New setup has begun

[Mech]

This is going to be my new tank(s) setup!

Heres a preview

[Varanus]

I'm curious, why two tanks in the same place instead of one larger one? Just aesthetics?

What's the substrate? Are those holey rocks or something else?

[Mech]

They are both 30 litre cubes which I'm going to try some selective stuff eventually, the sand is black carribsea natural sand, inert so won't affect pH so I went with ocean rock which is limestone to keep the water buffered

My Sands covered in algy in my main tank so it looks dirty but it's pretty fine and shiney lol, here's a close up video of one of my Opae ulas eating from it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDmvUqJK8oc


Edit: the ocean rock is dead live rock, cleaned so the dead hitchhikers don't die off and produce Ammonia.

[Varanus]

It does look gorgeous, maybe I'll add some on top of my aragonite to have the best of both worlds (i.e. PH and looks). I just wish I knew how the result would look.

So by "selective stuff" I assume you mean breeding for different or deeper colors?

Also, how would be best to clean dead live rock?

[mcdaney]

Love how it's gonna turn out Mech!
The dead rocks look like bone/skull of animals haha! Really cool looking!

Also, how would be best to clean dead live rock?

Just wash the rock thoroughly (only water, no form of cleaning agent needed).
With a clean brush, scrub as much as you can. Then sun dry it for a day or two. Wash it again before putting it in the tank.

[Mech]

It does look gorgeous, maybe I'll add some on top of my aragonite to have the best of both worlds (i.e. PH and looks). I just wish I knew how the result would look.

So by "selective stuff" I assume you mean breeding for different or deeper colors?

Also, how would be best to clean dead live rock?

If you search for ocean rock it comes clean

[Nexus6]

Looking good mech, good idea having two tanks, that way you can cull out the reddest of them.

[Mech]

Looking good mech, good idea having two tanks, that way you can cull out the reddest of them.

Thanks, just need to get them filled with brackish water and steal some water/substrate from my main tank to kick start things.

@varanus
Edit: I have looked on your USA eBay and this is what I'm using
http://m.ebay.com/itm/TEXAS-HOLEY-ROCK- ... nav=SEARCH

You guys call it 'texas holey rock' , we just call it ocean rock

[Varanus]

Looking good mech, good idea having two tanks, that way you can cull out the reddest of them.

Thanks, just need to get them filled with brackish water and steal some water/substrate from my main tank to kick start things.

@varanus
Edit: I have looked on your USA eBay and this is what I'm using
http://m.ebay.com/itm/TEXAS-HOLEY-ROCK- ... nav=SEARCH

You guys call it 'texas holey rock' , we just call it ocean rock

So "holey rocks" are limestone? That makes things easier.

[Mech]

Looking good mech, good idea having two tanks, that way you can cull out the reddest of them.

Thanks, just need to get them filled with brackish water and steal some water/substrate from my main tank to kick start things.

@varanus
Edit: I have looked on your USA eBay and this is what I'm using
http://m.ebay.com/itm/TEXAS-HOLEY-ROCK- ... nav=SEARCH

You guys call it 'texas holey rock' , we just call it ocean rock

So "holey rocks" are limestone? That makes things easier.

if you put a tiny amount of vinegar on the rock and listen, if it "fizz's" then its going to buffer your tanks water, like limestone does

[Mech]

well the waters made up and put in the two tanks, went to 1.014 for both. took a scoop of sand from my main tank and added it to each new set-up. put 5 litres of water from my main tank into each cube to help seed it.

some photos to follow