Reef structure from pvc done

[jsdancer]

Well guys its done and its been 3 weeks since I decided to redo the tank reef structure. Of course it is still a work in progress but now I feel I have room to grow.
I am very happy because now instead of seeing a reef full of live rock, there is more real estate space for corals along the pvc.
Because of the width of the tank my structure was limited. Taking into account for furture growth this bought the structure to a limited height also.

Here are some pics, in a few months I will do a before and after.

http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2699.jpg



http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2695.jpg



http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2696.jpg



This was the fun part trying to figure out where to attach the corals

http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2723.jpg




http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2724.jpg




http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2727.jpg



http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2726.jpg



http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2729.jpg



http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2730.jpg


In 3 weeks the pvc is already showing signs of coraline algae growth!

http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo113/jjsdancer/DSCN2714.jpg

Well as time goes on I'll keep photos for records.

Thanks guys for all your advice and expertise!

Juan

[drummereef]

Wow, that must have been a lot of work. :)

[CHOMPERS MFK]

Wow! That is going to look so cool when it fills out.

[dogstar74]

Looks like a lot of effort, and work. I'll withold my verdict until it's grown in a lot more.

[jsdancer]

Well guys it was not as labor intensive as you might think. The part that was exhaustive was the actual pvc frame. I needed something that would allow my corals to show while allowing for room to grow.
I worked on it in sections from left to right. Worked quickly within each section. Several water changes!
Those pieces that I felt needed to be secured were worked on first.
It still is a work in progress but I am really excited at the growth potential.

I will keep you guys posted on the look of it in a few months.

[noahm]

Its gonna look like a shipwreck when its all grown in.

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14855491#post14855491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by noahm
Its gonna look like a shipwreck when its all grown in.

Don't know if this is a compliment or not... but I never thought about it that way. That might actually be really cool looking! Big openings like a tear in the hull. Makes for great hideouts for the fish. :)

[jsdancer]

Wow guys! This is exactly what I had finally decided. PVC can only bend in some many directions, of course with the help of elbows.
Since I dive I thought well why not a reef structure that looks somewhat like a ship wreck.
Cool guys!
I'll show photos as the animals encrust the pvc. There are lots of places for fish and crabs to take refuge.
:-)

Juan

[Tyler1450]

Its ok just not very "real life"...

[Lariviere]

*** is that?!!
Never seen pvc pipes in the sea... or maybe i don't snorkel the good spots!?

Sorry, but i must say that's horrible. :(

[jsdancer]

Its ok everyone is entitled to their opinion.
What I expect to happen is to have the pvc encrusted with corals and coraline algae.
When you dive you actually see man made objects like boats and ships. Over time those structures get covered almost completely with sea life.
Unnatural but the do exsist.
LOL!

[jrizo1]

is there water going true the pvc struture?

[mightyevil]

What I would do is break small pieces of rock and use foam (great stuff or other brand) to glue them all over the PVC to at least disguise the PVC. Not a big fan of the look right now but like DOGSTAR74 said "I'll withhold my verdict until it's grown in a lot more". I must say that there is a good chance that the PVC will look cool after coralline, algae, etc...Anyway, I hope it turns out the way you expect whether we like it or not, after all it is for YOUR enjoyment.

[jsdancer]

I was actually recommended by my lfs to use the sea foam they used for their pvc setup but I had a small time frame. Besides I am not planning on just leaving the pvc bare. I will glue coarls to it and as they grow so will the coraline algae around them. In any event if I need to, I can still glue small pieces of live rock. I can go with that if I need to rush things along.

Will keep you all posted!

[grallster]

Seems like you kind of put the corals too close together if you want them to grow out.

[dogstar74]

The corals may stick with epoxy right now, but are you certain that epoxy will hold the coral when they weigh 5 or 6 pounds and are very large and grown in? I'm not sure the epoxy will counter the torque a heavy coral will continually apply to the mount. Especially with heavy wave action that is needed to grow out a really involved reef.

I feel this is too busy/crowded already. I agree that there is not enough room to "grow out" or fill in.

Secondly, Nature HATES a straight line. Look around, no straight trees, no straight animal bones or parts, no straight mountains. Etc. Nature hates a straight line, so that is why I don't feel the pvc frame will ever take a pleasing shape. There is romance when you're diving a wreck and the bow of the coral encrusted ship comes into view. It makes you reflect on the violence that brought the ship down. I don't think you'll be able to recreate that in a tank to the point that it overcomes the distraction of the straight lines.

Paul B has a reef tank that's been over 30 years running. He used a lot of PVC pipe to aquascape, but with some ingenuity, he heat treated the pipe with a torch and bent and molded it into many contorted shapes. Then covered with substrate. This looks a lot better than straight pipes in my opinion.

Pond foam by any name is going to work. I trust it once it's cured, and many have used it successfully. You don't need anything special that the LFS "recommends" Just get the black variety and you'll be set.

I hope you'll take this under advisement. But in the end, it's your tank.

Aaron

[GlaringToast]

This doesn't really matter long term but if you sand the pvc or rough it up with something, the coraline will grow on it much quicker.

[mightyevil]

I am skeptical but at the same time hopeful.

[earthboy17]

Do you have any "before" shots?

[Uncle Salty 05]

No offense but it looks like a roller coaster for the fish to me.

[jsdancer]

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. It will be interesting to see what will start to happen as these corals continue to grow.
Pics sometimes don't give the actual feel of something but time will tell.
I realize that straight lines are not a nature thing. The use of the sea foam with smaller pieces of live rock seems to be advice that can potentially be doable at this early stage.
As the animals continue to grow I have plans in that department as well. Starting a frag tank to sell to my lfs's and obtain a larger aquarium. Not that bigger is better but it can certainly help.

I know that when I go diving, I see loads of different species. All growing right next to each other. I seen many member tanks here whom have that total reef look.

Do you guys feel that there should be a limit to how many corals one has in the tank? Most of the chosen winners of the tanks we see on the home page of this forum have a very large amount of animals. All of which look heathly and vibrant.

Juan

[Ian]

I thought the point of a PVC frame was to attach the rocks to it and get a structure you wouldn't be able to achieve with conventional stacking.

Not an attack, just my $0.02...

Either way Juan, its not anybody's tank but yours and if it makes you happy, thats really all that matters...

[jbird69]

hmmmmmmmm. Im not sure how I feel about that. LOL It might of been cool to paint it all black first?

[Tank2379]

All I know is that it's Different from Many Reef Tanks I have seen.... It's going to look amazing once it's all said and done.... Good Job....

[Paul B]

I think it is your tank and as long as you like it, thats all that matters, I put all sorts of wierd stuff in my tank for "my" pleasure.
As for the PVC pipe, as you can see I also use a lot of PVC. This picture is a piece of PVC rock, before and after. I heat it, bend it, wrap plastic screen around it and finish it with cement.
That piece is almost 3' long and is hollow. Much of my reef is made with this, I have collected all of my rock but I like the diversity I can get with PVC better than the stuff I can collect.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh270/urchsearch/Rock.jpg

Here is another picture of that same piece.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/13094Copy_of_Copy_of_Copy_of_DSC00857-med.jpg

[jsdancer]

Once again thanks for your comments.
This is great I love all the talks about the subject. I am actually happy with my progress, haven't lost any animals and again I am looking forward to something different. For nearly 6 years I had the same look. Loads of live rock with corals just laying on the rocks. This gets tired and leaves little room for coral placement and gives your tank a flat two demensional look.
I wish I had more time but with my travel schedule it was hard trying to get it all done.
Roller coaster or super mario game it is great to see us all sharing ideas. I really will consider them as I continue to develop my unconventional reef.
Paul your idea rocks! Lots of curves to glue frags and watch them grow and grow.

Someting to look forward to in a few weeks.

Juan

[thincat]

Juan, I see lots of holes in your pvc. Is this for water flow or are the holes lorge enough to put reef plugs in it. If it's big enough for reef plugs then you kill two birds with one stone. One as a DT and the other as a Frag growout tank all in one.
Nice, good imagination....

[jsdancer]

Thincat is right holes for water circulation and for plugs!