Re-Doing my Tank - Questions or Advice

[frankthetank]

The title says it all... It's a 46g bow and it's really covered with coraline algae along the bottom glass of the sand bed and towards the top edges and everywhere on the back glass. I originally thought this would look really pretty. Now I'm not too sure. I seem to prefer the really clean looking glass. I'm such an anal person that what I really want to do is take everthing out and clean the heck out of the tank. Make it like new and then re-insert everything. Now, I have done this before without any catastrophe. Let me begin with what's in the tank:
Domino Damsel (be a good time to remove him completely)
Perc Clown
Royal Psuedo
Scarlet Hermits
Sea Cucumber
Queen Conch
Emerald Crabs
Turbo and Nassarius snails
60lbs LR
Mushrooms
Zoos
Leather Finger
Xenias (growing like weeds)
Star Polyps
What I did before was put everything into a new plastic tub (about 20g) with a heater, the fluval and a power head. This should keep everything alive while I work on the tank. I then really goto work on the tank, cleaning it completely. Now the last time I did this, I completely changed out the sand bed because it was really yucky. I am thinking of doing the same to this. Should I leave some of the old sand bed in and just add new. Or would a completely new sand bed be ok? My fluval 305 (one compartment of bio max) and LR provide great biological filtration... So I don't think I would get a spike (didn't last time). Then I'm going to buy new bulbs for the PC fixture and this tank will look really good! Of course my main concern is not to lose things during this process. If I add new sand, the water is going to be quite milky for about a day or so. But everything will be fine in the tub, right?
Please feel free to point/guide me... like I said, I did this once before with zero problems... but maybe it was luck. This is a pretty big deal, just like basically moving a tank would be.
One final thing, I've always just put the LR ontop of the sand bed. Is there really a better way? Please let me know? I'd be in a perfect position here to do things the "right" way when I put this all back together.
Also, what is a good way to remove all the coraline algae?

 

[rbaldino]

If you've done it before and feel confident nothing will go wrong, you should be able to handle it a second time. If you get new sand, I would rinse it as well as possible to minimize the cloudiness. People have different opinions about placing live rock on the bottom glass or the sandbed, so you should probably just go with whatever you're comfortable with. The best way to remove coraline is with a good scraper of some kind.
All that said, you may be able to clean the tank to your satisfaction without removing everything...

 

[frankthetank]

Yea I think I can do what I'm talking about...
Maybe what I would like to know from some of you is what could I do differently this time? Should I put anything under the sand bottom? I've heard of some people putting stuff on the bottom... hey, I've even heard of bare bottom sand beds. Though I'm probably not going sps, so maybe a sand bed is best? Basically I go with a heater, two maxi 900's, fluval 305 and my LR and LS.
I'd really like to set this thing up real nice and have a plan before I get into it. So if anyone has a "why don't you do this?" idea, please share it. I wish I could take a picture and show you guys what it looks like... it's probably pretty generic tank. Though I do love my LR, I got some real pretty purple coraline algae and a few green on the LR. Please hit me with anything. Thanks!
P.S. While I am planning on re-doing the entire sand bed (unless someone talked me into bare bottom), would it be a good idea to keep a cup or so of the old sand bed and put on the new one? And if so, where is the ideal place to put the old sand? Under, on top of?
And I would love to see some great bow front tank pictures. If anyone has a 46 bow, or a another size bow front or knows of a link... I'd love to see some pictures to give me ideas.

 

[frankthetank]

I thought I might get a few replies off of this. This is a good chance to hit with some ideas for the tank, as I re do it. Let me hear them.

 

[frankthetank]

Well, I'm going to try one more time. Something I was hoping to get some replies on would be maybe adding a 10g sump to this set up or something. I currently run a canister, and would probably want to continue to do so. But by using a sump, I could possible get the skimmer out of the display and the heater as well. Maybe making my display tank look a little cleaner. I could still maybe run the cannister filter, which really adds nice flow to the tank. I'm still up for some advice here...
Advice on the sand bed, the 10g sump idea, protein skimmer and heater in the sump thought? What kind of lighting for the 10g sump? Anyone?

 

[salisbury a d]

Hi
I also have the 46 bow. Recently I have done something similar to your situation...
This week we are doing renovations to the house and that includes refinishing the floors...So we had to move the tank from the living room to my bedroom and I gave it a good cleaning during the process....
Anyway...
What I did was I filtered water from the RO/DI unit for three days and filled a 44 gallon trash can. The Brute made by Rubbermade is pretty sturdy and didnt buckled from the water. Then I mixed that all into new salt water and heated it.
When the water was set it was moving day. Total process took maybe 7 hours. Here is what I did
1) Took all the LR out of the tank and put it into buckets wrapping it with moist paper towels to keep wet, sprayed them every once in a while too.
2) Siphoned maybe 10g of water out to save and re-add when the tank was back up (in hopes it would prevent a cycle).
3) Collected the fish and corals and put them into leftover buckets and fishtanks that were filled and heated with the original tank water.
4) Scrubbed down the walls of the tank and used a razor blade to get the heavy stuff off.. there wasn't much coraline but some.
You can do the same but it will take longer...Go slow and be sure not to gouge, go easy on the curved front. Do not cut into the sealant in the corners.
5) Then I siphoned out the rest of the water and all the gunk that was left from cleaning. Get someone to tip the tank a little to get as much out as you can.
My sand is in good shape so I kept it..but I did scoop out the top layer with the debris that I was not able to siphon out..
If you dont have alot of sand right now just add more too it.
Once we moved the tank I reassembled it.
First the water, once half full, I added the rocks...no aquascaping yet...Then I added the remaining water and did the aquascaping.
Only after more cleaning and the cloudines cleared up enough to see the back of the tank did I add the corals and fish.
Two days later the water is crystal clear!
As for the sump...go for it..The overflow box does a great job at keeping the water surface clean and the sump itself is great for housing the filter...They are expensive though...Mine does not have a light, just the biological filter media and the heater.
One last thing...
About how to seat the LR. I prefer not to sit it right on the glass, but I don't leave it on the top of the sand either....I burry it a bit. That way it doesnt look thrown there but theres also a bit of cushion between the sharp pointy rock and the glass bottom.
Hope this helps
Adam

 

[frankthetank]

Thanks Adam,
I'd say we kind of had the same ideas. And did you have a new cycle? The first time I did this, I did not have a cycle. I didn't think I would because I actually kept the LR in the rubbermaid tub going with heater and ph. Really my entire tank was just transfered to a tub. So my entire biological system was in tact. Except for the live sand, but I was buying more live sand that would be seeded.

 

[salisbury a d]

As long as the rocks and filter are kept "alive," I am sure nothing terrible would happen to your tank...I did not have a cycle, but then again I am going by the appearnce of the water and tank inhabitants (I no longer test for anything)...
Keep a little water like I did and you should see pretty much the same results as me. Keeping some of the sand won't hurt and it shouldnt matter where you put it in the sandbed. Attached are some photos of my tank from right now, example of a primitive sump still dirty from the move...lol
Adam

 

[frankthetank]

Thanks again Adam. Well, I did post an ad in the classified section. I have also thought of selling the whole thing and starting a bigger tank together with my daughter. She loves the fish and would be a good helper in doing a project together. I'm going to see if I get any takers. If not, then I'll keep this 46 bow and start the other tank on the other side of the living room.
I attached a picture of the stand for my 46 bow, which is different from yours. Though mine is not black, but rather a maple finish.
What I thought about doing was putting the 10g sump under the tank in the center enclosed area. It will fit. Then put the fluval cannister filter on the left side of the tank. Cut out a small square where the tubing can go through the back of the stand and up to the tank. I think that will look good and be good use of my tank stand space.
By doing this, I can get rid of the heater and I would then buy a in sump protein skimmer. This would probably clear up the tank a little. I'm actually looking forward to this project!
Is your blue background one of those plastic/paper backgrounds that you buy at most fish stores? I like that look, mine has no background right now. Kind of blues the tank out some doesn't it?
So let me get this right, for a sump, I do not need any light. This is primarily to be used to get some equipment out of the tank (heater and protein skimmer in my case) and add a little water volume to the system as well (10g in my case)?
No sand or CC or LR needed in the sump? Just bare bottom?
And again, still not sure what baffles are?

 

[salisbury a d]

Your welcome...My stand was made by my father, it was originally for a 45 gallon tank which we dont have set up anymore...The background is one of those adhesive ones that you attach with soapy water..I forget the name of the manufacturer but you should be able to google it..
Your sump does not need a light if it is just for equipment, however if you wanted to use it as some sort of refugium hybrid you would need lights. Mine is 10 gallons and after the heater, pump and that bio chamber there is no room for anything else. Sand probably is not necessary either. I have none in mine.
If you manage to sell your tank good luck with your new setup, if not, more is always better lol. I used to have 3 aquariums (2 fresh 1 salt) but sadly down to 2 now..
Adam