Help me revive neglected tank

[Mark3]

I have a neglected tank...I just replaced the worn out lights, and it looks so different ! ...New lights have given me new interest. But where do I begin to rehabilitate this tank? ...I don't want to start over...

 

[Subsea]

Help us help you and provide details. Video did not work for me.

I perused your threads and did not see a tank journal. Is this the 120G I saw mentioned in one of your threads?

@Mark3
You can start by listing your parameters!

I don’t need a video. Post a full tank shot in white light and describe your filtration (mechanical, biological & biochemical). I saw that a protein skimmer was mentioned. What about sump or refugium? Any HOB? Circulation with special emphases on air/liquid interfaces.

 

[Mark3]

 

[Mark3]

 

[Subsea]

White Light, Please. Less than 10K color spectrum.

 

[Subsea]

In this picture with many densely packed softies, I see a yellow encrusting sponge.

WHAT DOES REVIVE MEAN TO YOU?

 

[Mark3]

White Light, Please. Less than 10K color spectrum.

 

[Mark3]

 

[Mark3]

In this picture with many densely packed softies, I see a yellow encrusting sponge.

WHAT DOES REVIVE MEAN TO YOU?

I guess revive is not the right word, ...mabe Makeover would be better.... I want to clean it up and get better looking coral in it .....Kenya Tree took over the tank, and I let it go....would you just pluck the Kenya Tree off and place another coral in its place? or is that going to just get over run with Kenya again? or, I was wondering of taking some rock out and sterilizing it,...to start with new frags?
Basically, it has grown to be a mess, and I would like to change the look of it....is it easyier to start over, or work with what is in there? It looked a lot better 10 years ago than it does now.

I just replaced the lights and ordering a new bulb for the UV that hasn't been changed for about 2 years....good start to refresh....but I am not in shape to get in and give it a good cleaning that it needs.

Long time since salt level and paramiters have been checked....another place to get after.

 

[Mark3]

I guess revive is not the right word, ...mabe Makeover would be better.... I want to clean it up and get better looking coral in it .....Kenya Tree took over the tank, and I let it go....would you just pluck the Kenya Tree off and place another coral in its place? or is that going to just get over run with Kenya again? or, I was wondering of taking some rock out and sterilizing it,...to start with new frags?
Basically, it has grown to be a mess, and I would like to change the look of it....is it easyier to start over, or work with what is in there? It looked a lot better 10 years ago than it does now.

I just replaced the lights and ordering a new bulb for the UV that hasn't been changed for about 2 years....good start to refresh....but I am not in shape to get in and give it a good cleaning that it needs.

Long time since salt level and paramiters have been checked....another place to get after.

First test ...salt level low 1.0242...Tempture 77.4 °F

 

[vlangel]

It appears that actually the tank is doing well and the salinity and temperature are ok.
Maybe remove some rock that has the most dense population of Kenya trees and replace with new rock, even if its dry. In an established aquarium like yours, dry rock will be colonized with live biolife quickly.

If you could relocate the remaining Kenya trees all to one area then the new rock isn't as likely to get over run with them. Buying a few new coral could help further renew your excitement for your tank.

You can work on eradicating the Kenya trees from the rock that you removed so that rock could eventually be reintroduced.

Repeat that process until you get the tank to look like you want.

I personally would not strip it and start over. It takes a long time to achieve the maturity that your tank has and that maturity is valuable. Kenya trees are one thing but over run dinos are infinitely worse.

 

[Mark3]

It appears that actually the tank is doing well and the salinity and temperature are ok.
Maybe remove some rock that has the most dense population of Kenya trees and replace with new rock, even if its dry. In an established aquarium like yours, dry rock will be colonized with live biolife quickly.

If you could relocate the remaining Kenya trees all to one area then the new rock isn't as likely to get over run with them. Buying a few new coral could help further renew your excitement for your tank.

You can work on eradicating the Kenya trees from the rock that you removed so that rock could eventually be reintroduced.

Repeat that process until you get the tank to look like you want.

I personally would not strip it and start over. It takes a long time to achieve the maturity that your tank has and that maturity is valuable. Kenya trees are one thing but over run dinos are infinitely worse.

Thank you, I think I needed to hear that

 

[vlangel]

Thank you, I think I needed to hear that

There are so many beautiful (seemingly perfect) tanks on here and we begin to think that our tank/s should always look like them. We forget that even those beautiful tanks don't always look like that and that their owners go through times of frustration too. Its the nature of the hobby and of life.

However when you said that new lights renewed your interest, I sensed that you are not ready to be done. Your tank is not as far from its past glory as you might think. Please keep posting updates on this thread so that we can follow your progress. It just might be an encouragement to another hobbyist!

 

[Subsea]

I guess revive is not the right word, ...mabe Makeover would be better.... I want to clean it up and get better looking coral in it .....Kenya Tree took over the tank, and I let it go....would you just pluck the Kenya Tree off and place another coral in its place? or is that going to just get over run with Kenya again? or, I was wondering of taking some rock out and sterilizing it,...to start with new frags?
Basically, it has grown to be a mess, and I would like to change the look of it....is it easyier to start over, or work with what is in there? It looked a lot better 10 years ago than it does now.

I just replaced the lights and ordering a new bulb for the UV that hasn't been changed for about 2 years....good start to refresh....but I am not in shape to get in and give it a good cleaning that it needs.

Long time since salt level and paramiters have been checked....another place to get after.

Mark,
Consider selling or donating some Kena Tree Rock to make room for some diver collected live rock to bring in biodiversity.

If you have a sump, move some of the live rock into your sump and make it a cryptic refugium.

If you lived closer, I would trade you some GSP rock for Kena rock.

PS: I just did talk with diver owner who collected yesterday and will be receiving 35 lbs next week delivered to air freight for $305.

 

[Reef-_-Noob]

Tank is very nice. I would start on the sides, your middle scape is quite captivating. Also maybe some stunning colors on the sand bed

 

[Subsea]

I guess revive is not the right word, ...mabe Makeover would be better.... I want to clean it up and get better looking coral in it .....Kenya Tree took over the tank, and I let it go....would you just pluck the Kenya Tree off and place another coral in its place? or is that going to just get over run with Kenya again? or, I was wondering of taking some rock out and sterilizing it,...to start with new frags?
Basically, it has grown to be a mess, and I would like to change the look of it....is it easyier to start over, or work with what is in there? It looked a lot better 10 years ago than it does now.

I just replaced the lights and ordering a new bulb for the UV that hasn't been changed for about 2 years....good start to refresh....but I am not in shape to get in and give it a good cleaning that it needs.

Long time since salt level and paramiters have been checked....another place to get after.

“would you just pluck the Kenya Tree off and place another coral in its place? or is that going to just get over run with Kenya again? or, I was wondering of taking some rock out and sterilizing it,...to start with new frags?”

All the above.

Yes, it can be pulled off rock, then I would use a toothbrush dipped in peroxide. Best done out of the tank.

I would make room for some diver collected live rock by filling my sump up with Kena rock: cryptic sponges will replace softies.