New tank with old stock - Plan for re-aquascaping....

chazman113 · 10/03/2016, 11:37 AM

So I just finished setting up my new 90 gallon corner overflow. I used to have a 55 gallon with no overflow that started leaking. It gave me an excuse to get a new one! I had a lot of problems with the old tank with algae and such. Most of it was my fault as I didn't do enough water changes, etc etc. This time I have a big Cone-S Co-2 skimmer and lots of flow (And I promise I'll change the water more, hah). I have the old rock and right now it' just a big "pile" in the middle of the tank. I've ordered some more BRS "value" dry rock to do some actual aquascaping.

All that being said, my plan was to cut off all the frags of coral I have off the existing rocks and put them on some egg crate in the sump. It shouldn't be as hard as it sounds because I didn't have that many in there and generally they were glued on within the last 6 months, so not a lot of encrusting yet. This way I can run a smaller light in one section while I starve the rock of light to kill off existing algae. Also, since I'm aquascaping, it lets me not worry about putting some coral upside down or something like that. Does it sound like a good plan?

PS I wouldn't starve the rock completely, probably a very short photoperiod for a few weeks as I adjust the skimmer and perform additional water changes as I see how it behaves. I scrubbed the rock thoroughly as possible of organics before I transferred it.

MeghanisradxD · 10/03/2016, 03:46 PM

I don't see any problem with this. However, I would be careful about adding an excessive amount of dry rock and causing a mini cycle. I have kept my fish and coral in a brute trash can with a light on top for over a week while I got my new tank setup. They should be fine.

chazman113 · 10/04/2016, 07:52 AM

Yea, my local lowes doesn't have any egg crate, I have to hoof it up to home depot. I have a fuge light I was going to use and then a little 6W led blue light. I think that should keep everything alive for the needed time. Any recommendations for articles on building an aquascape platform? I was thinking PVC on top of the egg crate? The new Grye pump I got moves some sand around, don't want the rocks shifting.

ReefsandGeeks · 10/04/2016, 08:52 AM

I'll be in the same boat as you soon, but for me I have lots of encrusted coral, so removing the coral from the rock isn't an option for me. I have moved my tank with coral several times before and it's a huge pain trying to keep all of the coral happy when replacing the rock. I like the idea of removing them and reattaching later. I like to switch up the rock work to make it seem new and fresh while I'm moving all of the rock, but having coral already attached does make it very difficult.

chazman113 · 10/04/2016, 09:55 AM

Hah may a suggest a chisel and a xanax

Ron Reefman · 10/05/2016, 01:45 AM

You should be OK. My 180g tank sprang a 30gph leak in the middle of the back glass at the base (no way to stop it). So I had to move 200+ pounds of LR, lots of sps and lps corals, a lot of fish, shrimp, clams, serpent stars.... You get the idea.

So I bought a new 125g from CadLight. Seriously, somebody in this hobby going smaller rather than bigger! I used about 2/3rds LR from a different system's sump and 1/3rd rock from the broken tank that was stored in freshwater and 100 degree heat. I had to move corals into the new tank as soon as it was set up because they were really struggling in smaller holding tanks. I had no ammonia, nitrite, nitrate cycle, but I did have a significant diatom bloom... just like any new tank only worse. Now 5 weeks in and things are stabilizing

Good luck.

MeghanisradxD · 10/05/2016, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chazman113

Yea, my local lowes doesn't have any egg crate, I have to hoof it up to home depot. I have a fuge light I was going to use and then a little 6W led blue light. I think that should keep everything alive for the needed time. Any recommendations for articles on building an aquascape platform? I was thinking PVC on top of the egg crate? The new Grye pump I got moves some sand around, don't want the rocks shifting.

No articles that I can think of, but there is a very informative thread on aquascaping and how to look at it from an artistic standpoint. I'm having a hard time finding it at the moment, but if I run across it I will be sure to come back and get you the link.

MeghanisradxD · 10/05/2016, 06:29 AM

lol found it right after closing this thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2217633

Wazzel · 10/05/2016, 02:13 PM

Depending on how much rock you had in the 55 you might not needs any. I upgraded from a 60 to a 120 and did not add any rock. My plan was for a low open scape and the 100 or so pounds I had in the 60 was more than enough.

Last FTs of the 60 before I took it down.

The most current FTS of my 120

jmike0311 · 10/05/2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeghanisradxD

lol found it right after closing this thread.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2217633

+1
That is a great write up about aquascaping. Just the one I was thinking of after reading the question. Theres also a good (though lengthy) youtube video from MACNA 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWAx-CV6t6o

Hope it helps get the creative juices flowing!

10/03/2016, 11:37 AM	#1
chazman113 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 200	New tank with old stock - Plan for re-aquascaping.... So I just finished setting up my new 90 gallon corner overflow. I used to have a 55 gallon with no overflow that started leaking. It gave me an excuse to get a new one! I had a lot of problems with the old tank with algae and such. Most of it was my fault as I didn't do enough water changes, etc etc. This time I have a big Cone-S Co-2 skimmer and lots of flow (And I promise I'll change the water more, hah). I have the old rock and right now it' just a big "pile" in the middle of the tank. I've ordered some more BRS "value" dry rock to do some actual aquascaping. All that being said, my plan was to cut off all the frags of coral I have off the existing rocks and put them on some egg crate in the sump. It shouldn't be as hard as it sounds because I didn't have that many in there and generally they were glued on within the last 6 months, so not a lot of encrusting yet. This way I can run a smaller light in one section while I starve the rock of light to kill off existing algae. Also, since I'm aquascaping, it lets me not worry about putting some coral upside down or something like that. Does it sound like a good plan? PS I wouldn't starve the rock completely, probably a very short photoperiod for a few weeks as I adjust the skimmer and perform additional water changes as I see how it behaves. I scrubbed the rock thoroughly as possible of organics before I transferred it.

10/05/2016, 01:45 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	You should be OK. My 180g tank sprang a 30gph leak in the middle of the back glass at the base (no way to stop it). So I had to move 200+ pounds of LR, lots of sps and lps corals, a lot of fish, shrimp, clams, serpent stars.... You get the idea. So I bought a new 125g from CadLight. Seriously, somebody in this hobby going smaller rather than bigger! I used about 2/3rds LR from a different system's sump and 1/3rd rock from the broken tank that was stored in freshwater and 100 degree heat. I had to move corals into the new tank as soon as it was set up because they were really struggling in smaller holding tanks. I had no ammonia, nitrite, nitrate cycle, but I did have a significant diatom bloom... just like any new tank only worse. Now 5 weeks in and things are stabilizing Good luck. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/05/2016, 02:13 PM	#9
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	Depending on how much rock you had in the 55 you might not needs any. I upgraded from a 60 to a 120 and did not add any rock. My plan was for a low open scape and the 100 or so pounds I had in the 60 was more than enough. Last FTs of the 60 before I took it down. The most current FTS of my 120 __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

10/03/2016, 03:46 PM	#2
MeghanisradxD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 183	I don't see any problem with this. However, I would be careful about adding an excessive amount of dry rock and causing a mini cycle. I have kept my fish and coral in a brute trash can with a light on top for over a week while I got my new tank setup. They should be fine.

10/04/2016, 07:52 AM	#3
chazman113 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 200	Yea, my local lowes doesn't have any egg crate, I have to hoof it up to home depot. I have a fuge light I was going to use and then a little 6W led blue light. I think that should keep everything alive for the needed time. Any recommendations for articles on building an aquascape platform? I was thinking PVC on top of the egg crate? The new Grye pump I got moves some sand around, don't want the rocks shifting.

10/04/2016, 08:52 AM	#4
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I'll be in the same boat as you soon, but for me I have lots of encrusted coral, so removing the coral from the rock isn't an option for me. I have moved my tank with coral several times before and it's a huge pain trying to keep all of the coral happy when replacing the rock. I like the idea of removing them and reattaching later. I like to switch up the rock work to make it seem new and fresh while I'm moving all of the rock, but having coral already attached does make it very difficult.

10/04/2016, 09:55 AM	#5
chazman113 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 200	Hah may a suggest a chisel and a xanax

10/05/2016, 06:29 AM	#8
MeghanisradxD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 183	lol found it right after closing this thread. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2217633