OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef

[BigJay]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14788218#post14788218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe

This second one is better in that we were feeding. Well, very OVER-FEEDING to get the fish near. Many of the fish stayed outside the camera's range because they normally eat out in the wash of food that gets past the aggressive fish. The rest would be right at the surface but were a little shy due to the camera.

So THAT'S what she looks like when she gives you the stink-eye. :lol: That GSM never left the camera range, almost like she refuses to miss an opportunity to take a nip at you.

Gorgeous fish though, I love the dark maroon color contrast with the stripes. That's the prettiest fish in your tank IMO, and she knows it too.

 

[BigJay]

PS: +1 on the aquariumplants regulator. The electronic one supposedly makes all of the micro-adjustments needed on its own, you set the bubble count rate and it does whatever necessary to keep it there.

It's like having a computer worry about all that for you. I'm getting tired of checking mine every day, and I'm definitely leaning towards getting one.

 

[jnarowe]

Good info and thanks. In fact, once the reef is down, I will put it on my FW Planted tank.

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14793815#post14793815 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Good info and thanks. In fact, once the reef is down, I will put it on my FW Planted tank.

I see that they have taken away the picture of the digital monitor. I wonder if that is why they got back logged on the regulators???

 

[jnarowe]

Picture is still there, but there is a note about availability. That's what happens when you recommend stuff Chuck, then you can't get it. :lol:

 

[Bax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14788931#post14788931 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Thanks. Not so good on camera work but at least the colors are true. I still can't get over the color on the orange shoulder, and now I have to give him up. It really was bothering me a couple nights ago. I have spent over 3 years Growing these animals and corals, and for what?

J

This pains me too! To see all the effort you've put into this amazing livestock... it's killing me! I so feel for you, but understand your decision. If I was within reasonable driving distance I'd be your maintence guy for sure. But, I supose 3000 something miles is not reasonable? What of the OST and the ABT? He looks awesome in the vid BTW! He's SO HUGE! Whose gona take him?!

... I have one or two tanks in mind, and they're not mine

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, I don't really know what to do. I would rather not ship them of course, even though I know there are some really accomplished fish keepers all over the country.

 

[Bax]

Two, well three, maybe four are coming to mind to mind, but Chuck as enough tangs, and Cougarman is already crowded, so two. Two, who have system just coming of age to house such beautiful and large fish in a equally large system.

You can probably find suitable foster homes for the typical sized fish. Unfortunately, you may have to ship to give the big guys good homes.

Unfortunately even my 375 can't house some of your fantastic specimens

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, Chuck and Cougarman are probably not in the market for tangs...who else were you thinking of?

 

[Bax]

You have Reefaquariumnut & wilmas both getting thru their start ups right now with big, big systems that can house your big critters. They really havn't begun to push the bio limits of those systems yet and have reasonably good QT set ups to acclimate new fish.

Prime candidates to take select stock that realy need the right large home.

.. If they are game?

If I had a 600 g + DT and not just a 600 g system, I'd fly out for your ABT or OST alone!

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, I know a bit about Reefaquariumnut but nothing about wilmas. Any experience there? Got a link?

 

[Bax]

Not sure if either want large mature tangs, but wilmas has an huge tank and is slowly setting up a very nice system.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1560997

I know you post on Reefaquariumnut's thread, his system is awesome, and growing too!

Not trying to meddle, but that ABT in particular needs a special home at his size.

 

[jnarowe]

not a meddle at all. Just a PITA to ship. The PBT is only about 7 - 8 inches or so...haven't measured him but not full grown yet I believe. Fat and happy though.

 

[jnarowe]

Several issues I see about wmilas' that make me a bit shy about that:

1. Tank age. Quite young eh?

2. Huge number of snails; when those kick off, there is going to be quite a wicked fouling of the water.

3. Rubble tank: I just think this is a bad idea in general. All that becomes is a detritus trap.

All a matter of personal opinion of course. Maybe I should find out more about him though. BTW, I think vodka/sugar dosing is for boneheads. :lol:

I mean, why are we to assume that the extra carbon is only utilized by the "good" bacteria? That's foolish.

 

[Bax]

I personally prefer to drink the vodka and have a cookie.

I seem to have issue enough with monitoring params and dosing Mg and Potassium and a littel bit of Iodine here and there.

I am more into filter socks, good solid skimming (The above referenced system has a very sweet BIG cone skimmer BTW) and multiple refugia with different sections for macro, LR, and sand bed(s). RR is pretty much bio balls. I am not happy with my current fuge at all. It's BB and I used egg crate to keep the rock up for cleaning, but the EC has been the detritus trap, not to mention where ever light reaches the EC is grows algea like crazy ... Lesson learned, it'll be changed in about 6 weeks when I move, and hopefully, much more efficeint & effective.

As for snails, I have found I can only maintain about 2 per 10 g of water volume throughout the system. I see tanks with 100's of snails and I am amazed that they survive. I would imagine that the rate of snail survival varies system to system as do so many things in the hobby.

Anyway, that ABT needs room to run! Best of luck finding a suitable home.

 

[Bax]

I personally prefer to drink the vodka and have a cookie.

I seem to have issue enough with monitoring params and dosing Mg and Potassium and a littel bit of Iodine here and there.

I am more into filter socks, good solid skimming (The above referenced system has a very sweet BIG cone skimmer BTW) and multiple refugia with different sections for macro, LR, and sand bed(s). RR is pretty much bio balls. I am not happy with my current fuge at all. It's BB and I used egg crate to keep the rock up for cleaning, but the EC has been the detritus trap, not to mention where ever light reaches the EC is grows algea like crazy ... Lesson learned, it'll be changed in about 6 weeks when I move, and hopefully, much more efficeint & effective.

As for snails, I have found I can only maintain about 2 per 10 g of water volume throughout the system. I see tanks with 100's of snails and I am amazed that they survive. I would imagine that the rate of snail survival varies system to system as do so many things in the hobby.

Anyway, that ABT needs room to run! Best of luck finding a suitable home.

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, I have thousands of snails myself, but experience with the downside of a crash.

Something for you to consider is that the eggcrate itself is leaching into your system and actually fuels the algal growth. I have done quite a bit of testing on this and would NEVER use it in an aquarium again.

The ABT could actually be shipped in a 5g bucket, and I do have the giant 3mil bags to ship the ABT, styro etc. One benefit of shipping is that I could catch the fish on my own schedule, which would make it easier than trying to do so when someone is here. It's just so much better to not ship them though.

I really appreciate your help and have subscribed to wmilas' thread to see how it goes. My plan is to get rid of all corals, then remove the rock at one time, then the fish. I am really concerned about removing rock over time and causing a major freak-out since so many fish rely on it for territory.

 

[GSMguy]

So when do we start planning a 60g shallow rimless tank that is easier for you to manage?

I am glad you are selling it all, but you know that J..

 

[jnarowe]

DOn't start on me Nick...believe me all of the above has crossed my mind, but i really need a break, and in my mind, smaller tanks are actually more difficult to manage water quality. If not for the size of this system, I would have killed it multiple times.

Great for learning but not too good for someone with physical issues and some mental deficits. Since my most recent trip to the hospital, some of my original stroke symptoms seem to have resurfaced. Not to a high degree, but certainly enough to take note of.

Too bad your tank is over-crowded already Nick! :lol:

 

[Bax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14799398#post14799398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe

Something for you to consider is that the eggcrate itself is leaching into your system and actually fuels the algal growth. I have done quite a bit of testing on this and would NEVER use it in an aquarium again.

I am striping every piece of egg crate out in the move. All frag racks will be drilled out of acrylic sheet. And all rock supports will scd 80 PVC pipe and sheets. I am done with EC!

I know you'll pick the best foster home possible for each critter.