Tips for Breaking Down/Restarting A System

[CheifReeferNB]

Just looking for help/guidance on the best way to break down a large reef system. I set up a 200 gallon reef tank within the past year which was supposed to be a long term project.

I mistakenly added some Florida live rock which came with a resilient strain of Bryopsis. Long story short, nothing has worked in ridding it and my first attempt with fluconazole killed all my coral which I invested a lot in. The Bryopsis rebounded within a few weeks.

That being said, I have lost a lot of motivation since then and have been contemplating tearing the whole thing down.

Are there any tips for successfully tearing a tank this size down from someone who’s done it? Best way to catch and rehome fish? Mainly just looking for general advice.

 

[Rob A]

The best way to get the fish out without stressing them too much is to take everything out and drain it down as low as possible and scoop them into bags or plastic containers. That way you don't have to chase them around with a net.

 

[allof fish]

Just looking for help/guidance on the best way to break down a large reef system. I set up a 200 gallon reef tank within the past year which was supposed to be a long term project.

I mistakenly added some Florida live rock which came with a resilient strain of Bryopsis. Long story short, nothing has worked in ridding it and my first attempt with fluconazole killed all my coral which I invested a lot in. The Bryopsis rebounded within a few weeks.

That being said, I have lost a lot of motivation since then and have been contemplating tearing the whole thing down.

Are there any tips for successfully tearing a tank this size down from someone who’s done it? Best way to catch and rehome fish? Mainly just looking for general advice.

I recently tore my old tank down, moved and set up a new one with new rock and sand. Set up new tank with water in 3 days, as fast as I could make it. Once it was running moved fish and coral next day. Was stressful since was new rock and sand but had a lot of bio media. A month in have avoided the major uglies so far, just some cyano. Definitely remove all rock and as much water as possible first. I have a leopard wrasse that buried in sand, made that very difficult. Are you wanting to restart the tank? Or set up a different one or just tear it all down

 

[tzabor10]

Have you tried a Foxface rabbit fish? Mine keeps Bryopsis in check.

 

[CheifReeferNB]

Just looking for help/guidance on the best way to break down a large reef system. I set up a 200 gallon reef tank within the past year which was supposed to be a long term project.

I mistakenly added some Florida live rock which came with a resilient strain of Bryopsis. Long story short, nothing has worked in ridding it and my first attempt with fluconazole killed all my coral which I invested a lot in. The Bryopsis rebounded within a few weeks.

That being said, I have lost a lot of motivation since then and have been contemplating tearing the whole thing down.

Are there any tips for successfully tearing a tank this size down from someone who’s done it? Best way to catch and rehome fish? Mainly just looking for general advice.

I recently tore my old tank down, moved and set up a new one with new rock and sand. Set up new tank with water in 3 days, as fast as I could make it. Once it was running moved fish and coral next day. Was stressful since was new rock and sand but had a lot of bio media. A month in have avoided the major uglies so far, just some cyano. Definitely remove all rock and as much water as possible first. I have a leopard wrasse that buried in sand, made that very difficult. Are you wanting to restart the tank? Or set up a different one or just tear it all down

I don’t know if I’d reboot the tank but if I did it’d be this same one. More likely tear down and sell. I still have some nice coral and fish that I’d want to rehome. It was mainly SPS that died from the reeflux.

I wouldn’t be able to set up a temporary tank easily as the fish are large and there’s a decent amount. There’s 3 tangs (yellow,gem and yellow eye Kole), 1 magnificent foxface, 5 resplendent anthias and a pair of black storm clowns.

 

[CheifReeferNB]

Have you tried a Foxface rabbit fish? Mine keeps Bryopsis in check.

Yes I have. The Bryopsis I have grows too fast and he has no real interest in eating it. My strain looks like ferns, no confusion with hair algae.

 

[Zyfreef]

The best way to get the fish out without stressing them too much is to take everything out and drain it down as low as possible and scoop them into bags or plastic containers. That way you don't have to chase them around with a net.

Thanks for sharing