Victoria Music's Custom 180 Rebuild

[Victoria M]

@neilp2006 yes I am making a very small overflow to surface skim.

 

[User]

@neilp2006 yes I am making a very small overflow to surface skim.

More deets please!

I like this idea and may add a small AIO section to the 20l. I have 6" to spare considering the vipar led has good coverage up to 24". Add a surface skim and a comically small skimmer or uv chamber

My coral QT is currently this- instead of 76 days, with all the chemistry and light bs that goes with it, I'll have 3 full time mollie residents. Assuming they continue to be clear of infections, ill be doing 3.5 weeks of QT, then into display. Will get dipped on incoming, at 12 days and then again right before transfer to DT

I'll post pics once I get it set up again

 

[User]

Coral QT- sand or bare? Rocks or racks?

My last run I used sand, seemed to keep detritus down compared to bare, but when I broke it down and cleaned the sand, it's was NASTY.

So now I'm not too sure. I think I'm going to go Bare bottom with a small 60gph powerhead along bottom to collect detritus in one spot for easy siphoning.

 

[Raege]

Hope ya had a great day out and about. We all deserve a little mental health day once in a while

 

[Victoria M]

Hope ya had a great day out and about. We all deserve a little mental health day once in a while

So true! We need to do that for ourselves sometimes.

 

[Victoria M]

I rearranged the rocks just a tiny bit. And I added the rock I planned to use to make the final arch but I think the fish need more nooks and crannies. So here is the left side with just a slight change. I placed the rick on top more horizontal as the vertical orientation looked weird. I pulled the column back and close to the far left structure and rotates it an 1/8 turn.

 

[Victoria M]

The structure and arch on the right side of the tank are more permanent so the best I could do was place a piece of rock in the arch. Not sure about it yet. I think I will place it inside the arch close to the farthest right formation to create a hidey spot.

 

[JoshH]

Coral QT- sand or bare? Rocks or racks?

My last run I used sand, seemed to keep detritus down compared to bare, but when I broke it down and cleaned the sand, it's was NASTY.

So now I'm not too sure. I think I'm going to go Bare bottom with a small 60gph powerhead along bottom to collect detritus in one spot for easy siphoning.

Really like that idea, I wonder if you could use a HOB filter strong enough to run the intake pipe down to the bottom of the tank to the spot where the flow pushes any detritus? Or don't shoot me for saying it, use an under gravel filter sans gravel?

You could also go with a bottom of Marine pure plates if you're looking for something slightly easier to clean. But still provides tons of filtration.

The structure and arch on the right side of the tank are more permanent so the best I could do was place a piece of rock in the arch. Not sure about it yet. I think I will place it inside the arch close to the farthest right formation to create a hidey spot.

Things are looking good Victoria!! Love how you keep playing with the rock scape, adding more rocks but the tank still feels so open and spacious.

 

[Victoria M]

Really like that idea, I wonder if you could use a HOB filter strong enough to run the intake pipe down to the bottom of the tank to the spot where the flow pushes any detritus? Or don't shoot me for saying it, use an under gravel filter sans gravel?

You could also go with a bottom of Marine pure plates if you're looking for something slightly easier to clean. But still provides tons of filtration.



Things are looking good Victoria!! Love how you keep playing with the rock scape, adding more rocks but the tank still feels so open and spacious.

Thank you. I hope the changes give the fish better places to escape each other and increases their feeling of security.

 

[JoshH]

Thank you. I hope the changes give the fish better places to escape each other and increases their feeling of security.

Something I think is often overlooked when designing scapes, it can be a hard balance trying to provide the right amount of hiding space/separate territory. But keep the scape appealing and flexible for coral growth as well.

 

[Retro Reefer]

The structure and arch on the right side of the tank are more permanent so the best I could do was place a piece of rock in the arch. Not sure about it yet. I think I will place it inside the arch close to the farthest right formation to create a hidey spot.

Love it!

 

[crusso1993]

The structure and arch on the right side of the tank are more permanent so the best I could do was place a piece of rock in the arch. Not sure about it yet. I think I will place it inside the arch close to the farthest right formation to create a hidey spot.

Love it!

 

[Victoria M]

Something I think is often overlooked when designing scapes, it can be a hard balance trying to provide the right amount of hiding space/separate territory. But keep the scape appealing and flexible for coral growth as well.

So true. I was totally focused on a visually appealing hardscape and figured it was enough for the fish to get away. But I am finding the lack of MANY nooks and crannies to hide in is creating stress. And too much fighting over premium real estate.

 

[JoshH]

So true. I was totally focused on a visually appealing hardscape and figured it was enough for the fish to get away. But I am finding the lack of MANY nooks and crannies to hide in is creating stress. And too much fighting over premium real estate.

I must say I'm glad I checked in when I did, your issues have brought some flaws in my planned aquascaping to light and I can now adjust them hopefully for the benefit of my fish

 

[Victoria M]

I must say I'm glad I checked in when I did, your issues have brought some flaws in my planned aquascaping to light and I can now adjust them hopefully for the benefit of my fish

Awesome! More nooks and crannies!

 

[Raege]

Awesome! More nooks and crannies!

A reef should have Nooks and Crannies just like Thomases English Muffins

 

[Victoria M]

Hi Tonya! @Salty Lemon ! Yes, I am up at 3am. I saw a gazillion likes from Salty Lemon and lol’d. Tonya is all caught up on my aquarium life!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Hi Tonya! @Salty Lemon ! Yes, I am up at 3am. I saw a gazillion likes from Salty Lemon and lol’d. Tonya is all caught up on my aquarium life!

LOL, it was so many likes it woke you up?

 

[Victoria M]

LOL, it was so many likes it woke you up?

No, the dang martinis. ;ShamefullyembarrasedI had two razzamatinis and I sometimes don’t sleep well that night. They were awesome though!

 

[NY_Caveman]

No, the dang martinis. ;ShamefullyembarrasedI had two razzamatinis and I sometimes don’t sleep well that night. They were awesome though!

Nice! You have had a great aquarium life and martinis certainly help.