92 Corner Reef is born...

[serpinski]

after 5 months of preparation, my tank is finally in my house with water and the pumps turned on. woo hoo 'bout time!

some pictures...

http://www.traviswscott.com/aqua/2-23-2005-007.jpg
http://www.traviswscott.com/aqua/2-23-2005-006.jpg
http://www.traviswscott.com/aqua/2-23-2005-009.jpg

not the best shots (I think my camera was sleepy).

Basic premise:

92 gallon Oceanic corner w/ cap and stand - I rebuilt the factory stand because it had suffered water damage in the past causing the fiber board to swell on the bottom. I built it around a 37 gallon corner as a sump.

Reeflo Dart on closed loop - 2 inputs/2 outputs :: Thanks to dow for loaning a diamond bit for drilling the holes for the closed loop. I have a nice jacuzzi effect in there. I highly recommend this pump. It is very quiet, efficient, and pushes crazy water.

Mag 9 return - for sale soon. Its a fine pump, but it's louder than the Dart and it's submerged. Not terribly loud, but I want to be able to hear the Dart! :P Nah, I just want an external that is silent.

400W XM 20000k - in a center pendant. I am adding a moonlight and some small bulbs for a more natural light cycle. Not the "BOOM wake up fishies!" then "BOOM GO TO SLEEP".

:ph34r Homemade rockwork :ph34r - the plan here was to avoid the BigMac JumboJack reef stack of rock. I also wanted to go barish-bottom... meaning I will have just a bit of sand for aesthetics and mini sand storms. I don't like the look of detritus covered glass so I glopped some rock down there. It looks pretty good. I'll make a DIY post soon on the rock process.

still in the works in 5 more months I might have some fish! I am still working on a DIY filter combo. Planning for a skimmer-carbon-phosban setup. Not all together of course but sorta. Another DIY post. Also finishing my kalk top-off doser reactor thingie.

I'm looking towards an Indo/Pacific mixed-reef with a couple of fish. The sump/fuge will be sporting a DSB and lotso rock and chaeto. I want the display to look good :skeezy so it is more or less plumbing free. The rockwork will be put together slowly as I find the right pieces - tonga branch ewok village style.

What do you guys think? Add like 40 tangs? :w00t

[GaryP]

You might want to touch base with Texas Todd. He has an awesome 92 gal. corner. It may be the most outstanding reef tank setup I have seen in person.

[dow]

Looks VERY good, and very natural, especially considering the materials you worked with. I'll be watching this thing mature very closely. Could be a very neat alternative to the rock-stack.

Good Job! :D

[serpinski]

Okay, sounds good. I have done searches for other 92s but had little success. Thank you Gary.

[serpinski]

Thanks dow.

[Thunderkat]

Thats going to be crazy awesome! I can't wait to see the pics that come from that! What are you putting in it?

I don't think 50 tangs would be good, you will need at least 80 :lol

[GaryP]

Tim Marvin also has an awesome corner tank with rockscape that is laid in a very similar fashion to your's.

[Polkster13]

Very nice. So what kind of "rock" did you go with? How did you accomplish the aquascaping?

[seamonkey2]

WOW...It looks....WOW

[serpinski]

Thank you for the nice compliments.

It is more of an experiment than anything. As it is now, there is really nothing in there organic. Water, a couple pumps, and plastic rock.

The rock is a combination of two ideas active on Reef Central and other forums. Great Stuff foam is err... great stuff. It is easy to use (and makes a nice exoskeleton if you get it on yourself) that forms nice shapes and "cures" in a couple of days to a nice, rigid structure. I had a FOWLR setup for quite awhile with a background of this stuff painted with Krylon with absolutely no problems.

This time around I decided I wanted the foam to be better protected. I used 3 quarts of Envirotex poly sealant to cover the foam. Basically, a coating of poly was put down and then I sprinkled colored sand from Michael's, a bit of portland cement, and crushed oyster shells on it. After it was set, I did it again (and again). After four coats the foam is like a rock. I have no concerns about durability.

It looks nice, is about two-three inches thick, makes a nice bare-bottom substrate, and hides all plumbing. I embedded several different PVC fittings for "critter holes" in the foam. So far, no pH swing - but the concrete is encased in plastic, so none was expected.

My only concern is eventual take down. Someday I'll have to and it will be interesting when the rock is encrusted.

I am still observing plumbing for leaks and what not for a few more days.

[Polkster13]

That is too cool. It looks so real. Very nice job.

When it is all done, you have to submit this for TOTM!

[adaminaustin]

I really like the tank. As Tony the Tiger would say your greatstuff rocks look grrrrrreat. :huh

[serpinski]

Thanks again everybody. I will put together a DIY post on the rock stuff. It is really easy to do. I probably spent $100 total on that part.

[Ram_Puppy]

Sunhutch also has a gorgeous corner bow front, I've seen it twice and drooled both times.