45 gallons Acros tank

[Tunablue]

Amazing could you take a photo for me please i would like to know what it looks like at around 14k

 

[Mr V]

There’s a saying that every party comes to an end. I am very sad to say that I am breaking down this system.
As you know, this is my first reef tank, I failed and learned a lot in the past 4 years committed to the tank. I am very please to know that the thread has entertained, inspired, and actual helped many other fellow reefers.
I have been making countless friends during the past couple years, due to this thread.
Consider it is my first system, I made a lot of irreversible mistakes such as poor plumbing, poor wire management, poor corals placement,... The tank is in my bed room, and it’s noisy. The plumbing doesn’t have failsafe, doesn’t have any union to take apart for maintenance,... the wire is really messy —> high risk of fire. Ultimately, there is no point to keep and maintain 2 display tanks.

That’s why I decided this system will be taken down, and replace with a 6ftx2ft grow out/frags system. (Please don’t forget to follow that build[emoji6])
With the same footsprint, I can keep more corals and frags, those colonies I have right now will have a chance to grow big! Ultimately, more quiet and lesser maintenance.

I will STOP update this thread after the breakdown.
So Please, sit down and enjoy the thread’s last show.
The tool necessary of course: coral saw. I choose Gryphon C-40 and really happy with my purchase.

The objective is how to keep everything healthy when taking down the tank. I don’t want a bunch of brown colonies in my new frag system.
I choose to breakdown very slowly, a couple colonies per day. One structure at a time.

So far everything doing really good and keep their coloration.




To be continue...

 

[najer]

Can't wait to see the new build. :)

 

[zack801]

@Mr V . This has seriously been a thread that I’ve come back to time and time again for information and inspiration on my own tank. I’m excited to see what your future build looks like and of course I’ll be following your 100g thread. Thank you so much for keeping this thread so active and entertaining while the tank was up

 

[Mr V]

@Mr V . This has seriously been a thread that I’ve come back to time and time again for information and inspiration on my own tank. I’m excited to see what your future build looks like and of course I’ll be following your 100g thread. Thank you so much for keeping this thread so active and entertaining while the tank was up

Thank you. I will try my best to update as details as possible on the 100 gallons tank build.
Meanwhile, the right structure had been removed.

My little helper. Think again, we should use gloves. There were many bristle worm under the rocks. [emoji32]

But then she realized the rock is heavy...[emoji28]

It really not easy to saw down. Took me a while.

A coupe hours later, after 10 gallons water change. Everything settle down nicely. No color loss.[emoji108]

The frag tank officially full!

I suddenly think that shallow grow out/ frags system will be a good idea since acroporas are meant to be viewed top dow.

To be continue,...

 

[Janci]

.... since acroporas are meant to be viewed top dow.

I would like to disagree with that.... but you pictures make it difficult.
Your frag system looks great.
But I still love the growth and form of an acropora coral just from the side glass.

 

[BigJohnny]

@Mr V

I noticed you have several zeo bottles by your tank, had no idea you dabbled. Which products do you use? I see you have the big bottle of kz flatworm stop which imo is a great additive for coral health regardless of whether you have aefw or not (which I know you dont), and I would guess that the small dropper bottle is likely kz sponge power since my other guess is kz coral vitalizer which should be refrigerated after opening? No idea what the other two are though. Would you mind going into some details and explaining which ones you use/how frequently/why?

I also see you have some vibrant, what has your experience with that been like?

Good luck with the transition and congratulations on what you accomplished with that 45g, one of the nicest tanks I've ever seen.

Thanks!

 

[Natedogg559]

Did you start the 45g tank with live rock or dry rock? Do you like not having sand?

 

[Mr V]

@Mr V

I noticed you have several zeo bottles by your tank, had no idea you dabbled. Which products do you use? I see you have the big bottle of kz flatworm stop which imo is a great additive for coral health regardless of whether you have aefw or not (which I know you dont), and I would guess that the small dropper bottle is likely kz sponge power since my other guess is kz coral vitalizer which should be refrigerated after opening? No idea what the other two are though. Would you mind going into some details and explaining which ones you use/how frequently/why?

I also see you have some vibrant, what has your experience with that been like?

Good luck with the transition and congratulations on what you accomplished with that 45g, one of the nicest tanks I've ever seen.

Thanks!

Good eyes Johnny.
I remember talking about additive a couple page earlier. The first initial years of this tank, I used a lot of additives. I don’t think any of them “do the magic and get your system blossom”. That’s why I never recommend and of them to any one.
Those kz sit there a couple years, all expired (so you have the idea when they were purchased[emoji6]). Just the bottle are beautiful, I don’t want to throw them away! [emoji28]

Here is my medicine/additive shelf

Talk about each.
Redsea color ABCD. I dose 1 mil of each per day. Blind dose. I figure since they are consuming too much Alk and Cal (95 ml each per day), the traces have to be consumed too.
Remember a couple post earlier you Mentioned I may have flatworm on my confetti frag? That’s when I look into “medicine” just in case I have an outbreak. One of my friend recommended flatworm stop. This product will NOT kill flatworm (so it surely not harm corals), but instead make corals stronger to fight flatworm.
In fact, my friend claims that he notice strong encrusting after using the product for a couple months. I am not recommended or not recommended the product since it’s too soon to say anything. On the other hand, I will not know if my acros growing strong when using the product or not since they are always grow strong[emoji28]. My current dose is 5 mil per day.
Vibrant. I got an order from Jeff (UWC). After look him up and saw his post about Vibrant. I am impressed. So I decided to try and report the results in the thread. However, it’s only 2 dose (5 mil every 2 weeks) so it’s too soon to say the product works or not. But I begin seeing bubble algaes get loose and flying in the water column.

In case you wonder, here is one loose guy. It’s really big, It broke when I dropped it.[emoji15]

 

[BigJohnny]

Good eyes Johnny.
I remember talking about additive a couple page earlier. The first initial years of this tank, I used a lot of additives. I don’t think any of them “do the magic and get your system blossom”. That’s why I never recommend and of them to any one.
Those kz were sit there a couple year, all expired (so you have the idea when they were purchased[emoji6]). Just the bottle are beautiful, I don’t want to throw them away! [emoji28]

Here is my medicine/additive shelf

Talk about each.
Redsea color ABCD. I dose 1 mil of each per day. Blind dose. I figure since they are consuming too much Alk and Cal (95 ml each per day), the traces have to be consumed too.
Remember a couple post earlier you Mentioned I may have flatworm on my confetti frag? That’s when I look into “medicine” just in case I have an outbreak. One of my friend recommended flatworm stop. This product will NOT kill flatworm (so it surely not harm corals), but instead make corals stronger to fight flatworm.
In fact, my friend claims that he notice strong encrusting after using the product for a couple months. I am not recommended or not recommended the product since it’s too soon to say anything. On the other hand, I will not know if my acros growing strong when using the product or not since they are always grow strong[emoji28]. My current dose is 5 mil per day.
Vibrant. I got an order from Jeff (UWC). After look him up and saw his post about Vibrant. I am impressed. So I decided to try and report the results in the thread. However, it’s only 2 dose (5 mil every 2 weeks) so it’s too soon to say the product works or not. But I begin seeing bubble algaes get loose and flying in the water column.

In case you wonder, here is one loose guy. It’s really big, It broke when I dropped it.[emoji15]

Ah gotcha, I used flatworm stop back when i had aefw and then still use it today because i noticed my corals encrusted faster and generally looked healthier. I know many people that use it as a general health additive for acros, but i have no idea what is in it lol. as far as red sea trace yes probably a good idea to dose some and its possible you could need more, although judging by the health of your corals you dont need anything except frag plugs lol. I have to dose potassium/iodine/strontium consistently or the levels fall over time.

Looking forward to hearing about your experience with vibrant, and HOLY CRAP that is the biggest bubble algae bubble i have ever seen, that cant be real......................is it?!

 

[Ashish Patel]

Your pictures and progression in this hobby make me :)happy

 

[DQM5]

Half way there!! @Mr V !!

 

[Mr V]

Now, just chill here, waiting for the new tank getting ready.[emoji5]
Not for myself: when distressed, corals will stop consuming Alk and Calcium. I have huge alk spike (11~12dkh from 8dkh) and lost 3 colonies. Cut dosing from 100 ml back to 40 ml to keep alk slowly drop down.

 

[Tahoe61]

Thanks for the update!!!

 

[hatfielj]

Looking great! Awesome work

 

[Bronc]

Amazing!!

 

[BigJohnny]

Now, just chill here, waiting for the new tank getting ready.[emoji5]
Not for myself: when distressed, corals will stop consuming Alk and Calcium. I have huge alk spike (11~12dkh from 8dkh) and lost 3 colonies. Cut dosing from 100 ml back to 40 ml to keep alk slowly drop down.

Did you move your yellow tang and chromis to the 100 or other frag tank?

 

[Mr V]

Yes. They are in my 100 for a week now. Everyone happy!

 

[Natedogg559]

So you cut all of the colonies off the rocks and re-glued to the frag plates? I'd be so nervous to tick off the colony!

 

[Mr V]

So you cut all of the colonies off the rocks and re-glued to the frag plates? I'd be so nervous to **** off the colony!

Yes I did. And yes, it’s totally not good for the corals. I am doing that just because I am gonna break down this tank and set up a new tank.
Fyi, i lost 2.5 colonies and a lot of frags doing this.