One new tank…A million ideas!
16 Comments
I’m deep into the planning on my first new aquarium in 2 years. It’s a great feeling, I’m now in that most exciting phase of the planning process (in my warped opinion, anyways): the “Which idea do I try?†phase! On the surface, this seems like a really great place to be- and it is-but it’s actually a very crucial (and sometimes soul-searching) process that can make the difference between a memorable, unique display and “just another tank.†In 30-plus years in the hobby, I’ve tried a lot of stuff. And, let’s face it- I’ve set the bar pretty high for myself!  Big mouth that I am, I’ve spent that last two years jet-setting around the country talking up unique system design and aquascaping at clubs, conferences, and in various aquatic media…So-It’s practically expected of me that I do something a bit different. Man, it’s time to put up or shut up!  Who needs this pressure! This self-appointed “purveyor of inspiration†and ideas for the hobby should take some of his own advice. Maybe I’ll just have FUN! I’ll just do what pleases me. Yeah!
Rather than trying to create a system specifically designed to knock everyone’s socks off with some brilliantly radical concepts, I’m thinking I might actually come up with a semi-conventional concept done REALLY well. You know- just great quality animals displayed in an attractive manner. On the other hand, I’ve kicked around a few slightly different ideas for my 40â€x40â€x22†semi-cube, open-topped aquarium:
I have coveted creating an open top mangrove biotope, or a simulated Palau “coral islandâ€. I could try to construct a Dictyota and macro-algae-encrusted rock structure with just a few corals…No, wait- maybe another seagrass meadow, with a huge growth of Thalassia (Turtle Grass) and minimal rockwork, and a bunch of Fungia and Goniopora in the sand.  I mean, I DO have Justin Credabel on my speed dial! Or, perhaps THIS will be the display where I just build an aquascape consisting entirely of a pile of coral rubble with a smattering of ultra-neon-pink Pocillopora? No, wait- maybe I’ll do a group of small “bommiesâ€, with some open sand in between for my Fungia collection..but this time, I’ll use that dark substrate I flirted with in my last system. That will make the colors pop!
Of course, I can always do a monspecific aquarium, featuring a few of my beloved bright yellow Sarcophyton on several small rocky structures, and maybe a smattering of other corals just because I’m a reefer. Is THIS the aquarium that I revisit the idea of an entire “garden†of zoanthids and minimal rock? Hmmm. Wait a minute…perhaps I will create a biotope for Jawfish…Some low-lying rock structures and a LOT of open sand (of course- the DARK sand that I was talking about…). Ya know what? I could try a version of Kyle Verry’s “Volcano†tank, with rock projecting clean out of the water. Love that tank. On the other hand, I love rare Centropyge angelfish, and I could  crank up the chiller and simulate a rocky  Ester Island reef structure with lots of nooks and crannies for a group of C. hotumatua to forage among. Wow- I’ve had that bug up my *** about one day creating a biotope featuring the “Marine Betta†in a group, or perhaps a colony of Yellow Assessors, with a big, low-lying rocky cave. Boy, I do love the Royal Gramma, though…How cool would it be to dedicate a large tank to the fish of my childhood? Like 50 of em!
But wouldn’t a system dedicated entirely to the needs of Garden Eels be sooo radical? Well, there is always the idea I’ve had of a tank devoted exclusively to Halichoeres wrasses…some mixed grain sand and lots of little caves and crevices for them to hide and hunt in. You know…I COULD try to simulate just the top of the reef, with a low lying matrix of rock covering the entire bottom, with no substrate and my new Vortec MP 40’s cranked up full blast on a collection of Acropora gemmifora or A. millepora…Hmmm. I saw a movie once about Fiji and it’s ridiculously lush growth of soft corals…Maybe a system with only super-choice Sinularia and a ton of current? Well, I have always wanted to do a monospecific anemone biotope with just one huge anemone on a large rock structure…but maybe I’m better off doing a shallow-water Condylactis anemone “field†and some Caribbean fish. But a Fiji tidepool beckons…
Maybe I’ll just build a rock wall!  ;)  Just kidding!
No- maybe it’s time for another tank. Or a few other tanks! Photo above by FlickR user Telephema
Till next time…Stay wet
Scott Fellman
I love it! I think you in the stage with the most fun. You can change your mind at anytime. But once you committ…..
Looking forward to reading about the build, but more importantly the thought process you go through to find your ‘unique’ aquarium.
December 5th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
What ever you decide to do, try to keep it a biotope; that will make it much more interesting.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:42 am
This really is a fun time! I’m trying to balance my desire to do something entirely natural with the desire to simply try some new aquascaping ideas…My last two tanks have been biotopes, and I’ve been giving some thought to keeping the string alive..Like I wrote in the blog- I’m all over the place! Too much fun!
December 6th, 2009 at 2:20 am
SHOCK everyone and do a freshwater tank.
December 6th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Too late Mark, I helped and urged Scott to set up a small tonina style planted tank over a year ago. He is going to reapply some of those aquascaping techniques and lessons to this new tank.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Yup- Jake is right! I’m a newly-re-minted FW junkie, and I’m going to play around with those techniques I’ve learned…There is so much to learn from FW design that is applicable to reefs it’s not even funny. Jake is so far on the cutting edge in that area, you wouldn’t believe it! He could do an entire series of articles on the amazing little displays that he has in his house…
December 6th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Hey funny you say that.
My new cube has like takashi amano influences from the women i work with who does planted tanks. I did some japanese style rock work with Oar grass in the sand bed.
I agree with the FW influences, after seeing some of his tanks i couldnt beleive how manicured and biotopish they are.
My new tank also features a purple base magnifica anemone and a pair of leuckranos clowns.
Id go for a half and half biotop with with a low lying reef and with a dsb and put some turtle grass in the front with some garden eels. That big of a cube you could probably build a barrier to keep the grass back.
Im looking forward to your build.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Where can I see other tanks that Jake Adams and Scott Fellman have done? I know that you guys are master tank builders and I would like to get some new ideas for mine.
December 6th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Yo Scotty! set up five; 30″ x 27″ x 18″ tall all on one stand, all plumbed down into one sump. 5 different themes up above. I’ve been to your awesome house before, I know you got at least 12 feet of space to work with!
December 6th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Scott how about an “Old Skool” rendition of a mid-80s tank? You could get a rock wall going, a nifty wet/dry with some hair curlers and a skilter or two ;^)
December 6th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Here is a video of my Tonina Style planted aquarium
December 6th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
You guys are getting me all fired up now! Once the tank build gets under way, I’ll definitely get some pics up for everyone to see the progress, from concept to completion. I have done so little documentaiton of my tank work in the past- I definitely will share this stuff!
Ali- you are a madman! If money, time and resources where there, I would actually try a multi-level system like that! I’m leaning towards something biotopic with a little aesthetic twist…probably something with really nice, colorful soft corals and a collection of Fungia with a dark substrate, perhaps with a section of Halodule seagrass. I really like dark substrates in marine tanks. You don’t see too many marine tanks with dark substrates. I attribute this to 1) There haven’t been that many choices of dark susbtrates until recently 2)Dark substrates are not commonly encountered in nature (with a number of noteable exceptions) and 3) Very few examples of good-looking marine tanks with dark substrates exist for inspiration! I hope to help change that! If you want to see a cool softie tank, look for the link here on Reefbuilders to the “Japanese Style Soft Coral Tank” in Ali’s store…It’s in a great video shot by Jake…This tank has inspired me quite a bit, and I think everyone will enjoy it! Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pl82HUpUtU
December 6th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Oh- B. Blank—What a COOL idea! Retro 80′s tank! Nice! If I can just locate my Dupla Bioballs and my Coralife “Lahina” tank from 1987, I’m in business!
December 7th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Jake that is one of the best tanks, I have ever seen. Nice one.
As for your tank Scott, I think you need to think of how it will be viewed, will it be from all four sides, three, or just two (like in a corner). Also you mentioned it is an open tank so will you want to cover it for your fish, or is the open top more important if so jawfish are out.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I vote for the Easter Island with your favorite fish, C. hotumatu. For the rock work, you could have a few Easter Island heads custom made to resemble you.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:06 am
A fun idea! Damn..I DO sort of resemble those Moai statues- don’t I?..Maybe if I go to E.I., they will think I am a deity or something and catch me all of the C. hotumatua that I want…Where’s my passport…? Where’s John Coppolino?…Where’s my credit card?
December 7th, 2009 at 9:20 am