Author Topic: Boon's Tanks and Builds (Read 14700 times)

Boonjob · « **on:** May 26, 2011, 12:29:30 »

Ok so after some long thought I think I am gonna rip down my 55gal, and restart it or maybe go bigger(I'd like to go to 75 or 90 on the display). As many already know I am having a terrible nitrate and phosphate problem(which is leading to other troubles such as the mass aiptasia I have, the algae, etc) this was a preestablished mature tank that ran for 2 years... the rock is quite large and I think laden with phosphate. I did a live move at the begining of the year and everything survived and is doing well...I have added a lot of filtration equipment since setting it up and my numbers are still far into the red(nitrates consistantly over 40ppm and can be as high as 200+; phosphastes consistantly at .5 no matter what I do- water changes included).

I haven't tested the water in about a week since doing the 40% wc and adding the scrubber... I am gonna run the numbers again tonight and if they remain unchanged I'm about 99% sure its coming apart. I plan on taking out my live stock and storing them in a 29 gall tank with a skimmer and small koralia(I plan to do atleast 10 gallon changes weekly). The rocks I plan to let dry in the sun(if it ever comes out) and then soaking in muradic acid before placing back into the dt to recycle.

I would like some input and thought on how I am gonna store my live stock over the next few weeks to months while the dt recycles. Or if this process of tearing down and restarting will actually yield the results I'm looking for...which would be no more aiptasia and stable water parameters...

cyberwollf · « **Reply #1 on:** May 26, 2011, 12:41:18 »

how soon do you plan on switching tanks? I plan on eventually tearing down my 75G with (smoked glass coast to coast overflow), and selling it before i move .

Boonjob · « **Reply #2 on:** May 26, 2011, 12:49:10 »

I Was looking to tear it down relatively soon... when you looking to tear yours down and what are you looking at in price?

Kenn · « **Reply #3 on:** May 26, 2011, 14:01:15 »

Quote from: Boonjob on May 26, 2011, 12:29:30

I would like some input and thought on how I am gonna store my live stock over the next few weeks to months while the dt recycles.

I could prob babysit any frags and corals in my frag tank when you do the break down until you get the new DT cycled.

cyberwollf · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2011, 19:24:21 »

Quote from: Boonjob on May 26, 2011, 12:49:10

I Was looking to tear it down relatively soon... when you looking to tear yours down and what are you looking at in price?

Probalby not until after summer. Im not even sure on price. What does a new 75G go for these days?

bkvreef · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2011, 20:01:45 »

Quote from: cyberwollf on May 26, 2011, 19:24:21

Probalby not until after summer. Im not even sure on price. What does a new 75G go for these days?

I'd say about $15 - $20?

Boonjob · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2011, 20:05:53 »

Quote from: cyberwollf on May 26, 2011, 19:24:21

Probalby not until after summer. Im not even sure on price. What does a new 75G go for these days?

Like 10 bucks

Reefpete · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:45:48 »

~Reefchick~ is selling her complete 90gal. set up in the classifieds boon, she is excepting offers and needs it gone soon. Just trying to help!

Boonjob · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2011, 02:48:34 »

***UPDATE***

So would it appear that my relentless and tiring efforts of resolving my phosphate and nitrate problems are looking like they might start paying off...?

My phosphates tonight read in just below .25

My nitrates came in just over 25ppm

These numbers are still high for my likings... but they are essentially cut in half since the last reading a little over a week ago...I would assume the combination of the algae scrubber(which is doing amazing) and the strenuous 36hr phosphate sponge changes are at the most to contribute to these numbers.

I plan on doing a smaller 20gal water change tomorrow(last time was 40 gal) which is about 50%dt and 25% overall

I am happy with the curve of these numbers on my spreadsheet, they aren't dropping as fast as I would like but they are clearly dropping... I am gonna put off ripping it down atm and just keep running it like this till I can set up a deal to increase the DT's size, at which I will just soak these rocks in muriatic acid just to rid them of the aiptasia and recycle the tank with the addition of more new dry rock

Reefpete · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2011, 09:32:43 »

I'm very happy that your strenuous efforts are yielding a change for the better.

I guess the moral of all of this is patients...which is one of the few things I have in spades.

micki · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2011, 09:54:16 »

Glad to hear some progress!!! Personally I think it's the addition of the frogspawn!

Kenn · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2011, 10:43:18 »

Awesome !!

Patience is the greatest tool to have in your box when it comes to this hobby

Boonjob · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2011, 10:53:45 »

Quote from: micki on May 28, 2011, 09:54:16

Glad to hear some progress!!! Personally I think it's the addition of the frogspawn!

lol the frogspawn is in another tank at the moment till I can get this one situated but maybe my inhabitants heard it was on the way so they started straitening things up.

And I have patience... But they start to run thin after I have made all these changes and not seen even the slightest change in the numbers in over 3 months.

micki · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2011, 10:56:03 »

Quote from: Boonjob on May 28, 2011, 10:53:45

maybe my inhabitants heard it was on the way so they started straitening things up.

I'm sure that was it!

Boonjob · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2011, 18:36:27 »

From this.....(yeah I know.... yuck right?, It's ok to hate)

Too (drum roll please)...... THIS!...

It is still missing a few things, but I will post more pics as I go... Power heads are on order for monday, I need to work on the vertex, and set up the ats yet.... more to come!!!!

slandis3 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2011, 18:45:28 »

So you haven't filled it with new coral yet, whats taking so long? LOL Looks good, what kinda lights are you using?

Boonjob · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2011, 18:46:05 »

Also you can't see them, but the first pic(my 50gal) has over 100 aiptasia in it... the 1st pic of my 90... I couldn't find a single one to post.... i had found 2 from the move last night... but the Kleins ate them while I was at work.

Boonjob · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2011, 18:54:54 »

Quote from: slandis3 on June 10, 2011, 18:45:28

So you haven't filled it with new coral yet, whats taking so long? LOL Looks good, what kinda lights are you using?

No lol But I am itching soo bad to start adding corals.... aside from Micki's frogspawn I have yet to purchase or place a single coral in the last 8 months I have been in this hobby....I have the par meter right now and I am mapping out the PAR on various locations so I know where I can add certain light intensive things. My wife is gonna buy me a maxima clam which I couldn't be more excited about(just have to wait to make sure the Kleins got all the aiptasia for sure, so I can move him).

As for the Lights they are 2 metal halide 175w(not sure of the K, but they are rather blue so I would venture 14-20?) and then it has 3 fixtures of PC, actinics all around on those.

The model number on the unit comes up as this(48 inch Current USA Outer Orbit 2x150W 10K HQI-MH w/ 2x130W Dual Actinic & 6 Lunar Lights)... but someone has been into it and replaced and changed alot of the internals. I just added two fans to it yesterday, and plan on replacing the lights all the way around sometime this month

slandis3 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2011, 19:27:34 »

It looks like a 20k color to me. Looks good, I have a tear drop maxma I got for aquariums ect back in 2006 still doing great. They are pretty hardy clams.

Kenn · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2011, 19:45:13 »

Looks really great Cody

Just a suggestion ... Place your mushrooms on the sand bed next to a rock. They will start growing up it. and they will like the lower PAR. Just IMO

micki · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2011, 21:39:15 »

Looks great Cody!!!

lazylivin · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2011, 23:05:23 »

What a great improvement! Nice work man.

Love the rock-scape

Sunny · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:49:06 »

Nice !! Looks great. Love the rock work.

Boonjob · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2011, 12:53:12 »

Quote from: Kenn on June 10, 2011, 19:45:13

Looks really great Cody

Just a suggestion ... Place your mushrooms on the sand bed next to a rock. They will start growing up it. and they will like the lower PAR. Just IMO

Thanks for the suggestion Kenn I will be sure to do that... do they just pluck off the rock? I have never moved em(they came on the rock) and don't want to hurt them.

And that supposed ricordia looks 100% different under these lights, I will try to get a pick he is a real vibrant green

Kenn · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2011, 13:04:49 »

I wouldnt pluck it off ... It looks like it is attached to small rocks. you could just place the small rocks on the bottom.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Boon's Tanks and Builds (Read 14700 times)