9 to 5 - Reef in a Bottle 🏴‍☠ Caribbean Carboy

[NatureGuy]

Are you gonna keep this running after the contest? 

[seabass]

3 hours ago, NatureGuy said:

Are you gonna keep this running after the contest? 

Yeah, I'll keep it running for at least a few months.  It should be a relatively low maintenance tank.  However, it was never my intention to keep this tank going long-term.  We'll have to see how it goes.

[seabass]

Pederson Anemone Shrimp :

 

 

[WV Reefer]

44 minutes ago, seabass said:

Pederson Anemone Shrimp :

 

 

Such a pretty shrimp. 

[seabass]

That's a Corky Sea Finger Gorgonian up front.  I know it currently looks a bit upset and weirdly shaped.

 

[Merthynia]

5 hours ago, seabass said:

Pederson Anemone Shrimp :

 

 

This shrimp is very pretty! Hopefully it’ll be very visible for you in this particular tank.

2 hours ago, seabass said:

That's a Corky Sea Finger Gorgonian up front.  I know it currently looks a bit upset and weirdly shaped.

 

I’m excited to see this gorg after it finishes the temper tantrum. Let me know if you’d like a thinner photosynthetic gorg to go with it for this tank. I fragged a ton of them several weeks ago. Depending on what part of Iowa you are in?

[seabass]

My Scarlet Reef Hermit, Johnny Derp, (named after Snow_Phoenix's crab, Derp) decided to climb "Mount Everest".

 

 

Larry the shrimp (I always name my shrimp Larry).

 

Corky finger gorgonian.

[NatureGuy]

Haha, the names are great! 

[kimdawg]

I am glad your tank came together.  Love your shrimp, and good luck in the contest.

[seabass]

A few pics that I took earlier:

Full Tank Shot

 

Rock Flower Anemones

 

Caribbean blue zoanthids and macroalgae

[seabass]

Two Gallon Food Container Sump:

 

Sorry for the poor pic.  It's not in a good spot to take pictures.

 

It currently contains a Maxi-Jet 900 return pump (over 15 years old) and a 15W Deep Blue Heat Stik Mini heater.  I originally anticipated using an Inkbird temperature controller, but the under powered 15W heater (which is always on) never gets the temp up to 80°F.

 

The large PVC pipe (which surrounds the drainpipe) prevents bubbles from entering the return, as well as keeping salt creep (from the popping bubbles) from accumulating on stuff nearby.

[Snow_Phoenix]

On 5/5/2022 at 8:07 AM, seabass said:

My Scarlet Reef Hermit, Johnny Derp, (named after Snow_Phoenix's crab, Derp) decided to climb "Mount Everest".

 

 

Oh, dear Lord - I remember Derp! He was constantly climbing over things and knocking them over in my picoreef! 🤣🤣🤣

[seabass]

Caribbean Decor:

 

I tried out a ship background (for a ship in a bottle); although I'm not a huge fan.

 

Instead of coating the coins, I went with placing them outside of the bottle.

I'm a bigger fan of the pirate doubloons than the ship background.

[seabass]

[Tamberav]

I like the coins outside a lot... it is a neat idea to combine elements outside the bottle in the scape. 

 

[seabass]

Probably due to the sump (or, IDK, maybe a little as appreciation for my help with the contest); but it looks like this tank is doing well in the most impressive or innovative filtration (a.k.a. "wettest water") voting category.  However, currently, there isn't any filter media in it.

 

I do, however, really appreciate the recognition; and thanks to all who have voted.  So now it has me thinking that maybe I'll add a Tee fitting to the pipe surrounding the drainpipe.  Then I could put some bagged media (or filter floss) in the opening.  Should make for a fairly decent filter.

[Tamberav]

It is a badass sump with a handle lol 🙂

[aclman88]

I think you are selling yourself a little short. Your tank idea and execution is really fascinating. So, while some voting may be due to appreciation, if you didn’t have a drilled fermentation carboy with a juice pitcher as a sump, I doubt you would be winning that category so handidly.

 

[seabass]

I didn't even realize that I already had this Penn Plax Pirate Ship (and it even fits):

 

It might not stay in there, but I'll at least get a pic of it inside.