125 gallon anemone tank move

[Taylor t]

So I removed everything from my 210, and into a 125. I just sat down. Im wiped. But I think it went great. I’m very happy about this. Wednesday it was bone dry. Yesterday I put 40 gallons of RO in it and starting mixing salt, I haven’t done a water change since last summer I think. Man, was my water yellow! But everything seemed healthy even though I couldn’t see into the tank.

 

[Taylor t]

It’s functional only right now. Still lots to adjust. I want to paint the back black, and add sand in a few weeks. But at least it’s safe now!!!

 

[Taylor t]

My SG was 1.028 ....oops.... I’ve got some adjustments to make lol.

 

[Hot2na]

why the eggcrate on the bottom ? just curious...I'd be worried about it trapping detritus,etc...are you going to put anything over it ? like rubble etc?

Also : if you could give us your lighting details on this tank...I think you use some LED spots ? please elaborate

 

[Taylor t]

why the eggcrate on the bottom ? just curious...I'd be worried about it trapping detritus,etc...are you going to put anything over it ? like rubble etc?

Also : if you could give us your lighting details on this tank...I think you use some LED spots ? please elaborate

I put egg crate on the bottom just for a little buffer on the glass, moving the rocks around sometimes makes me nervous, some rocks are pretty big. With these guys sometimes moving and angling rocks happens and egg crate can help me keep a rock more stable, glass sometimes is a little tricky to get a rock to stay at the angle I want it, based on the anemone relation to the light. Egg crate isn’t required, but for me I think it makes moving rocks a little less stressful (on me).

I dropped my tape measure when it was empty, it landed on the egg crate from about 3-4’ up, I was very grateful I had egg crate in place, as it fell I envisioned the bottom shattering... it didn’t. Phew. Got lucky.

I’m planning on putting crushed coral in it eventually, but not for a little while. I want the tank to stabilize a little before I start adding sand. The flow is so high, I’m not worried about it trapping anything in it. The lights are the same ones I’ve been using the last couple years. Similar to the radions, almost twice as powerful, but a local guy makes and sells them. Reef led lights.com the Sirius XTC model. I’m not done with the lighting yet, still need to figure out how to get each one a spot. They do really well with the typical home center 120 watt equivalent 5k daylight led spot lamp, but the canopy is low, so figuring out mounting will take time.

I’ve got a camera set up on it so I can see it at all times now. Also have smart home switches, so I can turn different things on and off with my phone, if I see them wander I can turn off a pump with my phone while I’m away. Here they are now. All look great this morning.

 

[Hot2na]

Thanks...another alternative would be starboard or marina board placed on the bottom...you can get it "sand " colored and some skip the sand altogether...

 

[Taylor t]

Thanks...another alternative would be starboard or marina board placed on the bottom...you can get it "sand " colored and some skip the sand altogether...

Really? Please do tell. Where do you get this board from? This sounds like a better idea. My egg crate is cut in 3 pieces so removal and changing at this stage would be no problem.

 

[Captain Quint]

I've never used starboard, but a few of my friends have for a B.B. tank. The major complaints I've heard from usage is a problem with stacking on the bare bottom is the rocks slowly slide, and some end up epoxy or superglue to hold the key pieces in place on the cutting boards, or acrylic rods to hold them together and avoid major slipping but have some aquascape in doing so.

But, IMO starboard would be nice for protection and I would imagine if covered with sand the slipping would be minimal if at all.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Woot you got your tank back and can finally enjoy it again. Good job. It looks great so far. I'm very happy for you.

 

[NY_Caveman]

If interested I have ordered Starboard from here for three different aquariums:

https://www.boatoutfitters.com/

When choosing your dimensions select “Custom” and enter your dimensions (I try to leave a small gap measuring between the silicone seals on the aquarium). I have always gone with black, but I compared their samples to different aragonites and the “Sea Foam” color is the closest match. Their are certainly other options for Starboard suppliers as well.

 

[NY_Caveman]

One note, your tank looks like it may have a brace on top. If so you may need to consider what will fit, or possibly multiple pieces.

 

[jah-hoeva]

Man I love your gigs... always have...

 

[Hot2na]

Just make sure you measure for a tight fit...leave out the silicone area adjacent to the glass...I've used it on many tanks...it will NOT slip if you measure and fit it correctly...even if you have a centerbrace you can do a 1 piece on a 6 ft tank...i've done it...slide it in from one side and angle it.I used to get mine custom cut from a place called the cutting board factory in PA...again...the sand color is nice.

 

[dbraun15]

Congrats on the transfer...looking forward to seeing this adventure move forward!

 

[Taylor t]

Thanks guys!

It’s going on 48 hours all seems good so far. The next 2 weeks will really be the true test though. Skimmer transfered too, so no break in period there. Still pulling pretty thick stuff, haven’t emptied it yet. I usually emptied it once every 4-5 days or so, looks about right so far. Only the green gig on the right has shifted, readjusted foot deeper into the rock, but no others have moved yet. I haven’t had time to set up my doser pumps or ATO yet. So far so good.

 

[Taylor t]

I’ve got 2 purples a green and a blue that have mouths with their “teeth” sticking out since the move. They were all the ones I lifted out of the water with them flat on top of the rock fully inflated. The big blue and other green I hung upside down and kept them in a water container to transfer. Note to self, when transferring, hang upside down and put a container of water under the rock to keep them “buoyant” or submerged. I think pulling them out of the water laying flat on top fully inflated stressed those guys out.

 

[jah-hoeva]

Following along! Looking good so far.

Man I need to find a healthy gig.

Joe

 

[Taylor t]

Thanks.

Still looks good. The algae bloom stage started. Everything’s getting a light coat of green algae. Only 1 gig has teeth showing tonight. Everyone else has tight mouth. Amazing how much coralline algae uses kh and calcium. I’ve needed to add almost nothing other than water.

Here’s tonight.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Thanks.

Still looks good. The algae bloom stage started. Everything’s getting a light coat of green algae. Only 1 gig has teeth showing tonight. Everyone else has tight mouth. Amazing how much coralline algae uses kh and calcium. I’ve needed to add almost nothing other than water.

Here’s tonight.

Just beautiful!

 

[Taylor t]

Day 8 and looking good still.
No time to get anything automated yet, but I just hooked up my dose pumps today, and will see the next couple days that they are working properly before I put them into service. They’re on the countertop dosing into cups to make sure the timers didn’t get messed up, and the tank volume changed so amount dosed needs to be checked first... Last thing I’d want is to have them get stuck “on”. I still top off evaporated water by hand, and flow needs a tweak, and lights are still temped up, but hope to get some more things hooked up this week. It’s a work in progress. Last photo is through the camera I have aimed at the tank.

The right purple still has stuff hanging out his mouth. He’s going to need some heal time, I think he got damaged pulling him out flat in the rock fully inflated. I also fed everyone scallop pieces on Thursday, first time they ate in a very long time.