Michael7979 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Should I sell off all my livestock and start from scratch? I really want to do things right. -I feel I can do things better, (ie. rock work, plumbing, lighting, larger fuge/sump, etc.), if I started the tank from scratch. -Also I want to get a larger tank but space in the house is somewhat limited. -There just seems to be so much that I could fix/change IMO if I had an empty tank to start with. -Remove some rock that has poylps and/or mushrooms on them. Some of you have seen my tank and I know the majority have not but I want all of your opinions. Some details: Equipment: 5ft Tru-vu acrylic tank dual 400w pfo ballast with 20k raduims 4 110w vho bulbs w/ Icecap 660 Euro-Reef skimmer(model# unknown) 45 gallon sump refugium Corals: Mostly SPS with a couple LPS and some ricordea, that would be my goal. Fish: Doliatus rabbit Red Sea sailfin tang Bullseye/target mandrain goby LMB Red wrasse (social fairy wrasse, I believe) Solarensis Wrasse (I believe, just added him yesterday and I haven't seen him again) Misc.: crabs, conches, snails, and a serpent star Would love to double the tank size and increase flow along with some new rock and rock-work. Please let me know what you think! Any and all opinions welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I know you and I differ in pretty much everything we think...But I am doing this same thing...except I am going down in size. I have learned so much from having a big tank and I think I can make some dramatic changes and the best way to go about this is to start pretty much from scratch. So I think you will achieve better results and the results you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 IMO I would not sell your stock. Just move them to some holding tanks, plan ahead, spend the weekend, and pimp your tank as you please. Then reintroduce the stock. Holding tanks can be cheap rubbermaids from HD. It doesn't have to be expensive. The corals will do fine for a few days without light as long as there is some water flow for surface agitation. Your going to have to tear out have the stuff to get the fish out anyways, why not do it all at once? Iv'e done this a few times, always went well for me. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 14, 2007 Author Share Posted May 14, 2007 Come on guys! 30 looks and only 2 opinions..............please do you think starting over is worth the time and effort?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsdlszr Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 We took our 120 down, picked up a bigger tank and plan to use the same stuff we had (most of it anyway) in favor of doing the same thing. Our livestock is sitting in a 100 gal stock tub we picked up at wilco in Silverton for 50ish. We have a very makeshift "light bar" that our halides are mounted to and 1 pump split to 1 sea swirl (with a really cool little gadget we picked up at Advanced on the end) and the skimmer. Everybody made the move to that ok, we're losing a couple small pieces only because our Allen's had decided he didn't like where we'd put things. This is the same stock tank we used when moving that tank up from eugene, we just popped everyone from that tank in there until their home was usable again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Questions So are you going to keep the tank in the same location? What size tank are you thinking of? What do you want to upgrade to? Are you bord with whats in your tank now? If not keep or trade pieces. Can you use most of what you have if you upgraded to bigger tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izzypop Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 IMO Get what you want and start over. do it right this time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 If you are thinking about it just do it. I would start over. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 You are the only one that can answer your question. The biggest factor that comes to my mind is the money. Since I am just starting out, I add pieces as the cash comes in. If you are set on cash, and you want to do everything differently, then I would benifit from you parting out all your stuff at a discount. I am trying to plan ahead and get equipment that would work for both this current tank, and a possible future upgrade. It seems that people are not happy no matter what they have. Some with smaller tanks want larger ones. Then there is a critical mass where people with larger tanks long for the simplicity of smaller tanks. You are never going to win on the size thing. My true oppinion is to empty your tank into a holding bucket like pcsdlszer did for a week or so and then work what you have into the shape that you want it. Whatever you don't want you should sell, or donate to others. Waste not, want not. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 If money is no objective and you are not attached to your live stock (I always do get attached and would hate to sell my fish), I guess starting over would be great. If you have room for two tanks temporarily, and the new tank isn't going into the same location, I'd keep everything and just change/add the things you feel you need to make this one better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 14, 2007 Author Share Posted May 14, 2007 Questions So are you going to keep the tank in the same location? 1 What size tank are you thinking of? 2 What do you want to upgrade to? 3 Are you bord with whats in your tank now? If not keep or trade pieces. 4 Can you use most of what you have if you upgraded to bigger tank? To answer your questions........ 1 Tank will go in 'roughly' the same spot, unless much bigger 2 would like something in the 180-250 range 3 no not bored....unhappy 4 yes alot can be used if I go with a larger tank So thank you all for your time and answers.............looks like I should start to look for a larger tank! KEEP THE IDEAS/ANSWERS COMING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhut Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 START OVER!! I would save your LE stuff and sell off everthing else. Pluck your rock and let it all die off. Completely start fresh with no hitch hikers. Electric stuff I'd use again, but start over with everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecheese Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Start Over!! If you know exactly what you don't want (sounds that it is what you have right now). Just start all over and do what you really want, rock by rock , snail by snail. The satisfaction of doing it right is unsurpassed. Unhappiness is not an acceptable alternative. Let me know if I can help you unload some of your life stock, I'll be happy to let some of it grow , vacation in my tank while you decide if you want to put it back or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Start over. Study thread and books for a month. Plan for a month. Then, break it all down. Sell all but your favorite sps colonies. Have some friends you trust coralsit. Use your monies to buy most of the new warrantied equipment for your new 200 g envision acrylic tank. Take your time plumbing and get it figured out right the first time. Buy new high quality premium cured rock or high quality dead rock to avoid pests. Test your circ system and get your rock placed to optimize it. Wait and stabilize parameters. Then, start stocking with new fish, new corals, etc. Another thing, consider a biotope tank. SPS from a certain region might be a more advanced goal in reefkeeping. It is your tank but you might want to go for the natural look. Read Tullock if that interests you. Joel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Go for it!!! Rebuild. This way you can re do it the way you want to and correct the mistakes made in the past. Make plans. And keep us posted!!! Include pictures too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Wow, start over or upgrade? That's a pretty big question to be asking *us* I'd say if you don't know why you want to make changes, it probably isn't the right time to make them. Change for change's sake doesn't make sense to me. I'd suggest just keep thinking on it and planning possibilities, but don't jump until you know exactly what problem you're trying to solve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 18, 2007 Author Share Posted May 18, 2007 Not so much of a problem............trying to fix things before they become a problem, (ie. flow, space, and choices of inhabitants) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Well I woke up this morning to find my Doliatus Rabbitfish DEAD!!! (flame) So this is the final straw the tank will be coming down soon. And I'll try to rebuild ASAP.(God willing........Won't be long). Looking for a sitter for a couple things that I wish to keep, (waiting for an answer). After I find out if this is possible..........I'll start a 'for sale' thread or give stuff to LFS. Maybe I'll luck out and find the BIGGER tank I want in the mean time, if not I guess I rebuild the 100. Wish me luck...............I guess................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Sorry for your loss. Do you have any idea what happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 My tank is a pile of ****!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Dang, your tank is killing fish? Sorry to hear it, that fish was cool. Time for "Mike's 300 gallon cube build" thread (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 How did you know I was looking at doing a large cube tank? hehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Simple! Cubes are the coolest tanks out there, and you're a cool guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Simple! Cubes are the coolest tanks out there' date=' and you're a cool guy [/quote'] What the hell have you been drinkin? And can you get me some!! hehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Better question, what didn't i drink this weekend!?!? Too much partying :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.