Tank Journal Archive

[Tom H]

Well the cube has been wet for nearly 12mths now, so it's time for an update!

The tank seems to be running nicely at the moment. I'm dosing only 30ml per day of aquaforest 3 part plus the components strong trace elements. Coral growth is pretty slow but the colours have improved. I'm reluctant to turn up the lighting too much as I have had some troublesome macro algae growth that I'm trying to keep under control. A few days ago I added a bag of chemi Pure Blue that has really cleaned up the water beautifully.

My next goal for the tank is to add some more zoa and paly plugs to the magnetic rocks on the back wall. I think they'll look great when fully grown out. I'm pretty happy with the fish collection at the moment, but I would be tempted if a nice mystery wrasse pops up at Deer Park.

 

[Franklin Dattein]

It is coming along really nicely.
I loved the frag holder rock :)

 

[Savage Henry]

Fraggle Rock

 

[Sam Parker]

Wicked!

 

[Wrangy]

Looks bloody fantastic Tom!! You've really done well with the tank over the last 12 months :) :)
I have to ask where you got the frag racks from though!?

 

[Tom H]

Thanks for the comments. The frag rocks are made by Tunze, they are basically aquaroche ceramic rocks with magnets glued on the back. I really like them, I started with the small one which is now covered in coralline algae, and recently added the larger one. I shopped around as they can be pretty expensive, the best price I found was from Aquarium Gallery in Perth who only charge $7 shipping.

 

[Franklin Dattein]

Interesting that Tunze sells it, I thought you had DIY'ed it.

It is not difficult to do it yourself with a driller. I drill most of my rocks, before I build my tanks, then I can insert rods to build complex structures and stick frags in the holes available. It is very handy.

 

[Darkspartan]

Awesome looking tank! I like the low height rocks!

Interesting that Tunze sells it, I thought you had DIY'ed it.

It is not difficult to do it yourself with a driller. I drill most of my rocks, before I build my tanks, then I can insert rods to build complex structures and stick frags in the holes available. It is very handy.

Do you use a particular drill bit?

 

[Franklin Dattein]

Not really, just a regular bit for concrete 10-12mm. Live Rock is very porous and easy to drill. The holes I made don't have the depression for the frag plug's plate, like yours have, though.

 

[MagicJ]

Everything is looking very healthy :)

Is that a little clam at the back?

 

[Tom H]

Everything is looking very healthy :)

Is that a little clam at the back?

Two little clams, a crocea and a maxima. Both happy and healthy!

 

[Savage Henry]

Interesting that Tunze sells it, I thought you had DIY'ed it.

It is not difficult to do it yourself with a driller. I drill most of my rocks, before I build my tanks, then I can insert rods to build complex structures and stick frags in the holes available. It is very handy.

Franklin's post is timely as I have been looking at the Dremel drills in Bunnings and I am wondering, does anyone have experience with Dremel drills and the accessories for drilling live rock etc and other aquarium applications (for example, I want to cut pieces of perspex to make a lid for my 90x45 tank). Perhaps I should start, or maybe there already exists a thread about this??? Please let me know if there is???

Dremel seems to me to be high speed, but low torque, which I think would be perfect for live rock drilling where too much pressure and the bloody rock falls apart.

 

[Tom H]

Update on the newest frag rock. Coralline spreading nicely. Zoas happy!

 

[Tom H]

+6 months growth in the frag rock...

 

[Tom H]

+6 months growth in the frag rock...
View attachment 56940

 

[Tom H]

View attachment 58123

Pretty well covered now. The red hornets didn't make it unfortunately .