Hello from Pennsylvania

yellowfish58

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Just want to say hello to everyone.

I started this hobby long time back during Obama first term president. Two years later I upgraded to Marineland 120 gal (24" x 48 " and 24" height) until this year. Coral was so happy until they grew all the way to the water surface shadowing everyone else at the bottom and of course killing them eventually. It is always a constant war in the tank, coral killing the neighboring corals. Hammer corals were so big as a dinner plate. I also made little money selling hammer coral to LFS and FB marketplace. I can say my strength is hammer coral.

However, I had a cyno and dino outbreak early this year 😭

It went so quickly. All monti died first. Really quickly. All became white. Refugium crashed sending all nutrients to the main tank. Nuisance algae took control. It was too devastating and embarrassing to describe. First time in my life, my tank crashed.

I saved whatever lifestock I can in 30 gal tank and 20 gal QT tank including fish (Kole tang, hawkfish, blue/yellow damsel, a pair of clownfish). Most hammer corals are saved (I have too many anyway). I also learn some LPS coral are immune with cyno/dino outbreak and for some reason, mushroom coral are more vulnerable. All SPS are RIP, only white skeleton remained with algae jungle grown on top.

I decided to start over.

I downsize to 75 gal Marineland (18" x 48" and 21" height) brand new. I want to carefully plan and analyze what could have been designed better in this new tank.

I am currently busy with the plumbing which I design myself following the exact configuration of 120-gal. E-shop sump remains the same after I fully sanitized and vinegar-bath treated outdoor. The tank will be bare bottom. Last week I partially finished aquascaping and the rocks are now curing in 5-gal bucket. I will start leak test after July 4th week and then cycle the tank after that.

This is a very fulfilling hobby. I want to have a piece of ocean in my home. And I love it.
 

revhtree

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Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D
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Fish Fan

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Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Sometimes downsizing and restarting is a great way to move forward.

Best of luck with your 75!
 

Crabs McJones

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backbayreef

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Welcome - love your perseverance & passion for the hobby. You are not alone in terms of tank crashes — we’ve all been there! The most important thing is to recover, learn from our failure, and improve. Glad you’re restarting! Enjoy the ride…
 

Anna K

razzle dazzle em'
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Welcome to the community! I'm so sorry to hear about that sudden crash, but with your quick thinking it seems you saved quite a bit of livestock. I hope your new tank thrives like your old!
 

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