My Tanks! Well, My Attempt!

[kien]

Too much fun with those hamster balls I guess.

[trinac]

After moving stuff around to dismantle easier, I had a massive change of heart. I also found a really large and dead mexican turbo snail... which was not helping matters, but seredipitous.

Anyways, this is embarrassing considering the very small amount of elapsed time... but... I change my mind. LOL There is no way I can sell my aquarium. Even though it is a lot of work right now with my schedule, I would miss it too much.

Here's the deal though, I obviously need a better set up. And need some help at it - don't understand sumps etc. So, I'll save my pennies and work towards a "tank upgrade" which is proper and without floods.

I'll be talking to a few of you... who I know have massive aquariums on expensive flooring...

[lastlight]

Game on!

You can't 'come back' without pictures. Even of the dead mexican...anything!

[trinac]

No pickcha's, no pickcha's!!

Algae outbreak central!

Here's the plan of action:
* Get rid of mechanical filtration system! (or put something else in it?? I remember Doug mentioning that its best to put crushed rock in these, and I said that I would clean my filters once per week - that didn't happen)
* Try out a GFO reactor
* Try a mangrove
* Replace water system filters
* Massive water change with rock "hair cut"
* Only frozen food, and less of it.

Wow I suck at this reef thang right now lol

Comments encouraged on my plan!! I feel like I have no idea what I am doing anymore lol Old tank syndrome... complete.

PS. I don't have a sump YET. Going to work with Jay soonish to build a new fancy tank.


If someone does suggest putting rocks in mechanical filtration system rather than the foam pads, please advise on how to break up said rocks.... I've tried using a hammer, and it didn't work out how I had hoped.

[Coleus]

Trina,

In my opinion, I would not go with mangrove because i don't think it is worth it for couple reasonss

1) You need to run lots of them to export nutrient. For heavy stock, i think you need like 1 per gallon. Lots of ppl say 1 per 10 gallon but with my reef setup, i found I need way way more. I took them off after using them for one year because pellets was much easier and more efficient. I prefer Cheato over them

2) They consumes lots of Mg so you will need to dose Mg regularly to keep your Calc and Alk stable.
3) you need to trim of the leaves to prevent it falling into your sump

Why not using chaeto instead of mangrove?


Just my 2 cents

[trinac]

Ohh, okay, ya I would like to keep things as simple as possible.

So maybe stick with the GFO reactor, and throw in some chaeto.

I think I was going to get some from Levi last summer, but had scheduling issues... Maybe I should check with him again.

Thanks for the advice!

[Coleus]

i can cut you some free chaeto if you need