Check these out too:

(sorry had to make space for some new pic) coral frag holder (just attach frag to whole in the middle with ceramic glue)

(sorry had to make space for some new pic) clams holder

by the way, those background plates are actually quiet reasonably priced. Approx 350 Euro to cover up a 100 Gallon tank. That's like $500. You would have to spend the same (if not more) for live rock. (or wouldn't you?) of course the shipment charges would just kill you :sad:

Frag holder = 40 Euro

Ang

These are the ones I was looking at last year, kind of the same idea.
http://www.3d-aquarium-backgrounds.c...y/prod_11.html


In Taiwan they had some plain black molded foam reef backgrounds that were cheap and looked awesome once they were covered in coraline. I was already over limit on my luggage. I should ask the Brother-in-law if he could track them down.

Reef Ceramics
 

We do distribute reefceramics in canada ,all pieces in stock & you can get them from our dealers,in case of Alberta Golds would be the best place to go with for reef ceramic ,Albert knows about those pieces & he can bring them in if you wish.
The other benefit of using Reef ceramics over live rock is minimal cycling ,with almost no algae cycles ,there is no nutrient build up & no pests of any kind,they are real ceramic made out of calcium based material & porous.
The shapes are amazing ,my favorites are the back wall plates.

So if you went ceramic,you would still have to find a pod population somewhere.Or maybe still have some live rock.

All you will need for pods ,is the rocks that your corals are attached to or a piece of macro algae in fuge .
You can also purchase various different live pods or other organisms from LFS in a bottle.
You can also throw a couple small pieces of LR in tank for that reason.
IMHO the best thing about Reefceramics ,is ZERO NUTRIENT BUILD UP & THEREFORE NO ALGAE CYCLES.

If you exported a bunch of Chaeto from another refugium, you'd be in good shape.

On that note, sometimes I see people putting more work into getting a pod population going than they do into making a tank that they're proud to look at. Personally, I think the role of microcrustaceans is largely overrated. Unless you're trying to keep a Mandarin or similar fish alive, your time is better spent watching paint dry. Just my opinion of the whole pod thing though. :P

My Hawk likes pods,but ya I have lots in my sump.

Thanks for the link Albert, cool stuff! The Aqua Medic nano looks interesting, Giesman always slick stuff too of course.

The Arche Noah lights jumped out at me, very nice form factor. Most impressive has to be the new Sieo stuff though, led mini lights, a new hob skimmer and that Polario pump all look pretty interesting.

anyone lese notice this clam pic?

http://www.korallenriff.de/29interzoo/lage_6.jpg

Personally, I'm drooling over those hydor recirc needlewheel skimmers... Too bad we dont have a dealer anymore... Ah well, thank god for ebay.

And for those who can't read german - google toolbar - right click "translate page to english" ;)

I am not sure I quite understand this as it doesn't make sense. I can see that there will be a reduced algae cycle as it come practically new with nothing to contribute to the algae cycle, but are you saying that if I have the ceramic rock in my tank for 3 years there won't be any nutrient build up at all? If so the only reason I can see that happening is if bacteria or anything else won't populate it. Seeing that it is porous then I would expect bacteria to develop with in it and turn it into a type of live rock.

I guess just the way it is worded is funny to me as of course it will have a nutrient build up over time but it doesn't come with one.

Steve