evolved's 190g Reef Upgrade: Wrasse Retreat
- Thread starter evolved
- Start date
evolved
Wrasse Nut
Thank you. Two reasons: for aesthetic purposes as well as making it easier to put the sump in one corner of the stand.
I had my help already at home with me, but I do really appreciate the offer.
For that matter, thank you much to those that did offer to help via PM; it's very nice to have people reach out and makes for a great sense of community here.
Update in a minute.
evolved
Wrasse Nut
So. Much. Work. Why didn't someone warn me?!?! :spin2:
Removing the old rocks corals: easy. Scrubbing off the old algae, tweezing bubble algae, rinsing old rocks in clean water: a pain, but not difficult. Catching 10 wrasses and 3 other fish: a challenge, especially when 2 Halichoeres sand dove on me when I was fussing with others; had to nab them the next morning. But I didn't lose any fish during the whole process. :rollface: Re-aquascapping the new tank: OH MY GOD ARE WE DONE YET. Huge time consumer, especially when some rocks need to go back roughly in the orientation they once were. Removing all the equipment and re-configuring it all on the new tank: ugh. Enough ranting, you get the idea.
So we started around noon on Saturday (later than I would have liked) and didn't get to bed until 2AM. Many corals still in tubs. Resumed Sunday morning around 10, worked into the evening; finished with re-hanging the lights around 10PM. Monday morning started off getting the Apex back online and re-connecting/configuring all my equipment. Finished gluing rocks Monday night, and got the remaining corals into the tank. The last two nights I've still been placing corals, and I'm not done yet. Several more hours to go. My god I have a LOT of corals. Crazy how you don't realize this until it takes you over an hour to take them all from tubs to the tank.
Anyways, things are looking relatively good. Some SPS browned a bit (expected) but loses were very minimal. And those were due to my own accord, as I left some LPS in tubs too long without enough flow. I intentionally left the flow low, as I knew some would eat each with too much flow, as they were in close proximity. I only lost one chalice frag (that hadn't looked very hot for months anyway) and my gigantic chalice lost quite a bit of tissue between polyps. Polyps themselves look aright, but there's a lot of skeleton visible. We'll see if that one makes it or not, but it's far from my most pretty or expensive piece. A couple other LPS had small areas (nickel, dime size) areas of recession, but I know those will bounce back fine. Besides this, all is well.
Picture time. Mainly showing the under the hood shots for now, as it's actually finished.
Here's an idea for which bugs inspired me, and I didn't share yet (although I did mention making things splash proof). Every time I saw one of his electrical enclosures, I really like the idea. However, once I started to price actual electrical enclosures, I quickly had to think of another idea. So I bought myself a simple toolbox at Home Depot and made it an electrical enclosure. Also works nice for wire managament by stuffing them inside. Sure, the inside of this guy isn't so pretty now, but meh:
Dremeled a hole to make this possible:
You'll see more of the enclosure in a moment.
Sump shot. Doser above:
Looking left, skimmer and reactors:
Better shot of those from the left stand door:
Looking right; ATO is in place. Note the top of the tool box enclosure too:
Removing the old rocks corals: easy. Scrubbing off the old algae, tweezing bubble algae, rinsing old rocks in clean water: a pain, but not difficult. Catching 10 wrasses and 3 other fish: a challenge, especially when 2 Halichoeres sand dove on me when I was fussing with others; had to nab them the next morning. But I didn't lose any fish during the whole process. :rollface: Re-aquascapping the new tank: OH MY GOD ARE WE DONE YET. Huge time consumer, especially when some rocks need to go back roughly in the orientation they once were. Removing all the equipment and re-configuring it all on the new tank: ugh. Enough ranting, you get the idea.
So we started around noon on Saturday (later than I would have liked) and didn't get to bed until 2AM. Many corals still in tubs. Resumed Sunday morning around 10, worked into the evening; finished with re-hanging the lights around 10PM. Monday morning started off getting the Apex back online and re-connecting/configuring all my equipment. Finished gluing rocks Monday night, and got the remaining corals into the tank. The last two nights I've still been placing corals, and I'm not done yet. Several more hours to go. My god I have a LOT of corals. Crazy how you don't realize this until it takes you over an hour to take them all from tubs to the tank.
Anyways, things are looking relatively good. Some SPS browned a bit (expected) but loses were very minimal. And those were due to my own accord, as I left some LPS in tubs too long without enough flow. I intentionally left the flow low, as I knew some would eat each with too much flow, as they were in close proximity. I only lost one chalice frag (that hadn't looked very hot for months anyway) and my gigantic chalice lost quite a bit of tissue between polyps. Polyps themselves look aright, but there's a lot of skeleton visible. We'll see if that one makes it or not, but it's far from my most pretty or expensive piece. A couple other LPS had small areas (nickel, dime size) areas of recession, but I know those will bounce back fine. Besides this, all is well.
Picture time. Mainly showing the under the hood shots for now, as it's actually finished.
Here's an idea for which bugs inspired me, and I didn't share yet (although I did mention making things splash proof). Every time I saw one of his electrical enclosures, I really like the idea. However, once I started to price actual electrical enclosures, I quickly had to think of another idea. So I bought myself a simple toolbox at Home Depot and made it an electrical enclosure. Also works nice for wire managament by stuffing them inside. Sure, the inside of this guy isn't so pretty now, but meh:
Dremeled a hole to make this possible:
You'll see more of the enclosure in a moment.
Sump shot. Doser above:
Looking left, skimmer and reactors:
Better shot of those from the left stand door:
Looking right; ATO is in place. Note the top of the tool box enclosure too:
evolved
Wrasse Nut
And now you can appreciate the enclosure from the right stand door:
Got vortechs? The 2 MP10s work fine on 1/2" glass. Apex and WXM is on the side.
Lastly, one quick shot of the DT from Monday. Many corals not placed here; it already looks better today:
New fishy additions will be added soon; arriving in the next couple days.
More pictures by the end of the weekend or early next week. I still have to drain/clean the old tank and get it out of it's old spot. Tired of my TV being in the middle of the room.
:beer:
Got vortechs? The 2 MP10s work fine on 1/2" glass. Apex and WXM is on the side.
Lastly, one quick shot of the DT from Monday. Many corals not placed here; it already looks better today:
New fishy additions will be added soon; arriving in the next couple days.
More pictures by the end of the weekend or early next week. I still have to drain/clean the old tank and get it out of it's old spot. Tired of my TV being in the middle of the room.
:beer:
evolved
Wrasse Nut
Thanks. I could make use of a few more...
I don't believe there's such a thing as too much flow, unless you have a constant sandstorm or your LPS won't stay attached to their skeleton. :spin3:
usefulidiot213
Bryan H.
Very nice Tank. It's good to know the MP10s will work on 1/2" glass.
Rippinfrags
Active member
Looking good evolved! You have spiked my interest, what are your new fish additions going to be?
evolved
Wrasse Nut
Thanks everyone.
For the record, I scrubbed forums about MP10s on 1/2" glass before I tired it; consensus is they usually work. Some people feel they do lose a lot of power however. But I didn't notice any significant loss.
I also spoke with Ecotech for a moment at MACNA, and they even said they'll work, but not have a super strong grip. Said to make sure you use the safety ties/clips on the dry sides just in case (I always have).
Fish you say? A couple Cirrhilabrus johnsoni and a Paracheilinus bellae.
For the record, I scrubbed forums about MP10s on 1/2" glass before I tired it; consensus is they usually work. Some people feel they do lose a lot of power however. But I didn't notice any significant loss.
I also spoke with Ecotech for a moment at MACNA, and they even said they'll work, but not have a super strong grip. Said to make sure you use the safety ties/clips on the dry sides just in case (I always have).
Fish you say? A couple Cirrhilabrus johnsoni and a Paracheilinus bellae.
Rippinfrags
Active member
nice! I think the Paracheilinus bellae are stunning fish. Where are you finding these rare wrasses?
evolved
Wrasse Nut
Finally, here's the set I refused to take until I got everything the way I wanted it. Its ready now.
Still a few things to do in the room, but the tank itself is complete. With no further ado:
FTS
Right half
Left half
Looking from the right side of tank
Looking from the left
Now walking around the tank, left to right focusing in on some things.
Feel free to ask about anything specifically.
Still a few things to do in the room, but the tank itself is complete. With no further ado:
FTS
Right half
Left half
Looking from the right side of tank
Looking from the left
Now walking around the tank, left to right focusing in on some things.
Feel free to ask about anything specifically.
