BiGGiePauls33 Dream Build | IM 200 Peninsula | Full GHL Ecosystem | RE BK Deluxe 200 | RE RD Eco 5 | Synergy Reef TS-60 | Australian Live Rock

[BiGGiePauls33]

No new updates to report, still dosing reef moonshiners and things haven't looked better. Accidental frags have been growing and racks are filled. Been focusing my attention towards getting the ol license and back on the road. Have a hearing on the 31st, crazy to think I haven't driven a vehicle since August of 2016, a summer I'll never forget...
I bought a 2004 Subaru Forester XT last October and have been familiarizing myself with it mechanically. It's got som go fast bits and suspension mods tastefully done. My first time owning a turbocharged car and damn does it rip through the gears. Insert inner 17 years old here. Last weekend I decided to take it for a quick spin around the cup de sac and right as I let off the clutch in reverse, the flap of the neighbors mailbox touched my lift gate glass. BOOM goes the window. Found a donor the other day, so hoping to have it Tuesday at the latest.
Vacuumed broken glass and swapped the rear stock seats with seats from a 13' WRX to match the fronts, what a PITA that was. Trash bagged shredded he hole with a contractor bag while waiting for this damn snow storm.

I've been deep in the rabbit hole of brakes and wheels for this. Currently sitting on stocks but do have some 18x8.5's in matte blue that I'm not too fond of personally.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Some pics I just shot with my Google Pixel 8 Pro. Picked this Nori Nibbler up from @Todd@ChampionLightingSupply and it really makes a difference for these fatties to graze on.

 

[Todd@ChampionLightingSupply]

Some pics I just shot with my Google Pixel 8 Pro. Picked this Nori Nibbler up from @Todd@ChampionLightingSupply and it really makes a difference for these fatties to graze on.

I can't keep them in stock! They're great if you have multiple large tangs, there's enough room for several to feed at the same time without one trying to be greedy and swim off with a large chunk.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Got a new Copperband Butterfly Fish at Lovely Pets on Kingston, MA this afternoon. Got it for a hell of a deal.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Deep cleaned the tank today and ran out of time to do the rockwork, always another day. Planning on Marco powder and thing bsi glue to create something like this.

 

[afboundguy]

Deep cleaned the tank today and ran out of time to do the rockwork, always another day. Planning on Marco powder and thing bsi glue to create something like this.View attachment 215828

That is a sweet look. I love that I went with a suspended section. If and hopefully when I upgrade my tank I am not sure if I'd add another gravity defying cluster or just leave it sand only with a few small rock clusters...

 

[Reefried]

Deep cleaned the tank today and ran out of time to do the rockwork, always another day. Planning on Marco powder and thing bsi glue to create something like this.View attachment 215828

That was my exact inspiration. I actually achieved something similar, but then eventually added two small islands to each end as I ran out of room for coral!!

 

[NeverlosT]

I have PVC rods you can use to help things stay together. I highly suggest the crushed coral and superglue method for large overhangs. You will need either lots of hands, or a bunch of supports to hold things in place while you glue, and you cant do it all from the top, the structure will have to be flipped upside down to secure it more. It is a challenge, but the payoffs are huge!

 

[afboundguy]

I have PVC rods you can use to help things stay together. I highly suggest the crushed coral and superglue method for large overhangs. You will need either lots of hands, or a bunch of supports to hold things in place while you glue, and you cant do it all from the top, the structure will have to be flipped upside down to secure it more. It is a challenge, but the payoffs are huge!

That's how mine was constructed and works quite well and now that coralline algae is starting to cover rocks can't even tell it's a bunch of rocks put together!

 

[Duds]

I love the nsa structures! My wife and I have built five separate structures now. It’s a really fun process and even more enjoyable when you have a second set of hands that is enjoying it equally as much. I use the bsi super thin super glue with Marco rock powder. The first three structures we made our own powder from smashing rocks just buy the powder like you did your way better off lol. Like @NeverlosT said above you really want to reinforce all joints so flipping it over and even filling in big holes or what appears to be a weaker joint you can build it up with smaller rocks like pebble size and then same idea powder and superglue them in and it’ll reinforce that area. I’ve broken a few arms off the structures before during a rinse session and it’s never my joints that break, the rock itself does so the design ever so slightly changes when that happens and exactly why I do it so if anything needs fixing I can do so before it goes in the tank. Naturally I didn’t take any pics of the new ones for my wife’s seahorse tank before they went in the stock tank for soaking (thanks for letting me borrow the stock tank @Mike Lemming) but in due time I’ll get some up. I wear latex gloves and I double up as soon as I get a rip or tear in the first layer I replace it. Just my pieces of advice and things I’ve learned about making them along the way. Good luck can’t wait to see it!

 

[Cpage101]

The only thing about NSA aquascape is that it does not create enough caves and swim throughs for your fish. There is no place to hunker down at night. While this does look super cool on the other side, not the best situation for your animals who also live in the environment,in my honest opinion.

 

[NeverlosT]

Chris is right, it is important in the effort to ensure that there are holes, swimthroughs, and spots to lay low. The SUPER NSA rockscapes look awesome but provide almost no security for our fishy frieds. (Coral love them though)

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I'll have plenty of hiding spots, 90% Australian branch rock and will be picking up more at FFM with adome nice shelves of marco

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Current clumping of rockwork

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Clearing a spot to lay eggs

 

[afboundguy]

The only thing about NSA aquascape is that it does not create enough caves and swim throughs for your fish. There is no place to hunker down at night. While this does look super cool on the other side, not the best situation for your animals who also live in the environment,in my honest opinion.

Tell that to my male Indigo Dottyback! He has made caves everywhere! I did add a few separate rock structures and have a few open spots within the structure but tend to agree that it could be detrimental without enough caves or swim throughs.

I did put the rock on the bottom of the tank and then added sand for support to allow for and sand digging fish to make caves. In the past I've always added sand and then put rocks and have run into stability problems.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Another clutch, now if only my rotifers and stuff arrived on time.

 

[Cpage101]

Another clutch, now if only my rotifers and stuff arrived on time.
View attachment 216029

that’s a big clutch

 

[afboundguy]

that’s a big clutch

That's what she said









Purse everybody, purse. Clutches are purses and some females like a big purse. Get your minds out of the gutters!!!!

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Lost the CBB this morning, cleaned the glass and thought the tank looked nice tonight.