ok where to start? I have been in the hobby since 2001 when I got my first 125gal tank. I have had a saltwater tank ever since, I even worked at a local fish store. I can see that not being on the forums for WAY to long I'm light years behind. I know that I'm a horribly irresponsible person for letting my tank get to this, But I think the time has come to do right by my fish. I have a 180 truvu acrylic tank, a smallish sump probably 30gal, 3 dolphin pumps from about 6000gph to 3000gph, a AquaC ev240 with mag 18, two fish reactor 150 and 550 running npx bio plastics, a Sealine Aquarium Chiller SL-500A 1/2 HP, diy reefledlights.com LED light fixture and a reef keeper light. I have and auto top off from Autotopoff.com that has worked flawless. I was using an RO but I'm on a well and it was running a lot so I stopped that. The good is the wife is into the fish tanks like I am but just dont know too much so what ever I need to get for this is pretty a go as long as the money is in the account lol. She would let me tare down half the house and re build it if it meant a good reef tank at some point.
the bad. we probably haven't done a water change in about 4 years... the only maintenance we have done to the tank has been to clean the front every 6 months or so, add npx bio plastics, wash the sock maybe every month and to feed the fish every night. The fish are fat and healthy though, probably not too happy. my salinity is at 1.018 so that needs to come up, I have a whole new test kit on order to get the rest. I think I might even sign up for the lab water testing for a while, what do you think? The tank needs replaced, I'm working on the funds to do this as its built in the wall and the new one needs to fit the same hole. when I got the tank used the euro bracing was cracked so I cut it out and welded a steel support painted with silver bullet, it rusted! The bulk heads are in the overflows on a tight fit but leak salt creep. My LED fixture is hammered with salt spray half the chips are burnt (i got replacements, need to put them in)
1. I would like to get an APEX to automate water changes for now or they wont get done. I would like to use a solenoid valve to drain what should be used?
2. new tank, I am thinking an acrylic 270 gallon but cant find one that is only 2ft high, 6ft long and 3ft deep. I built the stand for this size tank when we bought the house. I was thinking of contacting ATM lol I would like one with a coast to coast overflow, are people still using those?
3. new sump....
ok now for pictures or it didn't happen.
Tank shot with the front clean, see half the leds a toasted
Good tube worm growth, they are cool the glow green under the actinic
Clowns are happy to see me, poor guys
good aptasia growth
green mushrooms are hanging in there
shot of the burn LEDS
Rusty top supports about the let go....
water change setup that dont get used
shot of the sump
the bad. we probably haven't done a water change in about 4 years... the only maintenance we have done to the tank has been to clean the front every 6 months or so, add npx bio plastics, wash the sock maybe every month and to feed the fish every night. The fish are fat and healthy though, probably not too happy. my salinity is at 1.018 so that needs to come up, I have a whole new test kit on order to get the rest. I think I might even sign up for the lab water testing for a while, what do you think? The tank needs replaced, I'm working on the funds to do this as its built in the wall and the new one needs to fit the same hole. when I got the tank used the euro bracing was cracked so I cut it out and welded a steel support painted with silver bullet, it rusted! The bulk heads are in the overflows on a tight fit but leak salt creep. My LED fixture is hammered with salt spray half the chips are burnt (i got replacements, need to put them in)
1. I would like to get an APEX to automate water changes for now or they wont get done. I would like to use a solenoid valve to drain what should be used?
2. new tank, I am thinking an acrylic 270 gallon but cant find one that is only 2ft high, 6ft long and 3ft deep. I built the stand for this size tank when we bought the house. I was thinking of contacting ATM lol I would like one with a coast to coast overflow, are people still using those?
3. new sump....
ok now for pictures or it didn't happen.
Tank shot with the front clean, see half the leds a toasted
Good tube worm growth, they are cool the glow green under the actinic
Clowns are happy to see me, poor guys
good aptasia growth
green mushrooms are hanging in there
shot of the burn LEDS
Rusty top supports about the let go....
water change setup that dont get used
shot of the sump
