Need opinions on best way to do this

[Larry Grenier]

I have a 6' long sump (about 100 gals) in my basement. It only has a Skimmer, heater, and a bunch of live rock. I also house a mated pair of clowns in there. I plan on putting the rocks in two piles, adding a DSB, and plant a large turtle grass bed in there.

 

My concern is for the clown pair.

 

Help me pick the best option:

 

1) Move the clowns to a small tank until the sand storm subsides (catching 2 clowns in a 6' tank will be difficult).

 

or

 

2) Add the sand while the clowns are still in there (I'll have an extra mechanical filter going to clear it up faster).

 

Which one would be less traumatic to the fish?

[lowsingle]

I would remove them if possible.....

 

cheers,

Darren

[dakotasreef]

+1

[Reefoholic]

+1 remove them first. I wouldn't wanna breath in a dusk cloud... would you?

[hypertech]

If it's easy to do remove them. If not, they'll be fine.

[flowerseller]

If doing this project is done thoughtfully, there's no reason to remove them.

 

FYI,

a small "dust storm" in a reef tank periodically can actually be beneficial.

[rocko918]

turn off the flow to the sump. Add the sand slowly, you can use a 2 inch pvc pipe and slide the sand down it to the bottom, this will help prevent a sand storm. If you want add the extra mechanical filter to clean up the water. After the water looks some what good turn the sump back on. What ever is floating in the sump will get diluted in the main tank and will clear up pretty quickly. No need to remove the fish.

[Chad]

If doing this project is done thoughtfully, there's no reason to remove them.

 

FYI,

a small "dust storm" in a reef tank periodically can actually be beneficial.

 

I agree. IMO, a semi annual or annual "deep disturbance" is the best way to prevent the so-called "old tank syndrome."

 

Separately, I think the idea of running seagrass in your sump is a good one (and is one that I tried myself, and plan to try again now that the sandbed that I created has a couple of years aging in it). Im not sure how much research you have done so far, but seriously consider getting shoal grass Halodule wrightii vice turtle grass. Turtle grass really needs quite a bit more sand bed depth and growing height than can usually be done in a sump-style setup (30" or so), the shoal grass does not grow as tall and does not need as deep of a sand bed. Cerith snails / bristletooth tangs do a good job of keeping leaves clean without eating the grass itself. And most of the Florida collectors will get you some upon request (although law requires they only collect seagrass in drift, which drastically reduces the chances it will establish itself in your tank so buy more than you think you will need and give it time) and consider getting some nasty mud from one of the collectors (a few ebay folks and occasionally John Maloney from reefcleaners.org have it) for the bacteria (the seagrasses have a symbiotic bacteria associated with their roots, lack of this bacteria - which is less present in drift - causes the seagrass to not do as well)

 

Anyway, sorry for rambling, hope it works out!

[Larry Grenier]

Great replies folks, thanks much. Chad, I'm researching the shoal grass - Halodule wrightii right now. I have definitely noticed that when I stir-up my sump that the corals upstairs are "reaching" out to grab stuff more.

[emissary]

What's your lead time? My clowns swim into immersed nets because I feed them that way. Catching them would be a cinch if you have time to train.