Myka's 90 gallon build & 3 province move (Pics Feb 6)

mike31154 · #1 06-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Yoiks, a masonry bit should take care of most any rock like material! Have you tried or do you have access to, dare I say it, a hammer drill to use with the masonry bit? The hammering action can make quite a difference, although it might just shatter the rock too. I know some of my pieces are rather fragile and I've broken several just rearranging them in the tank. The stuff you're dealing with sounds bulletproof though.

Didn't you mention finding some fishing line on some of the stuff? That made me think, could it be that a previous owner of the rock used that to hold it together in some fashion? Anyhow, good luck with that, usally the next day, previous frustrations are forgotten and things tend to work better. You certainly have the build well planned with regard to where you're going and what livestock...

Lance · #2 06-01-2009, 06:21 PM

[quote=mike31154;425251]Yoiks, a masonry bit should take care of most any rock like material! Have you tried or do you have access to, dare I say it, a hammer drill to use with the masonry bit? The hammering action can make quite a difference, although it might just shatter the rock too. I know some of my pieces are rather fragile and I've broken several just rearranging them in the tank. The stuff you're dealing with sounds bulletproof though.

I found if you use a hammer drill, start with a small hole and work your way up through the bit sizes until you get to the hole size you want. Less likely to shatter the rock this way.

Myka · #3 06-01-2009, 06:48 PM

I do have a hammer drill, but I haven't tried it. Thanks for the idea! I will try on the tough rocks. There are only a few or a couple that are super hard, the rest are really easy to drill.

On my next attempt I will try to incorporate PVC structures and the big black zip ties I bought and forgot I was going to use.

I have a pretty good idea how I want the whole tank to look, so ya I have the inhabitants fairly well thought out. I have a few inhabitants that are "out of the box" for me like the Bellus Angel, and a couple of the gorgonian species that I am unsure about.

fishytime · #4 06-01-2009, 11:53 PM

Sounds like a pretty wicked tank...on paper

Dont give in to frustration...Im sure happy I didnt.

banditpowdercoat · #5 06-02-2009, 01:41 AM

Ya Myka, the Hammer drill will make short work of Tonga, or any live rock. I've been using a Hammer drill all day, Bolting electric Switchgear to the rock wall in the mine all day LOL, So I know it'll drill a hole

Delphinus · #6 06-02-2009, 02:47 AM

Your only hope for Gorgonia sp. is from Cuba. The Reef Shoppe and Interior Reef have had them. I got mine from Interior Reef. Haha, maybe I should charge $100 per frag and slow down the financial hemorhaging this hobby causes me.

And .. speaking as someone who adores clams .. I don't think you can realistically expect clams to put a huge dent in your nitrate levels, unless you maybe have an otherwise *incredibly* small bioload.. Sorry - but if it were true, I'd have zero nitrates in my 110g right now and I can assure you that I don't - it's low, however, but I also use NO3 Destroyer...

Myka · #7 06-02-2009, 06:04 AM

Thanks Doug! I have been frustrated with this tank since day one...I think it's just because I don't like this part.

Dan, thanks for the tip! I will try the hammer drill on the tough pieces.

Tony the local gorgonian expert!

I was reading about the Gorgonia sp and Julian Sprung said the same as you, that the Carribean Gorgonias are easier to keep. I think I will try the other species, and see how I manage before I attempt the Gorgonias. Although from my reading is seems like the differences in all the gorgonian species are like day and night. Some grow almost like weeds, and others are nearly impossible. Some light lots of flow, some like calm waters. Some need super bright light, and others require low light. They will be a very interesting addition.

I'm no clam expert (by far), but I have read a few articles about people adding nitrate since the clams require it as a food source; keeping NO3 at 5 ppm. So I figured if I had a number of large clams in the tank that is would have some sort of measurable impact on the nitrate. Maybe not...? If not, that doesn't bother me as I have always kept very small bioloads. I haven't had a mature tank with measurable nitrate in many, many years.