jimsflies Invert Ranch

Thanks guys. I will most likely transfer some rocks from my existing tank as well. I'm also considering one of those Alternative Reef pillars like gooch donated for dlberlin. Can I bid on my own auction...since it's not really my own item?

However, I do like the less crowded look the current scape has and would like to preserve that openness.

The rock work is very aesthetically pleasing... however, while floating rock-work is cool for the scape it won't work for a pistol shrimp/goby pair (or a jawfish).

They need to have rocks that have contact with the sand bed and/or a lot of rubble in order to build tunnels. From the pics it looks like the only place for that is right where the porous block thingy is.

Are you planning to position the rock you add from the existing tank in a way that will create the necessary habitat? Otherwise, the shrimp may move most/all of the sand to one area of the tank so it can create tunnels.

There will be other pieces on the sand bed, including corals. There will also be a few small rocks/rubble placed around the base of the floating rock to add additional stability and make it look more natural. Its not meant to look like it's floating....but rather it is intended to be a cantilevered look that would otherwise not be possible if it weren't for that acrylic rod/base.

The sand consists of fine aragonite with some crushed coral mixed in, specifically to provide a substrate that would be more stable for tunnel building.

Good to hear. I figured as much, but got a little worried when I saw the pics.

nice work with the rocks Jim, i am excited to see what you add to the tank. that vortech is a beast, now i will probably have to look in to one.

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Originally Posted by jimsflies

The magnets on the Alternative Reef are very significant...frankly overkill for the thin back wall.

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They may be overkill on a small tank but when you are gonna put them in a 3/4" thick tank you want every bit of that stregth. In fact I had to help out a local reefer who had a competitors product. They had a tank with 3/8" glass. As soon as they put a coral on it the magnetic rock came off the glass. They had to use my magnets just to hold up the competitors product. Sure I could cheap it out and use a lesser magnet but that is not what I am trying to achieve. We strive to make affordable quality products that you will use for years. When you upgrade to a larger tank you will still be able to use our products. Not so sure you can say the same for the competition.

By the way nice set up.

Scott

For sure... "overkill" probably wasn't the right word as it has a slight negative conontation... I'm very happy with the look and functionality of the frag stations. :) So much so, I plan to get at least one more small one for the backwall...probably to replace that other cheaper magnetic "rock" I have on the left side. Trying to figure out where I could slide a pillar in there as well without filling it up too much.

Wow Jim, tank is looking great. Very interesting scape! I personally wouldn't add another single piece of rock other than a few little nuggets around the floating piece like you said, to make it look more natural.

Keep those updates coming!!

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Originally Posted by jimsflies

For sure... "overkill" probably wasn't the right word as it has a slight negative conontation... I'm very happy with the look and functionality of the frag stations. :) So much so, I plan to get at least one more small one for the backwall...probably to replace that other cheaper magnetic "rock" I have on the left side. Trying to figure out where I could slide a pillar in there as well without filling it up too much.

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I will have a few small pillars available real soon. Contact Midwest Saltwater....a sponsor here if you want one. I had made a monster pillar. It had six add ons to it. Well long story short. I went to fire it yesterday. I loaded the base into the kiln. Everything looked great. I moved it over an inch and broke off three ledges. Oh well, I figured it would still look cool. Took it out of the kiln this morning and it was split in half. Three days work lost just like that. So all the small pillars that were going on top will now be sold individually. Bill from Midwest will get some of them for the next Michigan show more than likely.

Here is a picture of the monster. I worked on it for two weeks off and on. It was my masterpiece. If this is too commercial please feel free to remove it.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...1/DSC_0313.jpg

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Originally Posted by jimsflies

http://www.captivereefs.com/jim/29bi...be-newsand.jpg

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looking really nice, Jim... :)