I'm back

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 05:36 AM

Hi all,

Long time no see.

I got out of the hobby for a while, but then my Mom calls me and asks if I want her tank. It's a 75 gallon tank, 2 x 250 halide lighting, Sea Clone skimmer, about 100 pounds of rock from what I can tell. She was actually not using any heaters. The water was about 74 degrees, and her corals and fish were doing ok.

Anyway, brought everything over to my place. Fish were super stressed - to the point I thought one or two might not make it. Took me two days to get everything set up in the tank. I also slowly raised the temp to 80 degrees.

Not much of a pic - water was still cloudy. I'll get some better pics in the next couple days. A lot of the rock is covered in a bright yellow encrusting sponge that came from my tank years ago. I'm also re-inheriting a flame angel I gave her when I left the hobby. This fish has to be 7 or 8 years old maybe?

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 06:03 AM

Tank looks like complete crap right now, lol. I did a major water change too - replaced about half the water. Will scrub the front glass later today.

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 06:23 AM

little bit clearer this morning:

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 06:48 AM

little closer shot of the encrusting sponge:

Uncle Salty 05 · 01/04/2011, 07:52 AM

Welcome back to the hobby!
Looks like you are off to a good start. Are you running sumpless with just the HOB power filter?

scapes · 01/04/2011, 08:52 AM

welcome back! looking good and yes you have some massive yellow encrusting sponging going on

but, i'd definately upgrade the skimmer, heard nothing but bad reviews on seaclone. you can get a much better octopus 1000 or octopus 2000 from bulk reef supply for under $175.

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 09:02 AM

I’m not sure yet. I didn’t have time to plan this out so it is a work in progress. Step one was to get everything moved and happy.

I’m still going through all the equipment she gave me to see what I have to work with. I think I have an overflow box in the garage somewhere. I used to have a 60 gal refugium for my last tank and did very well with that. I might go that route again. I think I also have a Remora skimmer in the garage.

From the little bit of reading I’ve done on the forum the past day or so it looks like there’s been a lot of changes in equipment that’s available – need to get up to speed.

Sugar Magnolia · 01/04/2011, 09:10 AM

Welcome back! Be sure to cruise through the lighting/filtration forum and the DIY forum to read up on all the new stuff.

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 12:43 PM

Will do - I esp. want to check out lighting. They weren't doing LED lighting for the most part when I left.

ludnix · 01/04/2011, 01:11 PM

Do you know when the last time the bulbs were changed? It might be a good idea to replace those before investing in new corals.

ALH · 01/04/2011, 01:22 PM

I don't see any fish. Did they make it?

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks – yeah, I know she replaced the bulbs in the past 6 months and possibly in the last 3. Yes, the fish all made it and were picking at the rocks and glass this morning. I'll get pics of them as the tank settles in.

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 07:52 PM

Tank was clear when I got home. Fed the fish and then started moving rock and scraping the tank. Guess what - it got cloudy again.

a blurry fish pic - these guys have been together for a looooong time:

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 07:55 PM

There's a hang on the tank filter that filters out really fine particulates. Can't remember the name of it but I need to get one of those and stir up all that sediment and have it remove it. This tank is older and has a lot of sediment built up.

ravenmore · 01/04/2011, 07:58 PM

Rockwork looks good for a near blind setup.

It looks like there are a lot of rubble sized pieces though. I think I want to do a refugium and will probably pull a lot of the smaller pieces and put them down there.

ravenmore · 01/05/2011, 08:01 PM

Looking a lot better tonight.

timistim · 01/05/2011, 08:28 PM

That is looking damn good compared to where it started. Great job.

ravenmore · 01/06/2011, 05:57 AM

Thanks Tim! Hopefully it just gets better from here.

ravenmore · 01/17/2011, 08:35 PM

Decided to try and shoot some video last night of the tank. I found out shooting video with a D90 SLR is very very hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liJMJh8479U

Video pretty much sucks but gives you a more accurate view of the tank. It's getting there slowly...

01/04/2011, 05:36 AM	#1
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	I'm back Hi all, Long time no see. I got out of the hobby for a while, but then my Mom calls me and asks if I want her tank. It's a 75 gallon tank, 2 x 250 halide lighting, Sea Clone skimmer, about 100 pounds of rock from what I can tell. She was actually not using any heaters. The water was about 74 degrees, and her corals and fish were doing ok. Anyway, brought everything over to my place. Fish were super stressed - to the point I thought one or two might not make it. Took me two days to get everything set up in the tank. I also slowly raised the temp to 80 degrees. Not much of a pic - water was still cloudy. I'll get some better pics in the next couple days. A lot of the rock is covered in a bright yellow encrusting sponge that came from my tank years ago. I'm also re-inheriting a flame angel I gave her when I left the hobby. This fish has to be 7 or 8 years old maybe? __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress Last edited by ravenmore; 01/04/2011 at 06:07 AM.

01/04/2011, 06:03 AM	#2
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Tank looks like complete crap right now, lol. I did a major water change too - replaced about half the water. Will scrub the front glass later today. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 06:23 AM	#3
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	little bit clearer this morning: __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 06:48 AM	#4
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	little closer shot of the encrusting sponge: __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 07:52 AM	#5
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	Welcome back to the hobby! Looks like you are off to a good start. Are you running sumpless with just the HOB power filter? __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

01/04/2011, 08:52 AM	#6
scapes Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 2,520	welcome back! looking good and yes you have some massive yellow encrusting sponging going on but, i'd definately upgrade the skimmer, heard nothing but bad reviews on seaclone. you can get a much better octopus 1000 or octopus 2000 from bulk reef supply for under $175.

01/04/2011, 09:02 AM	#7
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	I’m not sure yet. I didn’t have time to plan this out so it is a work in progress. Step one was to get everything moved and happy. I’m still going through all the equipment she gave me to see what I have to work with. I think I have an overflow box in the garage somewhere. I used to have a 60 gal refugium for my last tank and did very well with that. I might go that route again. I think I also have a Remora skimmer in the garage. From the little bit of reading I’ve done on the forum the past day or so it looks like there’s been a lot of changes in equipment that’s available – need to get up to speed. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 09:10 AM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Welcome back! Be sure to cruise through the lighting/filtration forum and the DIY forum to read up on all the new stuff. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/04/2011, 12:43 PM	#9
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Will do - I esp. want to check out lighting. They weren't doing LED lighting for the most part when I left. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 01:11 PM	#10
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	Do you know when the last time the bulbs were changed? It might be a good idea to replace those before investing in new corals. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

01/04/2011, 01:22 PM	#11
ALH Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Yuma AZ Posts: 550	I don't see any fish. Did they make it?

01/04/2011, 02:30 PM	#12
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Thanks – yeah, I know she replaced the bulbs in the past 6 months and possibly in the last 3. Yes, the fish all made it and were picking at the rocks and glass this morning. I'll get pics of them as the tank settles in. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 07:52 PM	#13
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Tank was clear when I got home. Fed the fish and then started moving rock and scraping the tank. Guess what - it got cloudy again. a blurry fish pic - these guys have been together for a looooong time: __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 07:55 PM	#14
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	There's a hang on the tank filter that filters out really fine particulates. Can't remember the name of it but I need to get one of those and stir up all that sediment and have it remove it. This tank is older and has a lot of sediment built up. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/04/2011, 07:58 PM	#15
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Rockwork looks good for a near blind setup. It looks like there are a lot of rubble sized pieces though. I think I want to do a refugium and will probably pull a lot of the smaller pieces and put them down there. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/05/2011, 08:01 PM	#16
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Looking a lot better tonight. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/05/2011, 08:28 PM	#17
timistim Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 113	That is looking damn good compared to where it started. Great job.

01/06/2011, 05:57 AM	#18
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Thanks Tim! Hopefully it just gets better from here. __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress

01/17/2011, 08:35 PM	#19
ravenmore Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Austin TX Posts: 1,590	Decided to try and shoot some video last night of the tank. I found out shooting video with a D90 SLR is very very hard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liJMJh8479U Video pretty much sucks but gives you a more accurate view of the tank. It's getting there slowly... __________________ Mean people are like slinkys. They're really not worth much but still are entertaining to watch tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef tank in progress