wom001
Community Member
Well since this didn't fit in the other categories I decided to put this here.
So quite a few months ago I started my current 260 build. I went with Dry Rock, Dry Sand, new equip, etc to avoid some of the issues I ran into with my 120. My main goals were to avoid Aiptasia, Monti / zoa eating nudis, AEFW, redbugs, and other pests that I ran into on my first foray into the hobby. After 5 years of struggle, aquarium moves in 14 degree weather, cracks, seam splits, fires, and the aforementioned hitchhikers I thought I came to the table with knowledge and experience to avoid any pitfall in this new project. However as I found out, human nature always gets the better of us.
Like I said human nature always gets the better of us and thats the exact conclusion I came to in a sudden moment of clarity right after dumping some new impulse buy additions directly into my DT without any type of QT or practice in place. So this is where I initially found myself. It began with me chastising myself an then discovering an unidentifiable ailment accosting my new pair of impulse clownish. After a few weeks of struggle and with the help of many forums and the R2R community I found the solution to problem (3 problems actually: ich, brook, HLLE) and started to turn my thoughts on the future. A future in which I did not want to have to deal with any of the BS I had recently subjected myself to.
So this is where the master of all things sick and fishy comes in to play. After pouring over quite possibly most if not all of Humblefish's posts and comments on fish sicknesses, diseases, and parasites I knew the only way to avoid issues in the future is to bite the bullet and go fallow. While this didn't daunt me as I had spent months culturing my rock and substrate I did notice a strange patter in how people discussed going fishless or fallow for the necessary 72 day time period. When discussing it people usually avoided the issue until it was the last option to consider. The tonality used when offering or considering the solution is subdued and almost defeated. Heck, when i brought it up to my LFS guy his voice dropped to barely above a whisper when we discussed it. From what Iv been able to gather people just dont recognize it as the best solution for a reef enthusiast most common biological assailants.
Anyway, Iv decided to take a new approach to going fallow. First off I plan to be enthusiastic about it. Rather than being a punishment I plan to use it to hone my skills and knowledge and plan more than I have before. I also plan to incorporate an idea I had after my initial decision to going fishless. The idea was to plan out 72 days of individual projects and improvements for my aquarium. Since my build is only about 60% complete this will allow me to complete the finishing work I have left to do, along with give me time to get to know the personality of my new aquarium. And for all the naysayers out there, each aquarium does have a personality separate form the organisms that inhabit it.
So here I am, trying to make a list of 72 individual projects to keep my mind occupied. Id love to hear some feedback and any ideas for the project list. Also would like to hear thoughts on QT methods and TTM strategies with the equipment I have on hand.
Here are some overall Stats:
Tank: 260g 72x30x28 with BeanAnimal style overflow. Planning on using the Triton method so large sump with semi large fuge (50 gallon)
Lighting:
(Current)
Some 8 Bulb t5 setup
(Planed)
3x 250w MH, Reefbrite LG reflectors mogul base and im thinking of running twinarcs or radeons
Reefbrite LED Supplemental (May DIY this to fit hood)
Misc Equip:
Apex Classic
Dosing Pump (Not Apex Friendly)
GEO Calcium reactor
Tanks been up for about 2 months (<fully functioning>, rock and sand were cultured for 7 months prior to final assembly) and has 4 inhabitants currently.
2x Misbar Black Clowns
1x Japanese Swollowtail Angel
1x Scopas Tang.
The other additions were donated to me from a friend who was getting out of the hobby.
The overall plan for the tank is to be acro dominant, with a zoa and acan garden on my two prize pukani boulders.
Current 72day project list includes the following:
1) Melev Style ceiling track for my hood.
2) Floating Hood Design & Construction
3) Finish installing apex classic and calibrate probes
4) Apex coding and automation setup
5) Fish Closet Design / Build out
6) Wire organization and labeling
7) Fire alarm install in closet and stand
8) QT / Hospital Tank design, layout, and construction
9) Frag Tank plumbing design, placement, installation
10) Mixing station Design
11) Finish Stand with Cabinet doors and paint.
12) Stand / Closet Ventilation system
13) Run dedicated Ethernet Cable Through walls to Apex
14) Run RO/DI Line through walls to Fish Closet/mixing station
15) Fix my number 2 return pumps bulkhead (leaks)
16) Fix my number 3 drain elbow (small drip)
17) Cut and seal a hole in the wall to pass wires and plumbing between closet and tank.
18) Mesh cover for aquarium
19) Glue down more adventurous rockscape elements
20) Find backup power solution for heaters.
21) Complete my 2 stage matheson regulator project for my calcium reactor.
Last but not least some progress Pics. Also Id love to hear some input on weather or not it would be a good idea to start getting some of the fish I have on my stocklist and start QTing them. I know with QTing and using the TTM ill have some downtime between the fish are finished with QT and the fallow period finishing. But since the main additions I want are Leopard Wrasses Im worried about the pod situation in my QT tanks along with that added stress. That and adding a ton of fish all at once after my fallow period sounds like a recipe for disaster no matter how peaceful the fish.
So quite a few months ago I started my current 260 build. I went with Dry Rock, Dry Sand, new equip, etc to avoid some of the issues I ran into with my 120. My main goals were to avoid Aiptasia, Monti / zoa eating nudis, AEFW, redbugs, and other pests that I ran into on my first foray into the hobby. After 5 years of struggle, aquarium moves in 14 degree weather, cracks, seam splits, fires, and the aforementioned hitchhikers I thought I came to the table with knowledge and experience to avoid any pitfall in this new project. However as I found out, human nature always gets the better of us.
Like I said human nature always gets the better of us and thats the exact conclusion I came to in a sudden moment of clarity right after dumping some new impulse buy additions directly into my DT without any type of QT or practice in place. So this is where I initially found myself. It began with me chastising myself an then discovering an unidentifiable ailment accosting my new pair of impulse clownish. After a few weeks of struggle and with the help of many forums and the R2R community I found the solution to problem (3 problems actually: ich, brook, HLLE) and started to turn my thoughts on the future. A future in which I did not want to have to deal with any of the BS I had recently subjected myself to.
So this is where the master of all things sick and fishy comes in to play. After pouring over quite possibly most if not all of Humblefish's posts and comments on fish sicknesses, diseases, and parasites I knew the only way to avoid issues in the future is to bite the bullet and go fallow. While this didn't daunt me as I had spent months culturing my rock and substrate I did notice a strange patter in how people discussed going fishless or fallow for the necessary 72 day time period. When discussing it people usually avoided the issue until it was the last option to consider. The tonality used when offering or considering the solution is subdued and almost defeated. Heck, when i brought it up to my LFS guy his voice dropped to barely above a whisper when we discussed it. From what Iv been able to gather people just dont recognize it as the best solution for a reef enthusiast most common biological assailants.
Anyway, Iv decided to take a new approach to going fallow. First off I plan to be enthusiastic about it. Rather than being a punishment I plan to use it to hone my skills and knowledge and plan more than I have before. I also plan to incorporate an idea I had after my initial decision to going fishless. The idea was to plan out 72 days of individual projects and improvements for my aquarium. Since my build is only about 60% complete this will allow me to complete the finishing work I have left to do, along with give me time to get to know the personality of my new aquarium. And for all the naysayers out there, each aquarium does have a personality separate form the organisms that inhabit it.
So here I am, trying to make a list of 72 individual projects to keep my mind occupied. Id love to hear some feedback and any ideas for the project list. Also would like to hear thoughts on QT methods and TTM strategies with the equipment I have on hand.
Here are some overall Stats:
Tank: 260g 72x30x28 with BeanAnimal style overflow. Planning on using the Triton method so large sump with semi large fuge (50 gallon)
Lighting:
(Current)
Some 8 Bulb t5 setup
(Planed)
3x 250w MH, Reefbrite LG reflectors mogul base and im thinking of running twinarcs or radeons
Reefbrite LED Supplemental (May DIY this to fit hood)
Misc Equip:
Apex Classic
Dosing Pump (Not Apex Friendly)
GEO Calcium reactor
Tanks been up for about 2 months (<fully functioning>, rock and sand were cultured for 7 months prior to final assembly) and has 4 inhabitants currently.
2x Misbar Black Clowns
1x Japanese Swollowtail Angel
1x Scopas Tang.
The other additions were donated to me from a friend who was getting out of the hobby.
The overall plan for the tank is to be acro dominant, with a zoa and acan garden on my two prize pukani boulders.
Current 72day project list includes the following:
1) Melev Style ceiling track for my hood.
2) Floating Hood Design & Construction
3) Finish installing apex classic and calibrate probes
4) Apex coding and automation setup
5) Fish Closet Design / Build out
6) Wire organization and labeling
7) Fire alarm install in closet and stand
8) QT / Hospital Tank design, layout, and construction
9) Frag Tank plumbing design, placement, installation
10) Mixing station Design
11) Finish Stand with Cabinet doors and paint.
12) Stand / Closet Ventilation system
13) Run dedicated Ethernet Cable Through walls to Apex
14) Run RO/DI Line through walls to Fish Closet/mixing station
15) Fix my number 2 return pumps bulkhead (leaks)
16) Fix my number 3 drain elbow (small drip)
17) Cut and seal a hole in the wall to pass wires and plumbing between closet and tank.
18) Mesh cover for aquarium
19) Glue down more adventurous rockscape elements
20) Find backup power solution for heaters.
21) Complete my 2 stage matheson regulator project for my calcium reactor.
Last but not least some progress Pics. Also Id love to hear some input on weather or not it would be a good idea to start getting some of the fish I have on my stocklist and start QTing them. I know with QTing and using the TTM ill have some downtime between the fish are finished with QT and the fallow period finishing. But since the main additions I want are Leopard Wrasses Im worried about the pod situation in my QT tanks along with that added stress. That and adding a ton of fish all at once after my fallow period sounds like a recipe for disaster no matter how peaceful the fish.
