Rick's "Starting Over" Thread!

Rpierce · 11/30/2007, 09:06 PM

So, as you all know. The tank crashed and I pretty much lost it all. I was able to save my clams, fish and a about 10 corals. So I'm starting over. While the tank was empty, I decided to make a couple of modifications. Some went great and others, not so much.

I painted the back glass black- Turned out great

I drilled the back if the glass for a closed loop- Turned out great

I removed the right overflow box to gain more room in the tank- Turned out great

.......but while removing the overflow box, I broke the center brace on my 120. That sucks!!! Ordered a new one. Should be here soon, right Stephen?

So the tank is back up now with all new sand and mostly new rock.

The closed loop plumbing is not done yet but here are a couple of pics to get me back in the game. The SEIO will come out when the closed loop is back up and running.

One thing I really like about this new setup is where I took out that overflow box. I have alot more room between the glass and the rocks.

What do you think?

Rick

phishguyatstore · 11/30/2007, 10:25 PM

hey man i like the rock setup with all the holes and i have ordered the frame should be here soon

dvmsn · 11/30/2007, 10:33 PM

Did you have a chance to look at the thread I posted. I really think you could do a whole lot more with acrylic rods and a masonry bit to avoid the pile of rocks look. I don't want that to come off wrong, b/c you certainly know who to make the animals look nice, but, you always complained about aquascaping. Now you have a chance to do something really radical and creative. Give it a shot.

Rpierce · 12/01/2007, 01:34 PM

See Dave that's where you and I are different. I don't have a creative bone in my body.

...but I like my "pile of rock" d@mmit!

I know you're just trying to help me out with things I haven't liked about my tank in the past.

RP

H2OLUVSME · 12/01/2007, 02:18 PM

Looks really good Rick. I think some nice tall acros are going to look good across the top of that structure. The fitment of the rock is impressive as well. They look like puzzle pieces they fit so well together.

Do you have any of them resting on the strainer? That could be a bad thing.

Also, is there enough room for as many corals as you are going to want?

dvmsn · 12/01/2007, 02:38 PM

Note the time of that post. Also note the bottle of wine I bought on the ride home. Now understand the lack of diplomacy. It does look nice

Rpierce · 12/01/2007, 04:50 PM

I hope you know that I am kidding Dave! If I didn't want everyone's opinions, I wouldn't have posted this thread.

Landon- there isn't anything resting on the strainer and there is only one rock that can be removed so I can clean it if need be.

As far as your comment about enough room, I guess I will have to get a little creative with coral placement. ...or just contain myself

Rick

Rpierce · 12/18/2007, 08:06 PM

So it's been a couple of weeks and things are starting to look a little better. Here is a tank pic:

I am using XM 15K bulbs because the PAR is so low. I will change back as the corals get used to the 400 watts.

What do you think?

chad508 · 12/18/2007, 08:32 PM

looks good. i really like that you removed the overflow. im kinda been thinking of doing it to mine.

Rpierce · 12/18/2007, 08:40 PM

I like it too. Thanks! All I can say about that is be careful when removing the box that you don't hit the center brace. The top trim for an All-Glass tank takes about 5 weeks to come in.

I just got mine in but I haven't put it on yet.

You can't see it but I also drilled the tank for a closed loop where that overflow box was. I definitely like that part. Not more PVC in the tank.

Rick

dvmsn · 12/18/2007, 09:52 PM

Looks good. You didnt lose as much as I thought

Rpierce · 12/19/2007, 07:48 AM

I still lost alot. I threw away almost a full 5 gallon bucket full of SPS.

H2OLUVSME · 12/19/2007, 08:43 AM

You saved more than I thought you did. I like it Rick. IT looks really nice, and natural.

Yellow tang?

Rpierce · 12/19/2007, 09:02 AM

Thanks for the comments. The yellow tang was added. I have never been able to keep two tangs in my tank. So when I added the fish back, I added another tang so they would both be "in their new home" together.

Rpierce · 01/02/2008, 06:31 PM

So I'm starting to restock my tank. I am looking for a couple of pieces that I lost. With the frags that I gave away, does anyone have one of the yellow or purple milli that I had.

If not, I should have given more away!

Rick

dvmsn · 01/02/2008, 08:45 PM

You can have my piece of purple back. It is now a huge frag.

Rpierce · 01/02/2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dvmsn
You can have my piece of purple back. It is now a huge frag.

No, no, no... I don't want it back (now). Just when it gets big enough to frag, keep me in mind.

dvmsn · 01/02/2008, 09:16 PM

I don't want it at all. The polyps turned really brown in my tank and made it kind of ugly. The base is really really blue, but it ends up looking brown.

Rpierce · 01/02/2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dvmsn
I don't want it at all. The polyps turned really brown in my tank and made it kind of ugly. The base is really really blue, but it ends up looking brown.

WOW, Between you and my wife, I don't know who talks nicer about my corals

Just kidding. I'll take it then! I need to come see you anyway. I still have your fish trap!

dvmsn · 01/02/2008, 10:03 PM

Every tank is different. It doesn't look close to the when I got it from you. I doubt you could even have picked it out w/o the previous description. The base itself is as nice as any milli I have. Too bad you cant see it

. I have some other things I can frag as well.

dvmsn · 01/02/2008, 10:04 PM

I almost forgot about the fish trap. I definately dont want to lose that.

Reeftanks6 · 02/20/2008, 05:42 AM

Wow looks great.

bugshop · 02/21/2008, 06:23 PM

WoW Rick, It's looking good.
I too removed one of my overflows on my 180. It is an older one with corner overflows. And with my new setup going to be a penninsula, I didn't want to have the overflow blocking my view.
I also am planning on using the old holes for returns from the closed loop pointing up and over at the rockwork from below. I'll just make a fake rock to cover them

11/30/2007, 09:06 PM	#1
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	Rick's "Starting Over" Thread! So, as you all know. The tank crashed and I pretty much lost it all. I was able to save my clams, fish and a about 10 corals. So I'm starting over. While the tank was empty, I decided to make a couple of modifications. Some went great and others, not so much. I painted the back glass black- Turned out great I drilled the back if the glass for a closed loop- Turned out great I removed the right overflow box to gain more room in the tank- Turned out great .......but while removing the overflow box, I broke the center brace on my 120. That sucks!!! Ordered a new one. Should be here soon, right Stephen? So the tank is back up now with all new sand and mostly new rock. The closed loop plumbing is not done yet but here are a couple of pics to get me back in the game. The SEIO will come out when the closed loop is back up and running. One thing I really like about this new setup is where I took out that overflow box. I have alot more room between the glass and the rocks. What do you think? Rick

12/01/2007, 02:18 PM	#5
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	Looks really good Rick. I think some nice tall acros are going to look good across the top of that structure. The fitment of the rock is impressive as well. They look like puzzle pieces they fit so well together. Do you have any of them resting on the strainer? That could be a bad thing. Also, is there enough room for as many corals as you are going to want? __________________ Landon

12/19/2007, 08:43 AM	#13
H2OLUVSME Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Posts: 5,048	You saved more than I thought you did. I like it Rick. IT looks really nice, and natural. Yellow tang? __________________ Landon

01/02/2008, 10:03 PM	#20
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Every tank is different. It doesn't look close to the when I got it from you. I doubt you could even have picked it out w/o the previous description. The base itself is as nice as any milli I have. Too bad you cant see it. I have some other things I can frag as well.

02/20/2008, 05:42 AM	#22
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	Wow looks great. __________________ 110g Reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Reef

11/30/2007, 10:25 PM	#2
phishguyatstore Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 378	hey man i like the rock setup with all the holes and i have ordered the frame should be here soon

11/30/2007, 10:33 PM	#3
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Did you have a chance to look at the thread I posted. I really think you could do a whole lot more with acrylic rods and a masonry bit to avoid the pile of rocks look. I don't want that to come off wrong, b/c you certainly know who to make the animals look nice, but, you always complained about aquascaping. Now you have a chance to do something really radical and creative. Give it a shot.

12/01/2007, 01:34 PM	#4
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	See Dave that's where you and I are different. I don't have a creative bone in my body. ...but I like my "pile of rock" d@mmit! I know you're just trying to help me out with things I haven't liked about my tank in the past. RP

12/01/2007, 02:38 PM	#6
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Note the time of that post. Also note the bottle of wine I bought on the ride home. Now understand the lack of diplomacy. It does look nice

12/01/2007, 04:50 PM	#7
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	I hope you know that I am kidding Dave! If I didn't want everyone's opinions, I wouldn't have posted this thread. Landon- there isn't anything resting on the strainer and there is only one rock that can be removed so I can clean it if need be. As far as your comment about enough room, I guess I will have to get a little creative with coral placement. ...or just contain myself Rick

12/18/2007, 08:06 PM	#8
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	So it's been a couple of weeks and things are starting to look a little better. Here is a tank pic: I am using XM 15K bulbs because the PAR is so low. I will change back as the corals get used to the 400 watts. What do you think?

12/18/2007, 08:32 PM	#9
chad508 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: MB SC Posts: 1,402	looks good. i really like that you removed the overflow. im kinda been thinking of doing it to mine.

12/18/2007, 08:40 PM	#10
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	I like it too. Thanks! All I can say about that is be careful when removing the box that you don't hit the center brace. The top trim for an All-Glass tank takes about 5 weeks to come in. I just got mine in but I haven't put it on yet. You can't see it but I also drilled the tank for a closed loop where that overflow box was. I definitely like that part. Not more PVC in the tank. Rick

12/18/2007, 09:52 PM	#11
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	Looks good. You didnt lose as much as I thought

12/19/2007, 07:48 AM	#12
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	I still lost alot. I threw away almost a full 5 gallon bucket full of SPS.

12/19/2007, 09:02 AM	#14
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	Thanks for the comments. The yellow tang was added. I have never been able to keep two tangs in my tank. So when I added the fish back, I added another tang so they would both be "in their new home" together.

01/02/2008, 06:31 PM	#15
Rpierce Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Little River, SC Posts: 742	So I'm starting to restock my tank. I am looking for a couple of pieces that I lost. With the frags that I gave away, does anyone have one of the yellow or purple milli that I had. If not, I should have given more away! Rick

01/02/2008, 08:45 PM	#16
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	You can have my piece of purple back. It is now a huge frag.

01/02/2008, 09:16 PM	#18
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	I don't want it at all. The polyps turned really brown in my tank and made it kind of ugly. The base is really really blue, but it ends up looking brown.

01/02/2008, 10:04 PM	#21
dvmsn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Surfside Beach, SC Posts: 3,008	I almost forgot about the fish trap. I definately dont want to lose that.

02/21/2008, 06:23 PM	#23
bugshop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Anderson/ Belton S.C. Posts: 652	WoW Rick, It's looking good. I too removed one of my overflows on my 180. It is an older one with corner overflows. And with my new setup going to be a penninsula, I didn't want to have the overflow blocking my view. I also am planning on using the old holes for returns from the closed loop pointing up and over at the rockwork from below. I'll just make a fake rock to cover them __________________ Greenville, SC Reefer? Join the PMAC.