Home and Office build ....

Transporter · Mar 8, 2017

I am just reserving a space to start my build threads. No pics, or any of that yet, still in the planning phase.

For my office, I am going to do a small 30-40 gallon DT with HOB equipment. Stocking plans will be light, a couple of small fish for movement and a few LPS, softies and zoas.

Due to floor space and the size of the family (7 of us) I am going to put up my 75 with a sump/fuge. I'm not quite sure on stocking plans as of yet, because this is going to be a family project. I am letting them pick some of the fish, inverts, coral etc. as long as everything will live happy together =) I already have the aquarium and a reefbreeders photon 48 for lighting. Since the stand that I have is the standard box store stand, a new one will be built for this as well. Although the family will be picking most of the inhabitants, I will be the sole caretaker of the aquarium tho, and my better half has no issues with that part, what-so-ever. Lol

This will more than likely be a slow process, but as I get going, I will be sure to post updates and pics !

Starting to cook the old 'dry' live rock this weekend....

TUSI · Mar 8, 2017

Welcome to reef to reef and good luck with your family project, you will love it and can't wait to see pics.

jsker · Mar 8, 2017

Well I look forward to the build.

Transporter · Mar 25, 2017

Just a real quick and short update.

I have to rebuild the stand for my 75 at home, so I decided to get the ball rolling with a 10 gallon that will be my QT eventually. Added about 20# of dry rock, a small cheap 265gph pump, an AC 110 (empty) on the back, and now on day 2 of the raw jumbo shrimp in the tank.

My hopes are that by the time my 75 is ready to go, the LR in the 10 will be critter free and ready to start establishing the 75.

~S~

Transporter · Apr 3, 2017

Ok, so life gets in the way some times and I have decided to finally start cooking down all of my dried up live rock from my 75, and the 100+ pounds rock I acquired. After everything is cooked off, I will hand pick the best and start aquascaping ideas before curing it. The remaining will just be stored for further use.

I have picked up (3) 34 gallon black brute trash cans, over 20 gallons of 5% white vinegar, 5 gallons of bleach, and a whole lot of RO water. My plans are to soak 1/2 the rock at a time in a 1:3 (bleach to RO water) for a day to kill off everything. After that, I will take all the rock out, rinse/swish in a bucket of clean RO water and then soak it all in a Brute can of straight RO with dechlorinator for a day. After that, I will remove all the rock and let completely dry out for a week. Then when the rock is all good and dry, I will give it a straight vinegar bath for at the minimum of 1 day, possibly more depending on the amount of "residue" left. Once the vinegar bath is done, I will do another RO soak to help remove excess leftover vinegar and start the scaping when its done. Between each 'soak' I will scrub it all down with a stiff bristled brush.

Does anyone have any thoughts, comments or ideas on the method I have selected ? I do know that the preferred method is to use muratic acid instead of vinegar, but I am in a fairly remote area and the gas money used to buy the acid would not offset the cost of buying the vinegar locally. That being said, the local store workers had some very puzzled faces when I walked out of the store with 4 cases of vinegar ! :eek:

Any thoughts on whether I should add a power head to any of the stages of soaking ? Also, if anyone wants before, during or after pics, let me know and Ill post some up. :)