hans24hrs
Member
The obvious, I am redoing my main display tank. It is a custom 315 from advanced acrylics (7Lx2Hx36W).
Things I am changing
1. The rock. I love my aquascape, but the rock has been leaching phosphate really bad for the last year. After trying to aggressively to combat it I wiped out all my SPS. Also I need to add some more hiding spots for my fish. I am replacing the rock with real reef rock.
2. Lighting. I started with 6 AI hydras and 8 T5's (36 inch bulbs). This worked okay for me but I got tired of bulb replacement and I kept having end caps going crazy on me. That was a pain doing all the test to see where problem was coming from. Currently the tank has 3 radions and 2 250 watt metal halides (radium bulbs). I am goin to add another halide and remove one of the radions. Also I am adding 2 60 inch reef brites (all blue) to the front and back of the radion/MH lights. This will help deal with light reaching front and back of tank (tank is 3 feet wide).
3. Also have to reroute the drain coming from my refugium to the sump. Currently it is just angled down toward the filter sock, but I need to run it around the other two drains and into the third drain spot. The current setup is not affecting the tank or drainage but it creates a lot of splashing and salt creep.
I also want to flip the one stand pipe in. The overflow upright to. Are it function more like a bean animal overflow instead of a standard Durso.
I am going to reroute plumbing first, then rock and then lighting. As per the manufacture recommendations, and other well respected members on here, I am going to replace about 50% of the rock and then wait a few weeks and replace the rest. I was worried about the new rock absorbing phosphate, but was told it should be fine. After all the work is finished I figure I will wait another few weeks to start adding coral. I want to make sure all my water parameters are where they need to be.
So here a a few questions I would like feedback on.
1. How much of a water change should I do before or after the rock is replaced. I know removing the old rock will stir up junk from the sand.
2. Should I vacuum sand bed prior to rock removal to reduce stir up. Sand has been in tank for a over a year. I do how ever have two cucumbers, sand sifting gobbie, olive and nassarius snails, 4 wrasses and a large cross hatch trigger that likes to stir up sand.
3. What are your thoughts on the lighting and any other areas mentioned.
Feed back greatly appreciated
Things I am changing
1. The rock. I love my aquascape, but the rock has been leaching phosphate really bad for the last year. After trying to aggressively to combat it I wiped out all my SPS. Also I need to add some more hiding spots for my fish. I am replacing the rock with real reef rock.
2. Lighting. I started with 6 AI hydras and 8 T5's (36 inch bulbs). This worked okay for me but I got tired of bulb replacement and I kept having end caps going crazy on me. That was a pain doing all the test to see where problem was coming from. Currently the tank has 3 radions and 2 250 watt metal halides (radium bulbs). I am goin to add another halide and remove one of the radions. Also I am adding 2 60 inch reef brites (all blue) to the front and back of the radion/MH lights. This will help deal with light reaching front and back of tank (tank is 3 feet wide).
3. Also have to reroute the drain coming from my refugium to the sump. Currently it is just angled down toward the filter sock, but I need to run it around the other two drains and into the third drain spot. The current setup is not affecting the tank or drainage but it creates a lot of splashing and salt creep.
I also want to flip the one stand pipe in. The overflow upright to. Are it function more like a bean animal overflow instead of a standard Durso.
I am going to reroute plumbing first, then rock and then lighting. As per the manufacture recommendations, and other well respected members on here, I am going to replace about 50% of the rock and then wait a few weeks and replace the rest. I was worried about the new rock absorbing phosphate, but was told it should be fine. After all the work is finished I figure I will wait another few weeks to start adding coral. I want to make sure all my water parameters are where they need to be.
So here a a few questions I would like feedback on.
1. How much of a water change should I do before or after the rock is replaced. I know removing the old rock will stir up junk from the sand.
2. Should I vacuum sand bed prior to rock removal to reduce stir up. Sand has been in tank for a over a year. I do how ever have two cucumbers, sand sifting gobbie, olive and nassarius snails, 4 wrasses and a large cross hatch trigger that likes to stir up sand.
3. What are your thoughts on the lighting and any other areas mentioned.
Feed back greatly appreciated
