How close before war breaks out - tank advise

Twistedpro · #1 07/04/2007, 08:07 AM

Hi, my tank is now around 6 months old, i am looking for some help. I have seen a lot of the tanks from asia where the corals are really packed in tight. Where you have corals plating out above each other. I would like to create something like this with my tank.

I have included a couple of pictures as the tank stands today and i realise that the corals will have to grow a bit. However should i add more corals at this point to allow growth together or should i allow the corals to grow out first, and add some at a later date?

Do i need to add more rock? It seems quite difficult in a small 3x2x2 tank

Thanks for your help

Peter

eskymick · #2 07/04/2007, 12:49 PM

Your tank looks awesome. Leave it as it is and let them grow out. Let nature take it's course.

Twistedpro · #3 07/04/2007, 01:20 PM

thanks i have been thinking i might take the pink milli off and build a 3 tier rock structure that i can then place 3 corals on to get them to plate out over each other and add some plating monti as well

lazaro torres · #4 07/04/2007, 01:39 PM

That sounds good, it will create more realstate for your tank.You have nice corals,before you know,it will grow out.Don't let one day go by without giving them love,(food,chems).

wentreefgirl · #5 07/04/2007, 02:00 PM

You got a while yet. Have some growing room yet.

jski711 · #6 07/04/2007, 02:35 PM

that tank is sick i wouldn't change a thing!

Twistedpro · #7 07/04/2007, 03:14 PM

the only bit i am not happy with is the pink milli, its at too much of an angle

jay24k · #8 07/04/2007, 04:33 PM

It will grow straight if you give it time. I'd leave it alone. Corals grow quick and get packed quick.

Icefire · #9 07/04/2007, 07:25 PM

dp

Icefire · #10 07/04/2007, 07:26 PM

6 month? mine is 6 month no coraline on glass yet

wentreefgirl · #11 07/05/2007, 07:58 AM

Whats you mag at? If you bring your mag to th 1400 range you should start growing coraline nicely.

Serioussnaps · #12 07/05/2007, 08:46 AM

Nice tank! How long you had the elegance? There is one at my LFS for 2 months now...still has its zoox and doing well...hmmmmm.

Twistedpro · #13 07/05/2007, 09:10 AM

Icefire - i wish i could cut back on the coralline its grows at a silly rate.

Serioussnaps - I have had the elegance for 3 months now, its doubled in size during this time.

Why is it you find the coral you have always wanted when you dont really have any more room to fit it in

Serioussnaps · #14 07/05/2007, 09:29 AM

BTW you always have room to mount to the back walls! Frag mags are a good way or on a power head hanger thingy....anyways sweet tank again man.

J. Montgomery · #15 07/05/2007, 10:45 AM

How close before war break out? That depends on the amount of oil reserves in your tank.

RichConley · #16 07/05/2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Icefire
6 month? mine is 6 month no coraline on glass yet

Dont take this the wrong way.

If you're at six months and dont have corraline, you're doing something wrong. Either your Alk/Ca/Mag isnt right, or you have high phosphates, or not enough flow.

Your tank should be pretty much covered within weeks of being set up.

jay24k · #17 07/05/2007, 12:40 PM

Not always true. In my 44 gallon, I never had corraline at all for over a year and my corals grew fine. I hated it because I never was able to get any to grow. All my levels were completely fine. When I moved to my 180, I started to get it to grow by seeding it with heavily laden corraline rock. My 44 was all TBS rock which had some but not tons of corraline.

Fraggle Rock2 · #18 07/05/2007, 07:24 PM

I think the layou of your tank looks nice and has plenty of room for growth. Although, if you want a more packed look you will likely have to use more rock to increase the real estate as someone already mentioned. There are many creative ways to pre-build an elaborate rock structure.

As for coralline algae, my experience has been if you have a lot of light it tends to grow in abundance in the more shaded areas but not much anywhere else. Of course, perhaps my parameters aren't conducive to massive growth in the heavily lighted areas who knows.

jay24k · #19 07/05/2007, 09:19 PM

I wouldn't add anymore rock. Corals get big and take up space very quickly. Then your tank looks like the dreaded wall that is so common. I have 250 10K's blasting and I have alot of corraline. I think it is a combination of parameters and if your rock already has some. Perhaps salt has a play in it but it seems like some just can't ever grow it. Who knows.

Icefire · #20 07/06/2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Dont take this the wrong way.

If you're at six months and dont have corraline, you're doing something wrong. Either your Alk/Ca/Mag isnt right, or you have high phosphates, or not enough flow.

Your tank should be pretty much covered within weeks of being set up.

Probably Phosphate, getting my order of remover monday.