A Reef in the Desert - 120 Gallon Build
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Hentz
Active Member
Tank seems to be in quite the decline. Losing a few colonies, one is even completely gone.
So far I’m losing: Pearlberry, Red Planet, PC Rainbow, and Hawkins.
The Colony that is pretty gone has 1/8 if it’s tissue remaining, is a random Millepora.
Really sad to see a lot of my hard work go down the drain. With this tank completely on the back of my mind lately, it makes me just want to sell everything and give my Corals a better home. But then I know the second I do, I’ll be setting up another tank.
Pictures of damage so far.
So far I’m losing: Pearlberry, Red Planet, PC Rainbow, and Hawkins.
The Colony that is pretty gone has 1/8 if it’s tissue remaining, is a random Millepora.
Really sad to see a lot of my hard work go down the drain. With this tank completely on the back of my mind lately, it makes me just want to sell everything and give my Corals a better home. But then I know the second I do, I’ll be setting up another tank.
Pictures of damage so far.
Hentz
Active Member
I would assume it might have been my 11.5dKH spike from 9. Did a water change with Red Sea Coral Pro salt from my LFS (which comes with high Alk) and it was spiked after that. I didn't think a 20 gallon water change would do much, but it could've also been an overdosing in Alk as the tank may have been unsettle on the consumption. This is the impact, weeks later of course. Though it could be something else.. May end up sending in an ICP test and seeing if anything shows up.
Hentz
Active Member
I finally got around to dealing with my tank.. I did a water change, cleaned my tank up a bit, and removed all of the dead Acropora.
My tank looks empty right now... Very empty. It was something I have been dreading to do, but I felt it needed to get done.
Going to work on dealing with my nasty aiptasia problem and remove anymore dying Acropora. Also going to get my tank back in check with a routine of water changes to hopefully stable it out.
I’d like it to be ready come time for MACNA, as it’s held here in Las Vegas this year.
I’ll keep the updates coming with the progress of hopefully a climb back up to where this tank was.. Until then, here is a shot of what I have lost so far.
My tank looks empty right now... Very empty. It was something I have been dreading to do, but I felt it needed to get done.
Going to work on dealing with my nasty aiptasia problem and remove anymore dying Acropora. Also going to get my tank back in check with a routine of water changes to hopefully stable it out.
I’d like it to be ready come time for MACNA, as it’s held here in Las Vegas this year.
I’ll keep the updates coming with the progress of hopefully a climb back up to where this tank was.. Until then, here is a shot of what I have lost so far.
Hentz
Active Member
I’m not 100% sure. However I believe it may have been caused by my dead and rotting chaeto inside the reactor.
Hentz
Active Member
I feel this tank has crashed hard enough to implement a reboot. My motivation is coming back, day by day. Past few weeks, I’ve been progressively stalking the forums and drooling over your tanks as I turn to look at mine with sadness.
Hurts to see all the hard work and effort I put into keeping my tank top notch, gone. Cutting, caring, and growing Corals for local friends. Was truly honored to call this my tank, at one point. Blown away that I had such great luck with a system like this.
I’ve never experienced a “real” crash like many of you have. But now, I really feel the effects of it and know how those of you who have had crashes, felt.
The temptation of selling everything off and walking away from the hobby has been a real struggle. But like us all, we’d be right back into it.
May/may not downgrade into something smaller, easier to move if need be. But that’s probably just my boredom talking.
Posted below, is a before and after picture of my crash. The top was taken March 18, 2018. This was prior to my last exploding growth spurt in my Acropora. You can see the Acro’s had grown much much bigger right up to my crash. Sad to see this, as it sits today. But keeping my head high and looking to continue my reefing journey.
Hurts to see all the hard work and effort I put into keeping my tank top notch, gone. Cutting, caring, and growing Corals for local friends. Was truly honored to call this my tank, at one point. Blown away that I had such great luck with a system like this.
I’ve never experienced a “real” crash like many of you have. But now, I really feel the effects of it and know how those of you who have had crashes, felt.
The temptation of selling everything off and walking away from the hobby has been a real struggle. But like us all, we’d be right back into it.
May/may not downgrade into something smaller, easier to move if need be. But that’s probably just my boredom talking.
Posted below, is a before and after picture of my crash. The top was taken March 18, 2018. This was prior to my last exploding growth spurt in my Acropora. You can see the Acro’s had grown much much bigger right up to my crash. Sad to see this, as it sits today. But keeping my head high and looking to continue my reefing journey.
Hentz
Active Member
I do, I really do.
Also, I believe it may have been a crappy Chaeto Reactor experience. That being said, I'll run a refugium on the reboot.
I ALSO will be conducting weekly water changes as I have on previous tanks. While Triton was absolutely amazing and the thought of little to no water changes was great, I still feel everytime I did one, my tank BLOOMED for a week after.
NY_Caveman
likes words, fish and arbitrary statistics
I feel this tank has crashed hard enough to implement a reboot. My motivation is coming back, day by day. Past few weeks, I’ve been progressively stalking the forums and drooling over your tanks as I turn to look at mine with sadness.
Hurts to see all the hard work and effort I put into keeping my tank top notch, gone. Cutting, caring, and growing Corals for local friends. Was truly honored to call this my tank, at one point. Blown away that I had such great luck with a system like this.
I’ve never experienced a “real” crash like many of you have. But now, I really feel the effects of it and know how those of you who have had crashes, felt.
The temptation of selling everything off and walking away from the hobby has been a real struggle. But like us all, we’d be right back into it.
May/may not downgrade into something smaller, easier to move if need be. But that’s probably just my boredom talking.
Posted below, is a before and after picture of my crash. The top was taken March 18, 2018. This was prior to my last exploding growth spurt in my Acropora. You can see the Acro’s had grown much much bigger right up to my crash. Sad to see this, as it sits today. But keeping my head high and looking to continue my reefing journey.
Good to hear your motivation is back, @Hentz. You appeared to have great success, so it would seem you can again. Crazy that dying Chaetomorpha may have wrecked your system.
LoneStarReef
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So sorry!! That’s hard just to read. Can’t imagine going through it. Could the alk spike been due to your doser going crazy? Just curious as to why it would spike that much.
Hentz
Active Member
The Alk I was dozing was my normal amount. That’s what my tank was consuming, daily. But as we all know, when SPS get stressed, they stop consuming. Without Alk being consumed and more being added daily, caused for a spike.
Hentz
Active Member
This tank was fun. This tank was amazing. I look back in awe at the success I have achieved. In just a few months, I have no idea where my live will be. I’ve decided a 120 will be too much to drag around with me if I move.. That being said, the tank is coming down. One day when I get completely back on my feet, I’ll upgrade to a 120 or bigger. It’s been an awesome experience having such a big tank. But things happen, life changes, and it goes on.
With that being said, MACNA 2018 here in Las Vegas was pretty cool. So glad it was finally in my hometown and I was able to go without traveling.
I picked up my "used" Innovative Marine NUVO INT 50 they used for display at MACNA. Included with Skimmer, Sump, Heater, APS Stand, ATO, ATO Container, and beautiful plumbing. I also scored a free Ecotech Marine Vectra S1 with it, brand new
.
Tank will be setup as soon as I have time to break down my 120. Starting completely fresh, new rock and all. Excited for this new journey and motivation I’ve regained over the past few weeks to do something I enjoy so much. It also helps I've met a beautiful woman who enjoys the hobby as much as I do.
Thanks for all the love and support on this build, cheers you guys!
With that being said, MACNA 2018 here in Las Vegas was pretty cool. So glad it was finally in my hometown and I was able to go without traveling.
I picked up my "used" Innovative Marine NUVO INT 50 they used for display at MACNA. Included with Skimmer, Sump, Heater, APS Stand, ATO, ATO Container, and beautiful plumbing. I also scored a free Ecotech Marine Vectra S1 with it, brand new
.Tank will be setup as soon as I have time to break down my 120. Starting completely fresh, new rock and all. Excited for this new journey and motivation I’ve regained over the past few weeks to do something I enjoy so much. It also helps I've met a beautiful woman who enjoys the hobby as much as I do.
Thanks for all the love and support on this build, cheers you guys!
Last edited:
Hentz
Active Member
Quick update.... Everything alive in this tank (Corals and fish) are no longer alive. I sold the 120 to a buddy on Saturday and put my fish and Acropora in a Rubbermaid Brute Tote to hold while I worked on the new build.
Woke up to a dying Acropora smell and foggy water. I had an MP40 in there along with a Kessil 360WE to light the tote in the mean time.
Went to do a water change today to only find that everything is dead. Including my fish that I have had got 6-7 years.
Woke up to a dying Acropora smell and foggy water. I had an MP40 in there along with a Kessil 360WE to light the tote in the mean time.
Went to do a water change today to only find that everything is dead. Including my fish that I have had got 6-7 years.
