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Reef #2 - The Unplanned Upgrade (1 Viewer)

Agree on the cove comment it will become a swirl for detritus to collect and flow can be challenging.
 
Fair enough. I tried to take a video. Let’s see if A) it worked and B) if it makes it any easier to get a judge on whether the cove is really a cove.



Again, I really appreciate the feedback.

Cheers,
David
 
Much easier to see its an arch and not so much a cove lol. Looks to have good viewing from 3 sides and good flow through the back of the structures as well. The center section may be a little tight if you have any sort of LPS or SPS that branch but you have plenty of other places as well for that sort of coral. Looks nice from what I can see.
 
You're right it is not a cove :) the gap between the to large islands is quite small and will likely fill-in with coral quite quickly . How does it look if you remove the third small island and rotate the second island slightly forward and into the where the third island was?
 
Thanks guys, I know the pictures were tough, I'm glad the video worked better. I get your point on the gap there. I guess I was thinking about it more as the "fish swim through" than a "coral area", but maybe that's dumb :). I will try your idea of removing the 3rd small island and doing some rotation. I want to make sure the view from the edge doesn't end up being "a vertical rock wall", but maybe rotating it enables me to do another little arch or something. I will try it in the next night or two and post another video. Thanks for the continued feedback.

Cheers!
 
Okay, 2 island version.



It definitely opens up that gap a bit more. I’m wondering if it closes off flow to that middle region? Or makes it even more important to have a power head in the back shooting up through that gap. Thoughts?
 
Varig said:
Okay, 2 island version.



It definitely opens up that gap a bit more. I’m wondering if it closes off flow to that middle region? Or makes it even more important to have a power head in the back shooting up through that gap. Thoughts?
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I like this layout. Powerhead on both sides opposite of each other I think youll get good flow through. Time will tell though once livestock goes in. The more i look at it though not a ton of room for stuff, pro need a bigger tank 🤣🤣🤣.
 
Yea I’m not sure. I don’t “think” it’s an overkill size wise for the tank. Perhaps I’ll either do a light glue or just transfer it roughly into the tank and see what it looks like.

Currently I admit, I long for the day that the corals are too big for the tank :/. Hasn’t been the “issue” so far.
 
I had one Reefwave 45 in a 55-gallon reefer 250. It provided plenty of flow being the only powerhead. I think if you are planning two, one for each side, your rockwork will not matter too much. I would worry more about the sand staying on the bottom than flow around the rocks.
 
I admit, flow still seems to be a bit of a mystery to me. I have 2x versia stream (2250gph) and a Jebao gyre in my current 32 gallon AIO (~26gallons display). Everything is NOT running 100%, but it still seems like some coral polyps don’t shake around like I see on YouTube videos. Who knows. BUT the special grade sand doesn’t blow around. So I’m hopeful it will be okay in the larger tank. But I appreciate your thought that flow to that inner area “shouldn’t” be a problem.
 
Varig said:
Yea I’m not sure. I don’t “think” it’s an overkill size wise for the tank. Perhaps I’ll either do a light glue or just transfer it roughly into the tank and see what it looks like.

Currently I admit, I long for the day that the corals are too big for the tank :/. Hasn’t been the “issue” so far.
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ive never been able to lightly glue and or transfer and get exactly what I had when I set up outside the tank. The only way ive ever been able to do that was having it glued and ready for transport. I used to get the big super glue tubes from saltwater empire and the spray that made it cure instantly. This was the only way I got it to work and then been able to move. Anything that was tipsy I used plastic curtain rods and drilled them into the rock work. Just sharing what I did so you don't make the same mistakes I've made.
 
I was thinking to drill and dowel things this time for more support. I read a lot of people use the fiberglass poles for marking edges of driveways. Anyone have concerns here with that?
 
I used the orange fiberglass ones from Home Depot on my last tank setup in 2010(?) and saw no issues related to them. There was a thread on ReefCentral that had many much smarter people than me using them in very expensive tanks.
I believe they make gray and purple rods for hobbyists now and my only concern would be safety when cutting them and being mindful of splinters.
 
I have a good number of the grey ones holding together my rock structures and love it.

If you go that route get yourself 2-3 bits smaller than the size and work up to the full size hole otherwise you can split the rock.
 
looking good! I have always just superglued the rocks together, buy a big container of the thick gel from BRS and the accelerator and have at it :)
 
Yea I have a bunch of the thick gel along with the accelerator. I also just bought some 1/4" acrylic rods from Amazon. I think for the larger structures I probably won't bother with the dowels, but for the arches I might just to give a little more strength. We'll see.

I really appreciate all the feedback guys, your expertise is very much appreciated for this newbie.

I will probably re-stack them in the tank for one last gut check, then start gluing.
 
Varig said:
Yea I have a bunch of the thick gel along with the accelerator. I also just bought some 1/4" acrylic rods from Amazon. I think for the larger structures I probably won't bother with the dowels, but for the arches I might just to give a little more strength. We'll see.

I really appreciate all the feedback guys, your expertise is very much appreciated for this newbie.

I will probably re-stack them in the tank for one last gut check, then start gluing.
Click to expand...
Yep definitely don't glue until you have in tank and confirm position also consider where you will sit and look at tank most of the time and orientate for the most satisfying view, a small adjustment to make it so you see down the canon ext can add a lot to the satisfaction
 
Okay, here is a quick video in the tank.



I think it looks pretty cool, some good space for coral, and seems to leave a decent bit of room for cleaning the glass. But I’m biased. Let me know before it starts getting glued together :).
 
Looking good.
 
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