If you were starting over..

[KrisReef]

I live in SW FL and have had to start over half a dozen times due to power outages from tropical storms. Every reef tank has an expiration date and it's not plainly displayed on a sticker like a box of eggs. I suspect by the time we get good at it we will be too old to do it.

Are you talking about me?

“Bingo!”
& You single youngsters should carefully consider the tale I posted above and consider how to apply my perspective to your life and situation.

Love others.

 

[BryanM]

Just a fun question. I ordered a new tank, and im trying to get every "shoulda/coulda" from last time taken care of. If you were setting up a new tank, what would you do differently? What would you do before you ever put a drop of water in that you didnt do last time? What would you take into consideration that you previously overlooked?

I wouldn't do much differently.... I say that and then while thinking... A lot as changed. But lets skip equipment...

I started with live rock and sand. I would skip the live sand just because I did not enjoy the look of it.

I would skip GSP
I would either skip zoas, or I would confine them to their own rock.
I would skip Palys

GSP is a weed that a flamethrower can't get rid of.
Palys are a very real threat to humans
Zoas pose some of that, but they also grow at different rates, and some can easily take over rockwork.

So I am in process of thinking about how many rocks I need to get from Gulf Live Rock to replace what I do NOT like that I started with. It won't be easy, and while I'd love to find a local reefer that could use what I'm taking out, if I do find such a user it will have to be very well coordinated - I'm not set up to store 100 lbs of live rock and wait for a buyer/donatee, so sadly this live rock and tons of zoas is going to die.

I'm not exactly happy about that, but I do want to claim back my rock, and there isn't a safe enough way for me to do that with the toxins risk (even from zoas).

 

[KrisReef]

I wouldn't do much differently.... I say that and then while thinking... A lot as changed. But lets skip equipment...

I started with live rock and sand. I would skip the live sand just because I did not enjoy the look of it.

I would skip GSP
I would either skip zoas, or I would confine them to their own rock.
I would skip Palys

GSP is a weed that a flamethrower can't get rid of.
Palys are a very real threat to humans
Zoas pose some of that, but they also grow at different rates, and some can easily take over rockwork.

So I am in process of thinking about how many rocks I need to get from Gulf Live Rock to replace what I do NOT like that I started with. It won't be easy, and while I'd love to find a local reefer that could use what I'm taking out, if I do find such a user it will have to be very well coordinated - I'm not set up to store 100 lbs of live rock and wait for a buyer/donatee, so sadly this live rock and tons of zoas is going to die.

I'm not exactly happy about that, but I do want to claim back my rock, and there isn't a safe enough way for me to do that with the toxins risk (even from zoas).

I would encourage you to freeze the rocks in your refrigerator, in ziplock bags overnight and then put them back in the tank, to reboot the tank without the invaders.

 

[DmitryB]

Just a fun question. I ordered a new tank, and im trying to get every "shoulda/coulda" from last time taken care of. If you were setting up a new tank, what would you do differently? What would you do before you ever put a drop of water in that you didnt do last time? What would you take into consideration that you previously overlooked?

I got my new IM 170 on Monday and if I were to do it over I would get the 240!

 

[BryanM]

I would encourage you to freeze the rocks in your refrigerator, in ziplock bags overnight and then put them back in the tank, to reboot the tank without the invaders.

Some of these rocks are 1x2, 1x3 feet. Quite large. That just isn't going to work, nor do I have a big enough freezer either. :(

 

[KrisReef]

Some of these rocks are 1x2, 1x3 feet. Quite large. That just isn't going to work, nor do I have a big enough freezer either. :(

Buy a big one at Home Depot (chest size)
Use it to freeze the rocks overnight and then return it.

If they ask why, tell them that your wife wants to park her car in the garage

 

[DmitryB]

Double sided Velcro

I think the IM APS stand can use some of the extruded aluminum fittings, if so, i'm considering making a hinged setup but idk. I dont want super expensive but I know once the tanks full of stuff I wont be abiut climbing around under there at all haha

I've been talking to IM about this. They say to get extra tension locks and attach J Bars to them to hang stuff. I honestly can't visualize how this works. But I did order four tension locks from them and hope it will be obvious once I get them.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I've been talking to IM about this. They say to get extra tension locks and attach J Bars to them to hang stuff. I honestly can't visualize how this works. But I did order four tension locks from them and hope it will be obvious once I get them.

I would be VERY interested in this once you get them! I talked to Brian on the phone yesterday and I didnt get the answers I was really looking for as far as hardware, mainly because we got side tracked talking about all other manners of aquarium topics lol.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I wouldn't do much differently.... I say that and then while thinking... A lot as changed. But lets skip equipment...

I started with live rock and sand. I would skip the live sand just because I did not enjoy the look of it.

I would skip GSP
I would either skip zoas, or I would confine them to their own rock.
I would skip Palys

GSP is a weed that a flamethrower can't get rid of.
Palys are a very real threat to humans
Zoas pose some of that, but they also grow at different rates, and some can easily take over rockwork.

So I am in process of thinking about how many rocks I need to get from Gulf Live Rock to replace what I do NOT like that I started with. It won't be easy, and while I'd love to find a local reefer that could use what I'm taking out, if I do find such a user it will have to be very well coordinated - I'm not set up to store 100 lbs of live rock and wait for a buyer/donatee, so sadly this live rock and tons of zoas is going to die.

I'm not exactly happy about that, but I do want to claim back my rock, and there isn't a safe enough way for me to do that with the toxins risk (even from zoas).

Im trying to figure out how to transfer rocks without some corals when my new tank shows up. Jind of a daunting task though lol

 

[DmitryB]

I've been talking to IM about this. They say to get extra tension locks and attach J Bars to them to hang stuff. I honestly can't visualize how this works. But I did order four tension locks from them and hope it will be obvious once I get them.

I would be VERY interested in this once you get them! I talked to Brian on the phone yesterday and I didnt get the answers I was really looking for as far as hardware, mainly because we got side tracked talking about all other manners of aquarium topics lol.

Brian is great. I'm just not very DIY so when someone explains things like that to me I tend to smile and nod without knowing what they're saying until I see it. Theoretical doesn't work.

 

[BryanM]

Im trying to figure out how to transfer rocks without some corals when my new tank shows up. Jind of a daunting task though lol

Without some corals?

Are you trying to move rocks without removing the corals?

If so I would not do that. Especially torches and hammers, they are heavy, when you remove the whole rock several of mine have broken the superglue bond, and if you're lucky they fall in to the tank.

Much better to remove them from the rock first, then move the rock, then re-attach the corals.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Brian is great. I'm just not very DIY so when someone explains things like that to me I tend to smile and nod without knowing what they're saying until I see it. Theoretical doesn't work.

I'm probably DIY enough, I'm just unfamiliar with the materials in general lol. I'm sure it's similar to me explaining electrical parts to someone else.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Without some corals?

Are you trying to move rocks without removing the corals?

If so I would not do that. Especially torches and hammers, they are heavy, when you remove the whole rock several of mine have broken the superglue bond, and if you're lucky they fall in to the tank.

Much better to remove them from the rock first, then move the rock, then re-attach the corals.

I'm planning to frag all my corals, when I'm worked about is a Pocillpora or two surviving the transfer and ending up in this tank... shouldn't have added it in the first place lol

 

[mfinn]

Just a fun question. I ordered a new tank, and im trying to get every "shoulda/coulda" from last time taken care of. If you were setting up a new tank, what would you do differently? What would you do before you ever put a drop of water in that you didnt do last time? What would you take into consideration that you previously overlooked?

I actually thought about starting a new tank. Something in the 200+ gallon range.
The first thing I would do different on a new build would be to pickup 200+ lbs of that new Australian live rock.
( it's been sooo long since I had boxes of real live rock)

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I actually thought about starting a new tank. Something in the 200+ gallon range.
The first thing I would do different on a new build would be to pickup 200+ lbs of that new Australian live rock.
( it's been sooo long since I had boxes of real live rock)

Australian.. Australian live rock? I had not heard of this!

 

[DmitryB]

I actually thought about starting a new tank. Something in the 200+ gallon range.
The first thing I would do different on a new build would be to pickup 200+ lbs of that new Australian live rock.
( it's been sooo long since I had boxes of real live rock)

Australian.. Australian live rock? I had not heard of this!

Tank Stop has live rock from Australia. (Be warned: it's not cheap.)

 

[gkprevite]

I’d space my sps out a bit more. A war is being waged and im going to have to drag and move the victim soon

 

[vittpsu21]

I would have planned my rodi and saltwater brutes better. My wife hasn’t had full access to the laundry room in a while. She’s not loving it, gonna do something about that soon though lol

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I’d space my sps out a bit more. A war is being waged and im going to have to drag and move the victim soon

I'm starting to deal with that now. Hopefully a new tank with more rock scape solves that issue for a little bit at least

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I would have planned my rodi and saltwater brutes better. My wife hasn’t had full access to the laundry room in a while. She’s not loving it, gonna do something about that soon though lol

Oh jeez! My wife would kill me in i had barrels encroaching into the rest of the house my basement? Free game right now. Looks like a reef related bomb went off down there lol