What You Can Achieve With Frags

[Reefworks]

These are pictures of one of my reef tanks taken about 12 months after it was set up. The tank was set up almost entirely with frags, many of the species of which are available through the Reefworks website.
This tank was dismantled about 6 months after the pictures were taken as many of the corals had become overgrown and the over-all aquascaping was past it's best.
The tank was reset with new frags about 5 months ago, I will post some pics of the new one soon and progressively over the coming year.
I personally believe that the best looking tanks and aquascaping can be achieved using frags which grow naturally to produce a beautifull reef-scape rather than the 'fruit stall' effect which some aquariums have.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/resize%20tank6.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/resize%20tank5.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/resize%20tank4.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/resize%20tank7.JPG

[Adam C]

Looks fantastic I think! How about some bigger pics?

Thats better.

[jacksok]

Originally posted by Reefworks@Oct 20 2005, 23:00
I personally believe that the best looking tanks and aquascaping can be achieved using frags which grow naturally to produce a beautifull reef-scape rather than the 'fruit stall' effect which some aquariums have.

This is the kind of approach I am trying to follow and so obviously agree with this statement a lot, but even so not 100%.

I was looking at the photos Lisa Page has posted of her aquarium on the Reef Haven forum (http://www.reefhaven.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=563) which I think illustrate how wonderful and natural a more restrained selection of corals, that are allowed to grow to a decent size, can look.

But then it is hard to resist the candy store colours and variety of something as packed and extreme as Francis Cheh's (Scarab) setup (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6/aquarium) - which you might almost describe as a bonsai aquarium, with the corals in it all carefully trimmed and trained.

Room for both I recon ;)


Keith

[Sean the Prawn]

I absolutely love this way of stocking a reef tank, it looks so natural. I'm trying to get the same effect in my tank, using frags and small cultured colonies. Hopefully it will look as good as this one. Very impressed :bow:

Sean :thumbsup:

[wayne g]

that looks fantastic.
:bow:
i have tried to achieve this with my tank due to money constraints AND the ecological issues.
far better to have grown a garden from cuttings that rip someone else's up and loot it IMO.
not on a soap box but it does help my conscience somewhat to take a minimal amount of things from the reefs.

[Reefworks]

Could not see Lisa's tank but I am sure it is lovely. Some spectacular corals and colours in Francis's aquarium, does not look very natural to me but a beautifull display of stunning healthy corals :D

[jacksok]

Originally posted by Reefworks@Oct 21 2005, 09:40
Could not see Lisa's tank but I am sure it is lovely. Some spectacular corals and colours in Francis's aquarium, does not look very natural to me but a beautifull display of stunning healthy corals :D
Yep, Francis' is definitely unnatural!

Here's Lisa's

http://www.reefgarden.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wt1.jpg

:wub:

Keith

[marc]

Any idea how long ago that was taken Keith ? Looks awesome now!

[jacksok]

Originally posted by marc@Oct 21 2005, 11:19
Any idea how long ago that was taken Keith ? Looks awesome now!
She took that photo in the last week I think.

If you meant how long has it been set-up then just over 2 years - but some of the corals had been transfered from a previous set-up. This is a pic from her Reef Garden (http://www.reefgarden.net/index.html) site of August 2003.

http://www.reefgarden.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/wholetank2100803.jpg

Keith

[kitenski]

nice pics, any details of the lights, and if you add anything to keep dkh up please, mr reefworks?

[Reefworks]

The lighting was 2 x 250w 10K halides + 2 actinic tubes.
Water parameters were maintained with Kalkwasser and a calcium reactor plus 5-10% per month water changes.
There was the very occasional addition of magnesium when tests showed levels had dropped.
Marine delux was used infrequently.
No other additives were used.