120g Tank overhaul

[droog]

Hi,

I have a fairly successful/stable 120g mixed reef. Shallow sand bed and maybe 150lb of LR. I'm still new to the hobby (18months or so) and learned a few things the hard way. Recently things seem to be working much better and I'd like to take the tank up a level. Current issues:

1] Lobophora variegata algae on about 20% of rocks, crowding some corals
2] GSP taking over in some places
3] A boring / unpleasing aquascape

Considering a tank overhaul for fun. The primary reason is to build a better / pleasing and minimalist aquascape. Secondary reason to get rid of GSP that are starting to take over and cut back the brown/black plating lobophora algae.

Plan would be to adding a MarinePure block or two and letting it seed for a month. Then slowly taking out a majority of my LR from the DT and replacing with artificial rock that I can use to build a more pleasing aquascape with.

Does this seem like a reasonable plan of action. Any gotcha's I should consider?

-droog

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Need to see some pictures of your tank, full tank shots and shots of your problem areas.

 

[droog]

iPhone pics from last night.

FTS

Lobophora issue - looks like this in many places

GSP

The RBTA I just isolated. Going back to the LFS tomorrow because it was getting too big and killing all my other corals.

-droog

 

[runninlow]

I have the same size tank and its perfect to aquascape. i took a bunch of time thinking about how i wanted mines to look. i ended up going with isolation mountains.
i should of taken a pictuer of the top view but each rock scape is about 2 inchs apart from each other. this way if something does get too big or a mountain gets over run it wont spread over and if i want to remove i can. i added grates under the sand and my sand bed is about 3/4 inch deep. i will be added a bit more sand since i will be moving my gobies and pistol shrimps over.
good luck on the new scape and take your time.


front view

side view

 

[scooter31707]

Just take your time and see how you want it. I have the same tank, it's a great tank to have options for aqua-scape. For as the GSP problems, I would make a small island on the sandbed so it cannot spread.

 

[CStrickland]

why start over with fake rock instead of just move yours around?

 

[droog]

I might do a combination.

The rocks I have are fine, but they are hard to balance/scape - at least with my meagre skills. I feel that the artificial/interlocking rock may be easier for me. The rock had all kinds of pests when first introduced to my tank. Under control now, but the lobophora is a problem - and that algae thrives in good, clean water

-droog