60g Cube

[Rjukan]

I got these little guys when I got the pom pom. Just today one of them started being hosted by the RFA I got a couple days ago.

Also picked up a used Kessil A80 for the nano, thanks again @NotFishyFishGuy

 

[John08007]

Used 60g Deep Blue tank, system started Feb 2018. Cleaned up silicone:

Beginning scapes:

Early on, pile o rocks:

I have a 75g like this 24×24×30" tall. I have tall rockwork that ive glued together some. If i had 8t to do over i would buy 1/2" plexi rod from amazon. Then use a 1/2" concrete bit and drill some holes in the rock, uses pieces of the rod to work like pins holding it together. You can also use the drill to make some spots for frag plugs

 

[Rjukan]

I have a 75g like this 24×24×30" tall. I have tall rockwork that ive glued together some. If i had 8t to do over i would buy 1/2" plexi rod from amazon. Then use a 1/2" concrete bit and drill some holes in the rock, uses pieces of the rod to work like pins holding it together. You can also use the drill to make some spots for frag plugs

Hey @John08007 , thanks for stopping by my thread! It's been a lonely place lol.

I did something similar after the gut renovation job I just did the other weekend. I used a 3/4" bit and 1/2" PVC pipe. It's a bit harder than I expected and only got 3 rocks together that way, but it was worth it. Got a nice zero gravity look going on and a open center as a result.

It would have been easier to do when the rocks were dry, so I agree with you... if I was to start a new tank I would do it with more rocks. I was under the gun to do it rather quickly and get the rocks back in the tank.

The extra 6" in height on your tank must be pretty tough to work with, especially when you're fixing/cleaning anything on the sand bed, or at the bottom of the rocks. I barely reach mine and I'm 6' tall.

 

[John08007]

Hey @John08007 , thanks for stopping by my thread! It's been a lonely place lol.

I did something similar after the gut renovation job I just did the other weekend. I used a 3/4" bit and 1/2" PVC pipe. It's a bit harder than I expected and only got 3 rocks together that way, but it was worth it. Got a nice zero gravity look going on and a open center as a result.

It would have been easier to do when the rocks were dry, so I agree with you... if I was to start a new tank I would do it with more rocks. I was under the gun to do it rather quickly and get the rocks back in the tank.

The extra 6" in height on your tank must be pretty tough to work with, especially when you're fixing/cleaning anything on the sand bed, or at the bottom of the rocks. I barely reach mine and I'm 6' tall.

Ive cursed the height many times. Have a large assortment of long tongs, tweezers and forceps to deal with it.

 

[Rjukan]

Ive cursed the height many times. Have a large assortment of long tongs, tweezers and forceps to deal with it.

Lol, yeah I don't think I could deal with a 30" high tank unless the stand was made a bit shorter. Must look pretty impressive though, have any pics?

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

I got these little guys when I got the pom pom. Just today one of them started being hosted by the RFA I got a couple days ago.

Also picked up a used Kessil A80 for the nano, thanks again @NotFishyFishGuy

No problem if you need the controller just let me know ;)

 

[Rjukan]

 

[Rjukan]

 

[Rjukan]

My tank is a total mess, things are living, but it's a disgusting nightmare. I actually floated the idea of switching the system over to a Tanganyikan cichlids tank just yesterday. But I decided to clean it and try to put some effort into it one more time.

 

[Rjukan]

Current conditions in the nano. I ended up really cleaning everything and have been doing water changes every couple days to get a handle on the system again. I moved all remaining coral to the nano and plan on keeping the cube as a FOWLR. All fish are doing well.

 

[Rjukan]

Love this guy

 

[Rjukan]

Things are doing pretty well. No new additions until I feel things are growing again, but I'm probably going to get a couple new fish sometime in the future. Considering a yellow watchman goby with a pistol shrimp. A pygmy or flame back angel, and a royal gramma.

A few shots taken today:

 

[Rjukan]

Here is a no tank light photo for ref:

 

[Rjukan]

Beginnings of a zoa garden.

Also finally took my return pumps out and gave them a thorough cleaning. Its been 2.5 and 1.5 years without touching them, really happy with them so far.

 

[Rjukan]

This is pretty sad huh? Poor couple needs a real home, GHA looks comfy tho right?

 

[Rjukan]

Today I dismantled my refugium and cleaned the whole sump. It was a poor design to begin with for the light I was using. Rather than focus it in the small fuge section of the sump, it lit the whole thing... So there were huge amounts of GHA growing all over, which I believe were locking down my nitrate and phosphates before my coral would have a chance to use them.

I also pulled my BM curve 5 out of storage and cleaned it thoroughly. New plan is to run the skimmer really dry until I start seeing nitrate again, then dial that in to manage them. I'm cautiously optimistic of this new approach. Last time I ran the skimmer it was right next to the fuge light, got algae growing inside and was a mess. Now it's much better:

 

[Rjukan]

Same ol thing, but getting better.

 

[Kurtzisa]

the sand and too many fishes are the problems. The sand is too big into the zoa garden.

 

[Rjukan]

the sand and too many fishes are the problems. The sand is too big into the zoa garden.

The system has only 5 fish in it lol... The sand in the nano is perfect imo, it's the fine sand in the 60g that's causing issues. But thanks for the comment.

 

[Rjukan]

I picked up a bunch of coral over the weekend from a local reefer thats getting out of the hobby. Went for 9 frags, left with at least 15 lol, great guy, it's a shame he is packing it in.

So as a result I decided to tweak my display aquascape and revamp the nano. I found a few spots in the DT that had poor circulation so I was able to open those up a bit, and I reclaimed some of the sandbed without it becoming too cluttered.

I'm still working on it, won't be done for another couple hours. I have to take a ride to the hardware store for a lot more glue. Here are a couple before pics: