YHSublime December 10, 2014 December 10, 2014 Only Emperor and Blueface. I remember your Emperor was putting on a show when I stopped by, grunting up a storm. I have batted about the idea of a Blueface for about a year now, however, every experience I've seen documented on the subject says that zoas are the first to go. The only success I have had with a reef safe "with caution" fish is a Copperband. What size tanks do you plan on using for QT? Are you planning on ordering your rock? I think this will be quite a big overhaul, but the results will be well worth it. I try to alienate encrusting corals to individual rocks, but there are some that I know I will have controlling on my big pieces down the road.
ridetheducati December 10, 2014 Author December 10, 2014 My QT operation is scaleable. I always have two 10 gallon tanks running and can quickly put two 40g, 30g, and 20g tanks online. The 10g tanks are constantly running just in case I fall for the impulse fish purchase. Most likely will order some reef saver rock. Realistically, 20 pounds would do the trick.
TrueTricia December 11, 2014 December 11, 2014 My QT operation is scaleable. I always have two 10 gallon tanks running and can quickly put two 40g, 30g, and 20g tanks online. The 10g tanks are constantly running just in case I fall for the impulse fish purchase. Most likely will order some reef saver rock. Realistically, 20 pounds would do the trick. Can't wait to see the results!
ridetheducati December 29, 2014 Author December 29, 2014 I did the unthinkable over the weekend. Montipora confusa took over my system and began to over run my acros. All attempts to slow its growth and destruction have failed. I did a complete tear down. Removed all corals, rocks, sand, and fish. All rocks will receive an acid bath today, especially the rocks that were covered with montipora. I know my actions sound extreme, because it is, I just could not take it anymore. The good news is I will finally have an opportunity to dry aquascape the system, something I really wanted to do in the beginning. Fish and corals will stay in holding tanks until the system is fully cycled. I lost two large mille colonies almost instantly when I moved them from the system; and I am expecting to loose a few more, not to mention the high end frags. I blame myself 100% because when I setup the 300g two years ago; I knew I had a montipora problem; to the best of my ability I scraped and chiseled every rock. This time I am not leaving anything to chance, all rock will be dried out for at least a week. Going forward, no encrusting corals are going in the main display. I may even go bare bottom and crank up the flow.
John Ford December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 Long weekends can get you in trouble eh? lol Good luck with the fresh start, im looking forward to seeing the new aquascape.
YHSublime December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 You won't regret bare bottom. Do you, nothing wrong with a fresh and proper start
DuffyGeos December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 Good luck with the new set up and fresh start. I bleached, then did the acid bath after they were rinsed and dried out. They also sat outside for at least a month with temps down into the 20's which I am hoping will help. Sorry for the loss of your corals, that probably hurt more then anything.
ctenophore December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 You could have just added some monti eating nudibranchs. They'd have fixed your problem in about 3 weeks.
ridetheducati December 29, 2014 Author December 29, 2014 You could have just added some monti eating nudibranchs. They'd have fixed your problem in about 3 weeks. lol
DuffyGeos December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 Why are you thinking bare bottom? I thought your love was 50% coral 50% fish? I am not a fan of the bare bottom unless I was only into corals, and not trying to make it look like nature. Just my 2 cents.
ridetheducati December 29, 2014 Author December 29, 2014 Why are you thinking bare bottom? I thought your love was 50% coral 50% fish? I am not a fan of the bare bottom unless I was only into corals, and not trying to make it look like nature. Just my 2 cents. Something I am considering, most likely will include new sand bed. I ran several systems bare bottom, but I always came back to sand because of the way MH light reflects off the sand, and the micro fauna.
wangspeed December 29, 2014 December 29, 2014 Tropic Eden reef flakes if you do. I like it more than Caribsea special grade. Good luck on the restart. Makes me want to ditch my encrusting montis now. I'm hoping mine won't be able to bridge between gaps. I used mostly pukani, which had a bunch of holes and gaps. -- Warren
ridetheducati December 29, 2014 Author December 29, 2014 I know Reefflakes are hard to find so I usually go with the next best alternative, Carib Special Grade.
GraffitiSpotCorals January 1, 2015 January 1, 2015 You could have just added some monti eating nudibranchs. They'd have fixed your problem in about 3 weeks. Haha could have but I bet it would have taken longer than three weeks. Then I wonder bow long it would take the left over to die of starvation. Sorry you had to go through all that Tony, I hope the restart goes well. I was really hoping to watch the growth pics from thoes bulbs though! What made the corals die when you switched them over? New system? Or did you use the same water as the tank? If you need anyone to hold any corals you don't want to loose I could help, just let me know. Good luck man!
ridetheducati January 1, 2015 Author January 1, 2015 Haha could have but I bet it would have taken longer than three weeks. Then I wonder bow long it would take the left over to die of starvation. Sorry you had to go through all that Tony, I hope the restart goes well. I was really hoping to watch the growth pics from thoes bulbs though! What made the corals die when you switched them over? New system? Or did you use the same water as the tank? If you need anyone to hold any corals you don't want to loose I could help, just let me know. Good luck man! I believe it was the temperature change; and I did not give the heaters time to raise to 78-80 degrees. The water in the holding tank was around 72 degrees. I had six tanks going and I lost track of one. lol Rebooting the system was not an issue or burden. I decided to wage war and I executed the nuclear option. Sold close to 90% of my corals, still have my high end items to include the Badazz. I feel liberated! Most likely will begin dry aquascaping in 7 -10 days. Detox Please pass the sun tan lotion
GraffitiSpotCorals January 1, 2015 January 1, 2015 Wow 90 percent, you have been hard at work for new plans I can't wait for the next outcome you have an amazing ability to make frags into beautiful colonies. Glad you kept the bad azz, I bet it will get some better color once you put some halides on it for a while. Did the 6500 change the color on it any?
ridetheducati January 10, 2015 Author January 10, 2015 Phase one nearly complete. 1. Cleaned live rock in acid solution 2. Neutralized and soaked rock in fresh water 3. Removed organic material and power washed rock 4. 95% complete with dry aquascaping inside display, I LOVE IT. One more feature to finish, which I think Duff will enjoy. 5. Started 2 - 3 week long phosphate purge process Phase two. 1. Begin nitrogen cycle
DuffyGeos January 10, 2015 January 10, 2015 Phase one nearly complete. 1. Cleaned live rock in acid solution 2. Neutralized and soaked rock in fresh water 3. Removed organic material and power washed rock 4. 95% complete with dry aquascaping inside display, I LOVE IT. One more feature to finish, which I think Duff will enjoy. 5. Started 2 - 3 week long phosphate purge process Phase two. 1. Begin nitrogen cycle OK stop teasing me.......... You are running circles around me with your rebuild- great job.
ridetheducati January 10, 2015 Author January 10, 2015 @DuffyGeos I will post it when the feature is complete. After I started the cooking process I realized I forgot to hold onto 10 pounds of good live rock. Need to find 5-10 pounds of coralline encrusted life rock, minus the mantis shrimp.
ridetheducati January 10, 2015 Author January 10, 2015 Rock that was set aside has encrusting corals on it.
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