55 Gal Tornado Tank Rebuild

[GRREEF]

Tornadoes wiped out power here for 5 days last month and consequently did in my tank. So its time to rebuild. Last weekend, I cleaned up the tank. I moved about half the live rock into the sump. I've always wanted to try a bare bottom tank, so here goes nothing....

 

[GRREEF]

here is the cleaned up tank. Boards on the bottom and only about 1/2 of the original LR. Going to try to grow some SPS in this one. I've replaced the viaaqua pumps I had with two Tunze 6025s, which I modded. A MP10 Vortech will be added when it arrives next week. :bounce1: Lighting is currently two 250 watt MH 10,000k Ushio. These will be replaced in the coming days with 20,000k XM.

 

[lotsoftats]

Looks good....must give you props for a quick rebound.....most people would not start over so soon....keep up the good work.

on a side note.....my 75g will be BB for SPS as well.

 

[nanshaw2001]

Have fun with your rebuild! After everything the weather has put ya'll through the last few weeks it will give you something to look foward to. Best wishes!

 

[GRREEF]

Went to the LFS and got some inexpensive frags for the tank. A Kenya tree, some sort of ugly cabbage leather, a nice blah-brown acro and a candy cane. The candy cane had been at the LFS for some time. It was once a nice little guy. After 5 days in the dark and nutrient stress just a few polyps were left. As such it was on sale. I figure the polyps that can survive that sort of stress must have some good genes. Within minutes of being in my tank the surviving polyps started puffing up.

 

[GRREEF]

whoa just tested my mg and it was just over 1000. Hows that possible? Its all new SW! Oh boy... better rerun the test. Thats a lot of adjustment for 90 gallons of SW!

 

[Jkraft136]

What salt are you using?

 

[GRREEF]

Instant Ocean. Calcium was off too, but not like that.

 

[tdwright1971]

Good luck with your rebuild, Living in Arkansas I always worry about the weather.

 

[GRREEF]

Thanks! I have a generator now, so I'm ready should I ever go down again.

 

[tlo25]

Good luck, hope the tank was the worst of your losses.

 

[GRREEF]

Thanks tlo...it was.

 

[GRREEF]

Setting up a dual refugium today with a couple of 10gal tanks I had lying around. Cracked one drilling a hole in it. So its now a single tank. I put a single 65 watt daylight incandescent bulb over it. Is that enough light? Have a bit of Cheato that I used to keep in the main tank.

 

[Burke]

I have been using IO also for several years (I have a bigger tank now) and having issues with alk. I tested fresh mixed water and it was also very low. I have switched to Reef Crystals and it at least the fresh mixed water is better. We will see how it is long term. Have you thought about switching salt?

 

[scapes]

great job grreef! it could have been much worse

 

[MLconstruction]

Loss of power scares the heck outta me. My lights just flickered a moment ago :worried: Good luck with the re build

 

[GRREEF]

Actually, I've always used Reef Crystals. I used IO this time because its what the LFS had.

 

[GRREEF]

sump and fuge photos ... will this work?

sump and fuge photos ... will this work?

Here is the refugium and sump in the basement under the display tank. Will this setup work? It's a 65 Watt incandescent daylight bulb over the 10 gallon.

 

[GRREEF]

Vortech MP10 and XM 20,000K MH 250 x 2 added!!! Bioload coming tomorrow.

 

[GRREEF]

A massive number of snails and a couple of small fish added today. Also a Toadstool Leather and a small monti dig frag. TOO MUCH FLOW in the tank and not enough calm for the fish right now. I turned off the Tunze and am just pulsing the MP10. Perhaps I can put the Tunze on timers so they surge a few minutes every hour.