Downhill's 200g Starfire Marineland Deep Dimension

Mike, I am glad I found it too. It was starting to look like a lost cause, and just before we were going to leave we spotted some. We kept looking and looking after that and kept finding pieces here and there.

Jesse, it was awesome having you out there. We had some great conversations and found some great rock/sand. I would have been lost without you there, so I am glad you came along and had "some" familiarity with the terrain.

Turbostud653, thanks. I am having difficulties getting the rockwork to look exactly like I want it to, but as soon as the water clears up I will post pics and get everyone here to help. The problem is too many big pieces. I may have to break them up a little bit to get it to be more open.

Right now I am in the "hurry up and wait" stage. I am topping off tank, got about 40g to go, and I am mixing salt. Water is still really cloudy. I have 2 koralia 4's in there right now (got 2 more that will go in later) and have a canister filter with carbon and floss in it, to help clear water. Once I am done with this I will be waiting about a month before I add some xenia. I still have the canopy to build, and have the stand and canopy to sheet with black material.

Here is a new shot. Redid aquascaping. It looks better, but I am still not completely satisfied with it. I am thinking that some figi  or tonga live rock could dresses it up a little. I am thinking of adding another arch across the back, and just making it a giant u shape. What do you guys think?









Edited by downhill_biker - June 14 2009 at 2:48pm

thanks mike. i was thinking that i will have the back be the highest part of the rockwork, and go down from there tapering toward the front. similar to how it is now, but trying to open it up more.

also edited the photos. i had a double pic in there, and now i have the side view that i was supposed to have.

I think this is a great project. I hope to build a large tank myself some time, if I can talk my wife into it.

So the DSB replaces LR in the sump?

So I think it's time for an update. On tuesday I received my new pump (reeflo barracuda) and my new controller (AC Jr). I dont have the controller set up but the plumbing is mosty done. Due to the high cost of acrylic I decided to custom fit some salt bucket baffles. In the picture showing the sump the closest pic will be the drain, and is about 2" higher than the return bucket, which will determine the water level of the entire sump. Should work out pretty well, IMO.

Below the tank, going down to the

From the floor to the sump in the basement:


And the sump:



I also got some new rock, that has some very interesting shapes, so I redid my rockwork. It is finally starting to look like something I like. Not quite perfect, but better. Of course any comments or suggestions are always appreciated, everyone has a different eye for aquascaping.

tileman wrote: The rockwork is MUCH better now.  It is starting to look like a real nice design. I never have liked the look of utahrock, but thats just me.

Ya, I really liked the idea of collecting your own rock, and it was a very fun experience, but this rock just looks much better. When you have some interesting shapes it just gives you so much more to work with.

should be digging safe. i am staying away from pistol shrimp or jawfish. also staying away from sandsifting gobys. mainly i will have some snails in the sand, a couple conch's, and a sandsifting star.

There is some great looking rock in there. And, I am with MadReefer, Godd idea with the buckets.

I really like the aquascaping now,
Once it grows in you'll really like the two islands look, gives you much more area on the sand bed to place corals/clams. 
The fish should have plenty of swimming room and good hiding places as well.