JoeR Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 My official entry! This was a really hard decision, so many awesome containers out there to choose from. The possibilities truly are endless, I want to start like a hundred different picos now all uniquely aquascaped haha. I ended up going with this cool modern candle holder with a concrete base from Hobby Lobby, it's gonna look awesome on my nightstand. The glass just sits on the concrete bottom, although I debated switching out the top. It does have some extra space underneath the glass that I’ve used to my advantage with the heater and lazy Susan gear. TANK SPECS CONTAINER: 0.5 Gallon Concrete and glass candle jar -$12 FLOW: Koller Craft TOM Steller mini aquarium pump rated for 5-10 gallons, Airstone & Check Valve -$8.21 LIGHT- ABI 12watt Tuna Blue LED bulb in grey IKEA Architect lamp -$35.95 HEATER- Yankee Candle Wax Warmer -$0.00 EXTRAS- Lazy Susan Turntable gear- $3.50 GRAND TOTAL: $59.66 LIVESTOCK -Pink Margarita Snail NOTES *Continents were painfully hand made using lightweight concrete dyed with charcoal concrete dye coated in clear epoxy resin to make them fish-safe. *Airstone attached with suction cup to back of tank hidden behind globe. Provides good flow so far. Hidden below tank is the heater and a turn table gear used to view more of tank with a little swivel motion. *Tank runs at roughly +/-2 degrees at 82 with lights on from 9AM to 9PM, with three blue LED’s being shaded out. *No noticeable cycle occurred? FTS as of 10/7/17: FTS as of 12/26/17: 1/29/18 3/3/18 3/28/18 6 Quote Link to comment
SeaFurn Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Cool - I like sea horses! Following. Good Luck! 1 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Off to a great start! Wonder where you got those condiments? 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 That's a cute pico. An air hose would be good for flow. The light might be enough to heat a small container 1 Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 Its tiny. I am interested in how you do this! 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted November 14, 2017 Author Share Posted November 14, 2017 Man, life is so busy! Classes, work, too many tanks and hobbies! Sadly as a result this project keeps being put on the back burner, and for now it’s still just cycling. But, I have big plans for it! I’m almost finishing setting it up and a good update is sure to soon follow! Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peak 6 1 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Hi! Just a reminder to please pm me your November full tank shot (FTS) along with a link to your build thread by the end of the day on November 30th. Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted November 30, 2017 Author Share Posted November 30, 2017 So I know, excuses excuses, but I really haven’t had the time to work on this project. But in two weeks I’ll have almost a month off school and work, so I’ll get a ton done then at the latest. The lid on it is just temporary by the way. so here’s my lame November FTS. 6 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 It's a start. A month off good for you. 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 1 hour ago, debbeach13 said: It's a start. A month off good for you. Yeah it’s very nice, although it may be closer to 3 weeks Idk. The college I work at closes inbetween semesters, and it just so happens that the college I attend has a similar start/end time. Ensures a lot of vacation, similar to a teacher/professor, but I drive 50 minutes to work so it’s a trade off I suppose. Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Sorry guys, I know I suck! So without further ado, here’s my December update and photo dump! First, some details and a photo progression of how I made the continents. They were a major PITA! Seriously took my several tries to get them how I wanted. I broke North America a couple times and had to remake it twice, that’s after I figured out my final technique. Combine that with allowing a couple days for the concrete to dry and then several more for the epoxy to cure and it’s no wonder what took me so long to update lol. I began with floral foam half spheres from Hob Lob, which I then stenciled the continents shape into to then be carved using an old calligraphy pen I had. Just an FYI, that foam makes a GIGANTIC MESS. Lol. Like staticky sand or something. Oh, and trying to find outlines of the continents that arent majorly distorted is impossible, so excuse the lack of perfectly accurate geographic shapes. I tried my best haha. Then, I sprayed the molds with Acrylic to make the concrete stick less and define the shape better. They were then filled with concrete and covered in plastic wrap to create the smooth finish I wanted. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Before the epoxy coat; note, this was not the final North America, this one broke. I got tha wholeeee world in myy hanndddssss Lol And after the epoxy coat, which by the way destroyed another North America cuz it stuck to the drying rack. 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 And here’s what’s under the tank. I HATE cords being everywhere, and he nice thing about this tank is that I only have two cords- one is the almost invisible airline tube that’s hidden by its bubbles anyway, and the other is the heater cord that runs under the tank and is nearly invisible. For the heater I knew I wanted something that worked under the tank, and aquarium heaters can’t be run dry I found out the hard way lol. So I easily dismantled an old yankee Candle wax melter that I don’t use anymore (they’re poison ☠️), and it fit perfectly underneath! Just had to trim the bolt. And there was room for a lazy Susan gear! 2 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 And here it is as of today. More work needs to be done making the LR more spherical, and Australia still needs to be glued into place. But it’s slowly getting there. Need more sand too IMO. FTS 12/26/17 And view from my pillow; that’s a temporary lid BTW Front view does it se it no justice, it’s the star of the show for my room when you walk in 2 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Can’t you just imagine how good this will look with designer Zoas or encrusting monti’s filling in the rock? 4 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 And a little more natural looking shot with no filters. In person it’s much less blue, and the contrast ruins the crisp details of the continents oh well, I’ll get better at taking pictures December Update/ OVER. 9 2 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 Ooooooh, I love the continents! That's a very unique idea! 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 On 12/26/2017 at 10:18 PM, fishfreak0114 said: Ooooooh, I love the continents! That's a very unique idea! Thanks! I’m hoping once the coral fills in and I finish the minor details that it turns out good, it was certainly a test of patience. Speaking of Corals- anyone have suggestions? Should I try encrusting monti’s, zoas, or something else? In any case, it has to be “short” because if they grow too big there won’t be a ton of space between the globe and the glass. I was thinking about a couple different encrusting Corals so that when they grow together it looks like they’re melting over the Earth, could be cool. Maybe chalices? Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 11 hours ago, JoeR said: Thanks! I’m hoping once the coral fills in and I finish the minor details that it turns out good, it was certainly a test of patience. Speaking of Corals- anyone have suggestions? Should I try encrusting monti’s, zoas, or something else? In any case, it has to be “short” because if they grow too big there won’t be a ton of space between the globe and the glass. I was thinking about a couple different encrusting Corals so that when they grow together it looks like they’re melting over the Earth, could be cool. Maybe chalices? I bet something like a Jedi Mind Trick monti would look cool (I think it's encrusting)? Also you mentioned on my jar thread getting 9 corals for $40 and I forgot to say that's a fantastic deal! 1 Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share Posted December 29, 2017 27 minutes ago, Lula_Mae said: I bet something like a Jedi Mind Trick monti would look cool (I think it's encrusting)? Also you mentioned on my jar thread getting 9 corals for $40 and I forgot to say that's a fantastic deal! Woah that’s a cool monti! It reminds me of space/stars for sure. Something along those lines are already in my plans *hint hint* I KNOW! I was SO ecstatic! I got a green with blue tips torch, a similar frogspawn, a magician zoa, big green paly, some small red unknown zoas, a bright red shroom, two green shrooms, fire and ice zoas (I think the guy was wrong they look a tad bit different), and a beautiful blue shroom. Couldn’t have been happier, I regret not buying more haha Wait. That’s ten frags. Not nine. And I’m in ((community)) college LOL 2 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 1 hour ago, JoeR said: Woah that’s a cool monti! It reminds me of space/stars for sure. Something along those lines are already in my plans *hint hint* I KNOW! I was SO ecstatic! I got a green with blue tips torch, a similar frogspawn, a magician zoa, big green paly, some small red unknown zoas, a bright red shroom, two green shrooms, fire and ice zoas (I think the guy was wrong they look a tad bit different), and a beautiful blue shroom. Couldn’t have been happier, I regret not buying more haha Wait. That’s ten frags. Not nine. And I’m in ((community)) college LOL Magician palys Mine's not done well since putting in the jar when it had all those issues. Sounds like you got some great deals! Legendary Corals had some speckled fire and ice zoas, I wanted some soooo badly... Quote Link to comment
JoeR Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share Posted December 29, 2017 37 minutes ago, Lula_Mae said: Magician palys Mine's not done well since putting in the jar when it had all those issues. Sounds like you got some great deals! Legendary Corals had some speckled fire and ice zoas, I wanted some soooo badly... Right! I had seen magicians online for sale before and was unimpressed to say the least. But in person they are SO cool, the green “splat” or speckles are very vivid. So far mine are doing okay, they were closed all day yesterday and some the day before, and half open today. Oddly picky for being zoas/palys. The basic green palys are also acting weird, might be a flow issue. The speckled fire and ice are awesome, but what I really want are some rastas. Been waiting to see if WWC is going to post any so I can use my certificate before the end of the year sale is over. Otherwise I’ve not seen them for sale locally. Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 1 minute ago, JoeR said: Right! I had seen magicians online for sale before and was unimpressed to say the least. But in person they are SO cool, the green “splat” or speckles are very vivid. So far mine are doing okay, they were closed all day yesterday and some the day before, and half open today. Oddly picky for being zoas/palys. The basic green palys are also acting weird, might be a flow issue. The speckled fire and ice are awesome, but what I really want are some rastas. Been waiting to see if WWC is going to post any so I can use my certificate before the end of the year sale is over. Otherwise I’ve not seen them for sale locally. I've found zoas and palys to be very finicky sometimes lol. I've found rastas sometimes inexpensively on ebay, sold in 1-2 polyp frags with Priority shipping. Haven't bought any cuz, well, it's just not my favorite color scheme. Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 I really like your idea. Its very creative and different. I will be fun to see it with coral. 1 Quote Link to comment
Felicia Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Just a friendly reminder that if you haven't already, please pm me your December FTS and a link to your build thread by January 5, 2018. Quote Link to comment
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