mtraylor's 255

mtraylor · Sep 24, 2020

Ok. I got my shipment of Rock, sand, and salt in for the aquarium redo. This is going to be a really long process.
My first phase is to glue the rocks together like I want them and then start the cure process.

mtraylor · Sep 24, 2020

Got some of the rock in the house and started to play with it a little bit. Made this first stack to see if I like it. Not sure I'm happy with it. I only opened 100lbs of rock so far, so I think I need to open a couple more boxes to find the right pieces. My thooughts are to build another similar structure and then make a bridge between the 2 structures.

FlexingFishSticks · Oct 24, 2020

Such a beautiful tank and love your fish choices!! Obviously the torches as well.... ;Pompus

mtraylor · Oct 24, 2020

Thank you for the comments. I appreciate it. I hope I can get it back to good luster after I finish breaking it down and bringing back up from scratch. I'm hoping it will not be too difficult.

mtraylor · Oct 24, 2020

Well while I'm breaking down the main display. I have been putting corals in the frag tank. I couldn't resist myself so I have picked up a few nuggets. Here are a couple of my donuts

mtraylor · Oct 24, 2020

A couple yumas

mtraylor · Oct 24, 2020

Now that Indo has opened back up, I had to get some of the new Indo torches. They are more colorful than ever!
Here are a few

FlexingFishSticks · Oct 24, 2020

mtraylor said:
Well while I'm breaking down the main display. I have been putting corals in the frag tank. I couldn't resist myself so I have picked up a few nuggets. Here are a couple of my donuts

This is next on my list!!! They loook awesome!!!

FlexingFishSticks · Oct 24, 2020

mtraylor said:
Now that Indo has opened back up, I had to get some of the new Indo torches. They are more colorful than ever!
Here are a few

Woww...I hope mine colors up like yours! Looks biggg!! Beautiful corals

ilikefish69 · Jul 14, 2022

mtraylor said:
No I never mess with the sand. In some places it gets thin due to pumps, but I keep adding sand as needed. The deeper the better.

I am looking into adding some more sand into my 75g. Is there a specific way you recommend? Just turn all the pumps off and dump it in?

mtraylor · Jul 14, 2022

First off. I only use live sand. I have done 2 ways. I turn pjmps off to start in both methods. First method.

1. Put live sand in 5 gallon bucket. Add water from display and stir sand and get cloudy milk out of it and the preservation block thingy. Drain excess water and repeat several times to acquired rinse level. Once complet scope sand and put in aquarium. Thus is preferred method for less mess in aquarium.

Method 2
2. Cut bag open and fish out that preservation thingy. Scope sand directly out of bag and place in aquarium. You can actually put bag on there if you have spot or room. This will cause a HUGE cloud storm in aquarium and put white dust all over everything and make water foaming at surface. You will want to have filter socks in sump for this one. You will need to just let skimmer cup overflow in sump drain for a bit. It will go crazy. I just let skimmer hose to a bucket and let it do its thing. Once you are able to see in aquarium again. The whole rock work will need to be dusted off with a pump etc to get white dust off. Be sure to get the corals clean. This will take several tries.

Anyway. Both methods work with no ill effects that I have ever experienced, but option 1 is far better choice. Just more upfront work.

ilikefish69 · Jul 14, 2022

mtraylor said:
First off. I only use live sand. I have done 2 ways. I turn pjmps off to start in both methods. First method.

1. Put live sand in 5 gallon bucket. Add water from display and stir sand and get cloudy milk out of it and the preservation block thingy. Drain excess water and repeat several times to acquired rinse level. Once complet scope sand and put in aquarium. Thus is preferred method for less mess in aquarium.

Method 2
2. Cut bag open and fish out that preservation thingy. Scope sand directly out of bag and place in aquarium. You can actually put bag on there if you have spot or room. This will cause a HUGE cloud storm in aquarium and put white dust all over everything and make water foaming at surface. You will want to have filter socks in sump for this one. You will need to just let skimmer cup overflow in sump drain for a bit. It will go crazy. I just let skimmer hose to a bucket and let it do its thing. Once you are able to see in aquarium again. The whole rock work will need to be dusted off with a pump etc to get white dust off. Be sure to get the corals clean. This will take several tries.

Anyway. Both methods work with no ill effects that I have ever experienced, but option 1 is far better choice. Just more upfront work.

I like option 1 too, I use 'live sand' the stuff from LFS that's a little wet and still in the bag.

Thank you!! Just one more dum questions, what is 'scope sand?'

mtraylor · Jul 14, 2022

That should be scoop sand out to put in the tank

ilikefish69 · Jul 14, 2022

Hahaha ya “context clues” shoulda probably figured that one out myself

mtraylor · Jul 31, 2022

Well Its that time. I completed my rock formations a long time ago and they have been in my 100gallon rubber made with water from my frag tank. This will now be going over to my display in the next couple weeks. There has been allot going on over the last couple years and its time to get to it now.

I will be removing my existing live rock and sand and then will recycle the tank with vinegar. will post some pics. I lost all of my pics of the rock I cemented together, so I will just document from here.

I'm hoping to be able to put corals in the main display quickly as the rock has been growing backteria for many months.

mtraylor · Jul 31, 2022

A couple more shots of some of my torchs in the frag tank that will migrate over to the display for torch garden.

mtraylor · Jul 31, 2022

mtraylor · Aug 6, 2022

Found a new anemone for the redo at the local fish store. A very nice Seabae. It has some color but its not sticky and would not stick to anything with its foot. Mouth open. I got it home and let it settle for 24 hours then I started Cipro treatment. After 2nd Cipro treatment in day 2. The anemone is now sticking to the bottom of the quarantine hospital tank. So looking good so far. Mouth is almost shut. Hopefully I can get it fully treated.

mtraylor · Aug 8, 2022

Well during the night the anemone flipped upside down and the foot was facing upward. It was not able to stay attached to the aquarium. I doubled the PAR during the day to help it heal from 80par to 160par. I have been treating during the day during the light time, so maybe the dosage is being dissipated rapidly as well. So Yesterday I added half a dosage at night to see if it made a difference.

This morning. The anemone made it all night being able to stick to the bottom of the aquarium with no issues. I think the extra dosage helped. I checked the anemone with my uv light this morning before the light came on and it looks nice and fluorescent as well. 3 days down and 4 to go.