new 55 gallon tank - upgrade - THOUGHTS!!

welshnumber8 · 04/25/2010, 12:49 PM

Guys / gals
REEF 3.jpg

REEF 2.jpg

REEF 1.jpg
4 weeks ago i upgraded from 25 gallon to 55 gallon tank.

Moved everything over and added a few more stock items

i am in process of building up rock, need to buy more over next few weeks.

I am building it around my new feature the subarine wreck - should it stay or go what are your thoughts....

Sisterlimonpot · 04/25/2010, 01:07 PM

very interesting, as far as it staying or going that's entirely up to you. Definitely different than what you see on a daily basis and I kinda like it.

iamwrasseman · 04/25/2010, 01:35 PM

the look that you have is appealing right now but may lose that ease on the eyes if you add roch and bury the ship . that being said you should have more rock and i have never been a fan of ships or other "fake" stuff like that but you have pulled it off for the moment as i like it .in the long run i think you will be much more happier if you remove the shipwreck at some point but you can start adding rock slowly and see what the future brings . do not add to much rock at a time as you will have a minicycle with each addition so i would suggest 3to5 lbs at a time and wait a couple of weeks between each addition .

gkugelman · 04/25/2010, 06:58 PM

So far, so good! I like the submarine - its whimsical and cute! How much rock do you have in the tank already?

welshnumber8 · 04/26/2010, 02:00 AM

I have about 20lbs of rock at the moment. I want to build it higher in the centre and then add more coral etc. Easy to manage corals. What do you suggest.

Paul Davies · 04/26/2010, 06:11 AM

Nice Leight, would be interesting when corals grow on the sub :-) It should stay.

Would be nice having some largish corals in the rear. Not mine though :-)

welshnumber8 · 04/26/2010, 08:33 AM

yes just building it up now paul. Getting a bit more rock in centre and then will build it higher with rock and corals. Any ideas on what corals to get.

Amp2020 · 04/26/2010, 09:01 AM

Here's what I would do. I like the left side but not the right side. The proportion of toad stool corals and ship wreck are to much. I'd stay with with short corals or corals that encrust over the rocks with small polyps. On the right side of the tank the ship stands out too much. Bury the bottom part so the painted rocks don't show and build a ledge that over hangs above the ship. Keep the big corals as far away or towards the back and place the smallest corals closer to the ship. Over time the ship will get covered in algae and turn one solid color. A good selection of CUC will help keep it clean without too much scrubbing on your part. I'd only keep the ship if I was going to simulate a real wreck site otherwise i'd trash it. Like I said, I like the left side and see it being possible to incorporate it into a reef tank and look good with some planning.

Paul Davies · 04/26/2010, 01:22 PM

Hi Leight, not sure what lighting you have??? Base the corals round that. Let us know what light spec you have. You want to get one of these asap, split on me last week, now i have 2!!! how cool is that.

welshnumber8 · 04/27/2010, 05:50 AM

Thanks for feedback. I will update you in few weeks wheni have added more rock etc. I am running 2no T5 white and 2no blues at moment but changing blues over for my Led's. Love the new frag what is it.

thebkramer · 04/27/2010, 06:46 AM

I like it! I also went with the not so usual in my tank. I have a castle in mine. I call it Neptune City. Over time it is now covered in corals, corraline and all the other goods that live rock support. I have many critters who have taken up residence, and my fish love to hide inside it. It's fun to think outside of box sometimes! Can't wait to see more pics in the future!!

Fizz71 · 04/27/2010, 07:19 AM

Personally I don't add ornaments, but that's because the goal of my tank is to have everything encrusted with some sort of coral. But if you're going for a more subdued wreck looking type reef then it certainly works.

I don't look at that and go...ugh..how silly...I actually do like it....but if you're planning on loading up on rock and coral it will eventually be darn near impossible to see it...especially once coraline grows. It will provide a place for fish to hide though..just like a true wreck.

I will say this too...I'm also a big fan of "hidden" things so in a year the sub may be damn near impossible to see, but that would make it MORE interesting to me.

Paul Davies · 04/27/2010, 11:31 AM

ditto with that, would love to see it encrusted with corals/coralline.

And to your question, it isn't a frag,its a cucumber. :-)

thebkramer · 04/27/2010, 11:44 AM

Heres a pic of mine..little blurry, but you get the idea..
[IMG]http://i44.*******.com/29tm68.jpg[/IMG]
and a close up
[IMG]http://i42.*******.com/1zg9rnk.jpg[/IMG]
lots of coraline and stuff...

welshnumber8 · 04/27/2010, 01:46 PM

Love Neptune City. Over nextfew months will build it up and keep you all updated. Nice Cucumber Mr Davies.

ibefishy · 04/27/2010, 02:30 PM

Although I have never been a big fan of fake decorations I like it. Its simple and clean. It looks like a miniature dive site.

Jason S · 04/27/2010, 02:51 PM

Interesting. I have seen pictures of WW2 era fighters that crashed into a natural reef, and are now part of the reef. I have thought about recreating a scene like this many times.

100%hydrophylic · 04/27/2010, 05:49 PM

someone should get a huge tank and have a REAL shipwreck in it. lol

thebkramer, the first time i saw your tank i thought the right side was actually just a bunch of tonga branch rock

04/25/2010, 12:49 PM	#1
welshnumber8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 214	new 55 gallon tank - upgrade - THOUGHTS!! Guys / gals REEF 3.jpg REEF 2.jpg REEF 1.jpg 4 weeks ago i upgraded from 25 gallon to 55 gallon tank. Moved everything over and added a few more stock items i am in process of building up rock, need to buy more over next few weeks. I am building it around my new feature the subarine wreck - should it stay or go what are your thoughts.... __________________ Thanks Leighton Edwards

04/25/2010, 01:07 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	very interesting, as far as it staying or going that's entirely up to you. Definitely different than what you see on a daily basis and I kinda like it. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

04/25/2010, 01:35 PM	#3
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	the look that you have is appealing right now but may lose that ease on the eyes if you add roch and bury the ship . that being said you should have more rock and i have never been a fan of ships or other "fake" stuff like that but you have pulled it off for the moment as i like it .in the long run i think you will be much more happier if you remove the shipwreck at some point but you can start adding rock slowly and see what the future brings . do not add to much rock at a time as you will have a minicycle with each addition so i would suggest 3to5 lbs at a time and wait a couple of weeks between each addition . __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

04/26/2010, 02:00 AM	#5
welshnumber8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 214	I have about 20lbs of rock at the moment. I want to build it higher in the centre and then add more coral etc. Easy to manage corals. What do you suggest. __________________ Thanks Leighton Edwards

04/26/2010, 08:33 AM	#7
welshnumber8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 214	yes just building it up now paul. Getting a bit more rock in centre and then will build it higher with rock and corals. Any ideas on what corals to get. __________________ Thanks Leighton Edwards

04/25/2010, 06:58 PM	#4
gkugelman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 258	So far, so good! I like the submarine - its whimsical and cute! How much rock do you have in the tank already?

04/26/2010, 06:11 AM	#6
Paul Davies Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sunny Wales / Uk Posts: 532	Nice Leight, would be interesting when corals grow on the sub :-) It should stay. Would be nice having some largish corals in the rear. Not mine though :-)

04/26/2010, 09:01 AM	#8
Amp2020 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Richmond near A.A. Posts: 1,203	Here's what I would do. I like the left side but not the right side. The proportion of toad stool corals and ship wreck are to much. I'd stay with with short corals or corals that encrust over the rocks with small polyps. On the right side of the tank the ship stands out too much. Bury the bottom part so the painted rocks don't show and build a ledge that over hangs above the ship. Keep the big corals as far away or towards the back and place the smallest corals closer to the ship. Over time the ship will get covered in algae and turn one solid color. A good selection of CUC will help keep it clean without too much scrubbing on your part. I'd only keep the ship if I was going to simulate a real wreck site otherwise i'd trash it. Like I said, I like the left side and see it being possible to incorporate it into a reef tank and look good with some planning. __________________ Victor Current Tank Info: None.

04/26/2010, 01:22 PM	#9
Paul Davies Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sunny Wales / Uk Posts: 532	Hi Leight, not sure what lighting you have??? Base the corals round that. Let us know what light spec you have. You want to get one of these asap, split on me last week, now i have 2!!! how cool is that.

04/27/2010, 05:50 AM	#10
welshnumber8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 214	Thanks for feedback. I will update you in few weeks wheni have added more rock etc. I am running 2no T5 white and 2no blues at moment but changing blues over for my Led's. Love the new frag what is it. __________________ Thanks Leighton Edwards

04/27/2010, 06:46 AM	#11
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	I like it! I also went with the not so usual in my tank. I have a castle in mine. I call it Neptune City. Over time it is now covered in corals, corraline and all the other goods that live rock support. I have many critters who have taken up residence, and my fish love to hide inside it. It's fun to think outside of box sometimes! Can't wait to see more pics in the future!! __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

04/27/2010, 07:19 AM	#12
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Personally I don't add ornaments, but that's because the goal of my tank is to have everything encrusted with some sort of coral. But if you're going for a more subdued wreck looking type reef then it certainly works. I don't look at that and go...ugh..how silly...I actually do like it....but if you're planning on loading up on rock and coral it will eventually be darn near impossible to see it...especially once coraline grows. It will provide a place for fish to hide though..just like a true wreck. I will say this too...I'm also a big fan of "hidden" things so in a year the sub may be damn near impossible to see, but that would make it MORE interesting to me.

04/27/2010, 11:31 AM	#13
Paul Davies Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sunny Wales / Uk Posts: 532	ditto with that, would love to see it encrusted with corals/coralline. And to your question, it isn't a frag,its a cucumber. :-)

04/27/2010, 11:44 AM	#14
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	Heres a pic of mine..little blurry, but you get the idea.. [IMG]http://i44.*****.com/29tm68.jpg[/IMG] and a close up [IMG]http://i42.*****.com/1zg9rnk.jpg[/IMG] lots of coraline and stuff... __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

04/27/2010, 01:46 PM	#15
welshnumber8 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wales Posts: 214	Love Neptune City. Over nextfew months will build it up and keep you all updated. Nice Cucumber Mr Davies. __________________ Thanks Leighton Edwards

04/27/2010, 02:30 PM	#16
ibefishy Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Grover Beach, California Posts: 307	Although I have never been a big fan of fake decorations I like it. Its simple and clean. It looks like a miniature dive site.

04/27/2010, 02:51 PM	#17
Jason S Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 555	Interesting. I have seen pictures of WW2 era fighters that crashed into a natural reef, and are now part of the reef. I have thought about recreating a scene like this many times.

04/27/2010, 05:49 PM	#18
100%hydrophylic Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: GA Posts: 1,636	someone should get a huge tank and have a REAL shipwreck in it. lol thebkramer, the first time i saw your tank i thought the right side was actually just a bunch of tonga branch rock __________________ :) Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 28g nano SPS

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