New 180 Build - Mini Coop's Dream Tank

Mini Coop · Dec 30, 2017

Ok, rendition number 2 of aquascape. Opened more holes, built from back to front to allow for more depth and "shelves" for corals . . . still not sure - could be more? Let me know what you think! (Also went and got the branch so I can get a better idea of what it will look like! It will go back to curing when I am done!

Fudsey · Dec 30, 2017

I like that @Mini Coop. Make sure you take a ton of detailed photos of each placement or mark the rocks. They never seem to go back together the same way

I would add one piece in the front on the bottom of the right side of the cove to extend it on the front for a nice zoa colony

Mini Coop · Dec 30, 2017

Fudsey said:
I like that @Mini Coop. Make sure you take a ton of detailed photos of each placement or mark the rocks. They never seem to go back together the same way

I would add one piece in the front on the bottom of the left side of the cove to extend it on the front for a nice zoa colony ;-)

HAHA - I am sure they will not! Going to see if I can find something at home depot today.

Fudsey · Dec 30, 2017

I meant right side of the cove....

Ento-Reefer · Dec 30, 2017

Your build looks awesome so far. I am glad I found your thread as I am also in the beginning stages of setting up my 180. You are ahead of me as my tank isn’t plumbed yet. Hopefully it will happen tomorrow.

I like what you did with your aquascape, and I second the suggestion on having many swim throughs for the fish.

Daniel Waters · Dec 30, 2017

The scape is looking good. Mine is similar, so I thought I'd post pictures in case it helps. I created a small island / pillar on my far right to house my bubble tip anemone. That was really helpful as it isolates my anemone away from all my corals. Of course, that assumes my anemone never moves, but it's been in the same spot for like a year and not moved. The middle structure is a U shape but turned sideways. I'm not sure I like that better or worse, but the openess gives more areas for the fish and flow (but I like your middle structure better I think). My purple tang pretty much has claimed the big middle area and doesn't let many fish swim through there much. besides, a lot of fish swim near the front pane because they've learned that's where feeding time is!

Mini Coop · Dec 30, 2017

Daniel Waters said:
The scape is looking good. Mine is similar, so I thought I'd post pictures in case it helps. I created a small island / pillar on my far right to house my bubble tip anemone. That was really helpful as it isolates my anemone away from all my corals. Of course, that assumes my anemone never moves, but it's been in the same spot for like a year and not moved. The middle structure is a U shape but turned sideways. I'm not sure I like that better or worse, but the openess gives more areas for the fish and flow (but I like your middle structure better I think). My purple tang pretty much has claimed the big middle area and doesn't let many fish swim through there much. besides, a lot of fish swim near the front pane because they've learned that's where feeding time is!

That looks great! Did you just stack your rock or bond it somehow? (sorry if you already answered that!)

Mini Coop · Dec 30, 2017

Daniel Waters said:
The scape is looking good. Mine is similar, so I thought I'd post pictures in case it helps. I created a small island / pillar on my far right to house my bubble tip anemone. That was really helpful as it isolates my anemone away from all my corals. Of course, that assumes my anemone never moves, but it's been in the same spot for like a year and not moved. The middle structure is a U shape but turned sideways. I'm not sure I like that better or worse, but the openess gives more areas for the fish and flow (but I like your middle structure better I think). My purple tang pretty much has claimed the big middle area and doesn't let many fish swim through there much. besides, a lot of fish swim near the front pane because they've learned that's where feeding time is!

I really like all of your little tunnels and coves! Looks great! And that is why I did the island on the right - hoping for an anemone someday soon!

ifarmer · Dec 30, 2017

tank is making great progress.

Daniel Waters · Dec 30, 2017

Mini Coop said:
That looks great! Did you just stack your rock or bond it somehow? (sorry if you already answered that!)

The rock is just stacked. I have a shallow tank at only 18" height, so I basically just have big base rocks and then rocks on top of those, with maybe some flat pieces on top in some other areas. It looks like you have a lot of similar sized rocks, which I think makes it harder to do multi-level aquascaping without using some kind of bonding. Some rock stacks easier than others, also. The BRS reef saver rock I find fits together very nicely and looks like one piece. My rock is 80% Fiji rock that I got like 10+ years ago, and I have some BRS reef saver rock mixed in.

If you're going to do any type of green star polyp or pulsing xenia, I would also encourage you to have a separate island type area for those. I like green star polyp and loved my xenia when I had it, but they do spread and become more like weeds.

Philt56 · Dec 30, 2017

Mini Coop said:
That looks awesome. Do you think it’s ok with saltwater?? No bad effects over time?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/compound.298882/
Should be. Marine depot sells a similar item, there’s a link in the above thread.

If you search for instamorph in the forum, you will get many references to it. It doesn’t seem to have ill affects.

Victoria M · Dec 30, 2017

I think you have a really good start. I remember you were trying to really focus on the rule of 1/3 to keep the eye moving in a pleasing way. If you place your showcase/larger growing corals on your branch structure you will nail it. Imagine the rock covered in lg corals and wavy forms. Make sure the structure is more like steps than a pyramid. You need horizontal places to place the corals. It is gonna be beautiful.

MamaLovesHerReefTank · Dec 30, 2017

Mini Coop said:
HAHA - I am sure they will not! Going to see if I can find something at home depot today.

I used the epoxy to do my scape dry. Once I got it into the cracks and crevices using wet paper towels and rubber gloves, I sprayed it with a water bottle to start the curing process. I left it for 24 hours before even checking to see if it would hold. Held up great. Nothing moves at all. Love your second scape. It's going to look beautiful with or without corals.

Mini Coop · Dec 30, 2017

MamaLovesHerReefTank said:
I used the epoxy to do my scape dry. Once I got it into the cracks and crevices using wet paper towels and rubber gloves, I sprayed it with a water bottle to start the curing process. I left it for 24 hours before even checking to see if it would hold. Held up great. Nothing moves at all. Love your second scape. It's going to look beautiful with or without corals.

Thanks! I think I just did it wrong with the epoxy I had the first time. Hopefully I won't have to do a LOT of epoxy and most will stack nicely, but I don't want any falling either!

Mini Coop · Dec 31, 2017

Hit a snag last night - we successfully pumped up about 50 gallons of RODI into the main tank. I have a maxspect gyre and MP40, figured that would be plenty to mix some salt up stairs to get the sand in before the tank is full and get the rock in with some stability of the water. The gyre was BROKEN!!! I bought it on black friday from @Bulk Reef Supply, and when I went to run it, the fans wouldn't turn. Upon investigation and troubleshooting videos, the INSIDE ceramic axle (for lack of a better term) was broken!!! I am so disappointed. I ordered it a while ago, so now I will probably have to deal with the manufacturer because I just opened it last night. And everyone is closed for the holiday, so of course now I have to wait . . . (I already have low patience, HAHA). This hobby is teaching me patience for sure.

So - question: If I go ahead and mix the salt and get it where it needs to be, along with the temperature, can I can go ahead and add rock and sand with only a MP40 running until I get the gyre. (bascially go ahead and set up the whole system without it. I think it is ok - flow is mostly for corals, I know, but I don't want to do anything to mess up the cycle or kill my live sand.

Seawater is ready and mixed for the Quarantine tanks!

They will get filled and set up today! I have sponges in my DT at my in-laws house for them as well. I might make a trip to the LFS to get nitrifying bacteria today too!

Daniel Waters · Dec 31, 2017

Mini Coop said:
So - question: If I go ahead and mix the salt and get it where it needs to set up the whole system without it. I think it is ok

Perfectly fine to run with just one pump or just the return pump for that matter.

Mini Coop · Jan 1, 2018

Great start to the new year! First rocks are in the tank! I marked the rocks, numbered them, epoxyd some of them together- and they STILL didn’t go back the same way!! Lol. I’m still very happy with how they turned out so far! 2 structures made and one large Center still to go! New Years = drink a little, play a game, rock work and repeat! Thankful for my good friend, Melanie that helped me get things where they needed to go! She was a huge help!