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- Sep 27, 2021
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- Location
- Orange County, CA
Tank: IM 40L AIO (3ft x 15" display)
Flow: 1x Maxspect Jump 2k Gyre (maybe lateral at the top? maybe vertical on a side?); 2x Mightyjet 538gph return pumps, each one split two ways with locline and RFGs.
Rocks: very old Fiji and Tonga real deal reef rocks, super porous, been dry for 5 years; seeding with TBS rocks and a 10g tank transfer
Goals: (1) environment for fish and inverts to move about, find their special spots, swim through, hide and be their best selves.
(2) separate spaces for corals and 'hopefully' nems to have their own places. I plan on having 2-3 BTAs, and hopefully a large island will give them some separation, but who knows.
(3) ample sand bed for small islands and meaty corals like trachy, scoly, plates, etc.
Here's a starter:
NOTE: The left third of the tank is reserved for my 10g transfer.
This whole way over-packed tank is getting moved over:
Continuing with the scape of the other 2/3rds of the tank:
The sand should be coming up to almost the top of the arch in the second rock, so I think this will be a nice space for a goby/pistol or my firefish to develop as a cave. My firefish currently inhabits a similar hole in his 10g aquascape. This seems rock is good as is. Maybe some redesign of the branching rocks sitting on top of the base...
This middle rock I like because it has big holes going through it, which might be ideal for a cleaner shrimp hangout or fish to swim through (especially if there's any bullying). As is, in this picture, there's some space on either slope for corals, but it isn't the most attractive structure.
Alternatives:
This was my initial idea with this rock: a tower-like structure, which makes the holes vertical, giving more "headspace" to swim through. But, it is extremely tall in the tank and would be just an inch to 1.5 inches under the water surface at the tip. I also worry that it would block the gyre flow if the gyre is placed horizontally at the top. I also worry that it won't be super stable, since it requires some rocks underneath to brace it...
Another alternative:
And with a barnacle that just happens to fit perfectly:
In this version, the holes are more horizontal, but maybe that's not a problem for the fish/inverts. It would be raised a bit, so there would be a tunnel-like structure at the sand bed. And there would be space for corals on the tops/sides. I would probably keep the sides next to the barnacles clear or maybe put monti caps so there's no blockage of the holes. This area will be a bit less par, since it will sit between 2 Noopsyche K7 minis.
And this is where I am currently. Still have a box full of these Fiji/Tonga rocks I can mess around with, but I would love to use the 2-hole rock in some way.
What do you all think?
Additional questions:
1. where would you try to put BTAs in the hope that they stay put?
2. Stocking plan: TSB, exquisite firefish, 2 occelaris clowns [all currently owned]; 2-3 bengaii cardinals, yasha goby (randall pistol already in nano), midas blenny; temporary residents: baby foxface and baby tomini--to be gifted/rehomed after growing beyond X inches (for algae/bubble algae control... may just cycle babies until I get a much larger tank one day... or not do this at all).
==> With these fish in mind, what is the best scape for them to utilize?
If you got this far, thanks! Appreciate your thoughts!
Flow: 1x Maxspect Jump 2k Gyre (maybe lateral at the top? maybe vertical on a side?); 2x Mightyjet 538gph return pumps, each one split two ways with locline and RFGs.
Rocks: very old Fiji and Tonga real deal reef rocks, super porous, been dry for 5 years; seeding with TBS rocks and a 10g tank transfer
Goals: (1) environment for fish and inverts to move about, find their special spots, swim through, hide and be their best selves.
(2) separate spaces for corals and 'hopefully' nems to have their own places. I plan on having 2-3 BTAs, and hopefully a large island will give them some separation, but who knows.
(3) ample sand bed for small islands and meaty corals like trachy, scoly, plates, etc.
Here's a starter:
NOTE: The left third of the tank is reserved for my 10g transfer.
This whole way over-packed tank is getting moved over:
Continuing with the scape of the other 2/3rds of the tank:
The sand should be coming up to almost the top of the arch in the second rock, so I think this will be a nice space for a goby/pistol or my firefish to develop as a cave. My firefish currently inhabits a similar hole in his 10g aquascape. This seems rock is good as is. Maybe some redesign of the branching rocks sitting on top of the base...
This middle rock I like because it has big holes going through it, which might be ideal for a cleaner shrimp hangout or fish to swim through (especially if there's any bullying). As is, in this picture, there's some space on either slope for corals, but it isn't the most attractive structure.
Alternatives:
This was my initial idea with this rock: a tower-like structure, which makes the holes vertical, giving more "headspace" to swim through. But, it is extremely tall in the tank and would be just an inch to 1.5 inches under the water surface at the tip. I also worry that it would block the gyre flow if the gyre is placed horizontally at the top. I also worry that it won't be super stable, since it requires some rocks underneath to brace it...
Another alternative:
And with a barnacle that just happens to fit perfectly:
In this version, the holes are more horizontal, but maybe that's not a problem for the fish/inverts. It would be raised a bit, so there would be a tunnel-like structure at the sand bed. And there would be space for corals on the tops/sides. I would probably keep the sides next to the barnacles clear or maybe put monti caps so there's no blockage of the holes. This area will be a bit less par, since it will sit between 2 Noopsyche K7 minis.
And this is where I am currently. Still have a box full of these Fiji/Tonga rocks I can mess around with, but I would love to use the 2-hole rock in some way.
What do you all think?
Additional questions:
1. where would you try to put BTAs in the hope that they stay put?
2. Stocking plan: TSB, exquisite firefish, 2 occelaris clowns [all currently owned]; 2-3 bengaii cardinals, yasha goby (randall pistol already in nano), midas blenny; temporary residents: baby foxface and baby tomini--to be gifted/rehomed after growing beyond X inches (for algae/bubble algae control... may just cycle babies until I get a much larger tank one day... or not do this at all).
==> With these fish in mind, what is the best scape for them to utilize?
If you got this far, thanks! Appreciate your thoughts!