Rebuild and recovery of a dead tank

jason2459

jason2459

Well-known member
Got a 55g tank about two years ago from my sister in law who ran it for about 3-4 years before that. I thought I did a pretty good job in keeping it up and added several new items to it for about a year. Here's a picture of it just after I got it home and setup.

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Ended up getting a HOB refugium (no clue as make and is ~10g, C-220 Marineland canister filter, Coralife 6x 18w) UV filter, Coralife 65 super skimmer, and some more live rock.

It came with a coralife pc lighting and I added on a glo double t5 lighting. Have no idea what kind of substrate but it was around 2in or so.

Didn't really do any corals other then a kenya tree that multiplied itself all over the place. Only death I had while running it was a firefish jumping out. I bought pretty much everything that I added on from a local fish guy. Tom from Beyond the Sea. Always got a good deal and would hand pick any livestock I wanted.

Unfortunately don't really have that many pictures of the before. Luckily I had that one. Favorite things in there were probably a copper banded butterfly that I found liked to be hand fed live muscles and would let me pet him and a white spotted hermit crab which liked the muscles too. They ate better then I did.


Reason I don't have many pictures left is because of this happening in June of 2008.

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I lost everything in the tank of course, including 95% of everything else the wife and I owned.


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Wife felt bad and got me this as soon as we found a new home to move into as that flooded home lost a big chunk of it's foundation and the cost to repair would be more then the house was worth.

bdqjyw.jpg


He's in our soon to be baby boy's room on top of a dresser. Of course the theme is underwater sea life. (NOT NEMO! I keep getting people saying "OH, You have a Finding Nemo room?"!!!)
 
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You've certainly been through quite alot, i'm so sorry about your home and the flood. :-(
You're wife is lovely gal getting you another tank after all that you two went through. She's a keeper. ;) Cool betta.

You certainly seem to great talent with the copperband, i was always too afraid to keep one, how cool that yours eats out of your hands!

You have the same sized tank that my first sw tank was.
I had a canister filter too. It was a big honkin' one. I had no idea what i was doing and was afraid of my own filteration system. lol

My first question to you would be; what do you plan on keeping fish/ coral-wise?
And then the more experienced forum members can help you plan the rest.

It'll be neat to watch your tank progress if you wish to keep us updated. We like those kinds of updated tank build threads and the pictures too.

Good luck!
And congratulations, on your new family member. :D
 
Thanks Abril.

I was nervous at first with the CBB and cut some egg create up to section off the tank when I first introduced him to the tank as I read and heard he would be to nervous to eat and other fish would compete to much for him to get enough. Tried brine, scallops, clams, and finally found the smaller black shelled live muscles from a local grocery store was what he was craving. I'd scrub off the shell, crack it open, and just hold it in there as he'd rip everything right off the shell. He never did eat any aptasia that I had.

I really don't like the canister filter and if I do end up using it will be for mechanical filtering into the UV filter. I'm looking into ozone as an alternative to the UV filter.

Not exactly sure what will go in the tank for livestock. I would like to get some different corals eventually. I love inverts of all types. They're just fun to watch and great personalities. For fish I'd like to stick with smaller fish and will look for peaceful/reef compatible fish. I do want to get about 30 more lbs of liverock. Currently have about 50lbs of dead rock.

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I've sanded down and restained the stand and canopy.

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Replaced all the hardware except for the door handles as I thought they were pretty unique and were a nice solid brass that I was able to clean up.

zyc93r.jpg


I've ordered and started to receive several things already. Current Sundial 48" 4 t5, 100lbs of dolomite gravel, auto top off system I'll rig up, 5 stage bulk reef supply RO/DI unit, perfecto undergravel filter (will be reversing the flow into it with two 53gph pumps), aqua lifter for the ato, big manum pump for pumping up new salt mix water, and a bunch of plumbing.

I already ran a new 20amp GFCI circuit dedicated to use. I'll have the RO/DI unit fill up a res that I'll check and fill up once a week (more or less) and use the aqua lifter to pump to the ATO that I'll have on a timer to run in short spurts. Then I'll have two runs of tubing going to the basement and straight into a drain. One will be hooked up to one of those hand primers and used to drain watter and the other run will go to the magnum pump in the mixing water to pump up new water. I'll have ball valves to stop and restrict flow.

Here's the HOB refug.

4gr42.jpg


I want to use that to grow macro algae or anything else that just wants to grow back there. Will light that up with a small florescence light at night.

For biological filtration I want to try something out that I've found is kind of unpopular right now I guess. I want to us a reverse undergravel filter. I've been researching all type of things from SSB, DSB, NSB, Plenum, Plenum variants, RDSB, Refug DSB/SSB in DT, blah blah blah. I really liked the idea and how the RUGF works.

Here's the setup so far. Got the tank scrubbed out and painted the back black.

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Jason. Pauls got you hooked on the RUGF huh? Thinking of doing the same if I ever get my 90 in the house.

Does the tank slide in to that wood frame or is it that the frame?
Looks like a good job on the refinsh too.

Wow buddy. That's a pretty amazing deal to go through. That kind of devistation blows my mind. And in June! Hell, California doesn't get that kind of water in January. Let alone our other two months of winter.

This next home on stilts, or atleast a hill?
 
Beautiful job re-finishing the stand! That is a very unique one, with the tank frame and handles.

How bout a pic of the new house? Those floods were amazing, hope it was the 100 year flood and it won't happen again for a long time.

I'm keeping an eye on this build. Looks like a good one!
 
Hello Jason--Congrats on the new addition and sorry about the flood. How long ago did the flood happen?
Paul does have a way of convincing people about the RUGF. I am thinking about switching my 120 over but man that is a lot of work and it has taken me 3 1/2 yrs to get mine running fairly well.--Jerry
 
@ddinox64 Yep, the RUGF just seems more natural to me. I grew up and lived in the Keys for around 20 years or more. Reminds me of the everglades down there that is basically two really wide rivers that move really slowly below the ground push up through it. It even pushes water out into the ocean and bay side. I went searching for them and found one on both sides. Old sailors and pirates use to fill up with water when they found them. Manatee's love them as well.

The top frame slides off and also has hinges on top that I can lift up the top front part with out taking the entire thing off if I just need to get to the front.

Here's another picture after the flood clean up. The two parts separate.

ja823c.jpg



@Rae: Thanks. It was a lot of work sanding that thing down. I really think its a really interesting cover. Don't think I've seen another one out there like it.

While cleaning the tank out I saw a tag on the edge of the tank saying it was made on February 22, 1980. So, I'm assuming that's about when the stand was made as well.

Not sure where my sister-in-law got it from but It's the perfect size for me I think. Feel bad she had to give it up because she was moving to someplace she couldn't have it. But it's really helped cure some homesickness.

BTW, the flood was more like a 1000 year flood. When we bought that house I looked at the flood plain map and made sure that the houses we were looking at were not even in the 500 year flood plain. No one expected the river to crest like it did and our neighborhood didn't even get an evacuation notice. We had enough time to pack our cars with a couple suit cases and get out of there.

500 year flood plain covered areas up to around 26' and it crested at close to 32 feet. The neighbor and I kayaked out to our homes and that's when we got that picture in the first post.

Needless to say we didn't have flood insurance...

I think the hardest thing to loose was the car in this picture:
hweazd.jpg


My grandfather bought it brand new in 1967, Austin Healey Sprite. I had a lot of fun playing around with that car.

ddinox64, yep our house is now on a little hill on top of a little hill. The basement here is poured cement and never had water or humidity problems.

Here's a pic of the new house. Needed a lawn mowing here. I put in that fencing for our little pooch.

35i4msg.jpg


Since moving in October of 2008, I've put up a new garage behind the garage that was already there but facing the back alley, replaced every window, put in a bathroom in the basement, put in a crafts room in the basement for the wife (not 100% done with that yet), put in a new kitchen cabinet, hood fan, and moved the oven over having to redirect the gas for that, put the baby's room together, landscaping, new fencing, grill patio area, and lots of painting. Been a little busy.

@Jerryvan: Paul really doesn't have to do to much convincing really. The results of an almost 40 year old tank kind of talks for itself. lol

BTW, the flood crested on Friday the 13th, 2008. The house was under water sometime on Thursday and still had water there because of pooling until at least the Wednesday of the next week when we were finally allowed back into the neighborhoods to look at things and we still had water over the basement level.
 
Man, I've got a few jobs around my house that need done! My husband has too many of his own projects to deal with the house. You and your wife want to do a working vacation in Colorado?! ;)
 
:lol:

No thanks. But we do need to get out to Colorado at some point. Wife's brother and family live out in Denver.


Here's some fish I'm looking at.

Kaudern's Cardinal http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+82&pcatid=82

Ocellaris Clownfish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+755&pcatid=755

Royal Gramma Basslet
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+21+53&pcatid=53
or
Gold Assessor Basslet
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+21+1422&pcatid=1422

Six Line Wrasse
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+375&pcatid=375

Green Mandarin (way down the line like in a year or more but want to plan for him)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1635+551&pcatid=551
 
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Don't know a thing about corals so I'll have to research these more.. Would love a lot of input on this or alternatives based on what I like here.

Forest Green Galaxea
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2513+2494&pcatid=2494

Elegance Coral
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+321+461&pcatid=461

Giant Green Polyp Duncan
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2513+2670&pcatid=2670

Neon Pineapple Tree Coral
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2412&pcatid=2412

Evergreen Starburst Polyp
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2405&pcatid=2405

Neon Green Palau
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2759&pcatid=2759

White Pom Pom Xenia
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2366&pcatid=2366
 
I don't think the undergravel filter is something your going to be happy with in the end. I actually didn't even think they sold them anymore. The sand bed can be used to grow beneficial bacteria that will in turn aid in the biological filtration. This is why a lot of people believe in the use of the DSB. The LR you are using in your tank will be able to cover this though, and will actually be the source of your filtration, so you could get away with just a couple inches of sand. By using a reverse undergravel filter you will be constantly disrupting the sand, so you should have a nice clean sand bed, but that's about it. IMO I would do without, it will probably cause more problems than its worth in the end. For just a standard FOWLR tank you actually don't need much more than your LR for filtration. Make sure you add a couple powerheads for flow. I personally wouldn't run a system without a skimmer either, but thats debateable.

Hope this helps a bit :)
 
@ryandlf: Thanks for the input. It'll be a fun experiment. If anything the little critters will love it and hopefully flourish so when I add the mandarin he'll have plenty of food.

I have a Coralife super skimmer and pleased to find out it is ozone compatible according to their manual I found in pdf. I think I'm going to go that route instead of the UV filter. Found out I'm missing the o-ring on the skimmer though for the top collection cup. I'll need to find a replacement size for it. I'd also like to drill a hole and attach a hose to run down into a larger collection bucket in case it ever goes crazy on me and overflows. I had that happen to me once before. Not sure how to do that so will have to figure out the best way to drill and secure a hose in the collection cup.

I'm getting two Hydor Koralia 3 pumps rated at 850 gph each, the skimmer is rated at 325 gph, and a pump for the refugium is around 250gph I believe. So around 2275 gph. Or go with two Koralia 2 pumps rated at 600 gph and get around 1775 gph. Not sure which would be better for my 55g tank?

I do plan on getting some corals but only had a FOWLR before except for the one kenya tree that turned into a million. I guess I did something right for at least the kenya.
 
Sorry about your house, my grandmother used to live in Timecheck. Man that cleanup was really bad wasn't it. Tanks looking good tho!
 
@fishynes: I hope you grandmother is doing good and wasn't living there when the flood happened. That was about the worse hit neighborhood along with checkvillage a little further down the river.
 
Jason, love the choices of fish. I was very happy with nearly the same selection. I have 2 K3's in my 65g, I would recommend the same for yours. as for corals, you may find the xenia and evergreen star polyp do the same as the kenyas. It's good for a fast fill out and easy to prune as needed for the other corals.
 
Paul does have a way of convincing people about the RUGF.
Click to expand...

Reverse UG filters do a lot of good things but they won't prevent a flood. :(



I don't think the undergravel filter is something your going to be happy with in the end. I actually didn't even think they sold them anymore.
Click to expand...

Dam! I knew I was using the wrong system for 40 years. :D

The sand bed can be used to grow beneficial bacteria that will in turn aid in the biological filtration. This is why a lot of people believe in the use of the DSB.
Click to expand...

This is true, it is also why there are no old tanks running with DSBs :lol:

Have a great day and I am real sorry for all of your losses. Whatever system you go with, good luck with it.
paul :cool:
 
@Rae: Thanks for the input. Can't wait to setup the live rock and play around with the water flow around them.

So, 3 Yellow Tangs and 2 Blue Tangs should be fine to add to the mix?

@fishgeek12: It was pretty crushing to see the tank like that but probably more so for my sister-in-law. She came along with the mother-in-law to help clean up and throw everything to the side of the road. She's excited that I'm starting it back up.

@Paul: Must have been a miserable 40 years dealing with that RUGF! I'm definitely going through with it.

Got The RO/DI unit hooked up and ready to use tonight.

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Super easy. To easy, the DI unit wasn't fully tightened and leaked a bit. Little twist and all's good. Already had everything hooked up except the water line into the 4 stages and the water line from the RO into the DI. The flush kit , return check valve, water pressure gauge, and the TDS meter into the DI and out from the DI were all preinstalled.

Ran a water line over with a regular garden hose valve and hooked up the adapter it came with to that. Got a 75 foot run of 1/4" water line to curl up later into a bucket of heated water for the winter when the water will get super cold. Hooked up the ball valve that came with the unit and joined the in line to the unit to the coiled up tubing I bought. Love the pressure gauge and used the ball valve to set the pressure to 65psi. Flushing the toilet made it only drop to about 63psi. Then just turn on and off the water to the unit with the main valve.

Just got done flushing the unit and running it for close to an hour. Definitely needed to do that. The TDS input and output at first was about 40. About 10 minutes in it dropped to 40 in and 0 out. Dropped to 20 in around the 40m mark and is currently at 9 in and 0 out when I stopped it. Filled up more into my RO/DI bin then I thought it would.
 
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