Rebuilding my 125

[Raptor72]

After a devastating tank crash during the holidays, I started rebuilding almost from scratch and spent 6 hours in front of the tank yesterday doing a water change, scrubbing the GHA off of every rock and the foam wall. All the rock work was repositioned to allow for better circulation. There is probably about 2-3% of fine GHA still on the rocks since it was impossible to get every little bit, but all in all, it's looking good again. I've done 2 water changes since the incident and parameters seem to be back to normal.

Now to restock. I was left with a Ocellaris clown ( mate died ), a Blue Hippo Tang, a Malanarus Wrasse, 2 Fireshrimp and a snapping shrimp. I would like to add: Ocellaris clown, Purple Tang or Sailfin Tang, 2 Purple Firefish, Royal Gramma,Yellow Tang,Lawnmower Blenny, Foxface Rabbitfish. I need a couple of herbivores till I find an end to the GHA. Any thoughts?

 

[Raptor72]

I also have 4 Monti Caps that are bleached white from the crash. I'll leave them in for a while to see if they come back. Does anyone know if they tend to recover from something like this? Here's what a couple looked like before.

 

[brettinteriors]

What kind of coral do you plan to keep ( rabbit fish). If the caps are white they are usually dead. Soon to follow, algae growth or discoloration on the white and then you know for sure. I have cap frags cheap if you want some later on. Purple orange green.

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[Raptor72]

I mostly just keep softies, mushrooms, a torch coral and I'd like to try a bubble coral. Here's a shot of what the end result is. I'm still messing around with a couple of the rocks.

 

[brettinteriors]

Rabbit would make me nervous. I have seen them go after zoas in particular but also brains and other fleshy corals. Sea had one in their coral flats to eat GHA that decided to eat their brains and scollies. I know others that leave everything alone. To me they are kinda like angels. Fine with sps but hit or miss with the rest.

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[Raptor72]

I know what you mean on the Rabbitfish. I had to return on to SEA because it was doing that same thing. This last one I had was well behaved. Any other ideas as far as grazers?

 

[jjk_reef00]

kole tang maybe

 

[brettinteriors]

I have never had a kole, I'm leary to add another tang in my tank but i too have heard they graze. My purple, yellow, brown, and hippo graze a little but not enough to be effective. Initially they graze a lot but i keep them well fed and I think they get lazy. My lawn mower Benny is lazy too. Anybody with long term success of a grazer. My cuc seems to do most of the grazing.

 

[Raptor72]

I had a sea hare for about a month that was cool to watch. It was like a small hippo that would poop all day long. It ended up getting stuck headfirst in the snapping shrimp's hole.

 

[Raptor72]

I ended up with a small Sailfin and Kole Tang along with a lawnmower Blenny.
The tangs like to hang out together and are not the least bit skittish whenever anyone walks in front of the tank

 

[jjk_reef00]

Awesome, two of my favorite tangs! Although sailfin tangs get really big.

 

[Raptor72]

Awesome, two of my favorite tangs! Although sailfin tangs get really big.

So what you're saying is that I'll have to get a bigger tank later on? Well OK, whatever's better for the fish. Who am I to argue!

 

[jjk_reef00]

lol, it's always good to have reasons to upgrade!

 

[Dangerwill]

So what you're saying is that I'll have to get a bigger tank later on? Well OK, whatever's better for the fish. Who am I to argue!

Atta boy! That logic and my vlamingi tang took me from a 90 to a 150! :dance:

 

[Raptor72]

Last week brettinterors gave me a 15 gal can (thanks again) that I was looking for for my new ATO.

After a little spray paint and bleach and water, I set it up yesterday along with the ATO.

Now I'm watching the sum/fuge automatically top off and I'm wondering why I hadn't done this before! Is there anything else you guys are holding out on?

 

[Dangerwill]

That is freaking brilliant! Great camouflage!!!

 

[jjk_reef00]

That is freaking brilliant! Great camouflage!!!

+1 nice work!

 

[Raptor72]

Next is one of those fancy shmancy controllers I keep hearing about.

 

[Raptor72]

So I've been getting my fish stock back in order along with some corals ( thanks Rob and Josh ), cuc, and plenty of bristle stars ( thanks James ). Its coming along nicely, but the battle with the GHA also continues. I've stocked up on snails, changed my bulbs and will be doing more frequent WC's. My RODI filters are a year old, but according to the TDS meter it still reads zero. Regardless, I'm going to order replacements. Here's what it's looking like.

 

[Dangerwill]

Looks great! How are the new tangs doing?