ReAquascaping...Need Help

[babogart]

Hello,

I am not sure that this is the appropriate forum for this, please feel free to move it if necessary.

This is an "advanced" issue for me.

I posted a question related to reaquascaping an existing system in the SPS forum and have received limited response.

The issue:
I am considering changing the aquascape of my 90 Gal for the following reasons:
-I believe that I put too much rock in initially and flow has been reduced
-Coral growth over the last 6 months has been great, almost too great. I would like to give them more space.

My thought:
I am looking at potentially removing ~50% of the existing rock. I believe this will allow my MP40W to perform better (increased flow), decrease the amount of nutrients, and allow more space for my corals to grow.

My concern:
Removal of the rock may cause a nitrogen spike and kill off some/all of the coral.

Has anyone done this successfully? If so, how??

My current 'scape....(pic taken in June '08. Corals ~25% - 50% larger)

Thanks for the help!

-Brent

 

[waynem]

Put it in your sump? remove it in small amounts later.

or how about start a new fad, call Remote Live rock

RLR for short. ie rock in a bucket.

Just like RSB no one will be able to prove/disprove it works and if you get a few people backing you it will take off.

 

[babogart]

Thanks Wayne,

Unfortunately, I don't have the space in my sump to add the rock and remove slowly, nor the ability to add a bucket/tub to pull from.

Any other thoughts?

-Brent

 

[kretzkiller]

it looks as it all rock has corals attached to it, I personally think it looks good. why do you want to change it?

 

[babogart]

kretzkiller,

Most of the rock does have corals attached to it. I believe that they could be removed easily enough.

My biggest issue is flow. You can't see it in the photo, but the lower left hand area of the tank has a lot of detritus settled and some algae growing. I cannot get back to the corners of the tank to clean.

The Vortech is located about 6" under the surface and on the left side of the tank pushing water into the overflow on the right.

Maybe I should just add a second Vortech to the right side of the tank to increase the flow? Would probably be cheaper than replacing the SPS colonies...

Still open to suggestions.

-Brent

 

[waynem]

Sell some SPS to another local reefer, do some big water changes as needed after u remove the rock until it becomes stable again. Add new SPS.

Or like you said spend more money on another vorech

 

[zooty]

I would add another Vortech or even just a koralia to increase the flow

 

[JaredWaites]

Hell I would build a controller for your vortechs and make a wave box type deal. You can get a wave without an actual box, xtm proved this in the other diy wavebox thread.

That or just find a wavebox in buy/sell or something

 

[therealfatman]

Limit your nutrient input through the keeping of only a few fish and feeding them very little. Remove all of your base rock and use fair sized mounting rocks for your corals. Increase circulation. Most live rock provides very little denitrification and a sand bed provides good media for nitrification bacteria. Keep your nitrate low through skimming, lower nutrient introduction and exporting through frequent water changes, carbon and if possible a refugium/sump containing macro algae. The only live rocks I have in my SPS tanks are mounting rocks. I do use deep sand beds with my display tanks and remote deep sand buckets with my commercial tanks that have no deep sand beds. I use skimming with all my tanks and carbon about 72 hours per week(24 hours 3 days per week). I also use Ferric oxide. I suspend n my frags so they are not even mounted on plugs or live rocks. Their tank systems contain no live rock at all, nor deep sand beds. They do use remote deep sand buckets , skimmers, carbon and ferric oxide as used on th other system. I curculate all my tanks very heavily.

 

[reefscape15]

Hey man i think the tank looks good! If i were you i would add more rock to give more spots to place corals. If you think your tank is full, you haven't seen TOTM. Now that tank is crazy full, but with sps from the top to the bottom, i think the solution is very heavy water flow. I only have about 15 smaller sps frags in my 54gal corner bow but i run a Koralia 1, 2, and 3. It's very turbent in my tank and i think it helps everything grow and stay clean. I have a large purple waving hand colony and thats the only thing that doesn't like that much water flow. Sorry if im making you rethink your plan, but i personally love the look of overly full tanks!

 

[mustang2021]

what i did as i was worried about the same thing you are and reaquascaped for the same reason as you would like to ...i removed all coral and put them into a few rubbermaid tubs with a heater and a lot of power heads i kept them in there for 24 hrs while the tank and detrius settled i did a 35% water change and everything was fine my corals were all sps and some lps but everything came thru beautifuly good luck

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

beautiful tank. i would look for other solutions away from removing rock because the tank is beautiful and well balanced.

 

[Rouselb]

I agree, leave the rock alone, just add another Ph. I have my Tunze set at half power, and i planned for growth to slow the flow. Your tank looks fine as it is. Every time you try to move things around you just make a mess. Its allot of work, and might not be what you want. Plus you will break all kinds of colonies. I have. I think a vortech would be a great addition.

 

[ginger7286]

I agree, I would add another powerhead. Tank looks great!