Reset Without Regrets:The Do-Over

[john.m.cole3]

My 72 gallon bowfront is creeping up on its 1 year birthday. This tank has been through a ton of catastrophes that I have learned from. It started with a velvet outbreak, then cyano, I removed the sandbed, removed all of the live rock from the sump. had a hair algae outbreak, then valonia, used vibrant for 2 months, that fixed the algae but now cyano is back, also have been fighting aiptasia for the past 4 months. And that brings us to today... I feel like with everything I have learned, I can reset this tank for the benefits of my animals health and future well-being. It's taken some planning to get to this point, but I think it can be pulled off relatively easy with a little bit of hard work. Here we go!

My first step was to sell off most of my corals. That was easy, they flew outta here in one weekend. Next was to get a coral quarantine tank set up to prevent future disasters. I found a rimless 40 and turned it into my frag/QT tank. Then, I found a temp home for the rest of my corals while I break this tank down transfer 8 fish to a 46 gal holding tank along with 3 BTAs. I'm setting up the holding tank this weekend and have also started on the new aquascape. Here's a few pics of the old mess and the new scape.

 

[dbl]

Sounds like a good plan John. Good luck with the restart. Signing up to follow along.

 

[mmw64]

following also.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I think I had 2 major issues with my last setup. First, my skimmer was just too dang big. It's rated for a 500 gallon tank. I was under the impression that bigger was better, but boy oh boy was I wrong. I took off my skimz sm203 for a reef octopus sro1000. Second was the flow inside the tank. I'll never own another bowfront tank. I had 2 jebao pp8s on it and could never get great flow in the tank. So I am going to give the newer gyre 3k a whirl.

The next step will be removing the Anemones from the rocks and switching out aquascapes.

 

[ksfulk]

So same tank, or are you going to ditch the bow front for a 90 flat panel? Gyres gonna be wicked flow in either style tank

 

[TonapahNorth]

Sounds like you've made a well thought out plan. Good luck.

 

[jsker]

I think I had 2 major issues with my lady setup. First, my skimmer was just too dang big. It's rated for a 500 Gaskin tank. I was under the impression that bigger was better, but bioyoh boy was I wrong. I took off my skimz sm203 for a reef octopus sro1000. Second was the flow inside the tank. I'll never own another bowfront tank. I had 2 jebao pp8s on it and could never get great flow in the tank. So I am going to give the newer gyre 3k a whirl.

The next step will be removing the Anemones from the rocks and switching out aquascapes.

I think you will like the Gyre. Can't wait to see this one setup. Also following along

 

[john.m.cole3]

So same tank, or are you going to ditch the bow front for a 90 flat panel? Gyres gonna be wicked flow in either style tank

same tank until I can find a deal on a standard 120.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Following along. This is gonna be a big job for you... But lots of fun for us as we sit back and watch (we will happily offer moral support and encouragement though).

 

[john.m.cole3]

Most of the hard work will be done this weekend. I already secured a temp home for my corals. I need to remove 3 BTAs off my current rocks. They will go into my newly set up frag tank along with my marinepure brick and 8 small fish. I only expect them to be there for a day or 2 while I work on my display tank. I'll take the tank apart, let it dry, then wash it out with vinegar to make sure all aiptasia are 100% gone. I think I'm going to paint the bottom of my BB tank white. I'm going to re-seal the inside of the stand and give the sump a good overhaul as well. I have all the water and salt ready to go. My new scape is already built. I'll put the fish back in slowly over the next 2 months while all corals stay in the frag tank except for some softies. In the future, all corals will be QT'd for 76 days and inspected regularly for pests. I'll try to take plenty of pics this weekend!

 

[jsker]

If I have not stated it, the arched scape look really cool.

 

[Blmain]

Second was the flow inside the tank. I'll never own another bowfront tank. I had 2 jebao pp8s on it and could never get great flow in the tank. So I am going to give the newer gyre 3k a whirl.

Please let me know how the 3k works for you. I have a 90g bowfront with 2 WAV and the struggle is real. I feel your pain!

 

[john.m.cole3]

If I have not stated it, the arched scape look really cool.

Thanks Jeffrey! The arch is 2 feet wide and 14 inches tall. Marco rocks held together with the E-Marco-400 cement. I decided to go for a ultra minimalist look this time. Maintenance should be quite easy this go round.

 

[john.m.cole3]

Please let me know how the 3k works for you. I have a 90g bowfront with 2 WAV and the struggle is real. I feel your pain!

I think the problem with bowfront tanks is that when the flow hits the front glass, the energy is spread out and the flow is more or less absorbed, where in a rectangular tank the flow bounces off the flat surfaces. Just my crazy thoughts that keep me up at night.

 

[Blmain]

I think the problem with bowfront tanks is that when the flow hits the front glass, the energy is spread out and the flow is more or less absorbed, where in a rectangular tank the flow bounces off the flat surfaces. Just my crazy thoughts that keep me up at night.

I would have to agree. Like you said, never again...[emoji1]

 

[jsker]

This is just a suggestion, what I did was add a MP40 to the center of the tank about two thirds down to increase the flow in the center lower half of the tank and the have the two gyre near the top on either side of the tank pushing toward the center. This in essence pushes the water toward the center, the when the water collides it push the water down toward the MP40 and around the bottom. I have the gyre's set to a 5 second pulse and the MP 40 set for tidal flow and 35%.

 

[john.m.cole3]

This is just a suggestion, what I did was add a MP40 to the center of the tank about two thirds down to increase the flow in the center lower half of the tank and the have the two gyre near the top on either side of the tank pushing toward the center. This in essence pushes the water toward the center, the when the water collides it push the water down toward the MP40 and around the bottom. I have the gyre's set to a 5 second pulse and the MP 40 set for tidal flow and 35%.

Ah Ha! There's the logic to your insane flow. How often do you clean your gyres?

 

[jsker]

Ah Ha! There's the logic to your insane flow. How often do you clean your gyres?

LOL, About every 3 months, as the MP40

 

[reeferfoxx]

Awesome! I definitely learned from my first tank. Did you ever learn how to remove cyano without additives or sand removal? I found it quite easy without major intervention. Because, you'll experience it again with this new tank.

 

[john.m.cole3]

Awesome! I definitely learned from my first tank. Did you ever learn how to remove cyano without additives or sand removal? I found it quite easy without major intervention. Because, you'll experience it again with this new tank.

first time I used h202, then i removed my sand bed, this time i blame it on the vibrant and then i did nothing about it since i decided to reboot this tank. Got any pointers?