brandon429 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 hey Im new to your forum I found this site on a google search following the viral trail of my reefbowl. I have posted these on several forums to generate discussion about reef physicality that is unique to micro reef tanks, ive been working on these for a better part of a decade just thought Id stop by to discuss the pros and cons with those who haven't seen one before or thought they were just a joke...nice to meet you all Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 That is a sweet little globe tank! I love it. I have always thought about setting up a small tank similar to this but just have never gotten around to it. Great bio diversity in that little system. Any reason for not scraping some of that coraline alage off so that you can see more of the tank. It looks great with some of it on there but I would think it would be nice to see some more of the life in that tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 It's a nice pico tank. IMO cleaning the coraline off the front of the tank might make the video better. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 -- What if I told you I can't reach it lol At that depth, my 6 inch hemostats won't go! I can stick a curved coat hanger in there to scrape off tiny portions but it's so meticulous I just put if off. I have one pic where the -whole- vase was purpled and then I carved out a little port in the front funny stuff huh. Additives galore, countless web inquiries about how to grow coralline and its ruining the view in my vase lol Thanks for that feedback though, and I have a question for you all. Can i make youtube updates to this vid, as in splice in an extra sequence of updates, and still keep the original vid view count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 -- hey maybe I could just let the back half fill up to please the hardcore techies who won't believe the system is aged 4.5 years without it all the little scraper I built is great for diatoms, and it can remove small spots of coralline if I slip in a corner of a scouring pad between the two sides...but in cheating like this for years I have scratched the hound out of the tank. What I need to do is cut the blade of a razor into a quarter inch square, one edge is the razors sharp edge. i can jb weld this into the tip of a coat hanger that can be contorted to fit in between the rocks and the glass wall. had this idea years ago just never did it but I may this weeked because areas of the glass that aren't wiped regularly due to coralline can build up scum layers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Sorry I don't know anything about Youtube, IMO I wouldn't worry so much about what other people think of your system. If you like it great. This hobby is not really about proving things. I scrape the coraline off of all my tanks before I photograph them, who cares what people think, I like to see the tank. I even do the back walls because I think the black on the back of the tank makes the color pop better. Pico tanks have been around for a long time. I think I saw my first one in 01. Don't let peoples ignorance stop your enjoyment of the hobby. If the coraline is so hard to get at in that tank design, perhaps switching shapes would help to keep your enjoyment level up, unless of course it doesn't bother you. For me, if that were my tank I would just want to see all of those cool corals and critters more. That is all I am saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 - Thank you! Id be soooo very curious to know where that first pico you saw was located, or maybe just a description! I like to compile lists of the first/best/oldest nano/pico reefs invented just for fun and reference, to see which designs work the best for supporting inverts...lemme know and if you have an old pic that would rock b there are a few functional reasons I'm tied to that vase shape, you wouldn't believe how much the shape plays a role in the balance. I found out all this after the fact, not before, the vase was just an easy starting vessel. The neck is first and foremost...because of its shape exclusively, the lid rests on the *inner diameter of the neck and so therefore directs splatter back down into the bowl. I do believe it'd be nearly impossible to do an airstone driven pico and not produce saltcreep without this mechanism...im open to other shape suggestions that's for sure also the skimming...ejecta gets stuck around the vase neck and this provides an area I can wipe occasionally, which removes a good portion of otherwise suspended crud. Square designs just dont give me these features, and the salinity control imparted from partial restriction just can't be matched in airstone setups until I can find a better working design. also I didn't have to cram the rocks in there like so that would have allowed for more cleaning but I'm simply trying to fit as much living material in situ as I can, healthfully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 that rectangle tank thas was glued shut, did it get feed? Did /dose it get water changes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 -- yes it is opened regularly the sealing is only for the time in between servicings. I have done multiple ones of the square design, these are blended pics. One was made with weatherstripping in and out, and one was made by coating the tank with silicone, placing the glass lid ontop with it's own bead partially set but ready to grab, letting it harden and then cutting the lid back off with one fell swoop of a razor. This made a perfect seal, where the weight of the canopy would press down and hold it tight along with the little black clamp I shaped to hold pressure over the sides of the tank as well. both methods worked, but if I had to do over I'd do all of them with this latter technique dosing and most water changes were through a little corked hole, the third hole cut into the glass lid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Thats yours!?!?! I saw this video a week or so ago, i think linked off RC or R2R. Nice job, that is just too cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 -- thanks for checking it out yes I make the rounds on the boards! I find if I don't move around I w miss input ideas and discussion from new posters. just found these pics, even though they are older they were from a folder that had never been posted online before so I've updated my threads with some of these new angles, including the signs I use to describe the tanks to laypersons at shows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brandon429 Posted February 12, 2010 Author Share Posted February 12, 2010 hey whats up all, just going back through some old threads posting growth updates. here's a montipora plug glued to the side of the bowl, and then a three week shot where it's turning into little antlers> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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