Just wanted to start a little progress thread for myself to watch the tank as it progresses. Tank used to just have one very large mass of rock in the center. The rock came with some nasty algae that I could never get rid of and sort of just gave up on sadly. Then, I deployed for a year, and came back with a rejuvenated determination to overhaul the little tank and really succeed this time. Scrapped everything and started fresh other than the sand and one salvageable zoa frag. Put in a skimmer, new heater, eheim return pump, and plugged the hole in the back wall. Ditched the lid/light and built a screen top and added a Kessil 360 tuna blue. Still running the sponge filter with chemipure elite. Will probably switch to the media basket just because I enjoy little projects. First I re-did the aquascape with new, (and more importantly clean) live rock. I went with less overall mass of rock, but with the spread it looks like there is actually more live rock. I was hooked up with a pair of clowns that are happily in the tank now, and I have been introducing corals over the last 2 months. Here we go.
Fluval 13.5 Do-Over
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I don't have any before pictures of the tank, probably because it always looked so gross while being covered in all kinds of algae and diatoms, etc. This is after the overhaul when I finally realized I should start taking progress photos:
October 10th, about a month after overhaul:
October 10th, about a month after overhaul:
November 3rd:
After much research, placed my first order for some corals from an online vendor. Gave AquaSD a go since they have great shipping rates for those of us in California. I was pretty hesitant/pessimistic about the process but after reading so many great reviews I selected some zoas as a trial run. I can't say enough about how awesome those guys and gals did! Everything was packaged awesomely secure and all arrived healthy. They even through in a freebie! After a quick dip they opened right up in the tank. The whammin watermelons on the right have been a bit shy and slower to open, but still seem pretty dang healthy. They will remain on the sand bed for a few days acclimating as I start moving them higher.
After much research, placed my first order for some corals from an online vendor. Gave AquaSD a go since they have great shipping rates for those of us in California. I was pretty hesitant/pessimistic about the process but after reading so many great reviews I selected some zoas as a trial run. I can't say enough about how awesome those guys and gals did! Everything was packaged awesomely secure and all arrived healthy. They even through in a freebie! After a quick dip they opened right up in the tank. The whammin watermelons on the right have been a bit shy and slower to open, but still seem pretty dang healthy. They will remain on the sand bed for a few days acclimating as I start moving them higher.
Unfortunately something is really pestering my Duncan. He is not opening up nearly as much and there is clear tissue damage. The smaller clown has been paying a lot of attention to the duncan, even picking at it, but I don't think he could be causing this much damage. Going to move the duncan lower tonight to see if that improves anything.
Devaji
7500 Club Member
nice little tank I love the 13.5 been thinking about a lil project thank myself...just cant decide on what one..
AquaSD has some nice stuff I have ordered from them many times great vendor.
enjoy your tank! can keep the progress post coming it nice for you and others to see
AquaSD has some nice stuff I have ordered from them many times great vendor.
enjoy your tank! can keep the progress post coming it nice for you and others to see
November 12th Update:
Lost the Duncan unfortunately. Still no idea what caused that tissue recession but nothing else was affected. Had a few Apitasia sprout up. Fortunately they were on a small rock so I just boiled them off and super glued over their graves. Got the new Zoas off the sand bed now thinking about what I want to add as my "statement piece" if you will. Thinking like a branching monti or something. Also, went ahead and bought plexiglas glass and made a media basket. Like 6 bucks to make. Ditched the sponge and am currently running filter floss and chemipure along with the skimmer. Also bought an AutoAqua smart ATO Micro. Will be here tomorrow.
Lost the Duncan unfortunately. Still no idea what caused that tissue recession but nothing else was affected. Had a few Apitasia sprout up. Fortunately they were on a small rock so I just boiled them off and super glued over their graves. Got the new Zoas off the sand bed now thinking about what I want to add as my "statement piece" if you will. Thinking like a branching monti or something. Also, went ahead and bought plexiglas glass and made a media basket. Like 6 bucks to make. Ditched the sponge and am currently running filter floss and chemipure along with the skimmer. Also bought an AutoAqua smart ATO Micro. Will be here tomorrow.
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