Guttersnipe
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing. I really appreciate it. I’m going to cut back my lights and start feeding more.
CDA 100g Acropora Journey
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mxnutz
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Started working on the new scape today. Watched some of David's videos (First Time Reefer TV) on how he scaped with the glue and dry rock dust method) So last Saturday, I was able to take a hammer to some stax rocks I had laying around and smashed them up to small bits. Once they were small enough. I used a mortar and pestle to ground them into fine dust. Took about 2-3 hours to fill a small food container.
Goals for the new scape
1. spots/caves for fishes to hide/sleep
2. lots of spots to mount acros
3. semi-floating - overhangs for fishes to swim under/floor space for chalices
4. Copy someone's scape.
Some of the larger size branches I was able to work with.
I used glue masters thin and that glue heats up pretty good. Bonded pretty well with the fine rock dust. The joints were rock solid after about 5 minutes. I was really surprised. I went through like 10 pairs of gloves today though. Once the glue gets on the gloves. It is pretty much done and needs a replacement.
Some progress....
That is pretty much what I have done today. I will work on it some more tomorrow.
Goals for the new scape
1. spots/caves for fishes to hide/sleep
2. lots of spots to mount acros
3. semi-floating - overhangs for fishes to swim under/floor space for chalices
4. Copy someone's scape.
Some of the larger size branches I was able to work with.
I used glue masters thin and that glue heats up pretty good. Bonded pretty well with the fine rock dust. The joints were rock solid after about 5 minutes. I was really surprised. I went through like 10 pairs of gloves today though. Once the glue gets on the gloves. It is pretty much done and needs a replacement.
Some progress....
That is pretty much what I have done today. I will work on it some more tomorrow.
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mxnutz
Active Member
Round 2 today
I added a few smaller pieces to the base to give it a more "fuller" look. After that, I started working on the right side. I wish my tank was 5 or 6 feet long so I could've kept extending the floating branches. haha
I think I'm pretty much done. Tomorrow, I will retouch all the joints with glue and rock dust one more time.
I added a few smaller pieces to the base to give it a more "fuller" look. After that, I started working on the right side. I wish my tank was 5 or 6 feet long so I could've kept extending the floating branches. haha
I think I'm pretty much done. Tomorrow, I will retouch all the joints with glue and rock dust one more time.
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mxnutz
Active Member
Round 3 today...
I added a few more smaller branches to the back to add a little more height. After, added some more dust and glue to the rest of the joints. I also added 2 part epoxy to the bottom joints that were "floating". Just in case. Rather be safe than sorry.
The scape is done. I probably used about 15-20 branches to complete it. Super easy and I hate scaping. I will always use this method to scape now. Tomorrow, I will move it in the frag tank and let it cure for 2 months. During these 2 months. I will start to disassemble the current scape in my 100g and move corals over to the frag tank slowly.
I added a few more smaller branches to the back to add a little more height. After, added some more dust and glue to the rest of the joints. I also added 2 part epoxy to the bottom joints that were "floating". Just in case. Rather be safe than sorry.
The scape is done.
I probably used about 15-20 branches to complete it. Super easy and I hate scaping. I will always use this method to scape now. Tomorrow, I will move it in the frag tank and let it cure for 2 months. During these 2 months. I will start to disassemble the current scape in my 100g and move corals over to the frag tank slowly.
sam.veilleux30
Well-Known Member
Nice!
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mxnutz
Active Member
I was giving myself till the end of this month to complete the list of tasks I had before moving the new scape into the DT. But I finished the list early and was able to make the move last Thursday. Took about 8-9 hours. ;Happy It was a long day. haha
I had roughly 50-60 different types of acros in the tank and decided to sell off a majority of them at our local forum. Most were tables or testers that grew too fast. I didn't want to risk losing them in the frag tank since the frag tank is not ready for acros yet. So now, I'm down to about 18 and will add about 5-10 more in the future and call it a day. Want to give them a little bit of more room to grow. As for fishes, I rehomed the betta fish and moved the tomini tang and springer damsel to the frag tank. So now, I will be on the hunt for some more smaller type fishes.
Progression full tank shots of the last few months.
I still have a few acros I need to mount that I couldn't get to last week. Will work on it this weekend.
Was fun trying to get all these acros off the main structure without breaking them up too much.
top view
side view
I had roughly 50-60 different types of acros in the tank and decided to sell off a majority of them at our local forum. Most were tables or testers that grew too fast. I didn't want to risk losing them in the frag tank since the frag tank is not ready for acros yet. So now, I'm down to about 18 and will add about 5-10 more in the future and call it a day. Want to give them a little bit of more room to grow. As for fishes, I rehomed the betta fish and moved the tomini tang and springer damsel to the frag tank. So now, I will be on the hunt for some more smaller type fishes.
Progression full tank shots of the last few months.
I still have a few acros I need to mount that I couldn't get to last week. Will work on it this weekend.
Was fun trying to get all these acros off the main structure without breaking them up too much.
top view
side view
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mxnutz
Active Member
Okay, enough pics of rocks. haha Got to take some pics today of the acros I kept in this tank. TBH, I hate taking pics now. dang wrasses keeps jumping all over the place. Last month, my flame jumped and landed on the wood floor while doing a WC. Luckily, he still alive. haha
Just some iphone shots with orange filter and all the T5s on.
TGC Cherry Bomb
Tyree Superman Tenuis
CC Disney Jr.
JF Jolt
TGC Acrolandia - I've had this one for about 14 months. really slow grower for me.
RMF Lucky Charms - same with this one. slow grower.
RRC Lady in Pink
Just some iphone shots with orange filter and all the T5s on.
TGC Cherry Bomb
Tyree Superman Tenuis
CC Disney Jr.
JF Jolt
TGC Acrolandia - I've had this one for about 14 months. really slow grower for me.
RMF Lucky Charms - same with this one. slow grower.
RRC Lady in Pink
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mxnutz
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RRU Angry Birds - I decided to frag the colony and let the main part/base regrow to the new scape. Once I cut the colony it lost all of its colors. Hopefully, it can recolor back up in a couple years. ;Woot This piece gets the award for slowest grower and hardest to color up. haha
I cut 4-5 frags and remounted them on the same extending branch. I'm hoping to get a nice big colony in a few years. Here is one of the bigger cuts.
SCOP to the left. RROP on the right. Same coral? Hmmm...
OG shortcake - Had this piece since 2015. Think this is the longest acro I've kept. It's a stunner once it becomes colony size. Wasn't planning on keeping any tables in this tank but had to keep this piece.
Vivids 4 lokos
RR Pretty in Pink
I cut 4-5 frags and remounted them on the same extending branch. I'm hoping to get a nice big colony in a few years. Here is one of the bigger cuts.
SCOP to the left. RROP on the right. Same coral? Hmmm...
OG shortcake - Had this piece since 2015. Think this is the longest acro I've kept. It's a stunner once it becomes colony size. Wasn't planning on keeping any tables in this tank but had to keep this piece.
Vivids 4 lokos
RR Pretty in Pink
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mxnutz
Active Member
JF Homewrecker - such a pretty acro.
WD
Jacksons Rainbow - really looking forward to this one growing out.
RRUOP
My QT/Nano tank became a Nem tank. haha Dang, CSB went on a growth spurt the last 6 months and starting stinging everything in its path. Moved all my softies/lps to the frag tank.
WD
Jacksons Rainbow - really looking forward to this one growing out.
RRUOP
My QT/Nano tank became a Nem tank. haha Dang, CSB went on a growth spurt the last 6 months and starting stinging everything in its path. Moved all my softies/lps to the frag tank.
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Acros are looking fantastic!
reef_ranch
Well-Known Member
Wow! You killed it with the tonga branch! Nice job. And the acro collection is amazing.
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mxnutz
Active Member
Thank you! I've used branch rock before and it isn't easy to scape with. But with the thin glue and sand. It made it a lot easier. No need for zip ties this time around. ahha. But, I feel, I created the scape too big for this tank. With this scape, I wish my tank was 4-6 inches wider, longer, and taller. Time for new tank? LOL
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mxnutz
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Haven't updated in a few months. Nothing much going on. Just letting the tank settle in a bit before I add some new acros. It has been 3 months since I added the new tonga scape (dang time flies!!!) and things seem to be going well lately so I decided to pull the trigger on some acros this week.
Got a delivery today from Graham (gws3). Always wanted to check out his acros. I even bookmarked him so I don't lose his contact. haha Well lets just say. He didn't disappoint. ;Happy
MCC Prom Queen, MattV Mad Hatter, WWC Pink Panther, Hung's Rainbow, and RMF Lucky Charms (freebie).
Love having a saw on hand. Makes cutting off the plugs easy even if it has been encrusted.
Also visited the homie John (thirst) and came home with a Vivid Insanity and SKA Jackpot.
Will get some better pics of the acros next week once they have settle in but in the meantime. Here are some fishy pics I found on my phone. ;Joyful
FTS - I'm not sure if I like all those corals on the bottom pane. I may remove all of them once the acros grow out some. hmmm...
Got a delivery today from Graham (gws3). Always wanted to check out his acros. I even bookmarked him so I don't lose his contact. haha Well lets just say. He didn't disappoint. ;Happy
MCC Prom Queen, MattV Mad Hatter, WWC Pink Panther, Hung's Rainbow, and RMF Lucky Charms (freebie).
Love having a saw on hand. Makes cutting off the plugs easy even if it has been encrusted.
Also visited the homie John (thirst) and came home with a Vivid Insanity and SKA Jackpot.
Will get some better pics of the acros next week once they have settle in but in the meantime. Here are some fishy pics I found on my phone. ;Joyful
FTS - I'm not sure if I like all those corals on the bottom pane. I may remove all of them once the acros grow out some. hmmm...
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aabjones888
Valuable Member
The nem looks beautiful, any fish in there with it?
JF Homewrecker - such a pretty acro.
WD
Jacksons Rainbow - really looking forward to this one growing out.
RRUOP
My QT/Nano tank became a Nem tank. haha Dang, CSB went on a growth spurt the last 6 months and starting stinging everything in its path. Moved all my softies/lps to the frag tank.
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