Re-scaping question

[bdturtle21]

I have had a 55g corner tank up and running for about 1.5 years now. Parameters are stable and things have been looking great. I decided that I didn't like the aquascape, so re-scaped. Unfortunately, I ended up with many of the rocks upside down (didn't mean to - it got super murky!), including one with a rather large zoa colony. The large zoa colony is upside down mostly in the sand, on the bottom of a large rock pile.

My question - is this going to nuke my tank? Should I break the rock-work down and pull this out?

Since re-scaping, I have had a pretty fun (ha!) cyano outbreak. I've been controlling it with water changes (every other day or so), but now I'm wondering if the problem isn't that colony of zoas that are slowing dying . . .
All my parameters are still good, even after the re-scaping (Nitrites 5ppm, ammonia and nitrates 0, phosphates ~0.002ppm, measured yesterday).

I really appreciate any thoughts - thank you!!!

 

[chrisfont23]

I assume you mean the entirety of it. Obviously the zoanthids probably aren't going to survive. IMO, this will not nuke the tank. It might upset the stability for a while and depending on how much your sand bed is stirred, kick off a cycle. I would be more concerned about that than the dead zoas nuking anything.

 

[bdturtle21]

I assume you mean the entirety of it. Obviously the zoanthids probably aren't going to survive. IMO, this will not nuke the tank. It might upset the stability for a while and depending on how much your sand bed is stirred, kick off a cycle. I would be more concerned about that than the dead zoas nuking anything.

Thanks!!

I did rescape the entire thing - and tried to minimize the amount I stirred up the sand bed.

I'm totally fine with the zoanthids that got buried not surviving - they were taking over the rock anyhow, and I have a few other plugs of them in a different tank.

The re-scaping did trigger a cycle and I have a cyano outbreak b/c of it. I'm battling this with frequent water changes (5-10% every other day) and it seems to be getting under control.

Thanks for your thoughts on the zoas not nuking my tank!! I was wondering if I would need to break it down and pull that rock out. . .

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Re-scaping question

The cyano is likely due to not enough flow in those areas

 

[anthonys51]

when you rescaped i would of vacuumed the sand bed. i would save the zoa if i where you and vacuum the sand and redue. since you state your already battling cryno means your tank is out of balance

 

[bdturtle21]

when you rescaped i would of vacuumed the sand bed. i would save the zoa if i where you and vacuum the sand and redue. since you state your already battling cryno means your tank is out of balance

Yeah - after reading a lot on rescaping I now know I didn't do it appropriately. I should have had tank water for 'rinsing' the rock to remove as much of the debris as possible, been way more careful with the sand bed, and been way more careful in making sure I placed the rocks back right-side-up. I should have done a pretty massive (up to 50%) water change immediately after finishing rescaping. This would have helped reduce the impacts and, hopefully, have prevented the cycle I created. . . Live and learn.

Thanks!

 

[anthonys51]

Yeah - after reading a lot on rescaping I now know I didn't do it appropriately. I should have had tank water for 'rinsing' the rock to remove as much of the debris as possible, been way more careful with the sand bed, and been way more careful in making sure I placed the rocks back right-side-up. I should have done a pretty massive (up to 50%) water change immediately after finishing rescaping. This would have helped reduce the impacts and, hopefully, have prevented the cycle I created. . . Live and learn.

Thanks!

but normally you only rescape when your tank is doing bad. but hey there was a few times i said let me just move that one rock. next thing you know i have the buckets out and its 2 in the morning. my wife just laugh when i say i am just going to touch one rock

 

[bdturtle21]

but normally you only rescape when your tank is doing bad. but hey there was a few times i said let me just move that one rock. next thing you know i have the buckets out and its 2 in the morning. my wife just laugh when i say i am just going to touch one rock

We decided to rescape b/c we didn't like the way it was - not enough real estate for corals the way we had it. That and if you touched one rock the whole thing would likely come crashing down. . . The tank was doing fantastic before we rescaped.... no cyano and completely stable (other than me trying to figure out alk/ca dosing). Now it is doing less well and I'm battling cyano. Sigh. At least we now have way more space for corals - once things settle down.

 

[anthonys51]

is the rocks blocking flow now. you might have to add another powerhead if it is

 

[bdturtle21]

is the rocks blocking flow now. you might have to add another powerhead if it is

Might be... in one area. Luckily (or finally?) the tank is looking better and the cyano looks to be on the way out (fingers crossed!). But, that one spot will need a powerhead, most likely.

Thank you!!