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I got a great deal on a 90 gallon tank and wood stand on craigslist. So, my mbuna are going to get an upgrade from their current 55. I took some time to set up the tank with under gravel jets and a DIY rock/foam background. My intention for teh background was to combine these two ideas.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375191
http://www.duboisi.com/diy/BNdiygrotto/bndiygrotto.htm
I wanted to end up with a natural looking 3D background that hides all of the intakes/returns/heaters/etc, and which also incorporates some caves similar to the second link.
I used a mag 950 pump and 1/2" PVC in a closed loop for the 5 undergravel jets, and I also put two jets up higher in the back corners to be like powerheads. I used loc-line for all of the actual jets, so they can be re-aimed as needed.
I also hate how detritus always accumulates in the gravel under rock piles, so in addition to the jets I am trying a new method of avoiding that. I laid blocks of 2.5" thick flat sandstone, spaced out on the bottom before adding sand. I then added sand to about the level of the bricks. I used large pieces of lace rock/holey rock that sit mostly on the bricks. So the rocks sit on the bricks, and the bricks sit on the glass, there is less place for large amounts of debris to gather in the substrate beneath the rocks. I think this will help the under gravel jets to be more effective.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375191
http://www.duboisi.com/diy/BNdiygrotto/bndiygrotto.htm
I wanted to end up with a natural looking 3D background that hides all of the intakes/returns/heaters/etc, and which also incorporates some caves similar to the second link.
I used a mag 950 pump and 1/2" PVC in a closed loop for the 5 undergravel jets, and I also put two jets up higher in the back corners to be like powerheads. I used loc-line for all of the actual jets, so they can be re-aimed as needed.
I also hate how detritus always accumulates in the gravel under rock piles, so in addition to the jets I am trying a new method of avoiding that. I laid blocks of 2.5" thick flat sandstone, spaced out on the bottom before adding sand. I then added sand to about the level of the bricks. I used large pieces of lace rock/holey rock that sit mostly on the bricks. So the rocks sit on the bricks, and the bricks sit on the glass, there is less place for large amounts of debris to gather in the substrate beneath the rocks. I think this will help the under gravel jets to be more effective.