Changing rock formation

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 05:53 PM

I was thinking about taking all of the rock, coral and fish out of my tank to make a new rock formation. I feel I have to much rock in the tank, and would love to change the rock around, and take some out of the tank. What do you guys think, is this a good or bad idea? The upside being more room for fish to swim (2 tangs in a 90g), more water flow, and a more appeasing rock look. Downsides being stress on the fish and corals. Thanks, please list more up and downsides to sway my opinoin.
-Kyle Kaz

caesar Gdi · 03/29/2006, 05:55 PM

can you move the rock down into your sump? this would solve both of your problems... more room in your tank with the same amount of LR

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 05:58 PM

Yea thats not a problem at all. I am just worried about moving all of the rock. I plan on taking ALL of the roc and corals out and completely starting over on the formation, for more flow and a more appeasing look. I will put the extra rock in my fuge'. I just don't want the fish and corals 2 stress to much, so that is my question I guess.

garvin90 · 03/29/2006, 06:14 PM

Why do you need to remove all the rock to rearrange it? I dont know what your tank currently looks like with all the rock but, cant you just make a whole new formation with it in the tank itself if the only fish are the 2 tangs? If you tank out your rock and let it dry out you will have effectively killed your rock and your tank will need to recycle(which is way more stressful than just rearranging). The only reason I see for taking rock out to remake it is if your going to a pvc frame and you need to drill the rock for zip-ties, is that what you will be doing?

If you really need to remove all that rock and it will be sitting for any lenght of time just be sure to either: wrap it in newspapered wet with SW or place it in a saltwater vat.

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 06:22 PM

I plan on putting a PVC rack on the bottom for more flow threw the bottom of the tank. The other fish I have in the tank include a Tomatoe clown, Clarkii Clown, snowflake moray, and a molly miller.

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 06:23 PM

Oh I plan on putting my rock into a rubbermaid container with tank water while arranging the rock.

cato · 03/29/2006, 06:29 PM

Down side is upsetting an established ecosystem that is in place in your tank.

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 06:31 PM

Do you think that would offset the upside of better flow threw the tank, less dead spots and more room for the fish?

cato · 03/29/2006, 07:15 PM

Better flow is definitely a plus, as well as room for the fish. I just wonder what will stir up from under the rock and if it would cause and adverse effects with "the nuisance stuff". I don't know. I think it would be a great improvement with the only question being how long would it take for the system to stabilize after. I have the same thoughts about my tank. 54g with 100#LR. I think its too much and I'm not crazy about the scape I currently have. I feel your dilemma.

CookieJar · 03/29/2006, 08:30 PM

I vote yes because the resulting aquascape will be something you'll be more happy with and will give more flow. yeah it'll be a PIA but after you're done it'll be worth it.

PiscesLou · 03/29/2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chirocato
Down side is upsetting an established ecosystem that is in place in your tank.

I agree with that.... Ive taken down my tank twice in the last 2 years...I have 100 lbs of sand and 100 lbs of LR..the first time went well no deaths... the latest one about 2 months ago..yellow tang died(ich)...got a pbt about a month ago...died with ich..never had an ich problem before, I probably stirred somthing up

slave-of-rock · 03/29/2006, 11:04 PM

PBT are prone to ich, so I wouldn't think the change would make the difference. I think the 2nd time would have been a bad idea tho... I plan on only doing this one time (soon) and then leaving it until I forced to tear it down (who knows when?). I think I will do it this weekend after thinking about it for a while.

Asuran · 03/30/2006, 08:34 AM

i had a diamond goby do a bit too much digging and had a minor rock slide... so i had to redo my rock work... my PBT got ich afterwards... probably cus i didnt take the heater out of the sump and dropped it into the tank (i thought a 30 min job took me 3 hours) and also because i was constantly in the tank cause him a bit of stress but he's fighting it off... lost the goby the next day as he went surfing into my sump

View Poll Results: Change the rock?
Yes	7	87.50%
No	1	12.50%
Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll

03/29/2006, 05:53 PM	#1
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	Changing rock formation I was thinking about taking all of the rock, coral and fish out of my tank to make a new rock formation. I feel I have to much rock in the tank, and would love to change the rock around, and take some out of the tank. What do you guys think, is this a good or bad idea? The upside being more room for fish to swim (2 tangs in a 90g), more water flow, and a more appeasing rock look. Downsides being stress on the fish and corals. Thanks, please list more up and downsides to sway my opinoin. -Kyle Kaz

03/29/2006, 06:14 PM	#4
garvin90 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: blair, Nebraska Posts: 485	Why do you need to remove all the rock to rearrange it? I dont know what your tank currently looks like with all the rock but, cant you just make a whole new formation with it in the tank itself if the only fish are the 2 tangs? If you tank out your rock and let it dry out you will have effectively killed your rock and your tank will need to recycle(which is way more stressful than just rearranging). The only reason I see for taking rock out to remake it is if your going to a pvc frame and you need to drill the rock for zip-ties, is that what you will be doing? If you really need to remove all that rock and it will be sitting for any lenght of time just be sure to either: wrap it in newspapered wet with SW or place it in a saltwater vat. __________________ I do not scare easily however I will not be be back, nor with greater numbers. Current Tank Info: 50g salt, 5.5g fresh

03/29/2006, 06:29 PM	#7
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Down side is upsetting an established ecosystem that is in place in your tank. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

03/29/2006, 07:15 PM	#9
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Better flow is definitely a plus, as well as room for the fish. I just wonder what will stir up from under the rock and if it would cause and adverse effects with "the nuisance stuff". I don't know. I think it would be a great improvement with the only question being how long would it take for the system to stabilize after. I have the same thoughts about my tank. 54g with 100#LR. I think its too much and I'm not crazy about the scape I currently have. I feel your dilemma. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

03/29/2006, 05:55 PM	#2
caesar Gdi Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 110	can you move the rock down into your sump? this would solve both of your problems... more room in your tank with the same amount of LR

03/29/2006, 05:58 PM	#3
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	Yea thats not a problem at all. I am just worried about moving all of the rock. I plan on taking ALL of the roc and corals out and completely starting over on the formation, for more flow and a more appeasing look. I will put the extra rock in my fuge'. I just don't want the fish and corals 2 stress to much, so that is my question I guess.

03/29/2006, 06:22 PM	#5
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	I plan on putting a PVC rack on the bottom for more flow threw the bottom of the tank. The other fish I have in the tank include a Tomatoe clown, Clarkii Clown, snowflake moray, and a molly miller.

03/29/2006, 06:23 PM	#6
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	Oh I plan on putting my rock into a rubbermaid container with tank water while arranging the rock.

03/29/2006, 06:31 PM	#8
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	Do you think that would offset the upside of better flow threw the tank, less dead spots and more room for the fish?

03/29/2006, 08:30 PM	#10
CookieJar Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 545	I vote yes because the resulting aquascape will be something you'll be more happy with and will give more flow. yeah it'll be a PIA but after you're done it'll be worth it.

03/29/2006, 11:04 PM	#12
slave-of-rock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NW chicago burbs' Posts: 4,098	PBT are prone to ich, so I wouldn't think the change would make the difference. I think the 2nd time would have been a bad idea tho... I plan on only doing this one time (soon) and then leaving it until I forced to tear it down (who knows when?). I think I will do it this weekend after thinking about it for a while.

03/30/2006, 08:34 AM	#13
Asuran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scarborough Posts: 504	i had a diamond goby do a bit too much digging and had a minor rock slide... so i had to redo my rock work... my PBT got ich afterwards... probably cus i didnt take the heater out of the sump and dropped it into the tank (i thought a 30 min job took me 3 hours) and also because i was constantly in the tank cause him a bit of stress but he's fighting it off... lost the goby the next day as he went surfing into my sump __________________ 180gallon reef, 70gallon sump 110gallon reef, 50 gallon sump (former tank) 70gallon FOWLR, 30 gallon sump