Mark's 150 gallon
- Thread starter markalot
- Start date
markalot
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Thanks Daniel and Perry. 
Looks like a frag tank, but I am generally happy with the right side scape. At least happy enough I won't tear it all down yet.
My PO4 is remaining very low. I am running GFO but generally I have not been able to get it below .08, now I get .03 every test. I suspect one of the rocks I removed, or probably more than one, was leaching. At least two of the larger rocks I've had since I first started. Obvious lesson, when building new tank use new rock.
Looks like a frag tank, but I am generally happy with the right side scape. At least happy enough I won't tear it all down yet.My PO4 is remaining very low. I am running GFO but generally I have not been able to get it below .08, now I get .03 every test. I suspect one of the rocks I removed, or probably more than one, was leaching. At least two of the larger rocks I've had since I first started. Obvious lesson, when building new tank use new rock.
markalot
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PO4 remains low. Is this my tank? I'm eyeing the remaining old rocks suspiciously, especially that big shelf piece. It was one huge disc, $19.95 from a LFS that did not know where it came from. The wife and I broke it in half to place in the tank with the idea being I could put the acros up higher and lower light loving corals lower down.
I'm getting another rock mag, the large version, to see how it works. You can see the junior version here, I've always liked the way it looks.
Tank boss.
I'm getting another rock mag, the large version, to see how it works.
You can see the junior version here, I've always liked the way it looks.
Tank boss.
markalot
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OK, the ugly frag rack is going to go, wish me luck. Going to try and make it so I can get a nice display with racks on the outside for now. I can't operate a frag tank so this will have to do but I don't want it to interrupt the new scape on the left.
See, and you all didn't even have to say anything.
Going to try and make it so I can get a nice display with racks on the outside for now. I can't operate a frag tank so this will have to do but I don't want it to interrupt the new scape on the left. See, and you all didn't even have to say anything.
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
OK, the ugly frag rack is going to go, wish me luck.
See, and you all didn't even have to say anything.
If we told you to remove it you might keep it just to defy us
markalot
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If we told you to remove it you might keep it just to defy us
So true. :lolspin:
Here's what I came up with for now. This allows me to enjoy stag island without that big frag rack getting in the way.
I need to rid myself of a bunch of these frags so I can shrink the frag racks even more.
That front stick on stag island needs to go as well. So I'm not done.
markalot
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Nope, they appear to have gotten lost. Seller is trying to figure out where. Waiting a few more days in case they pop up but Maryland to Cincinnati should have only been 2 days.
I'm not a minimalist, I actually prefer the wall look, so I'm not sure I will use the sticks but I wanted to have a couple to try out. I may end up re-doing the right side as well, I haven't decided yet.
markalot
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I'm not surprised. You've done a lot of good work on your tank and it is being
reflected in your ORP numbers
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Positive feedback then.
Thanks. I believe I will get rid of the other shelf rock. I do not know the source or if it was ever used in a tank before. Last weekend was the final scape changes and all that was removed was the left shelf and one other rock on the 19th. On the 23rd I removed an older frag rack with questionable magnets and did a big water change while removing the remaining polyps growing on the overflows. Things things make you go hmmm. :reading:
nemodan
New member
Positive feedback then.
Things things make you go hmmm. :reading:
Mark...are you going to remove the rocks in steps to allow the new rock to be colonized by bacterias ?
Best !!!
Daniek
markalot
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Yep. Do you think 7 days is enough or should I wait longer?
nemodan
New member
As a biologist my answer will be "is too fast" , wait longer.
Have you seen the comments about how long it takes siporax or Matrix to grow a significant bacteria population to allow biological filtration, well similar will be happening with your rocks. I will not think in 2-3 months, but at least in the same time as when you cycle a tank.
Remember your SPS and stability.
After all what you have done with exit, I will go with patient on replacing rocks. Let see..... I will find the rocks I want, placing them in buckets or any container with pieces of rocks from your tank (without palies..LOL) and let it there for 2 weeks, at least, with a heater, and a small pump . I will add a small piece of shrimp to provide food for the new Bacterias to grow. At the same time, those few pieces you took out from your tank will be replaced with new rock and also I will add right away the rock amount you already took out. The tank will seed them.
Bottom line, I will not be taking more rocks without having new rock already seeded (alive). Time, I will say 2-3 weeks .
I will do that with my tank. What do you think ?.....makes sense to you based on your experience.
Let see what others think too. There are many with a lot more experience than me with SPS.
Cheers
Daniel
markalot
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I think that's sound advice! I do have some rocks 'warming up' in the sump, I have space for a few more.
nemodan
New member
And you still have to replace the ones you already took out. When all those new rocks are cycled, then start to take the old rock you still have in the tank.
Best !
Daniel
markalot
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Good, nice to hear it can be kept happy, hopefully mine will start to do well. It's been really happy getting tossed around from frag rack to frag rack ... go figure.
So here's where I'm at today. My closest fish store, which usually has nothing fancy, had a box of carib-sea life rock, which is simply painted rock. Bigger than branches, smaller than boulders.
Some acros are coloring up well, some are still brown but I tell you it's a healthy thick brown. I'll be pretty ecstatic if my issues all along where those nasty pallys.
Working on some coral placement ideas.
