positioning corals,polips,gorgonians

markvanderwoude · 05/31/2006, 09:53 PM

does anybody have any sugestions on how to make a tank look like the ones in the pictures for tank of the month???i have lots of stuff in the tank but it just doesnt look right

Avi · 06/01/2006, 07:50 AM

Do you mean the April 2006 TOTM?

markvanderwoude · 06/01/2006, 08:44 AM

yes

Sheol · 06/01/2006, 08:45 AM

When you find out, let me know. I'm not satisfied either!

Matthew

Avi · 06/01/2006, 11:54 AM

Designing the rockwork in a reef is something that takes the confluence of an idea of what kind of coral you want to keep, where you want to have the coral on the rockwork, the kind and variety of live rock that you have, and a placement of the rock that you have in a way that gives it stability and "ledges" onto which you can place the coral in an aesthetic way.

I think that the best way to start is with an idea of how you want the rock to be located in the tank....for example, do you want it to be all the way to the back of the tank or do you want to have it like an "island" without touching any of the glass in the aquarium.

Having some larger pieces of rock with flat sides onto which you can stack more rock will give it more stability. As you put rock on top or rock to build up the rockwork, press down to make sure that any additional rock you put on will not cause it to crash down. Some people drill holes in their rock and then epoxy plastic rods into the holes to hold rocks together so they won't move. But don't be surprised that you might not have the kind of rock that will enable you to have a fighting start at setting your tank up the way you want it to look. I had to go out a number of times and find rock that would enable me to have stability and (what I hope is) an aesthetic appearance, after my initial big live rock acquisition.

Also, look around in fish stores for "ledge" rock, which is just live rock that's very flat. That can be used to create places onto which certain coral like Favia and many others can sit and be shown well.

Another thing you can do, is to use epoxy (I use Aquamend, which is available in Home Depot and works very well) together with Krazy Glue Gel to mount many coral onto the rockwork in your tank in places where the coral would get the kind of waterflow and light conditions that it needs to thrive.

markvanderwoude · 06/01/2006, 12:26 PM

wow you have a good looking tank i guess i have to keep working on it..its a time thing...i have alot of show size pecies so i just need to keep on trucking...THANKS..

05/31/2006, 09:53 PM	#1
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	positioning corals,polips,gorgonians does anybody have any sugestions on how to make a tank look like the ones in the pictures for tank of the month???i have lots of stuff in the tank but it just doesnt look right

06/01/2006, 07:50 AM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Do you mean the April 2006 TOTM? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

06/01/2006, 11:54 AM	#5
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Designing the rockwork in a reef is something that takes the confluence of an idea of what kind of coral you want to keep, where you want to have the coral on the rockwork, the kind and variety of live rock that you have, and a placement of the rock that you have in a way that gives it stability and "ledges" onto which you can place the coral in an aesthetic way. I think that the best way to start is with an idea of how you want the rock to be located in the tank....for example, do you want it to be all the way to the back of the tank or do you want to have it like an "island" without touching any of the glass in the aquarium. Having some larger pieces of rock with flat sides onto which you can stack more rock will give it more stability. As you put rock on top or rock to build up the rockwork, press down to make sure that any additional rock you put on will not cause it to crash down. Some people drill holes in their rock and then epoxy plastic rods into the holes to hold rocks together so they won't move. But don't be surprised that you might not have the kind of rock that will enable you to have a fighting start at setting your tank up the way you want it to look. I had to go out a number of times and find rock that would enable me to have stability and (what I hope is) an aesthetic appearance, after my initial big live rock acquisition. Also, look around in fish stores for "ledge" rock, which is just live rock that's very flat. That can be used to create places onto which certain coral like Favia and many others can sit and be shown well. Another thing you can do, is to use epoxy (I use Aquamend, which is available in Home Depot and works very well) together with Krazy Glue Gel to mount many coral onto the rockwork in your tank in places where the coral would get the kind of waterflow and light conditions that it needs to thrive. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

06/01/2006, 08:44 AM	#3
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	yes

06/01/2006, 08:45 AM	#4
Sheol Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waxahachie, Tx. Posts: 3,610	When you find out, let me know. I'm not satisfied either! Matthew

06/01/2006, 12:26 PM	#6
markvanderwoude Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside, Ca Posts: 211	wow you have a good looking tank i guess i have to keep working on it..its a time thing...i have alot of show size pecies so i just need to keep on trucking...THANKS..