SquishyFishy
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2018
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 39
- What state or country do you live in
- Canada
I have been inspired to take the plunge and post about my build. I’m pretty sure I’ve made mistakes so far, but for better or worse here is my re-entry into the world of marine aquariums.
History… thankfully not the boring kind they make you learn in school
I dipped my toes into saltwater about 6 years ago, had a tank, then 2 then 4 well you know how it goes. Fought with algae, lost to algae. Got ick, got rid of the ick. So far nothing that different from the freshwater I had done before, just more effort for water changes. Then… horror, something got into my system, still not even sure what is was…but it only took 4 days to destroy a year and half of work. Too many deaths and a complete system crash, I was heartbroken. I kept 1 the one remaining fish, a Starck's damsel in a biocube 29. His name is Tony.
This is what happened to my 120gal DT. I was done with salt… or so I told myself.
Then my hubby asked me 4 months ago what the plan for all the buckets of rocks in the garage was (I was smart I did not get rid of my rock).I said I’ll think on it dear, I did while I quietly filled the buckets with water and power heads. In the span of a weekend I moved the contents of the 120gal into the spare 50gal. The tank was at the point where I needed to restock fish or change things up anyways
Then I converted the coffee table into a mock-up of the tank.
My hubby started plotting how he was going to get clownfish into the new tank.
Fast forward (montage time! How to compress 4 months)
A special thanks to my devoted helpers who spent countless hours supervising
please ignore the horrific sump, that will be fixed later
Trip to the LFS! I managed to dodge the clownfish and appease the hubby with
He’s chilling in the qt and already eating!
Then my lights arrive *squeeee* I splurged and got myself a Kessil AP700.
First hic-up, they don’t work *cry*. A week of going back and forth with Kessil and my LFS and its determined they are DOA and I have to special order a replacement. My LFS is AWSOME and hands me their AP700 to use while mine is being replaced. Back in business!
Next mission was to attack my 2 chamber sump and somehow make a refugium learn how to use the Apex controller and start my fish and coral wish list.
My hubby request we change the sump.
*sound of screeching tires*
why does he want the sump changed he doesn’t even work on the tank?!? The tank and sump have water I've started my cycle....
Flash back! When I originally set up my system my hubby was more involved. In fact he pick out our skimmer, he got a very good deal on a reefs dynamic INS 180. A skimmer meant for a 300+ gallon system. The thing is huge! He also picked out the sump 40 gal breeder because the more water you can fit in the system the better right? The stand we have was custom made by the original owner who had a little 20gal sump and tank appropriate sized skimmer. Bigger is not always better!
Moral of the story I can’t get the collection cup out of the stand without maneuvering it to the side of the stand and tipping it over to slide out on an angle. Needless to say this can’t be done if the cup is full without making a mess. I HATE emptying the skimmer cup. So hubby remembers all the unladylike things I use to say and wants to change things so it’s easier. So sweet of him. After a 3 week stall in progress trying to find a new sump I come to one conclusion. The stand is too short and the skimmer is too dang big. No new sump we make do with what we have. But you wanted a refugium says hubby. My answer, never underestimate the power of a creative women with eggcrate!
And emptying the skimmer cup?
I don’t wait tell it’s full, my apex can remind me to empty it, I’m really liking the apex.
And then I make a mistake…
I released the damsel… silly me I though a dwarf angel would be fine with him. There’s no blood in the water but it’s clear my darling little Tony is a little turd.
Stay tuned for the next installment! Getting a damsel out of a tank, or how to destroy all your rock work in one go
PS did I get enough pictures in?
History… thankfully not the boring kind they make you learn in school
I dipped my toes into saltwater about 6 years ago, had a tank, then 2 then 4 well you know how it goes. Fought with algae, lost to algae. Got ick, got rid of the ick. So far nothing that different from the freshwater I had done before, just more effort for water changes. Then… horror, something got into my system, still not even sure what is was…but it only took 4 days to destroy a year and half of work. Too many deaths and a complete system crash, I was heartbroken. I kept 1 the one remaining fish, a Starck's damsel in a biocube 29. His name is Tony.
This is what happened to my 120gal DT. I was done with salt… or so I told myself.
Then my hubby asked me 4 months ago what the plan for all the buckets of rocks in the garage was (I was smart I did not get rid of my rock).I said I’ll think on it dear, I did while I quietly filled the buckets with water and power heads. In the span of a weekend I moved the contents of the 120gal into the spare 50gal. The tank was at the point where I needed to restock fish or change things up anyways
Then I converted the coffee table into a mock-up of the tank.
My hubby started plotting how he was going to get clownfish into the new tank.
Fast forward (montage time! How to compress 4 months)
A special thanks to my devoted helpers who spent countless hours supervising
please ignore the horrific sump, that will be fixed later
Trip to the LFS! I managed to dodge the clownfish and appease the hubby with
He’s chilling in the qt and already eating!
Then my lights arrive *squeeee* I splurged and got myself a Kessil AP700.
First hic-up, they don’t work *cry*. A week of going back and forth with Kessil and my LFS and its determined they are DOA and I have to special order a replacement. My LFS is AWSOME and hands me their AP700 to use while mine is being replaced. Back in business!
Next mission was to attack my 2 chamber sump and somehow make a refugium learn how to use the Apex controller and start my fish and coral wish list.
My hubby request we change the sump.
*sound of screeching tires*
why does he want the sump changed he doesn’t even work on the tank?!? The tank and sump have water I've started my cycle....Flash back! When I originally set up my system my hubby was more involved. In fact he pick out our skimmer, he got a very good deal on a reefs dynamic INS 180. A skimmer meant for a 300+ gallon system. The thing is huge! He also picked out the sump 40 gal breeder because the more water you can fit in the system the better right? The stand we have was custom made by the original owner who had a little 20gal sump and tank appropriate sized skimmer. Bigger is not always better!
Moral of the story I can’t get the collection cup out of the stand without maneuvering it to the side of the stand and tipping it over to slide out on an angle. Needless to say this can’t be done if the cup is full without making a mess. I HATE emptying the skimmer cup. So hubby remembers all the unladylike things I use to say and wants to change things so it’s easier. So sweet of him. After a 3 week stall in progress trying to find a new sump I come to one conclusion. The stand is too short and the skimmer is too dang big. No new sump we make do with what we have. But you wanted a refugium says hubby. My answer, never underestimate the power of a creative women with eggcrate!
And emptying the skimmer cup?
I don’t wait tell it’s full, my apex can remind me to empty it, I’m really liking the apex.
And then I make a mistake…
I released the damsel… silly me I though a dwarf angel would be fine with him. There’s no blood in the water but it’s clear my darling little Tony is a little turd.
Stay tuned for the next installment! Getting a damsel out of a tank, or how to destroy all your rock work in one go
PS did I get enough pictures in?
My husband and I had a starcki damselfish. He was the meanest fish in the tank lol. They are beautiful though.
i could not see this when i bought it. It seems to be healing so i'm really hoping that when its healed i'll have a nice gold torch. i'm not sure what to do about it other then keep the tank stable and leave it alone 
