Ok, so I'm in one of those modes where I've decided to plan a new tank...This is usually the totally fun part of the hobby...I mean, you have a world of possibilities, you've made the mental commitment to move forward, and you haven't spilled a drop of water or spent a dime yet...Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Yet, I'm in a conundrum. I mean, I have a bunch of ideas that have been percolating in my head for...well- years! I told myself that "...My NEXT reef is gonna be the one where I finally do_________."
All of these ideas...And I still have that same feeling of-what would it be- restriction? Frustration? Not sure what it is- when you just have to have one tank to make it happen...Ricdiculous that I should feel this way- I'm fortunate to be able to build even one tank. Of course, in my head, I have unlimited ideas...many of which never really get out of the theoretical phase. I used to laugh at news reports when NASA announced that it committed $4,000,000 to the study of building a starship or some other thing for which the actual capability doesn't even exist yet- and likely won't for decades, if not longer. I mean, why? And yet, I kind of understand now...It's like, I am appropriating all of this "mental funding" to study some of my concept tanks that I really don't have the means to pull off.
Well, that's kind of fun, actually! What hobbyist doesn't look at their tank and think (or even say!), "Next, I'm gonna build a reef that has___________."
I think that's what keeps us moving forward, right?
So anyways, I've narrowed down my range to a few concepts- each one quite different from the other. I go back and forth, getting mentally committed to one idea, and then seeing a coral here at my facility, or talking to a fellow hobbyist, and then getting turned around into one of the other ideas I've been playing with...Wow. Crazy. The goal is not to get into a loop of "analysis paralysis" and never make move simply because I'm "still planning..." Yeah. I've seen guys do that and the tank sits and collects cobwebs while they are "contemplating." Yuck.
I've learned that, in this internet-enabled age, it's sometimes cool to throw your ideas out to your friends in cyberworld for their two cents worth...So, why not, right?
So here are some of the finalists in my "2015 concept" reef study...I'm curious about your take on them:
Goniopora "lagoon", with Goniopora, Catalaphyllia, and some Fungiids, on a non-conventional rich, deep substrate with seagrasses and macro algae. Minimal rock work. Maybe even a few gorgonians. Fishes would be mostly Blennies, gobies, and a few Pipefish. Perhaps I might throw in a Filefish...
How can I resist?
A small "patch reef" simulation...Like the kind I saw in Fiji and French Polynesia: Little "islands" of rock in an otherwise sandy wasteland, covered in Acropora. Lots of time gobies, and maybe some Damselfish for good measure. Really bright light.
A near-monospecific soft coral reef, with only really choice specimens of either Sarcophyton (like the killer Yellow or Neon Green ones), Sinularia, or perhaps a few Capnella...Or, the variation would be a simply old-school 1990's soft coral-dominated reef tank, with all sorts of softies in an allopathic soup...perhaps with some Caulerpa (shhh..) or other macroalage thrown in for good measure.
A "deepwater" Acropora tank, with about 7-8 different varieties selected for appearance and interest....The fishes would be Leopard Wrasses, Halichoeres Wrasses, some Assessors, and perhaps a Genicanthus Angelfish. The obligatory gobies and blennies would be there, too, along with a Marine Betta...Rockwork would be highly "justified" to one side of the tank, with a lot of open sand on the other side. Maybe a smattering of rubble here and there...restraint.
A super-diverse, ultra biologically-rich microcosm, reminiscent of the ones I've seen in Julian Sprung's office and home aquariums. Just a combination of everything that I like, interspersed with lots of macro algae, seagrasses, gorgonians, and even a mangrove or two sticking out of the top.
Inspiration in excess: Great pic of one of Julian's tank by Rich Aspinall
My little Palau "coral island" palladium concept that I've been toying with forever: A centered island of rock, projecting out of the water (tank would be about half filled). In the exposed rock work, I'd create a hidden planter box for terrestrial ferns and other tropical houseplants, to create a sort of jungle. Below, would be a mixed collection of Acropora, Seriatopora, Faviids, and perhaps even a Capnella or two. A lot of brightly-colored corals in contrast with the cool green of the terrestrial plants. I'd populate the tank with lots of really colorful Halichoeres Wrasses (probably Canary Wrasses), Damsels, gobies, and maybe a Centropyge Angelfish.
Am I the only one who's mouth waters at the possibilities?
A Royal Gramma-inspired Caribbean biotope simulation, with a large cave and like 20 Royal Gramma. Lots of gorgonians, and macro algae like Dictoyota (I'm serious), Padina, and some killer corallines. Maybe an Indigo Hamlet and a Blackcap Basslett or two thrown in for good measure- but the Royal Gramma clan would be the stars of the show.
This could be different!
Okay, that's just a few of the "finalists" in my never-ending "elimination round" of concepts. You see, like many of you, my imagination, appetite, and enthusiasm are often larger than my ability to get the job done. I've concluded that to do all of my crazy concept tanks, I'd probably need like 17 aquariums of all shapes and sizes, many with technologies and components that would carry a breathtaking price tag...sigh.
And, this is AFTER I've eliminated some of the early front runners, like the Seahorse and Pipefish tank, the monospecific Acropora microcaldos tank, the "Eco Reef Zero" concept tank (sorry, Jake), and others that are earmarked for some indefinite future date....
I'm curious about what your "next" reef is going to be, how you arrived at the concept, and if you actually have gotten out of the planning phase..
One of the best parts of my business is getting to help fuel the dreams of other reefers. It gives me great pleasure to see you guys enjoying the holy, and motivates me to do more...And of course, when it comes time to do my own tank, I have to weed through all of these crazy ideas...
On second thought, maybe I'll just do a freshwater tank! Hmm, a planted tank? ADA style, or a "jungle" concept? Hardscape? Or an Amazon River Biotope? Would it have Tetras, or just Angels and Discus? Or maybe an Asiatic Stream tank with lots of loaches..Or perhaps...
...And we still think that freshwater fishes are dull and uninteresting?
Arghh...I love this hobby.
I'm glad you do, too.
Until next time...
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
Yet, I'm in a conundrum. I mean, I have a bunch of ideas that have been percolating in my head for...well- years! I told myself that "...My NEXT reef is gonna be the one where I finally do_________."
All of these ideas...And I still have that same feeling of-what would it be- restriction? Frustration? Not sure what it is- when you just have to have one tank to make it happen...Ricdiculous that I should feel this way- I'm fortunate to be able to build even one tank. Of course, in my head, I have unlimited ideas...many of which never really get out of the theoretical phase. I used to laugh at news reports when NASA announced that it committed $4,000,000 to the study of building a starship or some other thing for which the actual capability doesn't even exist yet- and likely won't for decades, if not longer. I mean, why? And yet, I kind of understand now...It's like, I am appropriating all of this "mental funding" to study some of my concept tanks that I really don't have the means to pull off.
Well, that's kind of fun, actually! What hobbyist doesn't look at their tank and think (or even say!), "Next, I'm gonna build a reef that has___________."
I think that's what keeps us moving forward, right?
So anyways, I've narrowed down my range to a few concepts- each one quite different from the other. I go back and forth, getting mentally committed to one idea, and then seeing a coral here at my facility, or talking to a fellow hobbyist, and then getting turned around into one of the other ideas I've been playing with...Wow. Crazy. The goal is not to get into a loop of "analysis paralysis" and never make move simply because I'm "still planning..." Yeah. I've seen guys do that and the tank sits and collects cobwebs while they are "contemplating." Yuck.
I've learned that, in this internet-enabled age, it's sometimes cool to throw your ideas out to your friends in cyberworld for their two cents worth...So, why not, right?
So here are some of the finalists in my "2015 concept" reef study...I'm curious about your take on them:
Goniopora "lagoon", with Goniopora, Catalaphyllia, and some Fungiids, on a non-conventional rich, deep substrate with seagrasses and macro algae. Minimal rock work. Maybe even a few gorgonians. Fishes would be mostly Blennies, gobies, and a few Pipefish. Perhaps I might throw in a Filefish...
How can I resist?
A small "patch reef" simulation...Like the kind I saw in Fiji and French Polynesia: Little "islands" of rock in an otherwise sandy wasteland, covered in Acropora. Lots of time gobies, and maybe some Damselfish for good measure. Really bright light.
A near-monospecific soft coral reef, with only really choice specimens of either Sarcophyton (like the killer Yellow or Neon Green ones), Sinularia, or perhaps a few Capnella...Or, the variation would be a simply old-school 1990's soft coral-dominated reef tank, with all sorts of softies in an allopathic soup...perhaps with some Caulerpa (shhh..) or other macroalage thrown in for good measure.
A "deepwater" Acropora tank, with about 7-8 different varieties selected for appearance and interest....The fishes would be Leopard Wrasses, Halichoeres Wrasses, some Assessors, and perhaps a Genicanthus Angelfish. The obligatory gobies and blennies would be there, too, along with a Marine Betta...Rockwork would be highly "justified" to one side of the tank, with a lot of open sand on the other side. Maybe a smattering of rubble here and there...restraint.
A super-diverse, ultra biologically-rich microcosm, reminiscent of the ones I've seen in Julian Sprung's office and home aquariums. Just a combination of everything that I like, interspersed with lots of macro algae, seagrasses, gorgonians, and even a mangrove or two sticking out of the top.
Inspiration in excess: Great pic of one of Julian's tank by Rich Aspinall
My little Palau "coral island" palladium concept that I've been toying with forever: A centered island of rock, projecting out of the water (tank would be about half filled). In the exposed rock work, I'd create a hidden planter box for terrestrial ferns and other tropical houseplants, to create a sort of jungle. Below, would be a mixed collection of Acropora, Seriatopora, Faviids, and perhaps even a Capnella or two. A lot of brightly-colored corals in contrast with the cool green of the terrestrial plants. I'd populate the tank with lots of really colorful Halichoeres Wrasses (probably Canary Wrasses), Damsels, gobies, and maybe a Centropyge Angelfish.
Am I the only one who's mouth waters at the possibilities?
A Royal Gramma-inspired Caribbean biotope simulation, with a large cave and like 20 Royal Gramma. Lots of gorgonians, and macro algae like Dictoyota (I'm serious), Padina, and some killer corallines. Maybe an Indigo Hamlet and a Blackcap Basslett or two thrown in for good measure- but the Royal Gramma clan would be the stars of the show.
This could be different!
Okay, that's just a few of the "finalists" in my never-ending "elimination round" of concepts. You see, like many of you, my imagination, appetite, and enthusiasm are often larger than my ability to get the job done. I've concluded that to do all of my crazy concept tanks, I'd probably need like 17 aquariums of all shapes and sizes, many with technologies and components that would carry a breathtaking price tag...sigh.
And, this is AFTER I've eliminated some of the early front runners, like the Seahorse and Pipefish tank, the monospecific Acropora microcaldos tank, the "Eco Reef Zero" concept tank (sorry, Jake), and others that are earmarked for some indefinite future date....
I'm curious about what your "next" reef is going to be, how you arrived at the concept, and if you actually have gotten out of the planning phase..
One of the best parts of my business is getting to help fuel the dreams of other reefers. It gives me great pleasure to see you guys enjoying the holy, and motivates me to do more...And of course, when it comes time to do my own tank, I have to weed through all of these crazy ideas...
On second thought, maybe I'll just do a freshwater tank! Hmm, a planted tank? ADA style, or a "jungle" concept? Hardscape? Or an Amazon River Biotope? Would it have Tetras, or just Angels and Discus? Or maybe an Asiatic Stream tank with lots of loaches..Or perhaps...
...And we still think that freshwater fishes are dull and uninteresting?
Arghh...I love this hobby.
I'm glad you do, too.
Until next time...
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
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