The Volcano Tank - Konolua

[xtm]

Very nice. Love the Mangroves!

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by footballdude2k3

do you ever have problems with the crabs eating things you dont want them to?

No...which was surprising. I was expecting polyps eaters...but not so.

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by Dadekster

Hands down one of the most intriguing tanks I have ever seen. I had a rock outcropping in my tank for nerites snails for a while but I didn't like how it cut my flow across the top and they didn't seem to use it much. Your tank gives me the idea to run a drip from the top instead keeping the rock wet like you do. Very clever, I applaud you sir.

Thanks! I really do believe that the wet rock is the difference there. The dry rock would just be uninhabitable for both safety (in their minds) and temperature.

[mrsmithers]

great looking tank! I have seen freash water setups that are set up like this(but with drift wood sticking out of the water) but never a reef. Awesome job. You got my vote for TOTM. Again, great tank!

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by mrsmithers

great looking tank! I have seen freash water setups that are set up like this(but with drift wood sticking out of the water) but never a reef. Awesome job. You got my vote for TOTM. Again, great tank!

Thanks! What an honor to even hear TOTM! That is great. That would be something great to see. I was happy when it made a magazine...Practical Fishkeeping. This month's issue. It is really satisfying to know that my peers dig what I am doing.

I appreciate the kind words....

[Konolua]

It made the March 2010 cover. It has a 4-page spread......

[ericung]

you deserve the glory

[alphaferret]

Very unique-i have been looking over many bonsai type tanks-not sure if this one is bonsai but it is cool!

Congrats on the mag article!

Now lets see some lava!

[cpl40475]

Like it no.............love it yes!!!!!!!! This isnt just an aquarium its living art. Im not taking anthing away from other tanks in rc by no means because there are tons of gorgeous tanks here.this one to me takes it to a whole new level. Im in the drawing stages of a new tank after a 2 year leave new tank will be 4x4x2 so i may borrow a few ideas if you dont mind.
Once more absolutely stunning
tracy

[rioshilo]

Makes me a little sad to see those tangs in that tank. Seems like if the sailfin spread his fins he could just about cover from the sand bed to the top of the water.

With that said, I think that the tank idea and execution is fascinating. Very unique and cool, good job. I remember seeing this tank some months back and wanting to duplicate it with a nano and leds for lighting

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by rioshilo

Makes me a little sad to see those tangs in that tank. Seems like if the sailfin spread his fins he could just about cover from the sand bed to the top of the water.

With that said, I think that the tank idea and execution is fascinating. Very unique and cool, good job. I remember seeing this tank some months back and wanting to duplicate it with a nano and leds for lighting

When he spreads his fins, he still has quite a bit of room, but I am on board. He was temporary (as most livestock from the LFS that he was being housed in) was being handled inhumanely. However, since he has flourished in the tank...it has been a hard decision. He will definitely make it to a bigger tank...but it seems it may be my own rather than anything else since he seems happy enough to wait a couple of months.

I agree with your thoughts though....it is always about doing your best to create an environment for the CREATURES not for yourself. (Even on a side note, I always felt the poor guy tossed the balance of the tank off.....)

Thanks for the comment though! I appreciate the kind words!

[pledosophy]

Am I the first person to suggest a red LED light and a maxijet on a wavemaker to "erupt" every so often?

I mean if your going to call it a volcano . . .

[flying_dutchman]

Wow, I saw this tank a while back on nanoreef but lost the subscription...
The tank turned out amazing!

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by pledosophy

Am I the first person to suggest a red LED light and a maxijet on a wavemaker to "erupt" every so often?

I mean if your going to call it a volcano . . .

You are the first person....in 10 minutes to say that! Kidding, though tons of people have mentioned that. I always come back with...."well, let's call it dormant."

I have considered lighting the volcano, lighting it with an LED (like a red one), and a number of other things and decided the dramatic approach of leaving the top dark was "unusual" in a good way. Not many people would have done that and it seems to always be kinda cool.

Now, with that being said, I am now considering doing PAR38 LED bulbs to replace the halides. I like the white balance I have, but with no actinic, something always seems a bit missing. With the PAR38s, I would do 4 white and one blue to give just a touch of actinic. I would then do 2 bulbs though, wire it for three...the third being one to illuminate the volcano OR the front rock wall of the Volcano, depending on what looks best. I really do like the dark volcano tip at night....

[dogstar74]

Red LED light and a pump on a becket pond foam injector.

Anyone else got this running through their heads?

"NEMO new commer of orange and white...."

[pledosophy]

Originally Posted by dogstar74

Red LED light and a pump on a becket pond foam injector.

Anyone else got this running through their heads?

"NEMO new commer of orange and white...."

Dope!

I do agree at some point it would just be cheesy, just not sure where that point is yet. . . .

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by pledosophy

Dope!

I do agree at some point it would just be cheesy, just not sure where that point is yet. . . .

I could have it pour brine shrimp down the side of the volcano......that'd look like lava.

Would be cool to get a video of once maybe! Immortalized then!

[Alex0219]

Again this tank is seriously amazing! Everything looks awesome!

[dogstar74]

I don't know, I don't think it would be that cheesy.

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by dogstar74

I don't know, I don't think it would be that cheesy.

Don't think I will get that past the Wife-Senate. It's a hair too big. Probably a mess too.

[Konolua]

Cool shot. Staghorn hermit. Big shore crab looking on.

[dogstar74]

I know I've been joking around a bit with this thread, but really your tank is superb and awesome. It's far between tanks that someone has a truely original idea. Just know that from this point on, it's all imitation to your tank.

I'm curious about the land crabs. Such aggressive claws, how did you know they wouldn't catch all your livestock and make dinner out of them. They are quite beautiful, but I don't see a lot of reefers keeping them. I'd be afraid they'd eat that staghorn hermit for example.

Thanks,
Aaron

[fufu]

One day you should upgrade to an island with mini palm trees and a waterfall.

[mreye23]

This is by far hands down the coolest tank i have ever seen.........i dont want my 180 any more lol

[Konolua]

Originally Posted by dogstar74

I know I've been joking around a bit with this thread, but really your tank is superb and awesome. It's far between tanks that someone has a truely original idea. Just know that from this point on, it's all imitation to your tank.

I'm curious about the land crabs. Such aggressive claws, how did you know they wouldn't catch all your livestock and make dinner out of them. They are quite beautiful, but I don't see a lot of reefers keeping them. I'd be afraid they'd eat that staghorn hermit for example.

Thanks,
Aaron

This was trial and error. I had studied crabs and etc in school (went on to be a business sales manager for a large American company...nice) so I was familiar enough as it was, but I knew they wouldn't issues with livestock (fish and etc.). I was more concerned about shrimp, snails/hermit crabs, and polyps (zoas, LPS, etc.). Turned out, the shrimp are smarter than I thought, snails and hermits are as dumb as I thought, and the poylps were a non-issue. I do believe a large part of it is that I feed them almost daily.....

A hungry crab is a dangerous crab, a fat crab is a content crab.

I believe another reason why they are not common in captivity is because they require more than 50% of their time to be spent out of water. Very different from your usual Sally Light Foot crab that comes out less than 10% of the time or the Emerald crabs that do not need land to survive. So, habitat is more the reason you don't see them.....