Mike Ordner
Active member
I have a standard 75 gallon mixed reef tank with major nutrient problems. The substrate is crushed coral and the rocks have a heavy infestation of bubble algae, something that looks like an offwhite cotton-candy type algae and some hair algae.
Here is what I am thinking of doing.
1. Purchase 6 plastic storage boxes (15" x 10" x9" tall) at the local box store. These demensions would give me about the same total footprint as my current tank.
2. Purchase 120 lbs of sand and and 75 lbs of rock from Reef Rocks (site sponsor).
3. Spread out the sand and rock purchased into the storage boxes.
4. Use a small pump to pump water from my 20 gallon sump to feed the storage boxes.
4. Stacking the storage boxes on top of each other next to the tank. I would make standpipes in the upper 5 boxes that would drain down through the bottom to the next lower box, with the bottom box gravity fed back into the sump.
5. Let this system run until the sand and rock get bacteria established.
6. At this point I would drain the main tank and get as much coral off the nasty rocks and move coral and fish into temporary holding tanks.
7. Clean the DT and add the new sand and rock. When it settles down, put livestock back into tank. (Thinking maybe just a day to settle the water, so livestock is not too stressed in temporary holding tanks).
So... Am I crazy or do you think this would work.
Here is what I am thinking of doing.
1. Purchase 6 plastic storage boxes (15" x 10" x9" tall) at the local box store. These demensions would give me about the same total footprint as my current tank.
2. Purchase 120 lbs of sand and and 75 lbs of rock from Reef Rocks (site sponsor).
3. Spread out the sand and rock purchased into the storage boxes.
4. Use a small pump to pump water from my 20 gallon sump to feed the storage boxes.
4. Stacking the storage boxes on top of each other next to the tank. I would make standpipes in the upper 5 boxes that would drain down through the bottom to the next lower box, with the bottom box gravity fed back into the sump.
5. Let this system run until the sand and rock get bacteria established.
6. At this point I would drain the main tank and get as much coral off the nasty rocks and move coral and fish into temporary holding tanks.
7. Clean the DT and add the new sand and rock. When it settles down, put livestock back into tank. (Thinking maybe just a day to settle the water, so livestock is not too stressed in temporary holding tanks).
So... Am I crazy or do you think this would work.