Volcano Tank, The life of...

The Basin Tank

Tue, 5 Oct 2010 20:21:13 -0700

Here’s a look at the new Volcano Tank in video format. Nothing too exciting, just a brief video of what it looks like...

Hope you enjoy it! (Yes, that blue-fin damsel only has one eye. He was the size of a penny when I got him, one eye then too...)

Some Details.... Part 3

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 19:59:52 -0700

Last of the shots....

Some Details.... Part 2

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 19:52:48 -0700

Also, you can see the water line to the basin here. I used the cyanoacrylic glue. That will algae up pretty quickly too.

Some Details....

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 19:41:42 -0700

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Looks like the new set up is a hit. Most people mentioned the sadness that is missing the Volcano, but everyone dug the new, more “realistic” set up. Me too. After looking at it for two days, it really seems like it is so much more versatile.

So, there were some details I was going to share with everyone since I was asked so much. First, it is interesting to note, that through simple water displacement, I gained almost 10 gallons of water. I removed a huge rock, three medium/large rocks, and about 5 fist-sized rocks. That, and the biggest rock in the tank was removed and turned into a basin! It also seems that there is about a gallon and a half to two gallons in the basin. Holy cow!

I also raised the water level in the basin. I did that because I wanted the water to spill out the left side. When I first set it up, it was very noisy and the water spilled over the front in about 4 different spots. So, I got some putty and created “dams” to force the water to the left. Now, it’s funny because the rock was in the tank, and now is not, so the putty sticks out like a sore thumb, BUT because of the way the water flows, some still seeps and spills over the front at a very very low rate, so I am expecting it to algae up like the previous basin had. I am guessing about 3 months before it looks a bit more natural.

Planned Explosion!

Sun, 3 Oct 2010 10:43:24 -0700

Well, it has been a very long time since I have updated anything. The main reason was because nothing had changed. Growth, coral fighting, and time had happened, but nothing warranting any updates. However, my visions of grandeur started to become painful, though I was not prepared to gut this tank and build the larger one I referred to way back. Not yet at least. As such, I modified the Volcano Tank to include a larger basin and my attempt was to further the “realism” of the set up. Now, the Volcano was a privilege to photograph, but in person, it was easy to see that it was a mixture of rock in an unnatural way, and I have fixed that. What is ironic, is it doesn’t photograph as well, but in person looks more natural! Go figure!

Further still, I have not taken good pictures, and I suppose it is suicide to toss up pictures that don’t meet the quality of the previous shots, but we are all reefers out here so we all know. There will be some die-off and it will take a couple of weeks to find the groove. Lastly, this is RIGHT after the change, so the water hasn’t settled, some detritus is on the rocks, and the corals aren’t out. So, no judgement calls on the photo shots or “cleanliness,” deal?! ;)

Anyway, the basin is about a full 3-4” deep now, which is cool! Plus, underwater looks more natural as well....

Let me know your thoughts!

Slight Rock Adjustment

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:57:48 -0700

Courtesy of the stupid Diamond Head Goby! He decided to fill in the cave on the left side. I knew he would have his way with the deep sand bed, but I figured he wouldn’t fill in a hole! Normally they excavate rather than fill in! Oh well, I moved the left rock slightly. It is about 2 inches taller in the back and the same height in the front, effectively making it slanted forward. I moved it enough back to cover the chiller intake, rather than the one rock I had covering it before. Looks much cleaner now. As such, it has provided a bit more “depth” backwards, which is kind of cool.

Thanks for looking!

Out-Of-Water Shots

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 19:47:21 -0700

Just some out of water shots.......

Long Time, No Pictures!

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 19:40:29 -0700

Sorry for the almost month-long delay!!

The tank actually looks very similar as before, just with some growth filling in.

Did a water change and snapped some shots. Also got a Diamond Head Goby today as well. Everything is doing well, though the cool zoa colony on the right side of the tank has suffered tremendously from the carpet anemone’s growing habits. They are moving away from it, but not fast enough. As such, the colony has shrunk a lot. Also, lost a little mushroom colony that I was very excited about. The Volcano Tank has not seen neglect, but it has seen less attention than normal for a couple of reasons. Anyway, that colony was on a no-glued rock (problem one), and had fallen. Only 3 remain, though they are healthy, so it will most likely come back in a resounding way! I just need to glue the rock in this time.

Fish are happy, bird’s nest is great, montiporas and zoa colonies are flourishing....and the anemone of course is out of control! Due to a lack proper feeding, we have lost 2 crabs....all the others are doing well however. Now that I am back in town and ready play, the tank will regain it’s form quickly I hope!

Thanks for looking, as always!

Some Pictures Of The Volcano! 2

Mon, 10 May 2010 21:44:50 -0700

A Couple More Pictures

Some Pictures Of The Volcano!

Mon, 10 May 2010 21:32:54 -0700

Just some updates. I added a small little mixed colony of zoanthids, and another plate coral a month or so ago but never updated with any shots....so here we go!