Redoing a 4 year old tank PICS

skimace7 · Dec 18, 2013

Hi,

My reef is 4 years old and I am wanting to redo the rock work but am nervous about messing up a great reef? I am wanting to thin out my corals and simplify my rock work to open up swimming area for my fish and allow the coral to grow larger before running into another coral. Any help and advice would be appreciated... Thanks

Here are some pics they are from last year so the corals are twice as big.

GrandeGixxer · Dec 18, 2013

That is a great tank! It looks like you already have quite a few corals growing into eachother. A trimming is in order for sure!

sceia · Dec 18, 2013

I'd leave it alone... Beautiful!

skimace7 · Dec 18, 2013

thank you for the compliments. I want more open sand space and I need to move the rock in from the sides.

sceia · Dec 18, 2013

Looks like you're in for some fun then... Those colonies are super big. I'd see if maybe you could pivot each island a bit and make the middle open up some. Looks like it's going to be tough. I wish I had your problem...lol.

kacrocorals581 · Dec 18, 2013

What's some tank info tank size lights ext just such a beautiful tank I need to know more great job!

skimace7 · Dec 18, 2013

kacrocorals581 said:
What's some tank info tank size lights ext just such a beautiful tank I need to know more great job!

It is standard 120 gallon 4x2x2. I run 250 14 k phoenix MH with 2 T5 attnics, and some moonlights. I dose ALK and Cal and MAG as needed but it has been awhile since I needed to do that. ASM G3 skimmer, refgium, two MP40's and a water 10%-15% change 1 a month. I do my best not to put my hands in the tank.

kacrocorals581 · Dec 18, 2013

skimace7 said:
It is standard 120 gallon 4x2x2. I run 250 14 k phoenix MH with 2 T5 attnics, and some moonlights. I dose ALK and Cal and MAG as needed but it has been awhile since I needed to do that. ASM G3 skimmer, refgium, two MP40's and a water 10%-15% change 1 a month. I do my best not to put my hands in the tank.

Well you have done a great job for sure!

mtnrunner · Dec 18, 2013

Leave it alone!

mike007 · Dec 18, 2013

I will take your leftovers. lol That is a beautifull tank you have done a great job.

tanked37 · Dec 18, 2013

Don't redo it, looks great, just start another larger tank.

Ripnlips82 · Dec 18, 2013

Man that looks awesome! How do you get away with not dosing with all the sps?

Ripnlips82 · Dec 18, 2013

Sorry I read it wrong. How often do you dose?

trido · Dec 18, 2013

Unless you're willing to have some smaller colonies and a bunch of frags I'd leave it alone. Reaquascaping never goes as planned and your corals will not fit like you imagine them to. I understand wanting a change after four years but think its great the way it is.

1.0reef · Dec 18, 2013

trido said:
Unless you're willing to have some smaller colonies and a bunch of frags I'd leave it alone. Reaquascaping never goes as planned and your corals will not fit like you imagine them to. I understand wanting a change after four years but think its great the way it is.

Agreed.

skimace7 · Dec 19, 2013

Ripnlips82 said:
Sorry I read it wrong. How often do you dose?

I use BRS two part and have it setup to dose as needed. Between the water changes and that I stay consistant.

benny z · Dec 19, 2013

love it. and i'm with everyone else - do some pruning and leave it alone. get into the art of reef bonsai at this point, and shape it in a creative way.

and i also agree with starting up a larger (second) tank.

plumb them together to keep things easy for maintenance.

Velodog2 · Dec 19, 2013

Agree with the others, this is a fine tank! Some corals appear to be touching a bit here and there but it is nothing in comparison to some other really great tanks (IMO) I've seen where corals are twining in and out of each other. Based on those tanks I don't think your corals will mind if you just leave them alone. If you want more open space perhaps you could selectively remove some corals and rock work without attempting a possible frustrating rearrangement of things.