Put a bottle in your tank

[atoll]

I was under the impression that those particular starfish were not bad to have.

No not bad that's why I never said so. Only that the numbers I can see suggest that you may wish to consider something that prays on them. I should have used a more accurate word than needing, am sorry. I have them in my tank but in what I consider reasonable numbers. Like most things it depends on what you are happy or not happy with. If you are happy with the numbers then thats fine of course no need for a harlequin shrimp.

 

[sixline]

No not bad that's why I never said so. Only that the numbers I can see suggest that you may wish to consider something that prays on them. I should have used a more accurate word than needing, am sorry. I have them in my tank but in what I consider reasonable numbers. Like most things it depends on what you are happy or not happy with. If you are happy with the numbers then thats fine of course no need for a harlequin shrimp.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification. I sorta like the little guys and I don't have as many as it seems like in the photo. They usually come out in the mornings and evenings under the lower light, and they seem to like that bottle.

What I don't like are vermetid snails, like the one above the gobies head. It has since been removed, which was tricky. The gobies didn't like me going near their bottle.

 

[Paul B]

I got so many of those stars my tank looks like the Andromeda Galaxy. And just as many vermetid worms.
I like them all and consider them, free livestock.

 

[atoll]

Got it. Thanks for the clarification. I sorta like the little guys and I don't have as many as it seems like in the photo. They usually come out in the mornings and evenings under the lower light, and they seem to like that bottle.

What I don't like are vermetid snails, like the one above the gobies head. It has since been removed, which was tricky. The gobies didn't like me going near their bottle.

Yeah I usually find a few each morning only DT front glass. They are in low numbers and seem to like smooth surfaces perhaps because whatever they feed on, maybe bacteria or thin films of algae etc, I don't know.
There are a few species that look similar that do eat corals but I haven't noticed any in my tank.

 

[Casket_Case]

Yeah this dude is one of my favorites now.

 

[sfin52]

Put a bottle in your tank

Yes, I realize most people don't like putting phony looking stuff in their tank and I also hate things like sunken shops, sunken planes, sunken chests etc, but I do like putting natural stuff in my tank. In the 45 years since I have been diving I have seen all sorts of things under water from boots to Oldsmobiles. I never put a boot in my tank and I think I would have a problem with the transmission fluid if I tried to put an Oldsmobile in there, aside from the fact that it wouldn't fit through my front door. But every where I have dove, from Australia to Tahiti, to the Mediteranian, along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the US I have always found bottles. So, to me, they are a natural part of the reef. Oldsmobiles are also except for the problems I mentioned. Now, throwing a bottle in your tank is stupid and it would look silly so you have to first do some things to the bottle to age it first.

A finished bottle looks like this. This was a new bottle that I "built" to look like this and I think it looks natural. If you don't think so or if the thought of a bottle in your tank makes you nauseous, go and watch TV, I think Oprah may be on.

View attachment 425128

To make this, I first find a bottle, or go to the liquor store and buy something. After you drink it, wait a day to sober up. Then sandpaper the bottle to get all the shine off.

View attachment 425129

After all the shine is off and it is scratched up, make sure you are still sober and put the bottle in a paper bag and lightly hit it with a hammar.

View attachment 425130

Take out all the larger pieces and throw out the small ones. Making sure you are still sober figure out how the pieces go together taking care not to cut yourself to many times. If this seems hard or if you are a Sissy, go with that other guy and watch Oprah, I think she is giving away Oldsmobiles.
Using Goop glue or aquarium silicone, glue the larger pieces together. I prefer Goop as it is very sticky. Leave a large piece out.

Neatness does not count at all, sloppy is better and if you cut yourself don't bleed to much on the bottle as the cement won't stick.

View attachment 425131

Go out to dinner and have a nice glass of merlot, maybe keep the bottle for the next time. After it cures, take a Dremmel tool with a carbide wheel and grind down the sharp edges, even on the inside. "Wear Goggles" or you may be a guest on Oprah as a guy with glass in his eye. Get all the edges dull. This only takes a couple of minutes.

Then mix some Sakrete mortor mix or cement, wet the bottle and smear cement all over the bottle trying not to be neat.

View attachment 425132

Let it cure a day or two. Go out to dinner again and this time have some Pino Noir, it is better. Put another coat of cement on the bottle. The next day do it again only now, blob some on in a place or two. Now if you like you can cement on an oyster shell, rock or picture of your X girlfriend.
Don't smooth anything out, the sloppier, the better and if your X girlfriend was really homely, that is even better.

Let the thing cure in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks and throw it in your tank and glue some corals to it. Have it partially sunk in the bottom and put some rocks on it. You will be the envy of all the fish geeks and your ugly old girlfriend will never come to bother you again.

View attachment 425133

Grand Marnier bottle

View attachment 425134

View attachment 425135

View attachment 425136

There are 11 bottles in my reef. The Idea is to place them so they are hard to see, but you do get glimses of them. Don't just put them in the front with nothing partially hiding them. They make an interesting addition and even if you can't keep fish alive for more than 10 minutes, most of the comments will not be about your dead fish. Most people will just want to know why you put a bottle in there.

View attachment 425137

Very cool

 

[Casket_Case]

Do you HAVE to let the Bottle and concrete sit in water for a long time? Or can you just rinse and throw that sucker in there?

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Put a bottle in your tank

Yes, I realize most people don't like putting phony looking stuff in their tank and I also hate things like sunken shops, sunken planes, sunken chests etc, but I do like putting natural stuff in my tank. In the 45 years since I have been diving I have seen all sorts of things under water from boots to Oldsmobiles. I never put a boot in my tank and I think I would have a problem with the transmission fluid if I tried to put an Oldsmobile in there, aside from the fact that it wouldn't fit through my front door. But every where I have dove, from Australia to Tahiti, to the Mediteranian, along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the US I have always found bottles. So, to me, they are a natural part of the reef. Oldsmobiles are also except for the problems I mentioned. Now, throwing a bottle in your tank is stupid and it would look silly so you have to first do some things to the bottle to age it first.

A finished bottle looks like this. This was a new bottle that I "built" to look like this and I think it looks natural. If you don't think so or if the thought of a bottle in your tank makes you nauseous, go and watch TV, I think Oprah may be on.

View attachment 425128

To make this, I first find a bottle, or go to the liquor store and buy something. After you drink it, wait a day to sober up. Then sandpaper the bottle to get all the shine off.

View attachment 425129

After all the shine is off and it is scratched up, make sure you are still sober and put the bottle in a paper bag and lightly hit it with a hammar.

View attachment 425130

Take out all the larger pieces and throw out the small ones. Making sure you are still sober figure out how the pieces go together taking care not to cut yourself to many times. If this seems hard or if you are a Sissy, go with that other guy and watch Oprah, I think she is giving away Oldsmobiles.
Using Goop glue or aquarium silicone, glue the larger pieces together. I prefer Goop as it is very sticky. Leave a large piece out.

Neatness does not count at all, sloppy is better and if you cut yourself don't bleed to much on the bottle as the cement won't stick.

View attachment 425131

Go out to dinner and have a nice glass of merlot, maybe keep the bottle for the next time. After it cures, take a Dremmel tool with a carbide wheel and grind down the sharp edges, even on the inside. "Wear Goggles" or you may be a guest on Oprah as a guy with glass in his eye. Get all the edges dull. This only takes a couple of minutes.

Then mix some Sakrete mortor mix or cement, wet the bottle and smear cement all over the bottle trying not to be neat.

View attachment 425132

Let it cure a day or two. Go out to dinner again and this time have some Pino Noir, it is better. Put another coat of cement on the bottle. The next day do it again only now, blob some on in a place or two. Now if you like you can cement on an oyster shell, rock or picture of your X girlfriend.
Don't smooth anything out, the sloppier, the better and if your X girlfriend was really homely, that is even better.

Let the thing cure in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks and throw it in your tank and glue some corals to it. Have it partially sunk in the bottom and put some rocks on it. You will be the envy of all the fish geeks and your ugly old girlfriend will never come to bother you again.

View attachment 425133

Grand Marnier bottle

View attachment 425134

View attachment 425135

View attachment 425136

There are 11 bottles in my reef. The Idea is to place them so they are hard to see, but you do get glimses of them. Don't just put them in the front with nothing partially hiding them. They make an interesting addition and even if you can't keep fish alive for more than 10 minutes, most of the comments will not be about your dead fish. Most people will just want to know why you put a bottle in there.

View attachment 425137

I really liked this. Both the idea and the humor. Thank you

 

[Paul B]

There is very little cement in them so a week or so soak should be fine before you throw them in your tank

 

[Bradley C]

Witty by all, admittedly, but you have taken a hobby and created a 'sub-hobby'. (no pun intended on the "sub") Too much work for this boy of 70 years. I'd rather just throw in a really small bottle, as is. In fact, I just found one in my yard while planting trees; 5x2x1 for my 180 (the bottle has a really long neck). You mention New York, and if you are referring to NYC, how about a small gun, or a doll figure?

 

[Paul B]

I am 71.

 

[sfin52]

Oprah would approve of this article. Love it. Now just looking for a couple of bottles.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

@Paul B work is the best! If I have a fraction of his talent when I'm his youthful age I'll be a happy camper! Here are my best efforts to replicate his bottle idea...since I have a bare bottom tank I use the bottles to house tube nems and feather dusters.

 

[Paul B]

Just beautiful.

 

[sfin52]

@Paul B work is the best! If I have a fraction of his talent when I'm his youthful age I'll be a happy camper! Here are my best efforts to replicate his bottle idea...since I have a bare bottom tank I use the bottles to house tube nems and feather dusters.
View attachment 1681912
View attachment 1681913

That's amazing

 

[kipju44]

Heey!

i saw this post about 2 years ago I think, and forgot about it but realy loving it!! So here is my first attempt.

I’m from the netherlands so maybe my grammer isn’t on point

Have a great Day and stay save!

greetings
Marc

 

[sfin52]

Heey!

i saw this post about 2 years ago I think, and forgot about it but realy loving it!! So here is my first attempt.


View attachment 1683828View attachment 1683829
I’m from the netherlands so maybe my grammer isn’t on point

Have a great Day and stay save!

greetings
Marc

Looks good

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

When I visited Florida, before Covid, I would pick up bottles with growth on them to take back home. Florida Natural Resources, won’t say anything about that. Pick up other items from the ocean, and you could be in a lot of trouble.

 

[sfin52]

When I visited Florida, before Covid, I would pick up bottles with growth on them to take back home. Florida Natural Resources, won’t say anything about that. Pick up other items from the ocean, and you could be in a lot of trouble.

Great info. I'll have to remeber that.

 

[Bill Urbanski]

Heey!

i saw this post about 2 years ago I think, and forgot about it but realy loving it!! So here is my first attempt.


View attachment 1683828View attachment 1683829
I’m from the netherlands so maybe my grammer isn’t on point

Have a great Day and stay save!

greetings
Marc

Looks like a *****.