buildinboats
Premium Member
A little background, this is a standard 150 running closed loop with no sump. The tank has been wet for about 28 years, 25 of those as a reef tank. I have a 55 set up and running for a year with a hang on the bag wet/dry filter but no bioload. The water in it came form the display tank, discarded water change water. It did cycle when I added a bunch of decorative coral skeletons 8 months ago. I have 5 fish, two of which are an Emperor and a sailfin tang both of whose bodies are larger than a man's hand.
I have drained down the main tank to about 10" of water but have two fish I haven't been able to catch hiding in the rockwork. The rocks are solidified together as one big block. I plan to go at it with a hammer and chisel this morning to try to get to the remaining two fish, one of which is a yellow tang that I've had for a least 20+ years.
Question-I don't think the 55 can support these fish, it's going to be overloaded with ammonia, etc. Should I put in as many of the original live rocks from the display tank as I can once I bust them out?
If the 55 starts to cycle should I keep changing the water? I may try to find another home for the two big fish, perhaps the Long Island Aquarium would take them. I'm on Shelter Island, at the end of Long Island in New York. I will check in here every so often throughout the day in hopes you folks can give me advice.
I have drained down the main tank to about 10" of water but have two fish I haven't been able to catch hiding in the rockwork. The rocks are solidified together as one big block. I plan to go at it with a hammer and chisel this morning to try to get to the remaining two fish, one of which is a yellow tang that I've had for a least 20+ years.
Question-I don't think the 55 can support these fish, it's going to be overloaded with ammonia, etc. Should I put in as many of the original live rocks from the display tank as I can once I bust them out?
If the 55 starts to cycle should I keep changing the water? I may try to find another home for the two big fish, perhaps the Long Island Aquarium would take them. I'm on Shelter Island, at the end of Long Island in New York. I will check in here every so often throughout the day in hopes you folks can give me advice.
