What to do with a full tank that needs to be culled??

[Mr.PoodlePants]

Excuse my ignorance here if I use the wrong terms. My 380 gallon tank is getting overgrown and needs to cleaned up. Everything has been growing like mad and I have had breaks and rocks fall. Mix of hard and soft corals, fish, critters and anemone. I can’t seem to get my fish guy to commit to a plan of action. I probably have 10-12 rainbow bubble tip plus other anemone. Big healthy stylophora, orange mushroom, candy cane, green mushroom, montepora, green/purple hammers, yellow/green acropora.

The tank is super healthy with fish and critters all living in harmony but I need help with how to get this done correctly without being taken advantage of. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Good problem to have

Perhaps posting a pic of the tank may help?

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup we are going to need images.

Are there any local reefing clubs?

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Good problem to have

Perhaps posting a pic of the tank may help?

Looking closer I probably have 18 rainbow bubble tip anemone.

 

[bluemon]

Cut them back and sell/trade!

the BTA might be a bit difficult to get off the rocks but if you blast them with a powerhead and nudge their foot, they might detach slowly with some force.

The toadstools I would keep big as there is more inherent value in a bigger single toadstool

The mushrooms you can try to chip off the rock with a bone cutter to make it easier for you to put onto frag plus, or you can even trade/sell some individual rocks with the shrooms on them

The candy cane and SPS you can snip off branches and call it good.

I'm sure a local reefer would take them, and if not, a LFS might take them for store credit

 

[PPBlimpy]

wish i was local. would love to help with this problem. come in and trim back and frag whatever you want. in trade for frags of course. I am sure there is someone in a local reefer group that would be able to help.
I hate to say it but I dont trust any LFS really

 

[exnisstech]

I can’t seem to get my fish guy to commit to a plan of action. I probably have 10-12 rainbow bubble tip plus

I would stop depending on someone else and start taking care of everything yourself. For me that's what the hobby is all about. That's just how I'm wired but I never have anyone to blame but myself.

TBH I think your tank looks pretty awesome. I love a tank all overgrown like that. It just look more natural to me vs having everything placed just perfectly.

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

Cut them back and sell/trade!

the BTA might be a bit difficult to get off the rocks but if you blast them with a powerhead and nudge their foot, they might detach slowly with some force.

The toadstools I would keep big as there is more inherent value in a bigger single toadstool

The mushrooms you can try to chip off the rock with a bone cutter to make it easier for you to put onto frag plus, or you can even trade/sell some individual rocks with the shrooms on them

The candy cane and SPS you can snip off branches and call it good.

I'm sure a local reefer would take them, and if not, a LFS might take them for store credit

My fish guy offered to do the work of fragging at $60 an hour, no estimate on how long. But, also offered $10 per “softball size” pieces of $5 per anemone. He wants to keep the rocks and replace with new lb for lb. Is this reasonable?

 

[bubbgee]

My fish guy offered to do the work of fragging at $60 an hour, no estimate on how long. But, also offered $10 per “softball size” pieces of $5 per anemone. He wants to keep the rocks and replace with new lb for lb. Is this reasonable?

No. It's a steal for him. He saved himself time growing that himself and putting the investment in saltwater changes, food and dosing lol.

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

I would stop depending on someone else and start taking care of everything yourself. For me that's what the hobby is all about. That's just how I'm wired but I never have anyone to blame but myself.

TBH I think your tank looks pretty awesome. I love a tank all overgrown like that. It just look more natural to me vs having everything placed just perfectly.

Caring for this tank myself is not feasible for me due to my travel schedule. I absolutely love it but it’s not something I can take on at this point in my life.

 

[bubbgee]

Caring for this tank myself is not feasible for me due to my travel schedule. I absolutely love it but it’s not something I can take on at this point in my life.

There are a lot of reef management companies out there who you can pay to take care of your tank. Just ask around local reefers or LFS you can trust.

 

[chelltom]

no way he is ripping you off you could make so much more by fragging and selling yourself . I would gladly pay for some of your frags at a fair price.

 

[chelltom]

where are you located ?

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

Yup we are going to need images.

Are there any local reefing clubs?

I am not sure, where would I find local reef clubs?

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

where are you located ?

West Michigan.

 

[chelltom]

try this

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/michigan.541/

 

[chelltom]

and this https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/west-michigan-marine-aquarium-society.1428/

 

[Anna K]

I can't offer any advice since I can barely keep anything alive in my tank, but I just wanted to drop in and say your tank is stunning (even if you consider it overgrown)!

 

[Mr.PoodlePants]

There are a lot of reef management companies out there who you can pay to take care of your tank. Just ask around local reefers or LFS you can trust.

I am on the 4th company in 6 years. The first one was great, had a great and caring tech. Then he left and we watched the tank slowly start dying. Eventually we got the owner onsite and he got things moving in the right direction for a while then he sold the company and we got a new guy who was clueless. He actually started crying when I was asking questions. Next company, started strong, guy left after a few months and things started downhill again. That owner literally told me "good luck" when I said if I couldn't get someone else more knowledgeable onsite I would seek another service provider. Lucky, the next guy was awesome, we had him for close to two years and of course he sold it to the current company. Thus far, they seem to be managing well. Things are staying healthy and its been about 6 months. BUT. The don't have their poop in a group. I pay them to manage the system for me but they took forever to replace a powerhead and a light that failed. I have been asking for some cleanup for about 3 months now and all I get a short list of what they will pay for my stuff with no real plan. Good providers in this area are scarce. I have run this system on an open checkbook. They show up for service but there isn't much concern or planning or consulting or anything beyond keeping it healthy.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I am on the 4th company in 6 years. The first one was great, had a great and caring tech. Then he left and we watched the tank slowly start dying. Eventually we got the owner onsite and he got things moving in the right direction for a while then he sold the company and we got a new guy who was clueless. He actually started crying when I was asking questions. Next company, started strong, guy left after a few months and things started downhill again. That owner literally told me "good luck" when I said if I couldn't get someone else more knowledgeable onsite I would seek another service provider. Lucky, the next guy was awesome, we had him for close to two years and of course he sold it to the current company. Thus far, they seem to be managing well. Things are staying healthy and its been about 6 months. BUT. The don't have their poop in a group. I pay them to manage the system for me but they took forever to replace a powerhead and a light that failed. I have been asking for some cleanup for about 3 months now and all I get a short list of what they will pay for my stuff with no real plan. Good providers in this area are scarce. I have run this system on an open checkbook. They show up for service but there isn't much concern or planning or consulting or anything beyond keeping it healthy.

This sucks. years ago(18+) I maintained tanks for a company. Absolutely loved it. i have toyed with getting back into the game as an independent. i wish you the best of luck.

look into local clubs, not the easiest to find but they are the ones that are passionate and I am sure someone would love the side money. Getting paid to play with a beautiful reef tank is a dream.