245 Gallon Michigan Reef Tank
- Thread starter rldcpa
- Start date
rldcpa
New member
I had a major event where I lost half of my fish. At first everyone thought that it must be Velvet, but I believe it was a bacterial bloom caused by a few changes I made.
1. Stopped GAC and
2. Stocked the tank fairly full and
3. Dosed for 3 weeks straight Coral Vitalizer and Pohl's Xtra. For the amount of corals I had in the tank, this was way too much. Algae bloomed which was a warning to me, that I ignored. Then fish started dying for no apparent reason.
Immediately I did water changes, started GAC and stopped the additives and turned down the lights. Half the fish died within 3-4 days. My powder blue tang died first followed by 7 chromis, 2 clowns and a couple of gobies.
4 of the 5 tangs lived, the wrasse, lawmower goby, and 5 chromis lived.
All fish are now doing better than ever.
The additives did help the corals grow and color up. I stopped using the additives for the last 3 weeks and corals still look great. I will dose only once a week instead of 7 days a week.
Here are some photos of some of the corals (from a Iphone)
1. Stopped GAC and
2. Stocked the tank fairly full and
3. Dosed for 3 weeks straight Coral Vitalizer and Pohl's Xtra. For the amount of corals I had in the tank, this was way too much. Algae bloomed which was a warning to me, that I ignored. Then fish started dying for no apparent reason.
Immediately I did water changes, started GAC and stopped the additives and turned down the lights. Half the fish died within 3-4 days. My powder blue tang died first followed by 7 chromis, 2 clowns and a couple of gobies.
4 of the 5 tangs lived, the wrasse, lawmower goby, and 5 chromis lived.
All fish are now doing better than ever.
The additives did help the corals grow and color up. I stopped using the additives for the last 3 weeks and corals still look great. I will dose only once a week instead of 7 days a week.
Here are some photos of some of the corals (from a Iphone)
rldcpa
New member
Here is a video a couple of weeks before the event.
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/rldcpa/media/006-2_zps3dfaaacb.mp4.html
http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/rldcpa/media/006-2_zps3dfaaacb.mp4.html
rldcpa
New member
I was going to place an order today, but decided to wait one more week.
I would like to replace a few of the fish I lost due to my event by getting two clowns, 2 gobies and a royal gramma and maybe get a leather coral.
I will take it a bit slower as I never want to go through that again.
I would like to replace a few of the fish I lost due to my event by getting two clowns, 2 gobies and a royal gramma and maybe get a leather coral.
I will take it a bit slower as I never want to go through that again.
rldcpa
New member
So on Friday I got 2 new clowns, 2 gobies and 2 new corals. then the power went out and rushed out to get a generator. $400 later got it running and saved my fish and corals.
Power came on Saturday and everything is doing great.
I will update pictures later this week.
As a side note I upgraded my return pump from the Water Blaster 7000 to the 10000 to get more flow through the sump and the tank. It uses the same size fittings so it took only minutes for the change out and no plumbing was needed.
I may keep it as a spare in case of emergency.
Power came on Saturday and everything is doing great.
I will update pictures later this week.
As a side note I upgraded my return pump from the Water Blaster 7000 to the 10000 to get more flow through the sump and the tank. It uses the same size fittings so it took only minutes for the change out and no plumbing was needed.
I may keep it as a spare in case of emergency.
tramboneplayer5
New member
Hi, I recently read through your thread. Your tank looks great! I am wondering exactly what you meant by the 2nd issue. Are you saying that the open channel is now dry? In other words, you have one pipe at full siphon, a dry Durso, and a dry emergency pipe? Also, how well is the overflow working after having it set up like this for a while?
Also, thanks for making a nice build thread.
rldcpa
New member
Yes one pipe is full vacuum with gate valve, 2nd pipe is open and only has a very small amount of water going down it (you adjust the gate until the 2nd pipe finally gets a small amount of water to enter it), and the 3rd pipe is for emergency backup. I started with a durso for the 2nd but got rid of it as its silent without it.
Also, I started with a WB 7000 and later replaced it with the 10,000 just to get a bit more flow. The 7000 is now a backup. They both use the same size fittings so I can just swap them out at any time in about 2 minutes.
If you do it right, you will have no splashing, no micro bubbles, no noise and good flow.
So how quiet is it....silent. The only noise from the tank at all is a slight hum from the skimmer and I have 4 powerheads (silent), 1 UV pump (silent), 1 refugium pump (silent).
Also, I started with a WB 7000 and later replaced it with the 10,000 just to get a bit more flow. The 7000 is now a backup. They both use the same size fittings so I can just swap them out at any time in about 2 minutes.
If you do it right, you will have no splashing, no micro bubbles, no noise and good flow.
So how quiet is it....silent. The only noise from the tank at all is a slight hum from the skimmer and I have 4 powerheads (silent), 1 UV pump (silent), 1 refugium pump (silent).
Split return
Split return
How do you like the split return and the piping coming down the outside of the overflow for deeper water return? I may consider having them plumb 2 separate returns just going to the top of the overflow then spilt loc line.
Do you have the Tunzes on the sea sweeps ?
Tank looks Awesome.
Split return
How do you like the split return and the piping coming down the outside of the overflow for deeper water return? I may consider having them plumb 2 separate returns just going to the top of the overflow then spilt loc line.
Do you have the Tunzes on the sea sweeps ?
Tank looks Awesome.
rldcpa
New member
Ok, to answer the post 3 up. I still do not know for sure what caused the deaths.
After the deaths, the tank has been stable. All the fish were normal except 3 Chromis which for the last 3 months have been near the top and inactive. All the other fish are doing great and are growing and eating nicely. All corals are doing well to and are growing well
I bought and installed a 80 watt Emperor UV for various reasons and to see what it would do to the inactive Chromis. The effects of the UV was that my water went from fairly clear to crystal clear. It is incredible how clear a UV will make your tank.
After about 30-45 days of running the UV, the Chromis got better. They are more active, eating better and swim around a lot more.
I believe the UV has killed either bacteria or some disease that was affecting the smaller fish like the Chromis. I am not saying that a UV can kill all diseases in a tank, but it will kill all disease that go through the unit.
So the UV looks like it is a great addition to a reef aquarium and it has not hurt my corals at all as they are growing nicely.
After the deaths, the tank has been stable. All the fish were normal except 3 Chromis which for the last 3 months have been near the top and inactive. All the other fish are doing great and are growing and eating nicely. All corals are doing well to and are growing well
I bought and installed a 80 watt Emperor UV for various reasons and to see what it would do to the inactive Chromis. The effects of the UV was that my water went from fairly clear to crystal clear. It is incredible how clear a UV will make your tank.
After about 30-45 days of running the UV, the Chromis got better. They are more active, eating better and swim around a lot more.
I believe the UV has killed either bacteria or some disease that was affecting the smaller fish like the Chromis. I am not saying that a UV can kill all diseases in a tank, but it will kill all disease that go through the unit.
So the UV looks like it is a great addition to a reef aquarium and it has not hurt my corals at all as they are growing nicely.
rldcpa
New member
To answer the question below: The deep water return is nice as it gives you an option of how much water you want coming out of the top or bottom of the return pipe...I have it evenly split as this seems to give the best results with no splashing or noise. Mine is a split...my 1 return is 1" and it splits into two 3/4" deep water returns. Just be sure you have a hole right below the water line or you will flood your house from if your pump goes out.
I have two 6105 Tunze's and my Neptune Apex Controller runs them with different patters and wave settings. I added 2 cheaper Hydor Korelia 1100 and 1300 powerheads that run constantly for added flow.
How do you like the split return and the piping coming down the outside of the overflow for deeper water return? I may consider having them plumb 2 separate returns just going to the top of the overflow then spilt loc line.
Do you have the Tunzes on the sea sweeps ?
Tank looks Awesome.
I have two 6105 Tunze's and my Neptune Apex Controller runs them with different patters and wave settings. I added 2 cheaper Hydor Korelia 1100 and 1300 powerheads that run constantly for added flow.
How do you like the split return and the piping coming down the outside of the overflow for deeper water return? I may consider having them plumb 2 separate returns just going to the top of the overflow then spilt loc line.
Do you have the Tunzes on the sea sweeps ?
Tank looks Awesome.
Great write-up. Very helpful. I am considering the exact same tank and stand you have from GLA. Could you do me a favor and measure the thickness of the glass? The reason I am asking is that this tank shows a shipping weight of 90 pounds less than the Marineland 220 I moved to my son's house. I noticed the tank uses glass bracing around the bottom too, which I haven't seen before.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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