Okay!

[marsilly]

Here goes.....I had a 45SW corner given to me with a Sailfin Tang(they were told a convict) I named him Dougy, I just adore him, so active and always comes to front of tank. Should be about 10years old now.
It has a undergravel filter in it :scared: I'm not sure I like this. Guy at LFS told me nothing wrong with it, just keep the cc very thin under the liverock. I proceeded to do that on the next water change. There is some really hard places that I'm not sure if it is rocks(found a few)or the coral that has packed. It kinda bothers me to really get down and vaccuum it. I have two powerheads on the siphons. One lower than the other. Wouldn't they be pulling bad things from the bottom. :notsure: I have had it set up for about 2 years now.
Added 1 clown
1 coral beauty
1 Fridmani
1 purple back
3 pj's
snails and crabs now and then
I do the water changes once a month and add chemicals( iodine, calcium, minerals, stresszyme)
Lost a sailfin blenny, banded coral, a red star(I was dumb), got rid of 2 yellow damsels, and 2 yellowtail.
I would love to try another banded coral, some more clowns(pair) and some anemones. Alsowould like to get the 10 turbo and 10 bluelegs that are advertised here.
I only have a small hood that holds a 24in 50/50 Reef Sun. I figure that is why the LR is really not doing very much. LFS told me to be patience. LR acculamated in my tank, thanks to her, I knew better, and did it anyway

I can't really afford the big expensive lights,

but I could really use some ideas on a medium priced idea that would benefit the LR , Dougy and friends

 

[merredeth]

https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/data/smilies/drinkingcoffee.gif[/img]

 

[marsilly]

Thanks Denise M. I kinda thought that I should have. I,m not sure about the base, but I will soom find out.
Is there an correct way to do this? I,m thinking

(look out) to save all the water that I can. Put Dougy, friends and LV in tote with circulation and water from tank. Rip the rest out, clean CC and all, put it all back together, Pray.

 

[1journeyman]

Get rid of the undergravel and CC altogether. Do a search on this site for "southdown" sand. You'll find a lot of great threads about adding cheap sand to your tank.
Not sure about adding more fish. Your tank may very well be close to it's limit.
What do you mean you don't like vaccuming your cc? Too difficult, too dirty?
Not really a "cheap" way to upgrade lighting. your fish will be fine with normal lights. Corals, anemones, etc. are what require the more serious lighting.
As far as adding chemicals, I wouldn't. If you do regular water changes your tank will get all the trace elements it needs. Adding things you can't test for will lead to overdosing and toxicity.
If you haven't done it already, go out and buy Fenner's "A Conscientious Marine Aquarist". It will explain a lot to you.

 

[merredeth]

Originally Posted by marsilly
Thanks Denise M. I kinda thought that I should have. I,m not sure about the base, but I will soom find out.
Is there an correct way to do this? I,m thinking

(look out) to save all the water that I can. Put Dougy, friends and LV in tote with circulation and water from tank. Rip the rest out, clean CC and all, put it all back together, Pray.
This is what I did when I inherited a tank that had CC but it wasn't a deep enough base for the eel that came with the tank. Rest assured, there is going to be differing opinions but you'll have to use your own best judgement.
The day before you decide to disrupt Dougy's life pre-mix salt water 24 hours before you start the process. Perhaps maybe 20 gallons.
I'm thinking the best way to do this would be to save as much water as you can and put Dougy and his friends in the tote, circulating the water. I'd also add some of the CC and if there is a few pieces of LR add that as well. Don't forget to add the heater.
In a second tote, add additional water so you can and put any remaining LR and add a powerhead to the water. Do this fast as you don't want anything to die off on the rock.
Your new crushed coral you buy is going to have to be rinsed and rinsed well. I used a speghetti strainer and lierally poured two coffee cups at a time of the crushed coral into the strainer and rinsed the heck out of it.
Because you have an undergravel filter you are trying to get rid of, my suggestion is to lift it out carefully after you disconnect everything, leaving the coral that is in the tank there. Because there is going to be some water in the tank, I'd take about 10 gallons of water and pour it into the tank. Then use a vacuum and go through the tank with a vacuum to get rid of the crap that the undergravel filter left behind. Make sure you keep the CC covered in salt water as I don't think it would be a good idea to dry it out.
I'd then take some of the old CC out and put it in some saltwater. Lay down some of the new CC and then replace some of the old CC on top.
I'd then fill up my tank with as much of the old water I could possibly use and put my LR back into the tank, topping off with some of the new salt water you made up, reserving a little for the totes that have your tank friends in it.
No matter what you do this water is going to be clooudy. Use a carbon filter and let it run for about 24 hours. It will clear up. Make sure you have a heater going because you will want the temperature as close to the tote's temperature as possible to reduce the stress on your tank friends. I'd test my water and give it a few days to see if it cycles.
In my situation, I didn't have to take out an undergravel filter, but I did this same process and my tank showed no signs of cycling.
After I was sure the tank wasn't going through the cycle I'd start the acclimation process.
I'm sure others will probably add to this or have differing opinions, but this is what I did for my aggressive tank and it worked out well. The fish and the eel survived.
Good luck!
Denise M.