Rebuild and recovery of a dead tank

[jason2459]

Thank Ali. They are coming out more now that they don't feel threatened.

Here's a few more livestock pics.

[IMG]http://i33.*******.com/ve3tkk.jpg[/IMG]


Just hanging around
[IMG]http://i33.*******.com/9v9wue.jpg[/IMG]

Checking out the new real estate for sale
[IMG]http://i35.*******.com/34zngnk.jpg[/IMG]

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by SaltLifeLove

I thought this video was great, and thought I would share. At one point the Tiger Pistols blast reaches temperatures as hot as the sun (I didn't know this, so obviously I am very impressed at the moment

Yeah, that's a great video. Luckily he seems to have no interest in the other shrimp in my tank. In fact today I crawled right over one of the peppermints to get to a piece of mysis he smelled out.

[jason2459]

Here's the pics of the Koralias and comparison in size to the SEIOs

[IMG]http://i34.*******.com/143dpu.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i33.*******.com/qyaf4h.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i34.*******.com/2qsxgd2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i36.*******.com/2nvw937.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i36.*******.com/1ftkzt.jpg[/IMG]

[SaltLifeLove]

Great Pics! Those Koralias are bigger, but they do blend in well with the black background. I love your rock work, I think I am going to take all my rock out and try again before I start moving livestock. Hopefully next week I will be moving stuff over to the 75. I still need to order my other light fixture and figure out which Koralia I want.

[SaltLifeLove]

Hey guys...couple questions for ya? Today is week 5 of the 75 running and I am testing both tanks tomorrow to make sure they are the same parameters/temp and so on. If all is a go and I decided to move my livestock do I need to acclimate them or can I just catch them and throw them in?

If tomorrow is D day then I am taking out all the LR out of the 75 to catch the chromis ugh That was just bad idea to begin with.
Any way... I am going to move most of the LR the YWG, the false perc and the firefish and leave the Flame angel in the 20. Corals have to stay in the 20 untill I get new light. I am going to give chromis back to LFS and trade for CUC.
SO my other question would be...how long should I wait after moving the old fish into new tank before I can start adding new fish to the new tank? I was planning to use the 20 as a quarantine, but because the Flame is in there... I don't think that is effective? I want to add the Flame to the 75 last, but other fish I am considering are, Midas Blenny, leopard wrasse, 2 oceallaris clowns (trade in perc) and I might attempt to throw in another type of dwarf Angel (risky I know)

How long should I wait before transferring my Linckia Starfish?

Ok now that I have said all that, I feel like it makes no sense. Good thing I am not being graded on sentence structure...Thanks for any inputs or ideas...Iam so confused!

[jason2459]

I don't see transfering three fish as a big problem. If you were really nervous about it you could transfer over one at a time over a week or two period. I'd probably still acclimate them for a little bit but probably not needed if the parameters are all the same. Salinity/pH/temp/nitrates are ones I would think cause the most stress if they are different or drastically different for a fish.

Nice choice on the fish. Though I think the midas blenny is yelllow and might cause aggression between the YWG and it becaues the shapes and color are pretty close. I might be wrong. I've seen several success stories of two dwarfs in a 75 but it could cause problems. Definitely add them in together last and at the same time.

No idea on the starfish. I used to have a chocolate chip starfish but that was a while ago. He got big and loved to eat.

[SaltLifeLove]

Thanks! I am like freaking out and I don't know why I am so stressed out. I am not too worried about adding the 3 fish at once...I am just concerned about the method of it all. Someone else brought up a good point about me moving LR and all the crap I am going to stir up, so now I am worried about that too. The only way I am going to get the chromis out is to take the rock out. I guess I will wait and see what the water tests are and go from there. I will let you know.

Never thought about the Midas and Goby not getting along...My goby never comes out of the rock hole other than to eat and randomly perches on a rock at the back of the tank. Only one way to find out I guess. If I don't get another angel I want either a Pakistan butterfly or a saddleback butterfly. I can't decide...

[Paul B]

Thanks! I am like freaking out and I don't know why I am so stressed out.

Ali, go lay down, have a glass of some nice red wine and relax. This is a hobby and is supposed to un stress and un freak you out.
There are other things that you can do if you want to be stressed out like listen to some Rap music.

The chromis will forgive you and the midas and gobi will make up and be friends.

[SaltLifeLove]

Haha, Paul I am not drinking wine at 10:45 in the AM that may rise some concerns...
I am only stressed out about the process...once everything is settled I will be fine. If I end up doing the transfer of everything today then I will definitely be enjoy some type alcoholic beverage this evening

Thanks, for the encouragement. I will let you know how everything goes

[Paul B]

I am not drinking wine at 10:45 in the AM

Now, thats part of your problem, it's made from grapes, think of it as fruit juice.

[SaltLifeLove]

OK, well not so good news. Nitrates on 75 are 10 sooooo no moving fish today I am doing a 20% water change and will check things out in a couple of days.

In other news... my favorite LFS is going to be moving before Thanksgiving...and they are trying to sell all the livestock before the move to minimize death of fish. They are hopefully going to be lowering prices to clear out in a week or so, and I am really hoping my tank will be ready for a couple fish so I can get some at a good price. Stock list will be
2 Oceallaris
Midas Blenny
Leopard Wrasse
Yellow Watchmen Goby
Firefish
Flame Angel
Under consideration is a foxface and a mandarin

Ok so I am happy about the fish news, but I was really counting on moving everything. Oh well, I'll keep ya updated Oh and I am going to have that drink soon anyway...

[jason2459]

10 Really isn't that bad for fish. As long as there is no ammonia you'd be fine. Water change would be fine to do either way.

[SaltLifeLove]

Yeah, no ammonia...I guess I am being picky about the nitrates. I maintain 0 on the 20 and I guess I was hoping the same for the 75. I am bidding on my light fixture on eBay right now, so I am hoping to start adding my corals next week some time so I just want to have everything under control. My husband is cutting the crate for the LR ruble in the sump right now...I thought maybe that was creating a nitrate problem and having it lifted up will help.

[SaltLifeLove]

OK, well I spent 6 hours of re-aquascaping and catching fish. I succeeded in the fish catching but still don't like my aquascaping. I don't think having beer while aquascaping was such a good idea. :
Buying fish tomorrow from LFS to hold for me until my tank is ready or until the move whatever comes first. They only have one midas left and I have had my eye on a pair of clowns for a couple weeks, and I thought I might as well buy them before someone else does. They lost a midas today because it took the big suicidal jump I told them if mine jumps in their care they owe me a fish...

[Aquarist007]

Originally Posted by jason2459

10 Really isn't that bad for fish. As long as there is no ammonia you'd be fine. Water change would be fine to do either way.

I agree with Jason.

Curious why you are taking out the chromis---why not leave them in the 75g

[SaltLifeLove]

Just because I only wanted a total of 7-8 fish in the 75 and there were 5 chromis. Just didn't want fish overload

[Paul B]

I don't think having beer while aquascaping was such a good idea. :

Sure it is

[jason2459]

Ali, sounds like you got a pretty good LFS. I spent hours moving rocks around and ended up back to just about where I started.

[SaltLifeLove]

I love my LFS...I wanted to buy something last night and they wouldn't let me! I have serious ETS and I am going crazy. I am going to purchase my pair of clowns and the midas today. They only have one leopard wrasse left... I should probably pay for him too. I wish they weren't moving as my tank is getting ready. I don't want to buy any fish after the move because of any additional stress. Here is the website if you wanna check it out. Unfortunately they are moving 15 miles away...right now they are about 4 miles. Worth the drive though.
http://www.underseasparadise.com/

Paul thats awesome, I love your tank. SO far you have made me laugh everyday, and thats great

[Paul B]

Good, keep laughing, thats what a hobby is all about.

[SaltLifeLove]

Ok well...I went to LFS paid for my 2 clowns and the midas and because I was so sad and didn't want to leave empty handed I bought this to hang out in my 20

When I got home I took the majority of my rock out of the 20 and moved it to the 75 and I also managed to catch my perc, YWG and firefish. Everyone is happ as can be in the new home. I am much happier to with the extra rock and my aquascaping. Boy, did I make a big mess tho!

[jason2459]

Nice little shrimp. I love cleaner shrimps. Pretty peaceful and usually active.

Looks like my clowns have finally mated in my tank. I was noticing the female getting a HUGE gut. Just thought she was eating really well since the flame angel was removed. Looks like not only was she eating better but the two of them must have been getting a lot more alone time. Today I look and she wasn't bulging like she was yesterday and in the back of the tank on the glass are their eggs. I tried getting a picture but no reason to post it. All you have to do is close your eyes and there's the picture. It's to much in the back and dark and can't get a good shot unless I remove some rock and I'm not about to do that. I should have gotten a picture of her last night though all plump. I thought about it but didn't.....

On a totally off topic from reef keeping, I finally am getting back into my biggest passion and that's powerlifting. I haven't trained in about four months now since just before the baby was born. I've lost a lot of what I had gained before but will work hard to get back to where I was and then some. I have until next March when I plan on getting back into a meet and start competing again. It's felt so good to get back into it even though I feel weak as heck right now.

This was the last meet I was in, I had a pretty good day and was hoping for more but I had a broken rib that really didn't feel very good. I passed out after my third squat attempt and passed on my last deadlift attempt and called it good for the day. I took 1st in my division and set several personal records.

[Aquarist007]

So this thread should be renamed as
"Rebuild and recovery of a dead body"

[Paul B]

I am lifting that much weight right now even as I type.

[jason2459]

Very true Capn. My body is has a long way to go to get back to where I was. I was about 215lbs in that vid. I'm down to 188lbs now. No training, lack of sleep, not eating enough, and high stress has taken it's toll on me. I can at least control the training and eating aspect and push through.

Paul, are you training for the next time you have to hall in some NSW?