If you could redo something, what would it be?

[Frop]

1. I would've bought my first tank from Craigslist and saved some a few $100 for sure.
2. BRS RO/DI instead of Melev's Reef ;p

 

[Salty1962]

Work harder to get algae off frag plugs so tank wouldn't have algae issues.

 

[prsnlty]

My thinking for tearing down includes removing rock; scooping fish out, removing water, moving stand with tank on it, putting new stand in same place as old stand, put tank on stand, lay out rocks and use JB water weld to build some sort of aquascape... then attempt to put into the tank and then put water and fish. Sounds way easier than it's going to be .. but this hobby is fun.. right?

I've done this. No fun! But if the stand will give you the room you need then maybe you should go for it.

 

[Be102]

I've done this. No fun! But if the stand will give you the room you need then maybe you should go for it.

Thinking of removing all my sand too; but unsure if I should or not. Just worried about my fish the most ultimately. No clue how I'll get my yellow watchman goby and or pistol shrimp. 2 clown fish, a blue chromis and a Midas blenny. I just have small coral frags so that won't be too difficult. The new stand will allow my sump, and even more room to work with.

 

[prsnlty]

How tall would you make your stand? Inside dimension.

Mine is 39" inside. That is plenty tall enough. It has a floor that has gym mat on it also to absorb sound from pumps and such too.

 

[Roy 9121]

I bought an aquarium with a center skimmer box, i would never do that again. Also i wish i had gone with a bigger tank. I have a 55 gallon, should have gone at least 100 gallons.

 

[Be102]

Mine is 39" inside. That is plenty tall enough. It has a floor that has gym mat on it also to absorb sound from pumps and such too.

Do you have any concerns of not being leveled or something with the gym mat?

 

[prsnlty]

Thinking of removing all my sand too; but unsure if I should or not. Just worried about my fish the most ultimately. No clue how I'll get my yellow watchman goby and or pistol shrimp. 2 clown fish, a blue chromis and a Midas blenny. I just have small coral frags so that won't be too difficult. The new stand will allow my sump, and even more room to work with.

Yeah it's a trick. I went from a 125g to a 180 that went into the same location. You need to set up trash cans with heater and powerhead. Put tank water and rock in one then tank water and livestock in the other. Rock gets done 1st and you shouldn't reuse sand. However, you can save a little in a container. Put the sand container carefully in the livestock trash can. As far as the rest goes you need to rinse it super good or get new.

 

[Roy 9121]

Would use less rock

I put in to much rock, so I took some out. Now I think i took out to much, so I'm going to replace some.

 

[prsnlty]

Do you have any concerns of not being leveled or something with the gym mat?

Not at all. We put a solid floor in then 3/4" thick black mat that we cut to fit. It comes in blocks.

 

[prsnlty]

Thinking of removing all my sand too; but unsure if I should or not. Just worried about my fish the most ultimately. No clue how I'll get my yellow watchman goby and or pistol shrimp. 2 clown fish, a blue chromis and a Midas blenny. I just have small coral frags so that won't be too difficult. The new stand will allow my sump, and even more room to work with.

How big is your tank?

 

[prsnlty]

I bought an aquarium with a center skimmer box, i would never do that again. Also i wish i had gone with a bigger tank. I have a 55 gallon, should have gone at least 100 gallons.

I started the hobby years ago with a 29g and went to a 300g. Got out of the hobby for several years. Got a 100g hex with center overflow (hated it also), went to a nightmare 150 then to 125 now at 180g. I miss the 300. They say to get the biggest you can afford lol.

 

[Be102]

Yeah it's a trick. I went from a 125g to a 180 that went into the same location. You need to set up trash cans with heater and powerhead. Put tank water and rock in one then tank water and livestock in the other. Rock gets done 1st and you shouldn't reuse sand. However, you can save a little in a container. Put the sand container carefully in the livestock trash can. As far as the rest goes you need to rinse it super good or get new.

I will not be switching tank sizes just yet; would you think that it will be hard to lift and move my tank with the sand I have in it? Like I was thinking of adding new sand based on removing excess nutrients but I'll also lose a whole bunch of copopods, and all that fun stuff. I also would like to Remove some of the crushed coral and I would completely change the sand bed itself. Just not sure if the tank will be able to clear and stuff considering it'll be like a brand new tank if I add new sand.

 

[Be102]

Not at all. We put a solid floor in then 3/4" thick black mat that we cut to fit. It comes in blocks.

It looks really simple; just didn't know if it would be unleveled on the foam despite the floor being leveled. The mat would work perfect because I always seem to get saltwater all over my hardwood floors, my tank is currently 65 gallons; looking to add a 40b sump

 

[prsnlty]

I will not be switching tank sizes just yet; would you think that it will be hard to lift and move my tank with the sand I have in it? Like I was thinking of adding new sand based on removing excess nutrients but I'll also lose a whole bunch of copopods, and all that fun stuff. I also would like to Remove some of the crushed coral and I would completely change the sand bed itself. Just not sure if the tank will be able to clear and stuff considering it'll be like a brand new tank if I add new sand.

Personally I would put a new sandbed in it especially if yours is crushed coral or a mix of both. You can take a bowl or containers worth of your sb to seed your new sand. It will go though a mini cycle. But it should be ok in a few days since you're putting your live rock and water back. Don't leave your rock out of water or it will die. 1 hour max. Yes it would be quite heavy but with some help you might be able to move it.

 

[prsnlty]

It looks really simple; just didn't know if it would be unleveled on the foam despite the floor being leveled. The mat would work perfect because I always seem to get saltwater all over my hardwood floors, my tank is currently 65 gallons; looking to add a 40b sump

I have a 55g sump and a 20g ato tank on mine. This stuff is dense and will not crush down or become unlevel

.

 

[Roy 9121]

I started the hobby years ago with a 29g and went to a 300g. Got out of the hobby for several years. Got a 100g hex with center overflow (hated it also), went to a nightmare 150 then to 125 now at 180g. I miss the 300. They say to get the biggest you can afford lol.

This is my first tank, I've had it for about 10 years now. I wish i had researched it better.

 

[Be102]

Personally I would put a new sandbed in it especially if yours is crushed coral or a mix of both. You can take a bowl or containers worth of your sb to seed your new sand. It will go though a mini cycle. But it should be ok in a few days since you're putting your live rock and water back. Don't leave your rock out of water or it will die. 1 hour max. Yes it would be quite heavy but with some help you might be able to move it.

Sand will be pretty simple I think. Can I just siphon it all out? Will it be detrimental if it's not all completely clear in time? I would use live sand so I'm not sure if my bacteria would compete or if I would have a problem with adding the fish right after the sand. I remember I had to add some sort of clearing up solution and not sure if it will harm the fish.

 

[Be102]

I have a 55g sump and a 20g ato tank on mine. This stuff is dense and will not crush down or become unlevel

.

Is it something from like Home Depot? I typed in gym mat and a bunch of different types showed up.

 

[pdt7361]

All of this talk on what I'd redo really makes me want to do it. I found a guy local selling the perfect oversized stand. I told my wife and I quickly got a look that clearly said "you better f****** not!" lol