125 to 210 Build (Updated w/pics)

I hope i dont either! But its nice to not have to fill it for a while. I figure since i already have the three kor 3's ill probably just use them. I have put a lot of thought into my aquascape. I have copied and emailed myself a couple of pages of pictures of other peoples tanks that i like so i can try to emulate parts of their scaping. i have read about your tripod effect as well mark. i am going to try and keep as much rock off the sand as i can. I really like the look of a lot of sand, but i also like lots of rock for hiding space for the fish. so im trying to find a happy medium for my scape

The placement of the powerheads to the lower areas of the tank with streams pointing diagonally upwards is not so difficult when it's done as part of the aquascaping. The rocks can be made to hide the powerheads from the front view. Creating small rock hills that the pumps hide behind actually gives a nice natural looking effect, so much more pleasing to the eye than the rock wall in so many reef aquariums. I'd suggest going to see Adam Blundell's tank to see what I'm talking about. I would love to see pics of Kody's tank too.

Creating hiding space for the fish is an interesting topic. Hiding is mostly a response to predators and since there are usually no predators in our reef tanks, the response is not as strong in our fish.

Most reef fish will find a place in the rocks to bed down for the night but... What I have found is that if fish are hiding during the daytime, it indicates some kind of stress. Sure they may run for cover if they aren't used to people walking past the tank, but if they stay hidden for longer than 30 seconds then it's time to look at water parameters, in tank food sources and tank layout in general.

For example look at the openness of this aquascaping. The entire rock structure looked like this and it was visible from both sides. The light spots you see are the sunlight from outside the window. The fish in this tank never went hiding during the day. The Blue Tang slept in a tight place between two rocks. The Yellow Tang and Rabbitfish slept under the rock ceilings above the sand. The three Blue Damsels each had their homes. They slept in holes in the rock and inside large shells. The Cardinals slept in mid to top water during the day and roamed and hunted all over the tank at night.

In the 120 where I had the suspended reef the larger fish again slept between the sand and the reef. The smaller fish found holes in and between the rocks.
Hope this helps.







Edited by Mark Peterson - June 23 2010 at 9:21am

Thanks mark, and kody. i dont mean i want hiding places cause my fish seem stressed. my fish never hide either. I just like the look of caves and arches and stuff like that for the fish to swim around in. I loved the way my sixline wrasse would just cruise around the entire tank, in and out, all day when i had it. Im not a big fan of a rock wall either. I have a good idea of what i want my tank to look like. your picture above has similar attributes to what i like as well, mark. I agree about trying to hide the powerheads too. Thanks for helping! Anyone have any advice about my skimmer, and the drains running to it?

I think so they also pull water from behind them

No you don't need that horizontal pipe.

Granulated Ferrous Oxide
It's for removing PO4 (Phosphate) The less expensive stuff that still does a good job is called Hydrated Alumina. It has a white color and turns tan when used up which makes it easy to see that it was needed. I usually only run PO4 remover once or twice in a year for only a month. Phosphate is needed by all algae and coral so stripping it all out of the water can actually stunt coral growth. I've seen a couple tanks where it actually caused coral deaths because it was used 24/7 for a year.

About the skimmer and drains running to it, there is really no specialized method. The skimmer just needs a supply of water  and bubbles don't matter since bubbles is what the skimmer works on. The skimmer does not need to skim 100% of the water. Better to leave some good food for the reef.

If you use a simple bridal veil bag near a pump intake to run AC and Phosphate remover you could turn that unit into an RO unit. I'm assuming that is the bracket and filtration canisters for an RO unit. All it needs is a Membrane. I know you already have your RO unit so feel free to trade that bracket to me. I have some Membranes that need homes. 




Edited by Mark Peterson - June 26 2010 at 5:29pm

Ill Probably just use it for carbon still. I already have the pump for it and everything, and I read that these reactors do a little better job. 

that will be plenty the slower the flow in the skimmer the more gunk it pulls. im running 2 of those on my 95

Sorry Mark but I disagree! If you have a container holding AC with a pump pushing water the results will be alot better than throwing a nylon filled with it in the sump. Just MHO.