Just a thought can you take aquarium silicone and silicone the lava rocks you have forming caves etc... I also think a big lava rock will balance things better as well.Rob in Puyallup wrote:Okay... I gave in. Now the look is a bit to "perfect" or symmetrical, but will do for the time being.
Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
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- BostonJill
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Maybe consider using your substrate and larger tank size to your advantage and not use a flat layer of substrate. Create depth and variance in substrate height to create a dynamic look to your scape. Keep an open mind and I think you'll be surprised with the possibilities.
I guess the purpose of the pile of rocks is to create crevices, but perhaps there can be a balance so it's not just 2 piles of rocks in the corners.
I guess the purpose of the pile of rocks is to create crevices, but perhaps there can be a balance so it's not just 2 piles of rocks in the corners.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
I agree, Jill. Chaetomorpha is not the most attractive macro algae out there, caulerpa is a lot better looking. You'll see some in the first photo in this thread. It's the species C. prolifera, I believe. The plant with the flattened leaves.
I slowly acclimated it to brackish over a couple days, removing a bit of the water it was in with distilled. When it approximated the same as the tank I left it in it's "quarantine" tank for a couple more days to make sure it was doing okay. Probably a waste of time, but I wanted to play it safe.
One thing about caulerpa... it'll grab onto anything it can with it's root-like structures. Removing it from a tank, even if it has died, can be a pain. But... it is very quick growing, and in my opinion, worth the trouble.
I slowly acclimated it to brackish over a couple days, removing a bit of the water it was in with distilled. When it approximated the same as the tank I left it in it's "quarantine" tank for a couple more days to make sure it was doing okay. Probably a waste of time, but I wanted to play it safe.
One thing about caulerpa... it'll grab onto anything it can with it's root-like structures. Removing it from a tank, even if it has died, can be a pain. But... it is very quick growing, and in my opinion, worth the trouble.
- Rob in Puyallup
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Hi Eightoeight...
In my other opae ula tanks I've made a "rock wall" from one end to the other, across the middle of the tanks. I'm thinking I prefer that over just piles on either end.
In my other opae ula tanks I've made a "rock wall" from one end to the other, across the middle of the tanks. I'm thinking I prefer that over just piles on either end.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Rob try to control yourself. Before you know it your 'accepted' setup will look like your others. While they look great I thought this setup was to compare and contrast the two styles.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
I follow your tank(s) here and on another forum so I'm definitely looking forward to how your tanks turn out! :]Rob in Puyallup wrote:Hi Eightoeight...
In my other opae ula tanks I've made a "rock wall" from one end to the other, across the middle of the tanks. I'm thinking I prefer that over just piles on either end.
- Rob in Puyallup
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
I promise to be good, Ken... No live rock, no hermit crabs, no filtration, very limited food. Not water movement.
I may switch the light to fluorescent, though.
I may switch the light to fluorescent, though.
- Rob in Puyallup
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
...and Eightoeight...
Do I know you?
Do I know you?
- Rob in Puyallup
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Hey Jill...
Chaedo can grow pretty quick, given the right conditions. That "floating hairball" can fill a small tank in no time!
Chaedo can grow pretty quick, given the right conditions. That "floating hairball" can fill a small tank in no time!
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Dropped in three tiny Malaysian Trumpet Snails this morning, something to get the bacteria going.
Only real slow...
(I know, I know... they'll breed like crazy! (But only if I overfeed the tank!)
Only real slow...
(I know, I know... they'll breed like crazy! (But only if I overfeed the tank!)
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Found a couple chucks of "lace rock" at Petco tonight. No decent pieces of lava rock, unfortunately. The lace was on sale, half price. Lots of holes and texture, good for bacteria and hiding places for opae ula.
Will put it in the tank in the morning.
Will put it in the tank in the morning.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Okay...
After soaking the lace rock in some good old treated tap water for a couple days I threw a piece in. The other one just added to the confusion, so will leave it for another tank some other day...
So here's it so far.
10 gallon tank
LED lighting (for now).
Carib Sea African Cichlid Mix, Sahara Sand.
BBQ Lava Rock rubble.
Lace Rock.
Flora: Two species of Chaetomorpha macro algae.
Fauna: Five Malaysian Trumpet Snails.
and Nutrafin Cycle and Seachem Stability for a mix of bacteria.
OPAE ULA maybe over this weekend.
After soaking the lace rock in some good old treated tap water for a couple days I threw a piece in. The other one just added to the confusion, so will leave it for another tank some other day...
So here's it so far.
10 gallon tank
LED lighting (for now).
Carib Sea African Cichlid Mix, Sahara Sand.
BBQ Lava Rock rubble.
Lace Rock.
Flora: Two species of Chaetomorpha macro algae.
Fauna: Five Malaysian Trumpet Snails.
and Nutrafin Cycle and Seachem Stability for a mix of bacteria.
OPAE ULA maybe over this weekend.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Rob, I think the LED lighting is perfect. It seems to be centered to the middle of the tank, leaving the sides dark. I think this mimics the way light feeds down into their ponds. Pictures I have seen of these ponds have a round hole at the top and I believe the ponds down below would be wider. So I'm thinking your light setup is very natural.
- Rob in Puyallup
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
I like it, too, Harry. Not sure the color "temperature" is right. Don't wanna encourage the wrong type of algae.
Will be watching closely.
Will be watching closely.
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Re: Okay... Gonna try an "accepted" set up.
Rob, love the colors and textures you have in your new tank but from this angle everything looks the same height perhaps you might want to create more balance in your aquascaping by arranging the rock piles by different heights. Here was a great article which I found helpful: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebinde ... begart.htm
Also, I was under the impression you couldn't use lava rocks meant for BBQ grills. It will be great if you could because it's so much cheaper then landscaping lava rocks. Have you used them in the past with no problem?
Also, I was under the impression you couldn't use lava rocks meant for BBQ grills. It will be great if you could because it's so much cheaper then landscaping lava rocks. Have you used them in the past with no problem?