Redoing a 120 gallon tank.

[Saltwatertaylor]

Here are a few updates:
I have some cyano bubbles forming and red algae on the rocks. I know this is a natural process of cycling the tank but I bought something to lower my phosphate levels so that the cyano will leave faster.
After viewing more threads on the reef discussion and looking at many aquascaping for 120 gallons, I think I am going to redo my tank setup. I think minimal aquascape will look the best and will be the easiest to maintain and move around corals. My issue is my PVC pipes in the back, but I will have to deal with them. Maybe one day I will take half of the water out and paint them black and then return the water. The PVC pipes are my return pumps. There are 3 rows of them with three holes ( each side and the middle ). It creates a good quality flow in my tank.
Any suggestions on this?

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

So after reading articles on R2R on aquascaping I now understand the concept that less aquascape is better. So I took about 20g out of the tank and put it into a bucket with my live rock. I am currently redoing my aquascape. It will have an island on the right, and one on the left. A big inspiration to me was Mike and Terrys design. I wanted it to look similar, but in my own way.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

I took all the live rock out and about 20 g and redid the aquascape. I fell in love with all the island type aquascapes on here and tried one of my own. I love the one on the right, but I might make the one on the right less taller and more horizontal. What do you guys think?
Tank looks dirty due to the fact that its cycling.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

 

[chris13115]

Hi, were basically on the same boat with tanks, mine got ich and wiped everything out

nice tank, what i would recommend for wrasse is any type of fairy wrasse or a cleaner wrasse and for goby is any type of shrimp goby (mine being dracula) and pair it with a piston shrimp. For the anenomies (spelled that wrong) it is aipastia anenome, lemon juice is good, but a filefish takes care of it much better with adding interesting stuff to the tank. A sump is a good idea and i would get a UV sterilizer because it improves water quality to its max. I wish you best of luck to your long journey, and hope to see pictures soon

Keep on reefing,

Chris

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Yeah, this tank has been running for around 6 years before I wiped it out. I have a sump in the bottom of the tank. My protein skimmer is broke atm but I am going to fix it ASAP. I might look into the uv sterillizer! But thanks you too!
Stay salty my friend

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I definitely like the new aquascape better! God job!

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Thank you! Doing it by yourself without being able to see it is a very hard task let me tell you lol. I wanted to make sure my corals would get adequate flow so I designed it this way.
Can anyone identify the algae on the rocks?

 

[Electrobes]

Good progress so far in recovery! I have a couple questions:

1: What sand is being used, and was it cleaned out when you redid everything? I highly recommend this, if you have not. This will pay out in spades later on.

2: What equipment do you currently have and what's that piping in the background?

Thanks!

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

The funny thing is that I took all the LR out and brushed off the cyano bubbles and syphoned out the rocks so that all the algae was gone. I put it back in there and vallah it was back.
I have a sump below its a 50g and part of it is biological (LR) and the other part used to have a protein skimmer but it broke (working on fixing it)
The pvc pipes is what gets flow in the tank (return pumps )

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Some new updates

Wanted to show everyone my setup. Sorry pics are not very clear . Darn Iphone camera!

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Waiting for my nitrate levels to go down. I have been doing water changes every few days trying to get the nitrates down but its being stubborn. Patience is the name of the game though!

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Another update: Got my water parameters checked and they are all perfect so I will be adding coral and fish tomorrow

 

[Degener8]

Grats on the nice turn around.. You got some serious salt creep though..LOL

Keep up the good work I am sure it will be even more beautiful soon.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

lol yeah I know this is a huge project, I will eventually make it squeaky clean.
My friend doesnt want his mushroom corals so I will have some next weekend.
Any recommendations on nice sps corals?

 

[Degener8]

I don't ever go by names. I mean its nice to have named stuff but I generally just get what ever strikes me. just make sure you know what type and its care requirements.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Yeah, I was thinking more on the cheaper end. I want to start cheap and learn how to frag them, so when I get my own house I can move up to the really nice stuff .

 

[AJreefs]

I would let this tank mature before I tried any SPS but I really am glad to see you taking good care of the tank and the yellow tang that was in there. I would see if you cant scaore a 40 breeder tank to use as a sump and redo your plumbing; this is two fold. First, your cleaning out the years of build up that are most likely sitting in the filter keeping your nitrates elevated. Secondly, Those pipes that are bugging you can be re done and the salt creep will be gone. Looks like you might have a slow leak coming from a fitting causing the salinity to steadily drop which is why the yellow tang survived, the drop was slow.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Hmm, I never really thought of that. I totally agree with what your saying, but I am very new to DIY projects and plumbing. This tank used to be filled with corals, so do you really think it needs to be redone? My only thought is that I dont plan on keeping this tank for more than two years, because after medical school I will buy my own house and my own tank. All of the corals and fish will be transferred, but I will start over with the system. Would just cleaning out the sump suffice?