Planning a TBS LR Purchase - Have Some Questions...

MrKite · 03/15/2004, 05:55 PM

I've got a 90 Gal Fish-Only tank running nicely. It's filled half-way with a bunch of TBS rock that died. (Long story about broken tank...) It's just base rock now. A nice place for bacteria to live.

This tank was built according to a theory which holds that deep sand is not necessary. There a spraybar along the entire length of bottom-rear that returns water from the sump, and pushes detritus toward the front of the tank. The creator of this method allows for some sand, but it must be no more than 2-3 inches in front, and gradually get shallower toward the rear.

I've got two big bags of store-bought "Live Aragonite" sand distributed as suggested, tapering off to nothing in the rear.

So. I've got a bunch of dead rock, and a fair amount of sand. The rock is made up of mostly small pieces, little more than rubble, really - fist-sized and thereabouts, with 4 or 5 larger foundation pieces.

I want to rejuvenate this tank with a TBS Package. I'm leaning toward a 20 or 30 Gallon Package, mainly because I dont have much more room in there if I leave the old rock in.

Oh, did I mention it's not my tank? I've been asked to bring it back to life and given free reign, but the owner sounds like he's reluctant to ditch the base rock to make room for new. Which is understandable; he spent a pretty penny on it!

I'm thinking I'll quietly make most of the fist-sized and a couple of the large pieces disappear; maybe work a trade with the LFS guy who's got many beautiful inverts...

Anyway, my first question is, how should I specify my order from TBS? I mean, I'm adding this new rock on top of other rock, not the tank bottom. So I guess I should ask for smaller pieces, certainly not the size that'd be appropriate for an empty 30 Gallon tank, right?

Or should I step up my efforts to convince the owner to remove more of the old base rock?

And do I just put the new sand over top of the old? Stir them together?

Thanks; I have other questions, but I'll post them in separate threads...

;-)

--Charlie Henderson

delta · 03/15/2004, 06:11 PM

just a thought about the base rock.
but what a about refugium that would help with the pod population if you were to add a pod eat fish like fire fish or mandarin. as well as add a place to export excess nutrients as well?

MrKite · 03/15/2004, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by delta
just a thought about the base rock.
but what a about refugium that would help with the pod population if you were to add a pod eat fish like fire fish or mandarin. as well as add a place to export excess nutrients as well?

I'd love to have a refugium, but there just isn't room. We're already in the basement, so there's no plumbing things down to a nice, big space that nobody can see. And the tank is behind the bar, with *very* little space on either side and none behind... a refugium is pretty much out of the question here.

But thanks, it's a good suggestion!

Dazz · 03/17/2004, 08:21 PM

Well Richard sells the decorator rock that has the "nicest" (I like all their rocks =) ) stuff on it. If you have their rock without a sand bed, you may have problems sustaining the life on the rock. Much of it depends on the other creatures to produce food for it.

03/15/2004, 05:55 PM	#1
MrKite Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Malvern, PA Posts: 18	Planning a TBS LR Purchase - Have Some Questions... I've got a 90 Gal Fish-Only tank running nicely. It's filled half-way with a bunch of TBS rock that died. (Long story about broken tank...) It's just base rock now. A nice place for bacteria to live. This tank was built according to a theory which holds that deep sand is not necessary. There a spraybar along the entire length of bottom-rear that returns water from the sump, and pushes detritus toward the front of the tank. The creator of this method allows for some sand, but it must be no more than 2-3 inches in front, and gradually get shallower toward the rear. I've got two big bags of store-bought "Live Aragonite" sand distributed as suggested, tapering off to nothing in the rear. So. I've got a bunch of dead rock, and a fair amount of sand. The rock is made up of mostly small pieces, little more than rubble, really - fist-sized and thereabouts, with 4 or 5 larger foundation pieces. I want to rejuvenate this tank with a TBS Package. I'm leaning toward a 20 or 30 Gallon Package, mainly because I dont have much more room in there if I leave the old rock in. Oh, did I mention it's not my tank? I've been asked to bring it back to life and given free reign, but the owner sounds like he's reluctant to ditch the base rock to make room for new. Which is understandable; he spent a pretty penny on it! I'm thinking I'll quietly make most of the fist-sized and a couple of the large pieces disappear; maybe work a trade with the LFS guy who's got many beautiful inverts... Anyway, my first question is, how should I specify my order from TBS? I mean, I'm adding this new rock on top of other rock, not the tank bottom. So I guess I should ask for smaller pieces, certainly not the size that'd be appropriate for an empty 30 Gallon tank, right? Or should I step up my efforts to convince the owner to remove more of the old base rock? And do I just put the new sand over top of the old? Stir them together? Thanks; I have other questions, but I'll post them in separate threads... ;-) --Charlie Henderson

03/17/2004, 08:21 PM	#4
Dazz Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 592	Well Richard sells the decorator rock that has the "nicest" (I like all their rocks =) ) stuff on it. If you have their rock without a sand bed, you may have problems sustaining the life on the rock. Much of it depends on the other creatures to produce food for it. __________________ -Dazz Current Tank Info: none

03/15/2004, 06:11 PM	#2
delta Premium Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: South of Boston Posts: 710	just a thought about the base rock. but what a about refugium that would help with the pod population if you were to add a pod eat fish like fire fish or mandarin. as well as add a place to export excess nutrients as well?