RocketEngineer's 75g/125g Setup
- Thread starter RocketEngineer
- Start date
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The tank is still overrun with hair algae but I realized that the bulbs are over a year old.
"Well theirs your problem"
Yup, new bulbs on the way.
SO question for those few folks who read my thread: Yellow tang plus Tomini tang in the same 75g setup?
Thoughts?
"Well theirs your problem"
Yup, new bulbs on the way.
SO question for those few folks who read my thread: Yellow tang plus Tomini tang in the same 75g setup?
Thoughts?
CeeGee
New member
It is time to take those rocks out of the tank and scrub them down. Add a bit of GFO and change it every 3 days religiously. Same for any filter socks you might be running (can't remember if you are running them or not) and make sure you are not overfeeding. Vacuum detritus every couple of days as well and blow the rocks off with a turkey baster daily.
These algae problems will not go away without significant intervention on your part and GFO is not a plug and play solution.
It is time to get more pro-active on maintenance what you are seeing is the accumulation of not enough "hands on" in keeping the tank clean.
I do not understand why the chaeto crashed. It seemed to be doing so well. Maybe the hair algae in the display is outcompeting it.
Please don't take any of that the wrong way. Your tank is very nice and you need to get it back to looking the way it should.
These algae problems will not go away without significant intervention on your part and GFO is not a plug and play solution.
It is time to get more pro-active on maintenance what you are seeing is the accumulation of not enough "hands on" in keeping the tank clean.
I do not understand why the chaeto crashed. It seemed to be doing so well. Maybe the hair algae in the display is outcompeting it.
Please don't take any of that the wrong way. Your tank is very nice and you need to get it back to looking the way it should.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
CeeGee,
I have been pulling out algae weekly (any quicker and its just too short to grab) and running GFO. Thanks for reminding me I need to change that.
I think my next major step will be picking up new/different rock. The BRS base rock is holey but at the same time, the pieces are very big which limits flow through them which allows detritus to build up inside. Maybe when I take them out and swirl them around I should knock holes/tunnels through them. Thoughts?
Gradually, I should be able to get this thing back to where I want. I agree that it will take effort and time. I've made some progress buts time to go full out. Then when I go to the 125g, it will have a good start.
BTW, the yellow tang idea is because the Tomini tang is a surface scraper while the yellow can get into the crevices. No other reason. You're right, I will hold off on that until the 125g.
Time to buckle down, get wet, and fix the problems. "Nothing good ever happens fast"
RocketEngineer
I have been pulling out algae weekly (any quicker and its just too short to grab) and running GFO. Thanks for reminding me I need to change that.
I think my next major step will be picking up new/different rock. The BRS base rock is holey but at the same time, the pieces are very big which limits flow through them which allows detritus to build up inside. Maybe when I take them out and swirl them around I should knock holes/tunnels through them. Thoughts?
Gradually, I should be able to get this thing back to where I want. I agree that it will take effort and time. I've made some progress buts time to go full out. Then when I go to the 125g, it will have a good start.
BTW, the yellow tang idea is because the Tomini tang is a surface scraper while the yellow can get into the crevices. No other reason. You're right, I will hold off on that until the 125g.
Time to buckle down, get wet, and fix the problems. "Nothing good ever happens fast"
RocketEngineer
CeeGee
New member
Thanks for not taking that like I was being a jerk. Sometimes typed words come across wrong.
I have been battling some algae again as well. I had started my tank again and got really busy with life and it kinda got out of control again. This lead me to really think about how I have been approaching maintenance. I have taken my rocks out and scrubbed them 3 times now and continue to vacuum and clean every couple of days. To cure this type of problem takes devotion and diligence.
There is no cure all. It takes a combination of different methods and when you throw in laziness on the part of the aquarist there is no way to win. You also have to factor in every animal you add to "help" also creates waste and this waste is what causes these problems to start with.
Keep your head up and stay on top of the problems and you will win.
I have been battling some algae again as well. I had started my tank again and got really busy with life and it kinda got out of control again. This lead me to really think about how I have been approaching maintenance. I have taken my rocks out and scrubbed them 3 times now and continue to vacuum and clean every couple of days. To cure this type of problem takes devotion and diligence.
There is no cure all. It takes a combination of different methods and when you throw in laziness on the part of the aquarist there is no way to win. You also have to factor in every animal you add to "help" also creates waste and this waste is what causes these problems to start with.
Keep your head up and stay on top of the problems and you will win.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
I am firmly of the opinion that SOME algae isn't a bad thing. Tanks are not sterile boxes fully of pretty things, they are a miniature ecosystem that we have to work to keep in balance. Taking the time to do what needs doing should get me started. Keeping at it will see the ugly stuff retreat to a few isolated areas which is something I can live with.
I will say I think the biggest flaw in the 75g is not enough flow to the sump. If I stir things up, it all stays in the tank and doesn't get pulled out (skimmer or a temp filter sock). What I really need to do set up my canister filter on the display with a micron filter and let it run while I stir things up. The canister filter I have is noisy but works.
Tank work is definitely on the schedule for this weekend.
I will say I think the biggest flaw in the 75g is not enough flow to the sump. If I stir things up, it all stays in the tank and doesn't get pulled out (skimmer or a temp filter sock). What I really need to do set up my canister filter on the display with a micron filter and let it run while I stir things up. The canister filter I have is noisy but works.
Tank work is definitely on the schedule for this weekend.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
The tank chores are done.
I started the day with changing the light bulbs. It always amazes me how much they change color from new to old. Definitely have to keep track of that as the spectrum shift is probably why the algae problem has cropped up.
Next, I spent the morning doing a water change. I used the siphon hose to pull the algae clumps off the top of the sand bed. Once my 5g bucket was full, I took some of the bigger rocks and swirled them in the bucket before taking a toothbrush to them. Needless to say, the old water went from clear to brown. Four buckets later, all 16g of fresh SW are into the tank and hopefully lots of crud OUT of the tank.
And 3: Changed the GFO. Necessary to get things back on track.
Oh, and I did a little shopping...
Acan Echinata
Another Brain coral. This one has a different shape and green sides. Hard to see where it is now.
On the left is a purple lobo and on the right is a prism favia.
In the back you can see the Orange Sherbert Montipora.
And here is a purple and green acan (left) and a green torch (right).
RocketEngineer
I started the day with changing the light bulbs. It always amazes me how much they change color from new to old. Definitely have to keep track of that as the spectrum shift is probably why the algae problem has cropped up.
Next, I spent the morning doing a water change. I used the siphon hose to pull the algae clumps off the top of the sand bed. Once my 5g bucket was full, I took some of the bigger rocks and swirled them in the bucket before taking a toothbrush to them. Needless to say, the old water went from clear to brown. Four buckets later, all 16g of fresh SW are into the tank and hopefully lots of crud OUT of the tank.
And 3: Changed the GFO. Necessary to get things back on track.
Oh, and I did a little shopping...
Acan Echinata
Another Brain coral. This one has a different shape and green sides. Hard to see where it is now.
On the left is a purple lobo and on the right is a prism favia.
In the back you can see the Orange Sherbert Montipora.
And here is a purple and green acan (left) and a green torch (right).
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
I took the next step on the upgrade today, I ordered the glass for the overflows. 8 pieces for $78. The only sticking point will be having to drill the holes in the external box bottom. I will take pics as things progress.
iwishtofish
Active member
Looking forward to it. "Old tank" is looking great!
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Not sure about "great" but its looking alright at the moment. The new bulbs really helped make the corals pop.
In other news, I broke down the two 40B tanks I got when I purchased the 125g. I will say that taking them apart was much harder than I thought. I had to break the plastic trim on the top to get them apart and then the silicone joints were so thin I ended up chipping the glass in several places trying to cut between the panels. Needless to say, it was a headache but they are apart and I can eventually use the glass for other things. I'm thinking dividers for a future sump or the overflow box for another tank down the road. For now, the glass is in my shed waiting to find a second life.
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Yesterday morning I picked up the glass for the 125g overflow boxes. I still need to drill the external overflow box. Unfortunately with the holiday weekend I'm going to my parents house to help my dad assemble a building for his tractor. Go on vacation to work....go to work to recover from the vacation. Just the way it is.
In other news, here are some coral pics.
Still my favorite coral in the tank. When I set up the 125g, it will get a corner all its own.
This one wasn't doing well until I put it under the ledge. Now its grown into 6 heads.
RocketEngineer
In other news, here are some coral pics.
Still my favorite coral in the tank. When I set up the 125g, it will get a corner all its own.
This one wasn't doing well until I put it under the ledge. Now its grown into 6 heads.
RocketEngineer
fredanthony
New member
RocketEngineer,
Looks awesome, one question, whats with the egg-crate under the sand? Any specific reason for that? Thanks.
Fred.
Looks awesome, one question, whats with the egg-crate under the sand? Any specific reason for that? Thanks.
Fred.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Thanks.
I consider it a safety addition that keeps the rocks from point loading the glass. Because I have the jawfish, my rock sits directly on the bottom of the tank rather than on a layer of sand. To keep the points of the rock from touching the glass and potentially breaking the bottom by me shifting the rocks around, I added the egg crate before I aquascaped. In addition to protecting the bottom of the tank it also keeps the rocks in place while I was aquascaping.
I will be doing the same thing with the 125g. Its cheap insurance.
RocketEngineer
fredanthony
New member
Gotcha, thanks 
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Typical.....
Went to my parents house for the long weekend and came home to no return pump going and an overflowing skimmer. Not sure where it came from but a glob of film algae and cheato got sucked into the return pump screen and gummed up the works. After I cleaned that out the pump and gave it a rinse and scrub in the sink it was good to go.
Never fails, Murphy hits when your away. Other than not getting topped off properly, it looks like everything is in decent shape.
RocketEngineer
Went to my parents house for the long weekend and came home to no return pump going and an overflowing skimmer. Not sure where it came from but a glob of film algae and cheato got sucked into the return pump screen and gummed up the works. After I cleaned that out the pump and gave it a rinse and scrub in the sink it was good to go.
Never fails, Murphy hits when your away. Other than not getting topped off properly, it looks like everything is in decent shape.
RocketEngineer
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Feeding time in the tank is always cool because the corals change appearance so much when they stick the tentacles out. Tonight I got two pics of the acans while feeding.
I also got a half way decent picture of the montipora I accidently broke off its plug and stuffed into a crack:
With the hot weather over the weekend, being outside wasn't in the cards so I decided to take a mid-afternoon nap. Unfortunately I didn't get one but the cat did.......on me.
Things are slowly coming together for the 125g. Started purchasing plumbing parts and have ordered the drill guide so I can bore the bottom plate of the external overflow. When I did my 75g I used my dad's but then procdeded to drop it and broke one of the guide rods off....needless to say he gets the new one once I'm done. After the holes in the external box bottom are drilled, I will drill two additional holes in the 125 between the internal and external overflow boxes and silicone all my glass in place. Still lots to do after that.
RocketEngineer
I also got a half way decent picture of the montipora I accidently broke off its plug and stuffed into a crack:
With the hot weather over the weekend, being outside wasn't in the cards so I decided to take a mid-afternoon nap. Unfortunately I didn't get one but the cat did.......on me.
Things are slowly coming together for the 125g. Started purchasing plumbing parts and have ordered the drill guide so I can bore the bottom plate of the external overflow. When I did my 75g I used my dad's but then procdeded to drop it and broke one of the guide rods off....needless to say he gets the new one once I'm done. After the holes in the external box bottom are drilled, I will drill two additional holes in the 125 between the internal and external overflow boxes and silicone all my glass in place. Still lots to do after that.
RocketEngineer
iwishtofish
Active member
Your acans are beautiful. I love "tentacle shots."
I'm glad your pump kept working! You're right, problems generally only arise when we are away.
I'm glad your pump kept working! You're right, problems generally only arise when we are away.
RocketEngineer
Space is big.
Those two acans were the first corals I got. When I first got them I fed them several times a week and they grew like gang busters. Recently with the hair algae problem I have cut back on feedings and they have all but stopped growing. I hope when the 125g is in place the additional flow through the sump/fuge will help me get the algae back under control and allow me to start feeding again.
Not sure what the pump's problem was. However, I now have a full backup which I didn't until a few months ago. I got it used for 1/2 the retail price and its sparkly clean as the previous owner just used it to mix fresh SW. Definitely helps with the peace of mind.
RocketEngineer
iwishtofish
Active member
I'll have the audacity to "pre-answer" that for RocketEngineer, by directing you to post #326, above.
