sorgan Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 hey guys, a while back i started having this crazy idea of having a very small tank housing a single species of SPS (high color) and having it scaped in a bonsai style way. now i want to start with a frag as the point of the tank is the journey so when its up and running many pictures will be taken. unfortantly for me i told my LFS about the idea, he - as always- ran with it and now the decision has been made to have 2 SPS, one 'tree' and one 'grass' to complete the bonsai idea. so down to the nitty gritty, the tank is about 16l, i will be using a HOB filter (minus the media) and the smallest heater i can find. i am hoping to use a TMC ATO for ease and i will source a small powerhead from somewhere. lighting will be taken care of with eaither a PAR 38 bulb or a TMC tile. The scape will be one piece of LR (puttied to the deck) off centre to which the 'tree' will be grown. I have not yet decided on sand as eventually the bottom of the tank (i hope) will be totally encrusted with a green montipora (grass) live stock... well TBH i am not sure what i could possibly pop in, a snail or two i guess, no fish i would imagine as the tank is pretty small. the project is going to be a bit draw out i am afraid as im about to buy a radion for my main tank LOL. thanks for looking guys. Link to comment
MeepNand Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 For grass have you thought about GSP? Grows very fast and will give you faster results. Very nice idea, BTW. Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 I thought about it but decided that it would in time choke the 'tree' Also I'm not so worried about time Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 Acropora valida I think or something close, I'm open to suggestions. Link to comment
1.0reef Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 For grass use an encrusting montipora Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 that was the plan, I'm trying to decide if it should be just green or green with red polyps (flowers in grass?) think I may just go green. Link to comment
IamTomm Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Use cyphastria or encrusting hynopora for "grass". Link to comment
Jessy-Ray Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Wow that sounds awesome keep us posted. I'll be following Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 so i dug the tank out and gave it a scrub and also found an old arcpod to make it look more tanky. im going to paint both panels closest to the walls in a nice sky blue i think. also need to trim the foam stuff. Link to comment
Newlinta Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Cool idea...love the tank! Can't wait to see where this goes... Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 i want to do it all in this tank, TBH with the tree i am open ti ideas, the coral just needs to be a nice color (or a few) and cabable of growing into a tree like shape. i think i can control (notice i say think) the shape of the 'tree' by removing unwanted growth when it appears, for example i would want a thick single stem that branches out at the top, with proper 'pruning' and the right flow i hope i can get the shape i want... it is an experiment after all LOL Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 Got the paints out today and now the tank looks like I need to get some new rubber suckers for the power head and heater I think as mine have gone stiff. Hopefully will buy some LR at the weekend to get things moving. Link to comment
1.0reef Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Use cyphastria Meteor shower cyphastria would look sick too. Maybe a speciosa, turaki, aspera, echinata, nasuta, loripes, pulchra, or abrotanoides acropora would be a good tree? Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 Some good shouts there, tbh I think it's going to be a case of trial and error. Eventually a frag will grow the way I want it to LOL! Link to comment
IamTomm Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 Use a purple bonsai for the "tree". Its natural growth would work great. Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 so i decided i wanted something to cover the in tank equipment TADA!!! there will be a gap at the bottom but i hope to cover it with some LR in the distance mountain ranges. Link to comment
Ryan260 Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 so i decided i wanted something to cover the in tank equipment TADA!!! there will be a gap at the bottom but i hope to cover it with some LR in the distance mountain ranges. I like your solution as opposed to a solid black acrylic wall. I bet it will have some interesting coralline growth. Maybe you could even find some frags on plugs and mount them in the holes to look like vines growing up. Link to comment
1.0reef Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 CORAL VINEZ! I love it, look up some pics of Glacier National Park. Perfect inspiration for LR mountains. Link to comment
Sushi Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Looking forward to seeing it clear up! Link to comment
uaiu Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I'm excited to see how this turns out! Link to comment
sorgan Posted July 12, 2012 Author Share Posted July 12, 2012 not as much as me! LOL the only problem is now i am looking at all the picos on this forum, then looking at mine, then looking at the picos, then at mine.... im wondering if i am going to be able to stick with the 2 coral idea. i sure hope so. Link to comment
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