Help with aquascaping??

[dcmartinpc]

I live in Niles, MI and I am wondering if there is someone here who might be able to help me re aquascape my tank. I have had problems with rocks falling over and I already have close to a full fish load in the tank. I am getting into SPS and such and would like to have everything secured and possibly more against the back of the tank so I have more sand exposed. Anyone willing to help, I don't have anything to offer quite yet, except maybe a case of beer. I will have some frags when I get stuff growing. I am picking up several things this friday, some nice stuff once it grows out I would be willing to share.

Thanks in advance!

Don

[grallster]

Try using epoxy to join the rocks together in a more stable form.

[dcmartinpc]

That is what I have been getting, so I know I will be doing that. My biggest fear is that when I redo everything, will I cause a cycle in my tank. The base rocks are down in the sand a couple inches and I want to move them further back, do you think this is possible?? I am thinking I am wanting kind of a wall with caves...

Here is a current picture. This is about 3 weeks old, and the brown algae is almost gone! (Added DI to my RO!)



Don

[grallster]

I think it looks pretty good. How old is your tank? I suppose it could overwhelm your bio filtration if there is a bunch of gunk in your sandbed. Maybe you should try vacuuming the top inch or so before you start tearing stuff up. I'd run extra mechanical and chemical filtration during the process and then finish off with a water change.

[dcmartinpc]

My tank has been running for about 8 months. The live rock is all several years from established tanks. I am running an ETSS 600 skimmer, and running a filter sock on my return. Should I just put some carbon in the filter sock?? I have someother bio media that I am going to put in the filter sock to help bump up my bacteria load. My sandbed is VERY clean, I have several sand sifting starfish, nassarius snails, and a black cucumber on a mission! (He is a foot long now!) They keep my sandbed stirred up and spotless.

[grallster]

Well, I'd say go for it then!

[ckusnierek]

If you just want some help I' always willing to lend a helping hand. My Bro lives in niles and I'm up there often.

[dcmartinpc]

I really could use some help, and a fresh mind to look at things. I am thinking about trying to stack the rock more along the back to get me more room in the front of the tank, I don't know!! I just like a fresh pair of eyes!

Don

[ckusnierek]

Whne I did mine I sloped it a bit and made some shelves for coral. I also tried to kinda interlock the rock so it would be stable. Another Idea for aquascaping is to do a Yahoo image search for reef tank.

[dcmartinpc]

Do you have links to any pics of your tank?? I would like to see it

Don

[ckusnierek]

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101981

Pics from last night. This is my third rescape. Going to redo it again soon. setting up another tank in living room and going to steal about 40lbs Lr for the new one. right now there is about 150lbs.

here is a pic fro a few weeks ago before I went BB. There is a wall in back. kinda what your looking for.

[dcmartinpc]

Looks nice. I am hoping to have the wall, but a little more open, maybe trying to incorporate some caves. I just am worried I am going to royally tick off my fish. To be honest, the biggest thing I am worried about is placing my anemone. It has its foot buried in a rock about 4 inches, and it hasnt budged since he got in that rock, and I would like it to stay that way! I have gotten pretty lucky in that regard. I dont want him wandering around making friends with my corals! I am afraid if I move the rock, he is gonna go on the run but he seems to not budge from his little hole.

[grallster]

Don't pile rock along the back in such a way that there is stagnant waterflow back there. If you move the anemone's rock, it is very likely it will go on a walk about to find a place it likes.

[dcmartinpc]

The other thing I have been thinking is trying to keep the anemones rock where it is and moving other rocks around it... removing rocks, and epoxying them down. I do kind of like my current arrangement, it is just unstable

[grallster]

When then just try and slip some epoxy inbetween the rocks without taking them apart. If they don't stick together at least they will form a "mold" to each other and make them less likely to rock back and forth.