Gearing up to rebuild: 125g

[reefkprz]

most of the cyanobacteria is going away still a few signs of it here and there, now its primarily hair algae on the rocks and glass. the ugly stage is progressing quickly. I have started adding snails to the cuc I will add a couple snails at a time until they seem to have a handle on it I dont want to overload the tank right off the bat. I also need to get more rock still but I'm in no rush.
the algae screen is coloring up nicely, but I think I need some brighter light on it. I also need to change the spray bar out for one with holes drilled in different locations since 2 of the holes miss the screen completely it is causing splashing in the sump and micro bubbles in the return. either that or I need to widen my screen a bit.
I may go look at fish tonight and see what some of the local stores have in stock.
I also added some cheatomorpha to the sump for denitrification.

 

[reefkprz]

a few pictures to illustrate the transition
Last week: you can see the cyano laden rocks and sand

This morning: you can see most of the cyano is gone and its primarily hair algae.

 

[eric b 125]

What kind of truck did you get? I see the tank is coming along nicely. I really like the shelf rocks. It took me a while to figure out how to aquascape with coral placement in mind. The last time I re-did my main tank I made sure to incorporate a lot of ledges and it turned out nicely IMO. I agree that you should stick with the dual island bommie look. I used to have what I call an "apple cart" aquascape. Once I tried out two islands I never looked back. Not only does it add more character, IMO, but I think it makes my 125 look larger and provides more swimming room for my tangs.
I personally do not like hermits in my tank. I feel that snails are more useful than hermits and since hermit crabs will kill snails for their shells, I just don't put them in my tank. I do have one blue leg that I've had for years and since he's my only one I've grown to like the little dude. Being the only hermit in a 125, he hasn't done much by ways of killing my snails. I think over the past 3 years I've seen him in maybe 4 different shells.
I like the growth pattern of that acro a lot. You don't feel that it's a bit early to be adding SPS? I would have waited a bit, completed my LR purchasing and tackled the hair algae problems. Once a final aquascape was decided on I'd have started to add corals. It's been a week and since you haven't said otherwise I'm assuming that it's doing okay....?

 

[reefkprz]

I wound up getting a ford f 150 extended cab with 8 foot bed and the 302 engine.
I dont like a lot of hermit crabs either but I do like buying the really small ones so I have about 3-4 in there
I would say yes its most definitely early for adding sps, i wouldn't reccomend it.... that said they are doing fine so far tips are all colored well and seemingly still in growth colors not browning out.

 

[reefkprz]

Weirdest thing, this is unusual tank behaviour. every morning when I turn my lights on about 15 minutes after they come on the water goes cloudy within an hour the tank is clear as crystal again. I'm thinmking I am getting a free floating algae bloom every morning and my skimmer clears it out.... thats the only thing I can think of.

 

[spanko]

Algal or bacterial.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I wound up getting a ford f 150 extended cab with 8 foot bed and the 302 engine.

I dont like a lot of hermit crabs either but I do like buying the really small ones so I have about 3-4 in there

I would say yes its most definitely early for adding sps, i wouldn't reccomend it.... that said they are doing fine so far tips are all colored well and seemingly still in growth colors not browning out.


Give them a month or two and they may start showing some signs of stress. Some of my SPS did well in my tank for over a month and just withered away after that, despite me trying to save them.

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/100#post_3466690
Algal or bacterial.
not sure but since its tied in with lighting I would for now assume algal.

 

[reefkprz]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/100#post_3466693
Give them a month or two and they may start showing some signs of stress. Some of my SPS did well in my tank for over a month and just withered away after that, despite me trying to save them.
yeah, I know the risks, pushing the envelope like that, but all the corals are still looking good from the zoas, to the toadstools, to the shrooms and palys, the capnella is doing well also. I'm not foolish enough to try anything as sensitive as a birds nest or the like yet.

 

[reefkprz]

how about everyone give me suggestions on a grazer for my tank. not sure if I want a tang or not but I need a herbivorius algae grazer. how about some ideas please?

 

[smallreef]

well.. id do a kole tang,,,or another bristletooth tang personally..
but it also opens the door for an angel or more suited long term a dwarf angel??
and then of course the Lawnmower Blenny is also a possibility...

 

[spanko]

Best grazer in the ocean IMO the Foxface Rabbitfish. Siganus unimaculatus

Don't know much about the Magnificent Foxface, Siganus magnificus as far as its grazing ability. But really a pretty fish and if it is as good as it's cousin up there then winner!!

 

[ibew41]

I had bubble algae in my tank and a sailfin tang I was given by someone who got out removed all of it and gets along with all my other fish great

 

[reefkprz]

the magnificent fox face is beautiful, I'll have to look into the habits of that one.
that said the hair algae is starting to receed, I believe my DSB is starting to reach the point of denitrification. yay another sign of the tank maturing.
I still need more live rock to finish my aquascaping. but I believe myu rtank is almost ready for another fish and some more soft corals.

 

[reefkprz]

so the green hair algae is seriously receeding finally. but on the flip side of the coin, my skimmer overflowed and dumped a rather large amount of skimmate back into the tank so there is another cyano bloom, grrrrrrrr.
as you can see by the copious amounts of red in this photo

 

[reefkprz]

so today I am gearing up for my first "normal" waterchange. as opposed to the partial cycle then full fill I did about a month ago (roughly). 30 gallons of water change water is being prepped. I wish I had the capacity to do more, in the future I will set my self up for larger maybe 60 gallons. but since there is only one fish and low coral bioload its mostly to keep parameters stable, trace elements and yadda yadda.
so 125g minus 20 gallons for sand and rock, plus 27 gallons of sump water equals 132 gallons of water roughly, so a 30 gallon water change would be about 20% or slightly less

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/100#post_3468774
so today I am gearing up for my first "normal" waterchange. as opposed to the partial cycle then full fill I did about a month ago (roughly). 30 gallons of water change water is being prepped. I wish I had the capacity to do more, in the future I will set my self up for larger maybe 60 gallons. but since there is only one fish and low coral bioload its mostly to keep parameters stable, trace elements and yadda yadda.
so 125g minus 20 gallons for sand and rock, plus 27 gallons of sump water equals 132 gallons of water roughly, so a 30 gallon water change would be about 20% or slightly less
I would never do more than a 3rd at one time unless there is a problem 60 gallons seems a bit much...20% should be just fine.
Congratulations on the mile stone! LOL...remember this good feeling when you are sick to death of doing the changes....and try to hold on to it.

 

[reefkprz]

I prefer regular frequent 50% water changes whenever possible. and for some reason my corals always grow insanely fast. maybe its only anecdotal evidence but I feel the looks of my tanks and the growth of my corals are worth the salt. it saves me a lot of $ in dosing and other maintainence.
if you think 50% waterchanges are over kill wait until you hear about my feeding rituals on a full out established reef tank. generally I feed 5-7 times a day. various foods in small amounts. I dont know how people go feeding only every couple days. but these are habits I have gained after a long time reefing, researching, and observing.
food and parameters on a reef are stable and plentiful in our tanks we seem to try and make them sterile. I want my corals to be feeding all day as well as my fishes just like in the ocean. I also want the chemical balance to remain as near the original parameters as possible. since I cant dose "everything" except with salt, my water changes are my dosing, they are also my most efficient means of nutrient export. as well as a way to remove the chemicals of coral warfare and shed nematocyst from other corals and anemone.
In my experience there is nothing to compare to keeping your parameters as stable as possible, with a 50% waterchange on a regular basis, the tank virtually gets a reset at every water change keeping everything maxed. I'm not talking a 50% every 3-5 months that would actually be a huge upset to a system. I am talking monthly changes where the major parameters dont have time to shift far away from the original.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Good work. Keep it up.

 

[reefkprz]

picked up some Galaxaura rugosa algae and a duncan on tuesday 6 heads for 25 bucks not bad the algae was mislabled for 1.99 so I am not complaining about that one either.

you can only see 2 heads in this photo but there are 6

still having bad cyano I thi nk I need to get a phophate sponge.