Help with a rebuild!

rlablan

rlablan

Active Member

so this will go around my over flow. I don't like the idea of the "little caves" from the pipe protruding out too much, so I am gonna cut holes in the wall and put the pipe in. Also, I need to make some holes for the returns to come through...
I have yet to figure out how I am gonna keep this thing up against the over flow. We'll see I guess. I bi=ought some suction cups but I dk how those are gonna work out.
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3487906

so this will go around my over flow. I don't like the idea of the "little caves" from the pipe protruding out too much, so I am gonna cut holes in the wall and put the pipe in. Also, I need to make some holes for the returns to come through...
I have yet to figure out how I am gonna keep this thing up against the over flow. We'll see I guess. I bi=ought some suction cups but I dk how those are gonna work out.
hmm,
Why not go get you some aquarium sealant or silicon, super glue (the gel)? you thinkin what I'm thinkin'?
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
I'm not sure that I want to make it permanent though. :-/
This tank was kinda pricey and if I get rid of it someday, I would like to get the most that I can.
I guess first things first. I need to see if I like the way it's looking. So far, it's not great but We'll see what I think when I get it in there. I don't have any better ideas at this point.
I am also concerned about the scap between this and the over flow... how many fish are going to decide that's the best place to hide.
For now I am working in panels. When this is done I will "dry" fit it, see what space I need to fill behind it, and then fill that with great stuff. If It's too snug, then I will go at it with the dremel or some type of instrument to get a really snug fit. The closest I can, anyway.
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3487921
I'm not sure that I want to make it permanent though. :-/
This tank was kinda pricey and if I get rid of it someday, I would like to get the most that I can.
I guess first things first. I need to see if I like the way it's looking. So far, it's not great but We'll see what I think when I get it in there. I don't have any better ideas at this point.
I am also concerned about the scap between this and the over flow... how many fish are going to decide that's the best place to hide.
For now I am working in panels. When this is done I will "dry" fit it, see what space I need to fill behind it, and then fill that with great stuff. If It's too snug, then I will go at it with the dremel or some type of instrument to get a really snug fit. The closest I can, anyway.
I see what you are saying and I can visualize what you are trying to do. atleast I believe I can see what you are trying to do.
Nonetheless, I would use the super glue and dot the glue ever few inches or so.
Later if you don't like the look you can just snap it off. Kinda like glueing the coral frags to those frag discs, your able to snap them off. Same concept here.
Is that clear as mud?
PM sent
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Okay so I watched the video.
!st off- your tank is wonderful. I wish that I had one just the same. I can tell you work very hard on it.
BUT- your scaping was so well done, I can't really tell where the over flow is. But I mean that in the best way. I really couldn't tell... Is it behind the green monti? (IF it's monti... I'm no good with names).
So what is it that you did? Did you glue your corals to the over flow? How long did it take to grow out like that, if that is what you did...
Here are some progress pictures of what I've done. I'm done for tonight but I will finish the remaining patches tomorrow.
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3487938
Okay so I watched the video.
!st off- your tank is wonderful. I wish that I had one just the same. I can tell you work very hard on it.
BUT- your scaping was so well done, I can't really tell where the over flow is. But I mean that in the best way. I really couldn't tell... Is it behind the green monti? (IF it's monti... I'm no good with names).
So what is it that you did? Did you glue your corals to the over flow? How long did it take to grow out like that, if that is what you did...
Here are some progress pictures of what I've done. I'm done for tonight but I will finish the remaining patches tomorrow.
yes. I glued it to the overflow. The purple rimmed monti was just under an inch big in January when I glued it there. Since then I broke it a couple of times on accident and it rebounded very quickly.
The mother monti is in the 125.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild#post_3487795
Thanks god! Someone is out there. lol
I am kind of already past that point. I was waiting all afternoon for someone to say something but I couldn't wait anymore. I only had til 4 cause the LFS closes early ons sunday.
I was changing the chemipure with every water change or so... about two weeks.
I feed the tanks once a days. I feed 1 cube for both of my tanks that contains small amounts of the following: various micro foods, cyclopeez (sp?), pe mysis and mysis, a couple of green foods like seaweed that I chopped up and mashed in there, and lots of chunky garlic. The cubes are pretty small. And I feed both tanks around the same time, usually less in this tank because it has less fish. Sometimes, if there is extra food, I just tosh it out.
The lights are LED... so I figure I don't need to change those... The fixture is listed ^^
I had snails, I picked up a few here and there for the tank over the last few weeks. I found like 3 crabs and 3 snails yesterday while removing and cleaning. Found a ton of shells though. I HAD snails, they weren't doing anything.
Some cyano? hahaha understatement. It was a lot better but if someone saw my tank, you would think I was propagating it...
Thanks for the reply, guy... I have already scrapped the whole tank and started over though... I didn't know what else to do... It was way out of control.
That doesn't mean that I wouldn't appreciate help from here on out.

Rinse your food in RO water (I use a brine shrimp net) its been noted that frozen foods can add phosphates to your tank. I would go with just snail vs snails and crabs. Crabs kill snails for there shells or for food or just because they like too.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3487921
I'm not sure that I want to make it permanent though. :-/
This tank was kinda pricey and if I get rid of it someday, I would like to get the most that I can.
I guess first things first. I need to see if I like the way it's looking. So far, it's not great but We'll see what I think when I get it in there. I don't have any better ideas at this point.
I am also concerned about the scap between this and the over flow... how many fish are going to decide that's the best place to hide.
For now I am working in panels. When this is done I will "dry" fit it, see what space I need to fill behind it, and then fill that with great stuff. If It's too snug, then I will go at it with the dremel or some type of instrument to get a really snug fit. The closest I can, anyway.
You could also use magnetic clips they are the ones used to hold heaters and power heads, glue the inside piece to the egg create. That way it attached to the rock wall but not permanently to the tank.
PS you are doing a great job
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
You could also use magnetic clips they are the ones used to hold heaters and power heads, glue the inside piece to the egg create. That way it attached to the rock wall but not permanently to the tank.
PS you are doing a great job
so couple of questions
Regarding the food, if I rinse it, won't all the micro foods in it get washed away?
Could I use cheese clothe or something with a more fine mesh?
Also, I feed pellets occasionally. But I am pretty careful about the amount, just feeding 5 pellets at a time or so. I don't just dump. Could tese pellets be a huge issue?
About the clips, my heater uses suction cup clips... The only magnetic thing I have is the koralia magnet/cups. Where would I get the magnetic things from? I've never seen em at my LFS but I haven't looked.
And thank you... I am trying. :)
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Here is a progress update. I just haven't iPad today so I dk if I can post pictures... Probably not.
I looked in my tank today and everyone seems okay, except that they all have slightly tattered fins. Any thoughts on that? Especially my Randall's goby... He doesnt seem to be eating very well. But he's alive...
I just finished adding the last of the great stuff to the wall... I put as much LR on the wall as I could... I really didn't want too much of the great stuff look... Those walls are unappealing to me, so I tried to stay away from that look. I guess we will see what it looks like once it's in the tank.
I do have a concern about the inevitable space that will occur behind the wall, between it and the overflow. I'm concerned it'll become a trap for old food, debris and eventually cause elevated levels. Is this a legitimate concern or am I being silly? Also, I don't really want fish escaping back there... The space will be small but my overflow is rectangular shaped and I went with an asymmetrical trapezoid shape. So I will have a small "triangle on each side...
I was thinking of putting Ys on my returns and putting one behind the wall, and the other I front of the wall, just to try to help with debris getting trapped back there... The flow shouldnt be enough to push he walk forward... But enough to get some "fresh" water to the area.
Any thoughts?
I'll post pictures as soon as I get our laptop back...
Rae
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Here are some photos finally!!! Sorry for the wait. It's been a long couple of days. I will be placing the wall in the tank tonight.
These pics were taken before 100% completion... but you can (hopefully) see what I was going for here with the shape and all that.

 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3488317
so couple of questions
Regarding the food, if I rinse it, won't all the micro foods in it get washed away?
Could I use cheese clothe or something with a more fine mesh?
Also, I feed pellets occasionally. But I am pretty careful about the amount, just feeding 5 pellets at a time or so. I don't just dump. Could tese pellets be a huge issue?
About the clips, my heater uses suction cup clips... The only magnetic thing I have is the koralia magnet/cups. Where would I get the magnetic things from? I've never seen em at my LFS but I haven't looked.
And thank you... I am trying. :)
A brine shrimp net is better than cheese cloth it like a nylon. What type of pellets, I use spectrum. The clips I have seen on line stores.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
So I thought I updated this? I remember typing it all out.
Apparently, it didn't make it on here.
So lots of things have happened.
1st- The wall didn't fit. After the foam expanded and dried... it did not keep the same shape as what I originally intended. It's okay... I wasn't crazy about the look of it any way. Also, I have no idea how suction cups would keep that thing down... Boy! Did it float! Even being covered in ~15 lbs of LR... My boyfriend and I both tried to push it down and place it in the tank but that was some tough work. Oh well.
So I redid the tank with all the rock that I had left and I tried to keep you it as open as possible. I wanted a lot of LR, without the clutter like I had before. Too much rock in this tank also created a lot of dead spots in the tank, even with 4 power heads and the return pump.
I only have 2 of the large, new koralias in the tank. There is plenty of flow in there now.


I have an order of Fish and corals coming for this guy within the next couple of days. There should be lots of interesting things on the way to my doorstep. For now, everything that is in the tank looks pretty good. All of the fish are right at home and I think they're enjoying the new open layout. I am enjoying it as well and I think that I am liking the white sand a lot better than the old black sand. While some of the colors pop more on the black sand, to me it's kind of unnatural looking and a little too sharp. Also, the tank always looks dingy... IMO. I just never noticed it before.
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3488481
A brine shrimp net is better than cheese cloth it like a nylon. What type of pellets, I use spectrum. The clips I have seen on line stores.
I don't know what types of pellets. I have used Danichi pellets... they're coated in freeze dried cyclopeze or something? I dk... Now I have some type of very common pellets, I have seen then at the LFSs and also at places like *****. I have veggie ones and meat ones. I put mixed them up and feed those 2 times a week or so. I also have the same brand but very large and I use those to feed my tube nem and my duncans in my other tank. Sometimes I feed the large pellets to my plate corals and also my brain corals....
 
rlablan

rlablan

Active Member
So today We went to our LFS and decided that we wanted to try a refugium. We bought an aquafuge 2. With a few modifications, We were able to make it work with our sump and it hangs perfectly on the side, and is contained within the cabinet. It just took a little tinkering and an extension of the pipe to get it get the fuge pump below the water line in my sump.


The LFS suggested that we fill the sump with Fiji gold mud. I don't know a lot about it, but he said it was the same as miracle mud and they don't sell that so this was my only option. I bought a few bottles of pods in hopes of stocking the sand bed, fuge and LR in the DT with pods. I will also add reef stew pretty often in hopes of diversifying the life in my tank.
I'll post some pictures of the refugium all set up later. I forgot to snap some before I put the camera away.
Also, You can see in the 1st picture, just off to the right of the picture, I reorganized the cabinet beneath my tank. I added some hooks and my BF mounted some little baskets (that are actually made to stick with suction cups) that hold all of my additives and supplements so they are out of the way, and I can tell what I have. I am quite pleased with the way that it turned out :)
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlablan http:///t/392624/help-with-a-rebuild/20#post_3488736
So today We went to our LFS and decided that we wanted to try a refugium. We bought an aquafuge 2. With a few modifications, We were able to make it work with our sump and it hangs perfectly on the side, and is contained within the cabinet. It just took a little tinkering and an extension of the pipe to get it get the fuge pump below the water line in my sump.


The LFS suggested that we fill the sump with Fiji gold mud. I don't know a lot about it, but he said it was the same as miracle mud and they don't sell that so this was my only option. I bought a few bottles of pods in hopes of stocking the sand bed, fuge and LR in the DT with pods. I will also add reef stew pretty often in hopes of diversifying the life in my tank.
I'll post some pictures of the refugium all set up later. I forgot to snap some before I put the camera away.
Also, You can see in the 1st picture, just off to the right of the picture, I reorganized the cabinet beneath my tank. I added some hooks and my BF mounted some little baskets (that are actually made to stick with suction cups) that hold all of my additives and supplements so they are out of the way, and I can tell what I have. I am quite pleased with the way that it turned out :)
The refugium looks good and the angels were watching over you. Whatever you do..DO NOT add fiji mud or miracle mud or anything of that nature. While it's fantastic to feed macroalgae, if you get so much as a single strand of hair algae (an unwanted macro) you will not be able to control it. No amount of water changes will fix it because it will be fed by the mud. Marcos will grow just fine without it. So the store not selling it was a very, very good thing.
 
mr. limpid

mr. limpid

Active Member
Sorry to hear the rock wall didn't work. I didn't want to say it but I didn't like the way it looked either. You know once the the overflow gets covered with coraline you wont even notice it.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Just a small comment on the rock wall....If you ever want to try it again or for anyone who does....do it on an empty tank. Lay it on one side and place your eggcrate on the back of the fish tank inside and begin using foam to attach the rock. The foam will expand and hold the wall in place...it will go behind a little between the eggcrate and stick the wall firmly to the tank. Use the smaller rocks toward the bottom and the larger rock with ledges toward the top. Just the opposite of how you think it should go.Trim away any extra foam you don't want. Than put a few larger rocks in the sand bed in front of the wall for a perfect 3D look..(the reason you add the smaller rocks on the bottom)
If you ever break the tank down.... the wall can be removed by using a scraper and some determination and you won't even be able to tell there was ever a rock wall there. So it does not ruin the tank to use the method I posted above.
 
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