Longest you had your system running without crash or major issues
- Thread starter PDXreefer
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reef_aholic
New member
I have a unique situation as I would describe it. I first started with a 90 Gal tall, would do normal water changes (15% bi weekly), tank was doing great. I then upgraded to a 120. Switched everything over to the 120, no hiccups, no losses, no outbreaks. Still maintained water changes and normal husbandry.
My wife and I moved 2 hours away, then had to move the tank to my parents place for 3 months until we settled in our house for the time being. The tank move went great. No losses, everything went well. After a month and a half, began seeing some algae issues, I lost a magnificent foxface. I was not cleaning and caring for the tank as much as I was busy on the farm during this time. I could definatly notice housekeeping issues. I then moved the tank to my current house, 20 minutes away from my parents place. This move went very well, no losses. Now I am watching the tank more "normally" and have not experienced any losses or crashes. The tank technically would be 3 years old, but has been in the spot it is in for a year and a half.
I have not had any major algae, knock on wood. Im not sure what I can attribute this all to. In my opinion, this is alot of stress on the tank for the age it is. 95% of the live stock, coral, shrimp, crabs, fish, are all original. have not added any fish for a year, as I am happy with the stocking list.
Over the last 6 months, I have been playing with lighting. I have 2 AI Hydra over a 48" 120g. I havent noticed much increase in growth in anything but my Anemones. Theses things have doubled in size. I went from approx 35% across the board, to 50% across the board on all channels. Feeding has remained the same. I havent changed dosing at all since the start, still a 3 part dosing to maintain levels.
My Alk is 10, Cal 400, Mag 1320 or so. I have started Carbon dosing with Vodka in the last 3 months, have enjoyed more polyp extension and coloration. Not sure if this is to do with Vodka or increased lighting.
I think the main thing I attribute my success to is maintaining equipment in the sump and tank. Not just water changes, but cleaning power heads regularly in vinegar solution, cleaning and adjusting skimmer, cleaning and replacing bulb on UV, vacuuming out bottom of sump, testing and adjusting dosing. Wiping down the lenses on lights, just keeping a clean system.
One thing that I havent mentioned, is my RO system where I live, will only give me 32 out of the membrane. The water out of DI canisters, only lasts about 100 gallons of RODI water, I have just learnt to deal with the 32 PPM of TDS in my ro water, and have not noticed any issue with that in the last year and a half.
Hope this helps,
My wife and I moved 2 hours away, then had to move the tank to my parents place for 3 months until we settled in our house for the time being. The tank move went great. No losses, everything went well. After a month and a half, began seeing some algae issues, I lost a magnificent foxface. I was not cleaning and caring for the tank as much as I was busy on the farm during this time. I could definatly notice housekeeping issues. I then moved the tank to my current house, 20 minutes away from my parents place. This move went very well, no losses. Now I am watching the tank more "normally" and have not experienced any losses or crashes. The tank technically would be 3 years old, but has been in the spot it is in for a year and a half.
I have not had any major algae, knock on wood. Im not sure what I can attribute this all to. In my opinion, this is alot of stress on the tank for the age it is. 95% of the live stock, coral, shrimp, crabs, fish, are all original. have not added any fish for a year, as I am happy with the stocking list.
Over the last 6 months, I have been playing with lighting. I have 2 AI Hydra over a 48" 120g. I havent noticed much increase in growth in anything but my Anemones. Theses things have doubled in size. I went from approx 35% across the board, to 50% across the board on all channels. Feeding has remained the same. I havent changed dosing at all since the start, still a 3 part dosing to maintain levels.
My Alk is 10, Cal 400, Mag 1320 or so. I have started Carbon dosing with Vodka in the last 3 months, have enjoyed more polyp extension and coloration. Not sure if this is to do with Vodka or increased lighting.
I think the main thing I attribute my success to is maintaining equipment in the sump and tank. Not just water changes, but cleaning power heads regularly in vinegar solution, cleaning and adjusting skimmer, cleaning and replacing bulb on UV, vacuuming out bottom of sump, testing and adjusting dosing. Wiping down the lenses on lights, just keeping a clean system.
One thing that I havent mentioned, is my RO system where I live, will only give me 32 out of the membrane. The water out of DI canisters, only lasts about 100 gallons of RODI water, I have just learnt to deal with the 32 PPM of TDS in my ro water, and have not noticed any issue with that in the last year and a half.
Hope this helps,
Really kind of hard to gauge but consistency is a big factor. The smaller the tank the more quickly things can and will change and the bigger means usually more stable if you are practicing good maintenance technics and husbandry.
A 10-gallon nano can go from 0-100 real quick, real bad and real fast if you don't pay attention. While a much larger tank will usually have slow gradual kind of feeling and sense. This is long as you don't have a heater blow up or pump go out or something failing you.
A 10-gallon nano can go from 0-100 real quick, real bad and real fast if you don't pay attention. While a much larger tank will usually have slow gradual kind of feeling and sense. This is long as you don't have a heater blow up or pump go out or something failing you.
gone fishin
New member
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Prior to our move from Connecticut to Wisconsin my 29g was running for 3 years with no issues. Post move my 180g has been running for about 5 years with no issues.
AlSimmons
New member
My old 60 gallon tank was set up for about 9 years and then it cracked. No other issues besides that. My current 20 gallon tank is about 8 years old and I haven't had any problems with that either.
Once you develop a routine keeping any sort of tank set up for years on end is not very difficult IMO. The first 6 months or so can be a little trying, but once you get the kinks worked out the rest should be a breeze.
Once you develop a routine keeping any sort of tank set up for years on end is not very difficult IMO. The first 6 months or so can be a little trying, but once you get the kinks worked out the rest should be a breeze.
ericarenee
New member
We had a Planted Tropical tank up for 10 plus years. Our 75 that is now our sump before we bought this house was up for 14 plus years. we bought it when we Bought the Apt Building we owned and lived in one of the apts until we get tired of knocking on doors for our MONEY..
our current tank We.. its up and stable but i keep reworking things so I am not sure its qualified to be listed .. I keep messing with the sump and fuge not the display so much ..
our current tank We.. its up and stable but i keep reworking things so I am not sure its qualified to be listed .. I keep messing with the sump and fuge not the display so much ..
Two large tanks. At least 20 years.
I guess it depends on what you call a "major issue". I expect light fixtures and pumps to only last 5 - 10 years. I've had some last longer than 10 but it's not a majority. My system here went at least 10 years if not longer without testing ('98-2000 to 2010 or 2011) and as far as the fish and corals were concerned didn't have any problems between 1998 when I lost a bunch of purple mushrooms for an unknown reason and 2015 when a BTA killed some fish. It was upgraded from a 120 to a 220 in 1999. Moved in 2005 and in 2007 the 220 was replaced when a top cross support pulled loose. Sadly 2 years ago a huge Teal w/ pink tip BTA split and one of the clones crawled into the output of a pump (not the intake that was screened) and killed most of the fish including the original purple and yellow tangs. So as far as the ecosystem not having any significant issues I'd say 17 years. The equipment issues are fairly representative of what I've seen overall in my maintenance business I started in '95.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2601390&highlight=skimmerless
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2601390&highlight=skimmerless
Dang.. .22 years! nice.
