Our Tank - What would YOU do?

[ChrisKSB]

I know I'm supposed to make it my own...but really having a rough time coming up with ideas.

What to get and where to place etc... I'm looking for EASYish, I'd really like to see some swaying movement! Not planning on covering every inch with coral, just want some nice color, life and movement. We like the look of the rocks as well as whatever we add.

Any suggestions on what you would start with and where you would place it if this was yours?

BTW - it is a 32 gallon BioCube

Hope someone chimes in with ideas!

 

[NS Mike D]

easy movement =. frogspawn. mid level as it will gown into softball size fairly quickly (ie year or two)

Duncans are similar, I like that nook/ledge on the right


green star polyp (GSP) very fast growers, show off tank flow, but put it on it's own isolated rock and be prepared to trim it back



that top ledge might be good for trumpet/candy canes. Not much for movement but would look good there (as would branching sps if you went that route)


I like kenya trees in nano, flowing and not green, but you need to be prepared to trim as well.

Not swaying but consider zoas for color. The swaying corals tend to be green.

 

[NS Mike D]

Very nice aquascape BTW

 

[ChrisKSB]

Running to Google!!! Love the input, thanks.

 

[Mrod]

Pulsing Xenia is my FAVORITE. But I won’t put it in my tank, lol. It can overrun tanks (also gsp some avoid) but many run it and don’t mind or are able to contain. Also it is hit or miss for some but really beautiful how it moves unlike any other coral when viewed in person.

gsp is nice as reminds me of an underwater lawn.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

Here are some pictures of my Biocube. I too like to have lots of movement.
Frog spawn
Hammer
Torch
Xenia
GSP
Kenya tree
To name a few..

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

Pulsing Xenia is my FAVORITE. But I won’t put it in my tank, lol. It can overrun tanks (also gsp some avoid) but many run it and don’t mind or are able to contain. Also it is hit or miss for some but really beautiful how it moves unlike any other coral when viewed in person.

gsp is nice as reminds me of an underwater lawn.

As long as you isolate them they will not overrun anything. My Xenia is on an island and gsp I’m glued to the back of the tank

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

My first tank was a 40 breeder. I started with a frogspawn, kenya tree, zoathids, a flowerpot, and a toadstool. (The flowerpot died in a couple months.)

I later added mushrooms, green nepthia, finger leather, duncans, trumpet, and a free birdsnest. I also added a really purple anemone, but it got stuck in the overflow and never recovered.

It eventually got too crowded. It became hard to clean, especially the substrate. That lead to an algae battle. So I either had to remove some stuff, or go bigger.

And that's how it begins....

 

[ChrisKSB]

@OrangeCountyReefer - Thats beautiful...so much of exactly what I have in mind!

How long does it take to grow that tree on the back right?

 

[ChrisKSB]

@Ratherbeflyen - Go big or go home I guess...WOW. From what I've seen on this board, people always seem to go bigger at some point!

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

@OrangeCountyReefer - Thats beautiful...so much of exactly what I have in mind!

How long does it take to grow that tree on the back right?

At least 2 years to get to that size depending if you feed them or not. This one has been growing at record pace due to reef roids. I will have to start fragging it soon as it is starting to overgrow the tank. I will try to post a recent video I took of the tank if it allows me so you can see how everything currently looks with the flow going. These pictures are all from a month or so ago.

 

[Mrod]

As long as you isolate them they will not overrun anything. My Xenia is on an island and gsp I’m glued to the back of the tank

I’m always tempted to try until I hear they sometimes get on snails, etc. I’m too nervous, lol

 

[KrisReef]

Lots of good suggestions.
Since many people get hair algae (which is a beautiful green color and sways in the current) and then complain and fight to get rid of it, perhaps you can set out to grow hair algae and just feed the fish well and watch the hair algae move back and forth. It will grow easily along with a Kenya tree.

Very few people do this, but it is one idea.

Keep us posted.

 

[OrangeCountyReefer]

I’m always tempted to try until I hear they sometimes get on snails, etc. I’m too nervous, lol

I really think it’s exaggerated. I have had my Xenia on an island for 5 months and it really hasn’t got anywhere out of control at all. If it did attach to a snail or release a polyp and it attached to a rock I would just remove it.

 

[ChrisKSB]

@KrisReef - Yes on the algae... Not sure about the green hair, but waiting to see some others come in stock at @AlgaeBarn