New set up, maybe a nano...

[martinsreef2]

Ive never posted in this thread before, your either going to be bored to tears or rolling around laughing. So here go's!

Just before Christmas I desided to pack in and sell my 120 gallon marine system, usual problems, money, not enough time, work and too many hobbies, photography, fishing, fishkeeping, and the wife! :D (Maybe not the latter)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/93/dsc00030001medium412bw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ive hade a lot of problems with algae, all Nitrate based. And I never worked out why this was so with this system. So I changed the system to a fish only, selling most of my corals.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/7655/122006081315cq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My daughter was very upset, that her beloved Boxer Shrimp ('Pincey'... why do kids name things :confused: ) was going. Then my wife suggusted have a small set up, maybe some sort of 'nano'. As it happened Ive got all the equipment needed and my arm being bent to breaking point, I surfed the forum's on small set-ups and nano's.

Its a 29 gallon tank, (36 x 18 x 12)

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8587/dsc0005zw9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

which Ive set-up in a back room tempory which will be moved to lounge after 120 gallon is sold... sorry about the image size! :eek: (could'nt change it or delete it.)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8622/dsc0009oc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Eggcrate staging.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/439/dsc0010es9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

8kgs of live rock with mushrooms and buttons.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4839/dsc0017uw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Inhabitants, 10 Red & Bicoloured Hermits, 10 Turbos, 1 banded Serpent Star, 1 Tux Urchin, 1 boxer Shrimp, no sand this time, 150w heater, two Maxi-Jet 1200's, 'Maxiskim' air skimmer and two white, one antinic tubes for lighting.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8705/dsc0022sq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Later on Im planning, a Six line Wrasse, Blenny, and maybe a dwarf angel.

[martinsreef2]

Its been suggested to me by Kevna, (who came round and bought my Yellow eyed Tang last night) instead of using a small set-up, (my 30 gallon tank) start again with my 120 gallon 4 x 2 x 2 using the rock ive got (35kgs including rock with various mushys & buttons) on raised egg crate with no sand, keeping the fish stock low, maybe three or four small fishes, Blennies, Damsels, (thus keeping nitrates low, which was my major problem prevously) and later on, new softies and inverts. My wife, Gillian, looked pleased over hearing this. I don't think she really wants to see the 4 x 2 x 2 go.

Ill use my Arcadia twin 150w halide, Tunze 6060 pump for main circulation, Eheim 1262 sump pump, and skimming taken care by my Turboflotor 1000 SL and remove the last of my Bio Balls out of the sump.

The only thing Im wondering about, is my DSB with LR rubble, do I use it or start fresh?

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7159/dsc0001oq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

If I do try this, curing my old rock and complete refill of RO water, (hoping this will be enough LR) ill finally get my set-up right, not rush it and making previous silly mistakes and maybe able to lessen the size of water changes which Ill automate, saving slopping water on the carpets and hurting myself trying to move 5 gallon buckets of freshwater across the lounge. :rolleyes:

Just got to sale my old fish stock!

Ill keep you all posted, help and suggestions will be welcomed.

[spawns]

If I do try this, curing my old rock and complete refill of RO water, (hoping this will be enough LR) ill finally get my set-up right, not rush it and making previous silly mistakes and maybe able to lessen the size of water changes which Ill automate, saving slopping water on the carpets and hurting myself trying to move 5 gallon buckets of freshwater across the lounge. :rolleyes:

how old are those LR? IMHO,'cooking' those LR is another option if u goona use it back again.very old LR might also contribute to leech out nitrate,po4 etc etc...thus alge bloom again. you will be needing much oversize rated skimmer,let say 3 times the total vol of your tank to succeed in the BB tank concerpt.put nothing in the sump except ur equipments n go for refgium. oh n a denirator is also u should consider....
hopes this help n pls do ignore my typo as my right hand now is holdin my 3rd heineken....:p

[martinsreef2]

Its about 2 to 4 years old. Can't remember were each piece or when I got some of it, but most come from STM two years ago, and thats why Im thinking of curing the rock first, then putting in with completely fresh sea water...just removed a eight inch Bristle Worm from one piece! :eek:

[martinsreef2]

Well, Ive started to stripping down the old system and in course found the sand bed in the tank had no life at all, so ive ditch it. Got rid of my Silica sand DSB aswell.
Mucus & Kenva came around to have a look, (Sold Mucus my Tunze Stream 6100) and where worried about the state of the Live rock as it was really dirty and covered in algae.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/3743/dsc000520070116ec5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ive cleaned it and am curing the live rock, changing the water every day, still getting a lot of muck coming out of the LR.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7144/dsc000620070116wr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/3425/dsc000720070116qa9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

What a mess!

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/841/dsc000820070118po0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Added new eggcrate staging, still needs a lot of cleaning up. Ive just ordered some reef bones, bring my total LR to 45 kgs.
Equitment; 120 gallon tank, Tunze 6060, 20 gallon sump, 250w heater, Ehiem 1262 sump pump, 2 Aquamedic Turboflotor 1000 SL's and Arcadia twin 150w halide.

[kevna]

Looking Good Keep Up The Hard Work