Noah C Peterson Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 What have you all done to me? I go 4 whole years without a tank and now I'm setting up my second contest tank in a year. You should be ashamed! Found this little 2-3 gallon AIO chilling in my attic and couldn't resist myself. The plan is to spend very little money while creating a peaceful flowy zen garden. I'm planning on a bonsai style scape hoping to recreate a Ishizuke, ishitsuki so a tree on a rock. Gotta shout out @pisces4u for his 10 gallon torch bonsai. This inspired me years ago as a teenager to get into reefing and I think it will be an incredibly fun homage for this contest. Equipment Tank - Evolve 4 Light - KINGBO Par 38 Heater- Aqueon Mini Flow - JaJale mini 66 GPH So far all of my equipment has been found from old projects 😎 Current FTS 8/19/20 4 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Yes another dust it off and get in the contest tank. Welcome aboard! I hope I can find the time to check out that old thread. for this tank. 1 Quote Link to comment
seabass Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Nice plan. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment
kimberbee Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Do you know what tank this is? It's cute!! 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted March 2, 2020 Author Share Posted March 2, 2020 12 hours ago, kimberbee said: Do you know what tank this is? It's cute!! I'm not entirely sure but I think this is it! https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/imagitarium-17-gallon-cubic-desktop-aquarium-2441395?cm_mmc=PSH-_-GGL-_-CAL-_-PME-_-PET-_-AQU-_-0-_-PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS-_-Local_Inventory_Ads-_-0&kpid=go_6471950367_76332473423_380230977733_pla-324731645754_c&utm_config=tad0iunwp&utm_campaign=PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1-3yBRCmARIsAN7B4H0b8W7zQ5XAV9xt7U7WttIZ6S6NMznJaxNhJy3zlj9q2i8NkkDz4LkaAsSlEALw_wcB 1 1 Quote Link to comment
Ratvan Posted March 2, 2020 Share Posted March 2, 2020 Yes!!! I cant wait to see what you do in this challenge. 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share Posted March 5, 2020 Alright so I got some work done on the tank. I found this dope piece of tonga branch that believe it or not my mom was using as decoration 😂 Unfortunately for her I had to reclaim it. Then came the hard part crafting the tree. I broke up a piece of dry rock that I had layin' around and started shaping the rubble with super glue. Here it is under the Par 38 Now the majority of these pieces I ended up sculpting using the chisel tool from my exacto set, slowly shaping the rock. This was a painstaking process and I shattered more than a few pieces of rubble along the way but I'm super happy with how it turned out! And amazingly the tank is wet! 1 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Looks good. What did you use to glue the pieces together? 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted March 6, 2020 Author Share Posted March 6, 2020 7 hours ago, debbeach13 said: Looks good. What did you use to glue the pieces together? Good ol' super glue gel! 2 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Yikes a day late 😅 Things are getting pretty wild out there. Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! March FTS Nothing has really changed but the cycle is almost done so hopefully I can transfer over some corals soon! 3 1 Quote Link to comment
Fryguy0201 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Seriously in love with this rock work 😍 1 Quote Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Wow. You nailed the tree. 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 1, 2020 Author Share Posted July 1, 2020 Wow I have been MIA since the pandemic hit but the tank surprisingly is still up and running! Currently home to two astera starfish and some detritus. I'd love to stock this thing eventually but I guess I gotta hold out for a huge chunk of GSP to make up for all my lost time! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Glad you checked in. Things have been tough for a few members crazy times. 2 Quote Link to comment
Aqua Splendor Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Look the positive side, there still water inside 😛 Don't worry too much for the reboot, lot of us, including me, haven't really start yet. (I'm currently cycling) 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 25, 2020 Author Share Posted July 25, 2020 Y'all I guess patience is key, a local member posted about a big chuck of GSP for $25. Snagged it this afternoon and I don't think I'll have a problem growing this in 😂 2 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share Posted July 28, 2020 Okay the star polyps have opened up and I'm really happy with the carpet! Obviously it needs to fill in a little more but it is definitely getting there. Now I have to decide the rest of stocking. I originally was planning on doing GSP for the tree as well but I would love a bit of contrast so now I'm leaning towards something red. Maybe some mushrooms? What do y'all think? 3 Quote Link to comment
cheesesteak Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 That GSP carpet is awesome. How did you secure it to the bottom? Clove polyps or Xenia at the top and mushrooms at the bottom could be cool as well. 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 30, 2020 Author Share Posted July 30, 2020 On 7/28/2020 at 7:50 PM, cheesesteak said: That GSP carpet is awesome. How did you secure it to the bottom? Clove polyps or Xenia at the top and mushrooms at the bottom could be cool as well. The GSP is actually not secured at all. The mat is heavy enough and the flow low enough that they all sit in place. Probably means I should add a bit more flow so that's in the plans! I was also thinking xenia and clove polyps because I love their movement, but I'm a little worried about them getting over run and out of control. That's why I was leaning towards mushroom since they maintain their shape and would reproduce a little less. Gonna have to stew on it 🤔 Quote Link to comment
debbeach13 Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Depends on the mushroom 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 17 minutes ago, debbeach13 said: Depends on the mushroom See that is beautiful and I think it may be exactly what I'm aiming to achieve. If I plant them like this they should grow upward to the light and as the babies sprout the will engulf the structure. They also will be easily snipped with an exacto knife. 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 I've tried a couple of other tree top options but haven't really liked how any of them looked. First I tried Cheato, I figure it's pretty close to java miss and I've see trees sculpted like that a million times I really wasn't a fan of this. I know it would grow in nicer and I do like the appeal of macros because they are easily shaped but I definitely wanted more contrast since the bottom is so green. The only saltwater store in my hometown is a Petco and as I made my masked journey for crested gecko diet today I saw a cluster of feather dusters for $15. I had a ton of hitchhiker feather dusters in my first reef tank 10 years ago and nostalgia took hold so I snagged them. Not all of them have opened up since they were just dunked in after acclimation but I do like these better then the chaeto. They are definitely more organic, but I'm still missing that bold contrast I really want. I think these little guys will move on the left side of the rock structure in the shade. 3 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Needs some cloves or zoas right around the bottom to serve as flowers... for the leaves...hmm. Torches have already been done so thats out. A BTA would probably move. Red macroalgae would probably be pretty dramatic and easy to sculpt. Red titan in-particular is hardy. 1 Quote Link to comment
Noah C Peterson Posted July 31, 2020 Author Share Posted July 31, 2020 Alright I might have jumped the gun on disliking these little worms. They are actually quite beautiful and fill up the tree nicely. I think I'll keep them there for now. If they are replaced it will probably be with some Red Titan like @Tamberav suggested. Current FTS 7/31/2020 So I guess it's time to work on the base! Maybe think about a tiny fish? I assume shrimp will bug the feather dusters too much. 5 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted July 31, 2020 Share Posted July 31, 2020 Ohhh they settled in! They look fantastic. Hopefully they do well. 1 Quote Link to comment
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