My 125g neglect lead to reboot

[Anonymous]

My 125 mixed reef tank had/has issues.

Most of the problems lead to a really crappy water circuit from the tank to the sump in the basement.
The pump, one of the Dolphin units, is underpowered, and I didn't help by sticking with the 3/4" supply lines as pre-drilled in the overflows. Too narrow - leads to too much resistance.

On top of the crappy plumbing, the sump is a standard Rubbermaid trough unmodified in any way.
That leads to water level fluctuations, which mess up the efficiency of the in-sump skimmer - an ASM G4.

The skimmer cleans the hell outta the sump water, but the water doesn't make it to the show tank fast enough.
Nutrient levels rose over time. I wasn't doing water changes.

Bryopsis and cyano began to overtake my nice SPS corals.
I got discouraged and stopped dosing Ca and alk.

Then we got our 2 week heatwave in New England, and I kept the lights off to prevent over heating.

Soon enough 90% of the SPS were gone.
The fish were okay.

Only decent thing was while the lights were out, all the cyano and bryopsois died off.
The tank looks decent again.

Not sure what to do with it now. I might go with soft corals only, and downgrade the lights to VHO.
Lots of SPS skeletons in there, though. Sucks.

Given I didn't fix the plumbing or auto-top off the sump, I think the problems will return.
Probably will end up tearing down and sell it. Wanna bet how long it'll take to see the nuisance algae again?

 

[Anonymous]

No.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you know what steps you need to take to correct the problems. Buy a bigger pump, install a separate return line (the current one in the overflow could be turned into a secondary/emergency drain if you want a silent overflow), and install an auto topoff. You could also consider moving the ASM to a separate container with a non-fluctuating water level.

Now just do it!

 

[Anonymous]

Let's keep the fail stuff in the Sump. At a time when we trying to revitalise topside, it doesn't do much for the atmosphere.

Mags, I think you should do as Matt says. It'd be far more satisfying than selling it all off at a loss and then (inevitably ) buying another set-up further down the line.

I'm contemplating a mixed tank when I start my next one. Maybe go for a mix of LPS, softies and the easier SPS. Some of the LPS that can end up looking really spectacular (e.g. Euphyllia sp.) can tolerate slightly "dirtier" water than SPS.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, because "revitalization" (love that catch word!) is found with a guy who wants us to take bets on how long it'll take for his tank to fail. Oh, wait, I went with that. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

It just strikes me as a pity, given that your positive contribution to that goal is one of the biggest of the Sumpizens who come topside. No sense in undermining that by firing down what you think looks like will be an unpromising thread.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you know what steps you need to take to correct the problems. Buy a bigger pump, install a separate return line (the current one in the overflow could be turned into a secondary/emergency drain if you want a silent overflow), and install an auto topoff. You could also consider moving the ASM to a separate container with a non-fluctuating water level.

Or get a proper tank for a sump holding vessel with baffles tossed in and the like... but if you must go ghetto, yeah just put a smaller rubbermade on some PVC legs in the center of the bigger rubbermade, have that as return spot, put your skimmer in that, it'll overflow into the larger rubbermade leaving you with a consistent water level.

Now do it!

 

[Len]

Don't sell it. Reboot. Everyone is doing it Mine was a lot of work, but I found it REALLY rewarding; and it really doesn't cost all that much more considering what you've invested (and what you can get selling your gear used). I haven't been this excited about reefkeeping since, well, I started this tank the first time around I've learned my mistakes and won't repeat them.

 

[Anonymous]

You've got the smarts and the discipline to make the 125g shine. Do eeeet!!

 

[Anonymous]

Gonna try to get things going again this weekend.
My thought is to just have a tank of fish and pom pom xenia.

 

[Len]

Do you mean you'll reboot and just start adding xenia now?

 

[Anonymous]

Do you mean you'll reboot and just start adding xenia now?

Rebooting this weekend. Tank has been fallow.
Will do a 100% water change, get the new pump on the skimmer, and start from zero.

 

[Anonymous]

Looking forward to the build thread! 8)

 

[jamesw]

I had bryopsis in a bad way too. I ended up getting 5 lettuce slugs (T. crispata - total cost about $60) and they ate it all and it likely will NEVER come back. Not to mention the lettuce slugs are cool.

ALso - you can get a pretty cheap ATO solution if you get a reef type float switch and also a solenoid valve for your topoff water.

Cheers and good luck!

James

 

[Anonymous]

Gonna try to get things going again this weekend.
My thought is to just have a tank of fish and pom pom xenia.

 

[Anonymous]

Bizarrely, that's probably a lot closer to a natural look than most of us achieve. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

Yup.

 

[Anonymous]

Be careful what you wish for with the Xenia. My tank has been over-run with the stuff, and I now regret ever introducing the xenia. It's pretty much a weed which will rapidly suffocate any other corals or clams you wish to keep. I constantly cut my xenia back, but it seems to grow back thicker after cutting.

This is an older photo. The xenia overtook the large leather on the left side. That area is now also covered with xenia. You can see the xenia growing up the back wall and even into the overflow!

 

[Anonymous]

Your photography makes it look great, even so. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, to me that looks pretty nice. But I like xenia.