Creative Reefing...Show off your ideas...and WIN from UC!

[uniquecorals]

It used to be that hobbyists would start out with softies, LPS, etc, and say things like, “Eventually I’m gonna have an Acropora tank.†Lately, lots of reefers are simply setting up reefs with corals they like, or just saying, “I’m setting up a cool LPS system.â€

And lots of reefers are experimenting with new ideas...building out new reef systems, new equipment, testing new concepts.

And I think it’s cool.

I mean, we’ve never had a lack of creativity in this hobby, and you see tons of cool new tanks out there with build threads. However, you rarely hear reefers putting up pics of their experimental macroalgae “garden†for Dragonets, or their version of Tyree’s “Multi Level Gradient†cryptic sponge zone refugium. It’s always about that lush reef tank.

Nothing wrong with that, of course.

We see a lot of great LPS tanks, SPS tanks, Zoa collections. But, what about cool concept reefs? Biotopes, species tanks, experimental systems? I know there are many of you out there trying new stuff- pushing the outside of the envelope. Maybe trying things that no one has done before.

I’d like to see some of your experiments. Let’s share the cool stuff we’re all working on here! Those cool tanks, crazy projects, and systems etc. How about the automatic top off system you just built, or the advanced current pattern you developed?

Let’s see some pics of some of your latest creations! Heck, let’s make a contest out of it! Team UC will vote on who has the most creative cool project going! We want pics and descriptions!

Hmm, do we have to incentivize this? Okay, how about a $25 Unique Corals “Virtual Gift Cardâ€, that you could use on your next UC purchase? Okay, let’s do that!

Stay Wet!

Scott Fellman
Unique Corals

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Following!

 

[The_Stig]

I will start it off.

When I did my 200 Long, I did it as three seperate tanks (display, fuge, sump) with the idea of displaying the fuge and making it visually pleasing (im the kinda guy that likes watching the various little critters we pick up in systems). Worked out fairly well. Unfortunately I became disabled and could no longer keep up with the car of the system:


Heres some pictures of the design/build phase:

Here it is complete:

The Fuge:

 

[GHill762]

wow, I like that setup.. sorry to hear you couldn't take care of it/became disabled..

 

[Neon Reef]

I'll play along. I have always liked having a sand bed as it is aesthetically pleasing, but have really enjoyed the maintenance free joy of keeping barebottom tanks. So I think I figured it out. I created a way to keep a jawfish and yasha/pistol combo happy and yet have areas where all the "crap" can settle on the barebottom to where I can easily syphon it out a couple times a week. Introducing Jesse's "Saltwater Moat-el" The middle island is meant to look as though it is not easily accessible as there is a moat all around it.

right side






left side






middle/fts

 

[The_Stig]

Thats kinda cool. How often though did you have to move the sand back around?

 

[buddythelion]

I'll play along. I have always liked having a sand bed as it is aesthetically pleasing, but have really enjoyed the maintenance free joy of keeping barebottom tanks. So I think I figured it out. I created a way to keep a jawfish and yasha/pistol combo happy and yet have areas where all the "crap" can settle on the barebottom to where I can easily syphon it out a couple times a week. Introducing Jesse's "Saltwater Moat-el" The middle island is meant to look as though it is not easily accessible as there is a moat all around it.

right side






left side






middle/fts

That's awesome! How can you keep the sand like that? I would imagine the powerheads would make it spread out after awhile.

 

[uniquecorals]

I will start it off.

When I did my 200 Long, I did it as three seperate tanks (display, fuge, sump) with the idea of displaying the fuge and making it visually pleasing (im the kinda guy that likes watching the various little critters we pick up in systems). Worked out fairly well. Unfortunately I became disabled and could no longer keep up with the car of the system:


Heres some pictures of the design/build phase:

Here it is complete:

The Fuge:

Wow, very, very cool. Sorry you couldn't continue to work with the system. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

-Scott

 

[uniquecorals]

I'll play along. I have always liked having a sand bed as it is aesthetically pleasing, but have really enjoyed the maintenance free joy of keeping barebottom tanks. So I think I figured it out. I created a way to keep a jawfish and yasha/pistol combo happy and yet have areas where all the "crap" can settle on the barebottom to where I can easily syphon it out a couple times a week. Introducing Jesse's "Saltwater Moat-el" The middle island is meant to look as though it is not easily accessible as there is a moat all around it.

right side






left side






middle/fts

I like that one! Must be really easy to clean!

-Scott

 

[ritter6788]

I came up with this idea for keeping sand sleeping wrasses in a bare bottom tank.

A rock formation that holds sand. My yellow wrasse loves it.

I also grow different types of macro for the fish to hunt pods out of. Occasionally I pull a ball of chaeto from my other tanks sump and throw it in for the wrasses to hunt pods out of. It's fun to watch. They chase the ball of chaeto around and dive in for pods.

 

[Neon Reef]

Thats kinda cool. How often though did you have to move the sand back around?

Surprisingly not often as it doesn't spread as much as i thought it would.

That's awesome! How can you keep the sand like that? I would imagine the powerheads would make it spread out after awhile.

It's been about a month and so far so good.

I like that one! Must be really easy to clean!

-Scott

thanks. cleaning/syphoning out detritus is a breeze and i love seeing the nasty stuff actually coming out as opposed to just syphoning water out and hoping i'm getting out lots of excess nutrients.