Not happy with my rock, aquascaping pictures?

[spongebob lover]

Ouch Luke... i hope you find the answer .

 

[MikeS]

Well, it was through observational means. The bulb had the ends soldered on with 60/40 Sn/Pb solder. The electrolisis was expansive... I dont know how long that end of the bulb was in the water disolving all that solder/tin and copper wire off, but it as long enough to pretty much change that whole end into just some blackened salt residue, so I know that the solder and copper wire had to go somewhere...

I dont have any quanitative data, but even I did, I dont think the course of action taken would be any different. I supose I'm just going to have to setup a large carbon filter setup and wait.

My restocking testing fortunately is really cheap. I cut off a stalk of xenia, toss it in, and it shrivels up and melts. Its been taking progressively longer and longer to melt, but it still just melts.

Anyone have any cheap ways to purge the tank of that stuff? It allready got 3 90% waterchanges imeadiately following, and since then I've done a few 50% water changes, but nothing seems to have helped. I'm hopeing I wont need to come up with new rock and sand...

Hmmm...I'd question if these metals are really the problem to start with. You may have gotten some of them in there with the decay of the filament as you said, but I wonder if the amount would be enough to have the results you are seeing.

As for the copper, carbon is an effective remover of it. Not sure on the lead or tin....

MikeS

 

[twilliard]

Thanks...Well, this aquascaping job didn't take me that long at all because I had already spend many times before playing with the same rocks in my old tank so I was pretty use to the shapes and how they fit together. What helped alot as well was I had nicely shaped rocks from the get go. Your rockwork this time looks better than the first one. Congrats

Thanks Krish, I think I am going to find a little bit of rock that has better shape. I am putting some up for sale because I just cant keep breaking rock when it may be nice to some one else. I have some great ideas from tanks that have posted here. This is something that may never end, I just hate putting my arm in all the time.
Also I would have to ask the general public here would a tang be happy with that algae that is growing? I have always wanted a blue hippo tang but fear for its diet.
Thanks again all
Todd

 

[spongebob lover]

it's a 120 gals so i think it'd definetly be happy.
I've heard they are good at picking algae but not sure.
Otherwise you can always feed it Nori and may be some Formula 1 (the green one)

 

[MarineTeng]

using carbon killed my xenia just fyi, might take something nesecary out of the water, but i've read of this happening to many other people too

 

[liveforphysics]

MikeS- The ends of the bulb used a substantial amount of solder on the ends connecting it directly to large guage copper wire. When I finally returned home and discovered what happened, the end of the bulb was nearly metal free, no solder visible anywhere, and the copper wire was eaten clear up inside the vinal insulation about 3" or so. Electrolosis is a very powerful thing, espically when powered by a strong high freq lamp ballast.

MarineTeng- I have a test for Iodine, and I maintain it with a lugal solution. I belive Iodine is the element missing which causes peoples xenia to die when they add carbon. I had that same thing happen to me early in the hobby.

 

[diablo]

most tangs will consume most of your algae issues without a problem. I have a purple tang that eats hair algae. a blond naso that eats bubble algae. and my blue hippe will eat almost anything that is green. calurpa, halimeda, im not sure about hair never had any in my reef. outcome verys from fish to fish.

 

[tike]

This link could help with some ideas on reef scaping. http://www.reeferrocks.com/DIY/index.htm

 

[Maxx]

Twilliard,
I bought several 3/8 inch acrylic rods, (the largest diameter drill bit my drill could hold) and bought a long drill bit, (12 inches) for drilling through the rock.
I would sort through my different rock pieces, and find a couple that would go well together. I wound up making one large rock out of 4 smaller ones.

Like others have said, visualization helps, but I find it easier to "play" with the rock and look at ir from all angles and test fit it against other rocks.

Heres another thread with lots of pics showing different aquascapes.... Best Aquascaping Designs

Good luck,

Nick