AZMSGT build thread

AZMSGT · Jul 13, 2020

Blutspitze said:
how did you manage to catch the fish with so much rockwork and coral around?

I had 4 tubs. I drained the tank to about half, putting the water in the tubs. I then removed 70% of the rock work and used some big darn nets. I would chase the fish into a corner and net them. I did have one fish die from the moving around of things. But it was a red Firefish so it was only a minor loss.

I designed my rockwork so I could remove it and put it back pretty easily. There are 9 large pieces of which 6 are cemented together peices. (Emarco 400)One plus about doing things this go around is I rearranged some things to allow more flow. Also I wasn't real happy with the layout of the rockwork before. So it gave me a chance to correct a few things.

Not to minimize it to much.. It was still a huge pain in the rear.

I added 3 powerheads to try to eliminate dead spots so the ick parasite doesn't have a dead space to go dormant in.

In this side by side (top to bottom) comparison you can see the changes in the rock structure. You can also see I was lazy and used my IPad to take the picture... LOL

ScottB · Jul 13, 2020

Sorry to hear about the setback with ich. I cannot imagine trying to get my fish out of my reef. Put another couple years of SPS growth in your system and good luck.

Curious how you plan to keep nutrient available for your coral. I run heavy in heavy out and count on fish poop to feed my SPS. Have you been through fallow before with SPS? How do you manage?

AZMSGT · Jul 13, 2020

ScottB said:
Sorry to hear about the setback with ich. I cannot imagine trying to get my fish out of my reef. Put another couple years of SPS growth in your system and good luck.

Curious how you plan to keep nutrient available for your coral. I run heavy in heavy out and count on fish poop to feed my SPS. Have you been through fallow before with SPS? How do you manage?

I was actually getting kinda high on NO3 and PO4 just as this happened. So the SPS have been consuming that. I also have been feeding the tank a slightly reduced feeding. Also I have several products on standby. The few LPS, snails and inverts are still in there creating waste and they need food so they are what I'm feeding.
My supplements for No3 & P04 are Green Leaf Aquariums Potassium Nitrate, Brightwell NeoPhos & Easy SPS powder.

Blutspitze · Jul 16, 2020

AZMSGT said:
I had 4 tubs. I drained the tank to about half, putting the water in the tubs. I then removed 70% of the rock work and used some big darn nets. I would chase the fish into a corner and net them. I did have one fish die from the moving around of things. But it was a red Firefish so it was only a minor loss.

I designed my rockwork so I could remove it and put it back pretty easily. There are 9 large pieces of which 6 are cemented together peices. (Emarco 400)One plus about doing things this go around is I rearranged some things to allow more flow. Also I wasn't real happy with the layout of the rockwork before. So it gave me a chance to correct a few things.

Not to minimize it to much.. It was still a huge pain in the rear.

I added 3 powerheads to try to eliminate dead spots so the ick parasite doesn't have a dead space to go dormant in.

In this side by side (top to bottom) comparison you can see the changes in the rock structure. You can also see I was lazy and used my IPad to take the picture... LOL

Haha OK, good to know. I was feeling a bit odd with you saying it like it's nothing to go around catching fish :P . The small handful of times I've done catching worked pretty much the same - drain most of the tank, remove a lot of the rocks, then catch when able. Takes awhile, but now I have a secondary pump I can use to drain more easily, at least.

AZMSGT · Sep 16, 2020

Some coral growth. Also still fishless... I’ll be putting in some Black mollies in 2 days to test for Ick.

Sisterlimonpot · Sep 16, 2020

Gorgeous!

AZMSGT · Sep 18, 2020

Documenting some Acans and there size.

Sisterlimonpot · Sep 18, 2020

In an effort not to repeat myself. Thems some pretty acans!

ScottB · Sep 22, 2020

AZMSGT said:
Some coral growth. Also still fishless... I’ll be putting in some Black mollies in 2 days to test for Ick.

Which (tenuis) coral is the second to bottom one? Gorgeous.

AZMSGT · Sep 22, 2020

ScottB said:
Which (tenuis) coral is the second to bottom one? Gorgeous.

Supposed to be a ARC Fireworks. Keep in mind, I photographed that under blues with a yellow filter. So that’s not it’s normal look.

Jman76 · Sep 22, 2020

ScottB said:
Which (tenuis) coral is the second to bottom one? Gorgeous.

Was just about to ask the same! Looks great man

Sisterlimonpot · Sep 22, 2020

AZMSGT said:
Supposed to be a ARC Fireworks. Keep in mind, I photographed that under blues with a yellow filter. So that’s not it’s normal look.

Only if more people were willing to admit this...

AZMSGT · Oct 5, 2020

ICH seems to be gone from the DT, started adding fish back into the tank.

vikinglord13 · Oct 29, 2020

This makes me wonder, can one safely treat for ich without harming corals, or will the treatment kill coral?

Sisterlimonpot · Oct 29, 2020

vikinglord13 said:
This makes me wonder, can one safely treat for ich without harming corals, or will the treatment kill coral?

Unfortunately there isn't a reef safe treatment that will kill ich... although there is some anecdotal evidence that is showing some promise by using H2O2, although nothing concrete....

AZMSGT · Oct 30, 2020

Sisterlimonpot said:
Unfortunately there isn't a reef safe treatment that will kill ich... although there is some anecdotal evidence that is showing some promise by using H2O2, although nothing concrete....

vikinglord13 said:
This makes me wonder, can one safely treat for ich without harming corals, or will the treatment kill coral?

I had to treat my fish out side the tank. The tank sat for 80 days with no fish in it. During that time the ICH life cycle in the DT went full round and it was good and dead before the fish went back in.

While the fish were out I treated them for ICH with copper for the 30 day time to cure them of it. Copper would kill the coral.

it was a heck of a process. But it was worth it the tank is healthy.

AZMSGT · Nov 1, 2020

Insert lots of swear words here.

found that while doing a FTS.

ScottB · Nov 2, 2020

AZMSGT said:
Insert lots of swear words here.

found that while doing a FTS.

Nooooooo!
Brother I am sorry. From here, that looks pretty bad. Mark it with tape to see if it is expanding, I guess. Can you pick up a 100-150G stock tank locally?

2Sunny · Nov 2, 2020

Holy BAD RED SEA!! Wow, was reading this thread and enjoying your success when BAM! Just looked and I see you have Tractor Supply in your area. They have 100 and 300 gallon stock tanks. The 100 is only $90. You can keep your whole reef in there for months . . . don't ask me how I know . . .

Anyways, I wish I was closer to help. Hopefully your LFS has a big heart and will help.

Keep us posted!!

AZMSGT · Nov 2, 2020

Yea, I already talked to Tractor supply. I also have a empty, 55g, 20g, 10gx2 glass tanks. Then I have a 33g and a 44g rubbermaid brute cans. Lastly, I have 3 30g rubbermaid storage containers. All on standby at the moment. I reached out to RS and haven’t had a response yet. (Called, email and used their support page)

My LFS/Dealer is closed on Mondays so earliest I can talk to them is Tuesday at 11.

Tomorrow the 55 will get set up and be ready... Just in case.