SaltyMix
Community Member
Firstly, I'm not sure if this is the correct space/forum for this since this is an aquascape experiment, but also a DIY thing, but absolutely about creating a custom aquascape.
Secondly, I'm a ceramic artist by trade (If you can and are able to support a local creamic artist right now, consider buying a mug from someone in your local area for gifts instead of the 'Zon) and have heard its possible to create your own ceramic media with sesame seeds in the clay, firing it so the seeds burn out leaving a porous vitrified finished product. If this is possible, I suspect I can use a similar method to create some in-tank art. If you know anything about clay, ceramics, and reefing, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I have questions about silica in the water and the effects of clay body on salt water, and would love to connect with someone who knows about this niche subject. If not, I intend to do my own research.
Thirdly, this is the project I want to work on: a hawkfish throne. Since I want to do something for the reef tank while I've gone fallow for an ich outbreak (i know, it freaking sucks) but this way I still feel like I'm making reef progress and not just quarentining with tanks all over the house.
I saw a Pinterest post of a ceramic-looking "cave ledge" complete with stalactites glued to some acrylic hooks that was meant to hang on the side of a tank and "hover" like an island at the back of the tank's glass. I want to do something similar, but I want it to be a throne for my dream fish (Flame Hawk Fish) to perch on. I tried to find the Pinterest post but couldn't and ended up finding something similar on Etsy, but it's not quite what my vision for a reef tank-related "throne" is: Aqualexes Castle (there's a screenshot of the item below for reference). They're using a metal hanger, and I'd have a custom hang system laser cut from acrylic. I think the metal hanger would work great for freshwater, but not for reef tanks.
Since Hawkfish have natural perching behavior, I want to create something for my future hawkfish to perch on, and I think it's kind of silly but fun, just like the fish.
I literally want it to be a throne shape and not quite a natural rock formation, but maybe a mix between the two, looking something like what you think of when someone says's throne with maybe a bit more of a DND vibe that still compliments the natural look of a reef, maybe with places for coral frags to be placed on either side of the throne.
Here are a list of questions I have about this project:
1) Does anyone know about potential issues with using white stoneware in a tank? Obviously, no glaze, but once a piece is properly vitrified, it *shouldn't* leech anything into the water column from the clay body itself. But that's what we ceramics artists know about regular tap water, salt water is a whole different thing. However, I suspect there won't be any issues since I worked earlier this year on a group art installation made entirely of white stoneware that is being fired and eventually carted out to the ocean to become the foundation of a new reef ecological project. (I was just one of the artists working on the project but not even remotely connected to management of the project).
2) As for clay bodies, i'm thinking a groggy clay or clay with a "sand" added (its not really sand, its just ground up bisqueware or 2nd stage pottery into a fine sand added to clay to give it extra strength) would be best. However, I'm open to other suggestions. I won't consider a colored stoneware since those have so much iron content and again, the leeching question.
3) If clay won't work, I'll plan on sculpting the project and then making a mold to form the piece with another material. I found this video about using sand, Portland cement, and oyster shell to create man-made reefrock. However, will the oystershell cause trouble with water calcium levels? I assume yes.
I think it will just be awesome to sculpt something from my studio and add an art piece to my tank and something specifically for my future Flame Hawk Fish to perch on so he's lording over his domain. The Flame Hawk Fish is the fish that had me pulling the trigger to actually get the tank cycled.
If the prototype works, I'll probably mold it and make a few more for others who might want one or if the sculpting method works I'll probably take a few commissions, but I want to address some of these essential questions first.
Secondly, I'm a ceramic artist by trade (If you can and are able to support a local creamic artist right now, consider buying a mug from someone in your local area for gifts instead of the 'Zon) and have heard its possible to create your own ceramic media with sesame seeds in the clay, firing it so the seeds burn out leaving a porous vitrified finished product. If this is possible, I suspect I can use a similar method to create some in-tank art. If you know anything about clay, ceramics, and reefing, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I have questions about silica in the water and the effects of clay body on salt water, and would love to connect with someone who knows about this niche subject. If not, I intend to do my own research.
Thirdly, this is the project I want to work on: a hawkfish throne. Since I want to do something for the reef tank while I've gone fallow for an ich outbreak (i know, it freaking sucks) but this way I still feel like I'm making reef progress and not just quarentining with tanks all over the house.
I saw a Pinterest post of a ceramic-looking "cave ledge" complete with stalactites glued to some acrylic hooks that was meant to hang on the side of a tank and "hover" like an island at the back of the tank's glass. I want to do something similar, but I want it to be a throne for my dream fish (Flame Hawk Fish) to perch on. I tried to find the Pinterest post but couldn't and ended up finding something similar on Etsy, but it's not quite what my vision for a reef tank-related "throne" is: Aqualexes Castle (there's a screenshot of the item below for reference). They're using a metal hanger, and I'd have a custom hang system laser cut from acrylic. I think the metal hanger would work great for freshwater, but not for reef tanks.
Since Hawkfish have natural perching behavior, I want to create something for my future hawkfish to perch on, and I think it's kind of silly but fun, just like the fish.
I literally want it to be a throne shape and not quite a natural rock formation, but maybe a mix between the two, looking something like what you think of when someone says's throne with maybe a bit more of a DND vibe that still compliments the natural look of a reef, maybe with places for coral frags to be placed on either side of the throne.
Here are a list of questions I have about this project:
1) Does anyone know about potential issues with using white stoneware in a tank? Obviously, no glaze, but once a piece is properly vitrified, it *shouldn't* leech anything into the water column from the clay body itself. But that's what we ceramics artists know about regular tap water, salt water is a whole different thing. However, I suspect there won't be any issues since I worked earlier this year on a group art installation made entirely of white stoneware that is being fired and eventually carted out to the ocean to become the foundation of a new reef ecological project. (I was just one of the artists working on the project but not even remotely connected to management of the project).
2) As for clay bodies, i'm thinking a groggy clay or clay with a "sand" added (its not really sand, its just ground up bisqueware or 2nd stage pottery into a fine sand added to clay to give it extra strength) would be best. However, I'm open to other suggestions. I won't consider a colored stoneware since those have so much iron content and again, the leeching question.
3) If clay won't work, I'll plan on sculpting the project and then making a mold to form the piece with another material. I found this video about using sand, Portland cement, and oyster shell to create man-made reefrock. However, will the oystershell cause trouble with water calcium levels? I assume yes.
I think it will just be awesome to sculpt something from my studio and add an art piece to my tank and something specifically for my future Flame Hawk Fish to perch on so he's lording over his domain. The Flame Hawk Fish is the fish that had me pulling the trigger to actually get the tank cycled.
If the prototype works, I'll probably mold it and make a few more for others who might want one or if the sculpting method works I'll probably take a few commissions, but I want to address some of these essential questions first.
