Ship reef build

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 28, 2013

I'm planning on building a new reef tank for my living room in a 125 gallon 72x18x22. I've always loved when the navy sunk's a retired battleship or cruiser to how build new reefs in the ocean. So i'm thinking of doing the same thing, but just on a smaller scale. I don't want to hurt the fish or coral with just adding a ship without sealing it off. I guess i'm wondering if anybody has made something for a saltwater display and not had any issue's.

Tradewinds · Dec 28, 2013

There's a LFS that has some plastic model parts of an old plane (Corsair) in one of their tanks with coral growing on it. The tank appears to be doing okay.

I guess it boils down to what type of material you plan to put in the tank.

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 29, 2013

i'm looking into getting a plastic model ship that's already built and sealing the outside surface to make it fish/ coral safe.

tyler1503 · Dec 29, 2013

As long as it's all plastic it probably just needs a vinegar bath and RO rinse. I personally wouldn't seal it so it's water tight. You may find yourself fighting buoyancy. Just my 2 cents

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 29, 2013

tyler1503 said:
As long as it's all plastic it probably just needs a vinegar bath and RO rinse. I personally wouldn't seal it so it's water tight. You may find yourself fighting buoyancy. Just my 2 cents

very true, lol

tyler1503 · Dec 29, 2013

You might end up with the ship actually sailing! That would be pretty cool if it stayed upright

A chromis would look like a giant shark!

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 30, 2013

tyler1503 said:
You might end up with the ship actually sailing! That would be pretty cool if it stayed upright
A chromis would look like a giant shark!

LOL, yeah thats why i'm looking for something that'll be really BIG. probably around 3-4 feet long and a 1" high.

ebushrow · Dec 30, 2013

Depending on your creativity level you might want to try doing this with a model
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/do-yourself-diy/142123-put-bottle-your-tank.html

This may really quickly get you to the look you want too

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 30, 2013

ebushrow said:
Depending on your creativity level you might want to try doing this with a model
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/do-yourself-diy/142123-put-bottle-your-tank.html

This may really quickly get you to the look you want too

you know thats not a bad idea for makin caves for small fish. i'll have to try it in one of my smaller tanks.

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 30, 2013

Here are some of the ships i'm thinking of buying. There all about 2" 1/2 to 3 feet long. There's a wooden 4 foot battleship i saw for sale but i'm still thinking how to repaint it so it'll be fish safe ( not pictured )

$(KGrHqJ,!owE9dJ)Zfp9BPezmjpSCw~~60_3.JPG

#1. Aircraft carrier

$T2eC16J,!y0E9s2S5))ZBQc9DONvO!~~60_57.JPG

#2. Destroyer

$T2eC16V,!)kE9s4,!!WIBSGJCZdKUg~~60_57.jpg

#3. German U-boat

#4. Battleship

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 30, 2013

Here are some of the ships i'm thinking of buying. There all about 2" 1/2 to 3 feet long. There's a wooden 4 foot battleship i saw for sale but i'm still thinking how to repaint it so it'll be fish safe ( bottom picture)  <img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=115044&stc=1" attachmentid="115044" alt="" id="vbattach_115044" class="previewthumb"> #1. Aircraft carrier  <img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=115045&stc=1" attachmentid="115045" alt="" id="vbattach_115045" class="previewthumb"> #2. Destroyer  <img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=115046&stc=1" attachmentid="115046" alt="" id="vbattach_115046" class="previewthumb"> #3. German U-boat <img src="https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=115047&stc=1" attachmentid="115047" alt="" id="vbattach_115047" class="previewthumb"> #4. Battleship

AQUAMAN21 · Dec 30, 2013

correction the 4" wooden battleship is the last ship on the list

Jenaleigh1 · Dec 30, 2013

Do the u boat! Very cool! Of course, I'm a little partial. My husband is a Navy Chief, so I like the historic stuff. You could find a model of the Monitor or one of those WWII heavy destroyers. That would be cool.

aceer15 · Dec 30, 2013

U boat would look awesome

Tradewinds · Dec 30, 2013

Another vote for the U-Boat.

tyler1503 · Dec 31, 2013

The u boat or destroyer would be my choice

Id choose the destroyer and bury it so the don't end of it was sticking out from between the rocks if it were small community fish to swim around and over it. Or the u boat with a hole that looks like it was caused by a missile or something in either end as a moray eels den.
I reckon that would be awesome!

AQUAMAN21 · Jan 1, 2014

tyler1503 said:
The u boat or destroyer would be my choice
Id choose the destroyer and bury it so the don't end of it was sticking out from between the rocks if it were small community fish to swim around and over it. Or the u boat with a hole that looks like it was caused by a missile or something in either end as a moray eels den.
I reckon that would be awesome!

YEAH there both my #1 & 2 picks also but the only difference is that the U-boat i'd have to build from scratch and the others are purpose built ships.

tyler1503 · Jan 1, 2014

Who knows, if you have to build the U boat, you may find another hobby you like just as much as reefing!

TheSaint216 · Jan 1, 2014

I would try to capture a smaller part of the boat or sub. Like a giant propeller.

AQUAMAN21 · Jan 1, 2014

tyler1503 said:
Who knows, if you have to build the U boat, you may find another hobby you like just as much as reefing!

The funny part is i'll built a the U.S.S. Arizona battleship and U.S.S. Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier. There's others but i ended up throwing them all away cause they just held dust, lol.