Re-doing aquascape

harlequin tusk · 07/01/2011, 07:20 PM

Im thinking about re-doing my aquascape in my 120g tank. I have way to much rock in it and i would like to take some out and re do the scape. I plan on incorporating a water change into the project so i can suck out some of the gunk i know is hiding in some of the rocks, i plan on having around 30g of new water. My corals (hammer coral, zoas, and shrooms) will go into a 20g tank i have that matches my 120's water quality. I was thinking of leaving my fish in there while i move some rock but im not sure if that is a good idea. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some tips as to what i should do with the fish, or just any tips in general that help me avoid potential problems. My fish list includes: foxface, mystery wrasse, clown fairy, harlequin tusk, mandarin, purple tang, marine betta, ocellaris clown, and a sargassum trigger. Thanks

Sisterlimonpot · 07/01/2011, 07:38 PM

With that large of a bioload I would suggest removing rock slowly and allow the bacteria colonies to populate on the exhisting rock. Once you take out enough rock then you do your aquascaping. How much rock do you have and how much do you plan on taking out? Do you have a sump that thou can put the excess rock into? how old is your tank? And do you have a deep sand bed?

harlequin tusk · 07/01/2011, 07:50 PM

i have a 40 gallon sump that already has some rock in it, but it could fit a few more rocks. The tank is about 9 years old. I have a remote deep sand bed behind the tank that has been up for about a year now. As for the amount of rock i have in the tank, i would have to say somewhere around 100 pounds and id like to take out probably 15-20 pounds of it possibly? Maybe a little less.

aandfsoccr04 · 07/01/2011, 08:03 PM

I'm setting up a tank with the same footprint and would love to see pictures of your setup or if you have some kind of build thread somewhere.

harlequin tusk · 07/01/2011, 08:09 PM

sure ill try to take a picture of it tomorrow, but you'll see why i wanna mess with the rocks haha.

Sisterlimonpot · 07/01/2011, 08:09 PM

Ahh. For a tank that has been set up for so long you'll want to be careful with disturbing and releasing S04 killing everything in your tank. I'm with you on moving everything out and re-aquascaping, which is easier said than done.

harlequin tusk · 07/01/2011, 08:10 PM

is there a way to tell if there are pockets of SO4 hidden in some places?

harlequin tusk · 07/02/2011, 02:40 PM

here are a couple pictures for those who wanted them

aandfsoccr04 · 07/02/2011, 03:37 PM

I love the look of your tank and all that coralline algae. I don't think the rockwork looks bad but you're the one who has to look at it everyday so if you don't like it anymore then redo it. I also love your stock list as well. Awesome tank man!

harlequin tusk · 07/02/2011, 03:44 PM

thanks for the compliments man. The thing that bothers me is that the rocks are almost on the glass. i dunno i just feel like i should push the rocks back more and open up some sand space.

Saadatski · 07/02/2011, 09:07 PM

The less rocks that touch the sand, the less dead spots. it also allows a little bit more room for bacteria to grow and making caves give a cool look to the tank. i wouldnt worry about it cause ur tank has been set up for 9 years and did fine though, so bacteria population is not an issue for you.

harlequin tusk · 07/03/2011, 07:52 PM

okay thanks saadatski

07/01/2011, 07:20 PM	#1
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	Re-doing aquascape Im thinking about re-doing my aquascape in my 120g tank. I have way to much rock in it and i would like to take some out and re do the scape. I plan on incorporating a water change into the project so i can suck out some of the gunk i know is hiding in some of the rocks, i plan on having around 30g of new water. My corals (hammer coral, zoas, and shrooms) will go into a 20g tank i have that matches my 120's water quality. I was thinking of leaving my fish in there while i move some rock but im not sure if that is a good idea. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some tips as to what i should do with the fish, or just any tips in general that help me avoid potential problems. My fish list includes: foxface, mystery wrasse, clown fairy, harlequin tusk, mandarin, purple tang, marine betta, ocellaris clown, and a sargassum trigger. Thanks

07/01/2011, 07:38 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	With that large of a bioload I would suggest removing rock slowly and allow the bacteria colonies to populate on the exhisting rock. Once you take out enough rock then you do your aquascaping. How much rock do you have and how much do you plan on taking out? Do you have a sump that thou can put the excess rock into? how old is your tank? And do you have a deep sand bed? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

07/01/2011, 08:09 PM	#6
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Ahh. For a tank that has been set up for so long you'll want to be careful with disturbing and releasing S04 killing everything in your tank. I'm with you on moving everything out and re-aquascaping, which is easier said than done. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

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07/01/2011, 07:50 PM	#3
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	i have a 40 gallon sump that already has some rock in it, but it could fit a few more rocks. The tank is about 9 years old. I have a remote deep sand bed behind the tank that has been up for about a year now. As for the amount of rock i have in the tank, i would have to say somewhere around 100 pounds and id like to take out probably 15-20 pounds of it possibly? Maybe a little less.

07/01/2011, 08:03 PM	#4
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I'm setting up a tank with the same footprint and would love to see pictures of your setup or if you have some kind of build thread somewhere.

07/01/2011, 08:10 PM	#7
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	is there a way to tell if there are pockets of SO4 hidden in some places?

07/02/2011, 02:40 PM	#8
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	here are a couple pictures for those who wanted them

07/02/2011, 03:37 PM	#9
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	I love the look of your tank and all that coralline algae. I don't think the rockwork looks bad but you're the one who has to look at it everyday so if you don't like it anymore then redo it. I also love your stock list as well. Awesome tank man!

07/02/2011, 03:44 PM	#10
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	thanks for the compliments man. The thing that bothers me is that the rocks are almost on the glass. i dunno i just feel like i should push the rocks back more and open up some sand space.

07/02/2011, 09:07 PM	#11
Saadatski Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 875	The less rocks that touch the sand, the less dead spots. it also allows a little bit more room for bacteria to grow and making caves give a cool look to the tank. i wouldnt worry about it cause ur tank has been set up for 9 years and did fine though, so bacteria population is not an issue for you.

07/03/2011, 07:52 PM	#12
harlequin tusk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 138	okay thanks saadatski