Mark's 150 gallon

[.Chris.]

Hey Mark. Sorry to hear about your troubles! Seems like you didn't cause too much damage based on the way most of the corals look. Hopefully you caught it in time. If you haven't done this already I would consider running your skimmer a little higher and wet skim that stuff out too.

 

[markalot]

Hey Mark. Sorry to hear about your troubles! Seems like you didn't cause too much damage based on the way most of the corals look. Hopefully you caught it in time. If you haven't done this already I would consider running your skimmer a little higher and wet skim that stuff out too.

Thanks Chris.

I snapped and the entire left side structure is gone. :fun2:

Saved a few big chunks of the red cap, as but a piece of the setosa as I could, and a few other bits. I have pictures, will post later. It was infested and polyps that had not seen light for over a year were still alive!

 

[mhucasey]

Thanks Chris.

I snapped and the entire left side structure is gone. :fun2:

Saved a few big chunks of the red cap, as but a piece of the setosa as I could, and a few other bits. I have pictures, will post later. It was infested and polyps that had not seen light for over a year were still alive!

Damn those zoas! I can't believe some people have tanks full of them on purpose:uhoh3:

 

[markalot]

Damn those zoas! I can't believe some people have tanks full of them on purpose:uhoh3:

Yep, they need their own rock if one wants to stay safe.

So here's the play by play. The infested rocks are in two buckets with lids sitting on the back deck. Low tonight will be 5F.

Final rock released the detritus storm.

It's looked better.

Makeshift frag rack. I saved as much as I could.

There are still significant problems to deal with. The center rock structure must go, the back of it is infested. This means I have to remove the Cousin It milli and the bonsai like valida. Both overflows are also infested with these things and I need to somehow remove them. Not looking forward to that part.

 

[.Chris.]

I hate to say it, Mark, but the solution might be to restart with all fresh rock. Unless you bleach/muriatic acid those rocks, you'll likely always have a problem with them.

 

[markalot]

I hate to say it, Mark, but the solution might be to restart with all fresh rock. Unless you bleach/muriatic acid those rocks, you'll likely always have a problem with them.

The ones freezing will not be reused, I just needed a safe place to put them since they are covered in toxic pallys. When the weather warms they will go in a rock pile somewhere on our 1 acre of woods.

 

[Oldude]

Love that lokani!!

 

[mhucasey]

The ones freezing will not be reused, I just needed a safe place to put them since they are covered in toxic pallys. When the weather warms they will go in a rock pile somewhere on our 1 acre of woods.

Plastic rocks, my friend. http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIVE-ROCK-POLYRESIN-TONGA-BRANCH-28754-IMITATION-CORAL-REEF-AQUARIUM-DECOR-/151771271455?hash=item235645d11f:g:v4AAAOSwAL9Ubsiq

 

[markalot]

Plastic rocks, my friend. http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIVE-ROCK-POLYRESIN-TONGA-BRANCH-28754-IMITATION-CORAL-REEF-AQUARIUM-DECOR-/151771271455?hash=item235645d11f:g:v4AAAOSwAL9Ubsiq

Purchased!

 

[mhucasey]

Purchased!

Woot! Did you get different shapes, or just the one I linked to?

 

[biggles]

Damn Mark, i know it's a gigantic pain in the bum to redo the display but you're doing the only sensible thing you can mate by ruthlessly dealing with those pests. The wet skimming advice and running carbon are good things imo.

Hang tough buddy and sort out EVERY thing about the scape you don't like now while you have the chance :thumbsup:

 

[Big E]

Purchased!

You may have to add some weight to the bottom of that plastic rock........when the acros get big they will topple it. Nothing worse than having acros on rocks that the bases are too small or light.

I curse myself every time I do something like that.......short term it's fine ,but after about two years of growth is when it's an issue.

 

[markalot]

Woot! Did you get different shapes, or just the one I linked to?

I got two different shaped.

Damn Mark, i know it's a gigantic pain in the bum to redo the display but you're doing the only sensible thing you can mate by ruthlessly dealing with those pests. The wet skimming advice and running carbon are good things imo.

Hang tough buddy and sort out EVERY thing about the scape you don't like now while you have the chance :thumbsup:

Thanks Andrew.

You may have to add some weight to the bottom of that plastic rock........when the acros get big they will topple it. Nothing worse than having acros on rocks that the bases are too small or light.

I curse myself every time I do something like that.......short term it's fine ,but after about two years of growth is when it's an issue.

Good advice, thanks Ed. I plan to glue them or otherwise assume they won't hold weight or try and float away. With my fine scaping skills :lmao: It will end up looking like a pile of rocks with sticks coming out of it.

 

[mhucasey]

I got two different shaped.



Thanks Andrew.



Good advice, thanks Ed. I plan to glue them or otherwise assume they won't hold weight or try and float away. With my fine scaping skills :lmao: It will end up looking like a pile of rocks with sticks coming out of it.

The resin has a decent amount of weight to it, and you can epoxy pieces together before putting it in the tank for a good, strong structure. It is hollow, with some holes for air to escape, but I drilled a few extra holes at the high points to make sure no air would get trapped. With the air out it won't float.

 

[markalot]

Everything seems fine today. The teal acro gained a little brown but I don't think it's going to go full turd.

Red areas must go, yellow, the other big shelf rock, might be salvageable. My fish like the cave the shelf rocks create.

 

[plyle02]

Mark,
Man tough times, like what I just went through... I would absolutely do it again, I am so happy to have fixed issues and remove corals that became a nuisance. You will get through it, solid advice has been given above, so use it well Your tank while ****ed now, will appreciate the efforts you are going to apply, looking forward to seeing the outcome!!!

 

[markalot]

Mark,
Man tough times, like what I just went through... I would absolutely do it again, I am so happy to have fixed issues and remove corals that became a nuisance. You will get through it, solid advice has been given above, so use it well Your tank while ****ed now, will appreciate the efforts you are going to apply, looking forward to seeing the outcome!!!

Thanks Perry, the encouragement is really appreciated.

I'm all in now. :beer:



I am encouraged that while the teal acro has darkened it still looks really good, plus my acros on the frag racks have maintained or increased in color over the last few days. I am feeling really good about this. Note the color of the Horrida on the left side. I could not tell it regained the blue color where it was sitting.

It was heartbreaking having to break two acros that have been doing well. The bonsai like valida had taken so long to grow this big after encrusting.

And the Cousin It milli, though frankly it doesn't appear to have noticed.

KH holding at 8.3.

 

[markalot]

Closeup of the Aussie Horrida. It's been a real struggle to keep this happy. Seems to like a combination of colder tank temps, almost direct flow, and no shading at all. Hopefully I can keep it healthy until I'm done rescaping.

 

[aggie13reef]

Mark,
Good luck with the re-scape! First Matt with the plastic rocks and now you, you guys are making me consider adding some in the near future. I wish I would have taken more time planning my scape in my tank. My wife and I will most likely be moving in 2016 so I am waiting to re-do it until then. Can't wait for the next update on this :beer:

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Closeup of the Aussie Horrida. It's been a real struggle to keep this happy. Seems to like a combination of colder tank temps, almost direct flow, and no shading at all. Hopefully I can keep it healthy until I'm done rescaping.

I hope you can Mark. Acropora horrida is one of my favourite corals.