JCOLE's Big Box of Rocks

[JCOLE]

You should really do a separate thread on this build it is very interesting. Any experience with the blue led cluster.

Yes. I tried the 440nm blue. It is a nice blue color but you won't get a black light orange glasses affect. You can get them in UV and I imagine that would give you that affect.

 

[JCOLE]

Aquascape is finally done. I ended up using all of the base rock from my old system that I acid washed. I added the shelves I made, and I think it turned out pretty well. The shelves have holes in them for frags so that I can move pieces around and take them out easily. For the corals, I plan to make 3" acrylic frag disks.


It is a lot brighter in person. There is still a little left to do, but hopefully by this weekend I will have water on the system.

 

[Charlie the Reefer]

Really looking forward to this one appreciate the update.

 

[JCOLE]

Plumbing is finished and I filled the tank up yesterday. Currently just fresh water for the next couple of weeks. Going to let the tank do its thing and let the shelves soak for a little while before adding salt.

 

[1ocean]

love it....I kinda did the same thing but not as many shelves..did a two complete arches though..

 

[Smite]

That's incredible looking. Great work!

 

[dieselkeeper]

Looks great. How many holes in the rock for frag plugs? Also interested in par reading on the lights you made.

 

[JCOLE]

Looks great. How many holes in the rock for frag plugs? Also interested in par reading on the lights you made.

Thank you! Each shelf has 3-4 holes with a couple having more than 4. I tested par with one light and I was getting 200 par at the bottom easy. One light covered a 3x3 space very well.

I will retest par this week and let you know.

 

[JCOLE]

Put sand in the tank and filled up with saltwater over the weekend. Skimmer installed and running. Also added a 5th LED cannon.

Testing out the waves.

 

[xiaoxiy]

Put sand in the tank and filled up with saltwater over the weekend. Skimmer installed and running. Also added a 5th LED cannon.

Testing out the waves.

I love the depth to that aquascape. Look forward to it being filled in with nice colonies.

 

[Reefering1]

Following along for this one!!

 

[JCOLE]

Against my original plan of not adding any of my existing rock to the new system, I am now thinking of doing that. I have some live rock coming from the keys next week, so I wanted some opinions on this.

My current rock has been established for around 5 or so years. Started off dry, and I have dosed Cipro, Chemiclean, Fluconazole, Vibrant, Bayer, and Ivermectin through that time frame. The existing rock has bubble algae and aiptasia, which I know will be next to impossible to ultimately avoid, but I would like to if I can help it.

I have heard of others dipping their rocks in kalkwasser to kill all life on the outside of the rocks but preserve bacteria on the inside. I was thinking of scraping off all bubble algae and removing corals, then giving them a bath in kalkwasser.

What does everyone think of that idea? Is it worth it to help seed my tank with bacteria, or should I just add the rock from the keys and move on? If it is worth giving them a bath in kalkwasser, then does anyone have an idea on strength and for how long?

 

[xiaoxiy]

Against my original plan of not adding any of my existing rock to the new system, I am now thinking of doing that. I have some live rock coming from the keys next week, so I wanted some opinions on this.

My current rock has been established for around 5 or so years. Started off dry, and I have dosed Cipro, Chemiclean, Fluconazole, Vibrant, Bayer, and Ivermectin through that time frame. The existing rock has bubble algae and aiptasia, which I know will be next to impossible to ultimately avoid, but I would like to if I can help it.

I have heard of others dipping their rocks in kalkwasser to kill all life on the outside of the rocks but preserve bacteria on the inside. I was thinking of scraping off all bubble algae and removing corals, then giving them a bath in kalkwasser.

What does everyone think of that idea? Is it worth it to help seed my tank with bacteria, or should I just add the rock from the keys and move on? If it is worth giving them a bath in kalkwasser, then does anyone have an idea on strength and for how long?

I’m guessing it’s too much rock to manually scrape off any of the offending pests?

That’s what I did with my upgrade, manually scrapped off things from old rock and then threw it into sump. Haven’t seen any aiptasia recurrence over the past 2 years.

 

[Reefering1]

I would be scared of bringing in the coral boring worms... can't they, just as easily, be in the rocks?

 

[bobnicaragua]

If the goal is to keep out pests as long as possible, I wouldn’t mess with your old rock.

I was having some weird Dino/cyano issues earlier this year. I ordered 10 lbs of gulf live rock and the issues went away.

 

[dieselkeeper]

I would try and clean some of the old rock of all pest and use those to seed your new or nuked old rock.

 

[JCOLE]

I’m guessing it’s too much rock to manually scrape off any of the offending pests?

That’s what I did with my upgrade, manually scrapped off things from old rock and then threw it into sump. Haven’t seen any aiptasia recurrence over the past 2 years.

Its a good bit of rocks but nothing too crazy.

 

[JCOLE]

I would be scared of bringing in the coral boring worms... can't they, just as easily, be in the rocks?

Yes. I believe they are gone though. I would inspect to make sure. It's really not worth the risk though.

 

[JCOLE]

If the goal is to keep out pests as long as possible, I wouldn’t mess with your old rock.

I was having some weird Dino/cyano issues earlier this year. I ordered 10 lbs of gulf live rock and the issues went away.

That is what I am leaning towards too. Just through some live rock in there and leave the other rocks alone.

 

[JCOLE]

I would try and clean some of the old rock of all pest and use those to seed your new or nuked old rock.

I think I am going to just add the live rock from the keys. Maybe save the existing in a brute can for the future.