it on on a side wall of my tank. Over the next month or so, it covered the frag disc and began to cover the glass in a paper-thin purple film (no polyps were yet visible.) Using a scalpel, I lifted this film from the glass walls and affixed it to the cabochon using a tiny amount of Cyanocrylate around the edges.
Remember, I told you this tank was going to be "abbynormal"
Over time, the GSP should completely cover the cabochon right up to the stalk of the Toadstool. As the cabachon is suspended a couple inches above the sand bed, it should be easy to prevent the GSP from spreading beyond this piece.
I'll have photos of the new Picassos soon as I'm picking them up from Tal later this afternoon.
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CalmSeasQuest
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It's amazing what a difference the smiling faces of a couple of Picassos can make...
[video=youtube;IRS94wMst5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRS94wMst5s&hd=1]Desktop Nano Picassos - YouTube[/video]
[video=youtube;IRS94wMst5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRS94wMst5s&hd=1]Desktop Nano Picassos - YouTube[/video]
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CalmSeasQuest
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Next up is a splash of color...
I selected 6 of the Ricordea Florida acquired from CorlaMorphologic and added them to the "Ric River". The photos don't do them justice as they are still angry from the move. I'll wait a few days to see how they look when fully expanded and perhaps add a couple more if space allows.
I selected 6 of the Ricordea Florida acquired from CorlaMorphologic and added them to the "Ric River". The photos don't do them justice as they are still angry from the move. I'll wait a few days to see how they look when fully expanded and perhaps add a couple more if space allows.
revhtree
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Dude that is crazy! LOL! I love it!
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CalmSeasQuest
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I'm hoping the vertical walls will be much like the acrylic walls of the tank and not have heavy algae growth. I'm going to try and run the tank as low-nutrient as possible (likely will be a challenge in a 12 gallon tank with 2 clowns.) Hopefully Coralline will eventually beat out any nuisance algae as I think it might look nice covered in pink and blue.
Thanks btkrausen, I'm curious to see how it all works out myself
LOL - Thanks Rev I'm trying to walk a fine line with an original idea for a reef tank without it looking too "freshwaterish" I hope this doesn't end up looking like it should have a bubbling treasure-chest, castle or scuba diver
I'm really liking the flexibility provided by the elevated footings including the ability to use black, polished glass gravel in small areas/amounts. It provides contrast and enhanced colors, without the challenges of having an entire black sand bed to keep clean.
Thus far I've been snapping photos with my Cell just to document the build process. Now that I've got livestock to shoot, I'll start using a DSLR and pay more attention to white balance to get a "truer" image of what the tank and it's inhabitants look like.
OP
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CalmSeasQuest
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Thanks Missy
Thank you jleat - Lots more to come.
I installed 3 more pieces today, a total of 9 new corals. I'm going to wait a couple days for everything to "get happy" before snapping their photos.
The Rics have opened nicely but as the clowns spend much of their day playing under the bridge so it was a bit tough to get clean shots. I had to lure them away with food but as Tal has spoiled them with Rod's - they were unimpressed with my Spectrum pellets...
You may have noticed the rather "conservative" coral selection thus far. This tank is participating in a Nano build contest hosted by my local forum. One of the requirements is a $400 total spending cap on corals. As result, I won't be adding many "named" corals until after the conclusion of the contest - Then, if desired we can upscale it a bit
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CalmSeasQuest
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Progress has been a little slow of late, I managed to drop and destroy one of the Monti pieces (structure only, not the corals) that I had hoped to install today. As promised here are a few photos of the most recent installs. A couple of these still look really rough and haven't fully opened yet. The clowns in their excitement ran square into the Paly cube causing them to close up...silly clownfish, if I didn't know better I could have sworn they did it on purpose when they saw the camera.
Although this "Paly Cube" looks horrible in this photo, I have high hopes for it. It's comprised of 2 polyps each, Palythoa Grandis, Cinnamin and Sunflower. These are among the largest Paly's I've ever seen and should quickly cover each facet of the cube.
I've always liked Galaxia, but the sweepers can be a pain. I don't think it will hurt any of it's neighbors from this spot.
Sympodium, a few Gonis and a Palm Clove to add some color and motion.
The purple Photosynthetic Gorgonian Is finally starting to open up.
The GSP have started laying down "film" and attaching to the cabochon.
A FTS of the current inhabitants. Lots more yet to come. I'll be moving a few things around to make room for what's next. I mentioned the Galaxia sweepers - here's a short clip showing how they like to "reach out and touch" neighbors...
[video=youtube;it-QFm21SvM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it-QFm21SvM[/video]
Although this "Paly Cube" looks horrible in this photo, I have high hopes for it. It's comprised of 2 polyps each, Palythoa Grandis, Cinnamin and Sunflower. These are among the largest Paly's I've ever seen and should quickly cover each facet of the cube.
I've always liked Galaxia, but the sweepers can be a pain. I don't think it will hurt any of it's neighbors from this spot.
Sympodium, a few Gonis and a Palm Clove to add some color and motion.
The purple Photosynthetic Gorgonian Is finally starting to open up.
The GSP have started laying down "film" and attaching to the cabochon.
A FTS of the current inhabitants. Lots more yet to come. I'll be moving a few things around to make room for what's next. I mentioned the Galaxia sweepers - here's a short clip showing how they like to "reach out and touch" neighbors...
[video=youtube;it-QFm21SvM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it-QFm21SvM[/video]
Tom i love the new pictures of your tank. Truly a unique and different approach but it is really appealing to the eye. It's like a cool feng shui landscape. Good luck with the contest!
OP
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CalmSeasQuest
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Thanks Missy - This one has been a lot of fun so far.
Thanks FSU - I've gotten a lot of really "interesting" remarks covering a wide range of opinions... I think Abbynormal pretty much sums it up
A few little updates...
I've been playing around with designing a bubble plate for the skimmer with limited success thus far. I'm about 4 generations into the design and I've learned that it functions differently with an air-stone driven skimmer than a traditional pump/venturi setup. I also believe I can improve performance with more air pressure being supplied to the air stone. I ordered a Luft Air pump that should provide about 7PSI - a dramatic improvement over the whisper currently used. I'll post photos as soon as I have something that I believe is an improvement.
I removed at least temporarily the Mangroves. Although they are growing well, it's pain to have to remove/replace them each time I want to fiddle with the bubble plate.
The first SPS have been added to the tank
4 Montis are in the process of de-sliming after their move and installation. Photos to follow once they are happy.
