Hello RC!!
It's been a long time! I'm glad to see this place hasn't changed one bit!!! Here is my story: I used to have several tanks when I was a teenager (ages 13-17), a few nanos, including this 12 gallon cube:
A 60 gal FOWLR and then a 90 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump:
Then, as teenagers tend to do, I left for college....I taught my mom how to take care of the 90 gallon which is the only one I left up when I left (because she really loved it and didn't want it taken down....), and well, as I unfortunately predicted, she ran it into the ground.....over and over I told her I would help her take it down, she never wanted to, she tried really hard, she thought it looked beautiful in the house (it did....when I lived there....).
ANYWAYS, fast forward 9 years, I finished college/law school and am now living a somewhat stable life with my fiance in his house and he thinks a tank would look GREAT in our living room. HA. I have warned him how much work it is.....but that it is so worth it if you put the work in and he is 100% on board. AND at the same time, my mom is MOVING and finally ready to let go of the (my) tank. So, this is going to be THE GREAT REBIRTH or rebuild? Partly both.... As of a week ago there was still a coral beauty living in solitude in this sad formerly beautiful reef tank turned back FOWLR, but I found him a new home, and now it is time to begin anew (sort of).
To be honest, this tank set up was put together for me by a cousin who worked at a wholesaler back in the day (2006?), it was a gift/surprise, so I had no say in the fixtures etc.
Here's where ya'll come in: I need help picking out a new lighting fixture! I have been out of the hobby a long time so I have no clue what is out there..... The tank is 48 inches long, 16 inches wide and 16 inches deep. It currently has two 250 halides, but they are rusted and gross and need to go.
Also, I always wanted moonlights. Goal for new tank is LPS reef tank, I was never really an SPS girl. I am looking for like something I can just screw on or install easily, I've never been good with wiring or like, complicated building of things in general.....so I definitely think lighting fixture is the first thing I want to change about the tank. I also am going to sand the stand down (or have someone do it for me...since I am like, inept with that sort of thing) and maybe repaint it? Not sure but you can see it looks worn..... it is 10 years old, after all.
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0691.jpg[/IMG]
Currently, the tank is pretty much broken down and ready for the big move (from LA area to Sacramento, 916 people where you at?). I am curing (cooking?) the live rock, as you can see there was a major algae problem....
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0598.jpg[/IMG]
Some of the rock looks OK but obviously all of it is now in the rubbermaid with a heater (at 80 degrees) and a powerhead....
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0601.jpg[/IMG]
I've never cooked rock for an extended period of time, I am thinking for all this algae to die off it will take 4-8 weeks? Thoughts?
Also, I am contemplating whether I should start with new "live sand" or use my old substrate. I rinsed it out THOROUGHLY with just a garden hose and am letting it air dry outside right now while I contemplate its future....
I welcome any and all advice and criticism from y'all. There won't be much movement (literally) with this tank for about a month as that is when the moving truck is going to bring it up the state. For the time being I will be researching new lighting and just brushing up generally on my reefing knowledge while I wait for the rock to cook and the tank to arrive...
What do you guys think? Can this tank be reborn!? I think so....I am hopeful
It's been a long time! I'm glad to see this place hasn't changed one bit!!! Here is my story: I used to have several tanks when I was a teenager (ages 13-17), a few nanos, including this 12 gallon cube:
A 60 gal FOWLR and then a 90 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump:
Then, as teenagers tend to do, I left for college....I taught my mom how to take care of the 90 gallon which is the only one I left up when I left (because she really loved it and didn't want it taken down....), and well, as I unfortunately predicted, she ran it into the ground.....over and over I told her I would help her take it down, she never wanted to, she tried really hard, she thought it looked beautiful in the house (it did....when I lived there....).
ANYWAYS, fast forward 9 years, I finished college/law school and am now living a somewhat stable life with my fiance in his house and he thinks a tank would look GREAT in our living room. HA. I have warned him how much work it is.....but that it is so worth it if you put the work in and he is 100% on board. AND at the same time, my mom is MOVING and finally ready to let go of the (my) tank. So, this is going to be THE GREAT REBIRTH or rebuild? Partly both.... As of a week ago there was still a coral beauty living in solitude in this sad formerly beautiful reef tank turned back FOWLR, but I found him a new home, and now it is time to begin anew (sort of).
To be honest, this tank set up was put together for me by a cousin who worked at a wholesaler back in the day (2006?), it was a gift/surprise, so I had no say in the fixtures etc.
Here's where ya'll come in: I need help picking out a new lighting fixture! I have been out of the hobby a long time so I have no clue what is out there..... The tank is 48 inches long, 16 inches wide and 16 inches deep. It currently has two 250 halides, but they are rusted and gross and need to go.
Also, I always wanted moonlights. Goal for new tank is LPS reef tank, I was never really an SPS girl. I am looking for like something I can just screw on or install easily, I've never been good with wiring or like, complicated building of things in general.....so I definitely think lighting fixture is the first thing I want to change about the tank. I also am going to sand the stand down (or have someone do it for me...since I am like, inept with that sort of thing) and maybe repaint it? Not sure but you can see it looks worn..... it is 10 years old, after all.
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0691.jpg[/IMG]
Currently, the tank is pretty much broken down and ready for the big move (from LA area to Sacramento, 916 people where you at?). I am curing (cooking?) the live rock, as you can see there was a major algae problem....
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0598.jpg[/IMG]
Some of the rock looks OK but obviously all of it is now in the rubbermaid with a heater (at 80 degrees) and a powerhead....
[/IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/PVChick12/IMG_0601.jpg[/IMG]
I've never cooked rock for an extended period of time, I am thinking for all this algae to die off it will take 4-8 weeks? Thoughts?
Also, I am contemplating whether I should start with new "live sand" or use my old substrate. I rinsed it out THOROUGHLY with just a garden hose and am letting it air dry outside right now while I contemplate its future....
I welcome any and all advice and criticism from y'all. There won't be much movement (literally) with this tank for about a month as that is when the moving truck is going to bring it up the state. For the time being I will be researching new lighting and just brushing up generally on my reefing knowledge while I wait for the rock to cook and the tank to arrive...
What do you guys think? Can this tank be reborn!? I think so....I am hopeful
