Considering Temporary Breakdown

[digitalreefer]

Just wanted to get some opinions on this...

After much consideration, I've decided that I won't be able to upgrade anytime in the forseeable future. Since upgrading is not an option, I'm thinking about breaking down my tank so that I can set it back up properly. I would like to eliminate all traces of tap water that are in the tank from when I started the tank, replace my sand with a more suitable substrate for sand dwellers and set up the aquascape for better placement of corals. In addition, I would like to drill my tank and set up a sump/fuge so that I can eventually upgrade my skimmer and free up space in the display tank.

The fish would be kept, but I may get rid of much of my coral and get new stuff once the tank is properly set up.

Thoughts?

 

[Deanos]

Based on what you want to accomplish, there doesn't seem to be a need to breakdown the tank for more than 1 day.

• Eliminate all traces of tap water - may not be worthwhile, unless you also cook the rocks.
• Replace the sand - what's more suitable for sand-dwellers than sand
• Re-aquascape - can be done in 1 day
• Drill tank - see above
• Set up a sump/refuge - see above

 

[jackson6745]

If you feel that you can improve upon your existing setup then I think its a great idea. If you have a few nice corals that you feel will be difficult to replace, you should let someone hold them for you.

 

[House of Laughter]

Agreed !!

I would start from scratch and cook your rock if that's what you are thinking.

House

 

[fritz]

I agree with Dean / Rich, I used tap water for one year and I've gotten rid of all* traces in a few months without breaking my tank down or replacing my rock. I think breaking your tank down, drilling it, new sand, phosban reactor, carbon and good skimming it take care of everything in shorter an amount of time than you think.

I don't think you need to cook the rock though. Why do you think you need to cook the rock?

 

[SlamaJama]

if u need help eric, were thr...all of the above posts apply, if u need space for corals, i or others im sure can accomodate...let us kno

 

[loismustdie]

Eric, I'll help you out if you need it. Like I told you when I came over... don't worry about upgrading. Improve what you've got. It's a cool tank. I've got the drill bit.

 

[SlamaJama]

loismustdie...lmao

 

[gnatp2]

Eric,
Remember my tank? You saw it about 1 day after I had broken everything down. I had pulled out everything in the tank except the sand (which wouldn't be that much harder). I definately recommend breaking it all down if you aren't happy with the aquascape. The tap water probably isn't that big of an issue if you just get a couple large water changes in there and use some carbon in my opinion. I've got a few large rubbermaid containers that were just about the perfect size to store live rock/corals in for a day or so while you go through the process if you'd like to borrow them. This sounds like a full 1 day project and I think putting all your stuff in a couple rubbermaids should do the trick.

Good luck,
Nate

 

[Pedro]

Dude, in two weeks i did a full transformation. I setup a rubbermaid bin with the fish and corals, then i cleaned out the old one. Set it back up, let it cycle and i am back betten than before. Just take your time, plan it right and you will only have to do it once. Good luck!

 

[TimberTDI]

Dig,

I'm in the same boat. I've been putting off the temporary breakdown for months now. I know I can it everything done in one day, just not sure if I can find one uninterrupted day.

Steven

 

[digitalreefer]

Thanks all... I think I'm going to do the following

1. Decide what corals I want to keep or get rid of and prepare accodingly

2. Prepare RO/DI saltwater and prepare plumbing and a sump

3. Move the fish into the frag tank for the day and move the non-glued corals into my frag tank.

4. Put the rocks into a rubbermaid full of fresh RO/DI saltwater with heavy flow to try to rinse them of excess tapwater.

5. Drill and plumb the tank

6. Put my new sand and the rock in to the tank

7. Get the fish and corals back in.

8. Have a beer

If I plan this well, it should take about a half day to get the fish back in.

My reason for wanting to replace the sand is that when I started I bought cheap crushed shells and mixed them with a semi-coarse sand and it's impossible to clean and too coarse and shallow for sand dwellers.

My reason for wanting to get rid of the tap quickly is to try to quash my cyano problem. (It's starting to take to my SPS which is bad)

I want to drill it because I could use more water and as long as I'm taking it down I may as well drill it.

 

[fritz]

Good thinking, your substrate is probably holding as much phosphate as your rock is so replacing it will be good. The only problem you're going to run into is getting the phosphate out of your tank. Your rock will continue to leach the phosphate into the tank and it will take a while to rid yourself of cyano. A phosban reactor of some culerpa will go a long way to holding it in check. If it gets really bad I have some chemi-clean but that treats the symptom not the problem.

Let me know when you're going to do this so I can help and enjoy the post tank upgrade beer.

 

[cali_reef]

Make sure you rinse out the new sand well before you use it, otherwise the sand storm will prevent you from finish this in one day.

I would just keep the livestock in temporary housing for a week or two and wait for the tank to stabilize a bit before moving them back in, thats just me.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Thanks all... I think I'm going to do the following

1. Decide what corals I want to keep or get rid of and prepare accodingly

2. Prepare RO/DI saltwater and prepare plumbing and a sump

3. Move the fish into the frag tank for the day and move the non-glued corals into my frag tank.

4. Put the rocks into a rubbermaid full of fresh RO/DI saltwater with heavy flow to try to rinse them of excess tapwater.

5. Drill and plumb the tank

6. Put my new sand and the rock in to the tank

7. Get the fish and corals back in.

8. Have a beer

If I plan this well, it should take about a half day to get the fish back in.

My reason for wanting to replace the sand is that when I started I bought cheap crushed shells and mixed them with a semi-coarse sand and it's impossible to clean and too coarse and shallow for sand dwellers.

My reason for wanting to get rid of the tap quickly is to try to quash my cyano problem. (It's starting to take to my SPS which is bad)

I want to drill it because I could use more water and as long as I'm taking it down I may as well drill it.

Hope you are using RO/DI SALTWATER, not fresh RO/DI water, you will kill the bacteria in the rock and you will run into a cycle worse than you start the project before. Check the RED.

Also, phosphate does not come off the rock like sand or detrius. It takes time for it to leech back out to the water column in chemical reactions. Therefore, what you do will only rinse out the traces of tape water but not phosphate binded onto the rocks.

 

[Deanos]

Hope you are using RO/DI SALTWATER, not fresh RO/DI water, you will kill the bacteria in the rock and you will run into a cycle worse than you start the project before. Check the RED.

It says saltwater :shhh:

 

[digitalreefer]

It says saltwater :shhh:

I was confused there too... :smoker:

 

[loismustdie]

I would just keep the livestock in temporary housing for a week or two and wait for the tank to stabilize a bit before moving them back in, thats just me.

Eric, I agree with Pierce on this. You've got enough tanks. You can house your LS for a week or 2 that way we have time to set up the tank right. This may also give you the opportunity to soak your rock in fresh RO/DI water and vinegar to leach out those phosphates. Don't worry about seeding. There are enough guys on the board who can give you some rubble rock to seed. (Maybe you can take that huge rock out of my tank with the red pavona on it:scratchch)

 

[PalmTree]

Hey Eric. I think its a great idea. Half the challange is actually doing it. I would try to spread it out over a couple of days. No need to rush especially if you are trying to get rid of all the phosphates. Cooking the rocks is not a bad idea either but that might take much longer. I did my transformation over 2 monthes. I know that sounds really long but it was well worth it. Gave me enough time to really plan it right and believe me its not perfect.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I was confused there too... :smoker:

Oops. Misread. haha :shhh: :iamwithst :shhh: Don't tell anyone.