NicksMixedReef - May be going under

NicksMixedReef · 12/14/2011, 08:41 PM

Thought I would share my tank with you now as it may be going under soon..
My skimmer has been leaking and rotted out the plasterboard, now there is a gaping hole next to my tank where I need to put my ATO and skimmer!

System Objectives: Low maintenance mixed LPS/SPS reef

Strike up Date: Dec 2009

Display Tank: 3 x 2 x 1 (HOB 2 x 1/2 x 1/2)

Display Lighting:120 watt 2:1 LED, 2 x T5HO - Giesemann actinic & purple

Nutrient export: NP Bio Pellets, GAC, Rowaphos, heavy skimming, filter socks

System Water: Instant Ocean

Display Water circulation: 2 x 2000L powerheads, 1200L return from skimmer

Skimmer: Marine Sources

Evaporation Top Up: Auto top up (20 litres of RODI w 1 t/s baking soda)

Current Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0
Nitrite:0
PH: 7.9-8.4 (8.1-8.3 goal)
Amonia: 0
Calcium: 420
Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.026
Magnesuim: 1300
Alk 2.8 - 4 (3.5 goal)
Temp 26

Fish and livestock
1 x clown
1 neaon dottyback
1 x Yellow Tang
1x blue damsel
1 x domino damsel
1 x grey fish

Invertabrates
CBS
3 starfish
Purple tipped white Anenome
Hermit crabs
Turbo snails
Clam
Nudibranch

Corals
Daisy, Lobo, Candy Cane, Torches, Hammers, Elegance, morphs, Purple & pink Stags, Pipe organ, Golfball, Fungia's, acans, bubble, gorgonian sea fan, blue sponge, green & purple plating montis, zoas

Pics of water damage and current tank shot will follow soon.
Would really appreciate any advice on repairing the hole, it's about 4 x 1!
I was thinking to brace then cover with glossed MDF?

Dustin1300 · 12/14/2011, 09:41 PM

Are you referencing the stand having a hole or the wall?

Sisterlimonpot · 12/14/2011, 11:02 PM

Soory to hear that, you have a nice setup to have to tear it down. How is the skimmer leaking? is it a hang on back skimmer?
Do you live upstairs or downstairs?

NicksMixedReef · 12/15/2011, 12:13 AM

@Dustin - Its a massive hole in my floor! I can see down to the apartments below's roof.
Hey your not THE Dustin are you?
@ Sisterlimonpot - Cheers. Yeah I would hate to tear it down, going to spend the weekend trying to fix it, fingers crossed. What happened is my tank and ATO/skimmer all sit on a ledge in my apartment, which has fallen through on the ATO/skimmer side, right next to my tank. The plastic screw cap where the pump joins to the skimmer came loose and was dripping for God knows how long and rotted the dodgy plasterboard shelf away completely.

Dustin1300 · 12/15/2011, 07:37 AM

I'm not sure who 'THE Dustin' is but....If it was me I'd consider moving the tank. I would not want the liability of it falling through to the floor below. If it has already managed to make a 4" hole then I'd guess that the floor around it is not in good shape either.

Maybe you could use a super powerful pump and move the water to a storage container leaving only about an inch of water, move tank, then pump water back into the DT. If you have to tear it down and move it

....Then go ahead and ditch the crushed coral as it will likely be a nitrate problem in the future.

harthag12 · 12/15/2011, 08:43 AM

Nice looking tank, definatly a shame that you have to move / break it down but If I were renting and it already put a hole thru the floor I wouldn't risk / want to be reliable if it were to cause more damage, you could end up w/ a nice law suit if it fell thru and injured someone in the apt. below.

NicksMixedReef · 12/15/2011, 05:52 PM

@Dustin1300 - Your probably right. Damn. I'm going to check to see how it is re-inforced underneath the tank and if its the same story I'm going to have to tear it down and rebuild. My crushed coral is only 2 inches thick, will it still become a nitrate factory if I stir it up now and then? I don't want bare bottom tank, what do you think the best substrate would be? Argonite?
I meant Dustin as in Dustin's fish tanks http://www.youtube.com/user/Dustinsfishtanks
either way so far as your concerned I'm sure you are THE Dustin

@ Harthag - Yeah there's lazy and there is dangerously lazy. I'm going to have to move the tank and re-inforce it. There goes my weekend, and most likely alot of my coral & fish

. At least now I can re-build with painting tubing and glue my rock

philosophile · 12/17/2011, 09:55 PM

What is that orange black and white thing in the first pic? Its really cool looking

Dustin1300 · 12/17/2011, 10:49 PM

Looks like some form of nudibranch.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Sisterlimonpot · 12/17/2011, 11:38 PM

+1 it's a nudi, they look awesome for the short period of time you have them, they eventually starve to death in your tank. Some are toxic and can wipe out your tank if you don't get them out after they die.

NicksMixedReef · 12/28/2011, 09:57 PM

Yep its a nudibranch, LFS misinformed me, and it looks awesome so I grabbed it.
I bought a sponge for it but never seen it try and eat that, seems to like my dendo more than I would like. Had it for about about 2 months so it must be eating something!
Hole is fixed woot woot!

NicksMixedReef · 01/02/2012, 09:29 PM

Ok seems my tank isn't the exception

Nudibranch - 1.
I noticed he was stuck to the glass in the same spot for a few days, then ALL my corals starting withdrawing despite my parameters testing ok so he is out.
All corals but toxic hammer almost recovered.

Dustin1300 · 01/02/2012, 09:49 PM

Look on the bright side....At least it was on the glass and not a mystery hidden within the rocks and no explained reason why the tank was going down hill. How'd you get the hole patched?

NicksMixedReef · 11/28/2012, 07:03 PM

Been of the forum for a while, got a new tank now.

Patching the hole was abit of a nightmare. I used 2x4's, hardwood ply, filled gaps and painted over the top. Came out ok.

12/14/2011, 08:41 PM	#1
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	NicksMixedReef - May be going under Thought I would share my tank with you now as it may be going under soon.. My skimmer has been leaking and rotted out the plasterboard, now there is a gaping hole next to my tank where I need to put my ATO and skimmer! System Objectives: Low maintenance mixed LPS/SPS reef Strike up Date: Dec 2009 Display Tank: 3 x 2 x 1 (HOB 2 x 1/2 x 1/2) Display Lighting:120 watt 2:1 LED, 2 x T5HO - Giesemann actinic & purple Nutrient export: NP Bio Pellets, GAC, Rowaphos, heavy skimming, filter socks System Water: Instant Ocean Display Water circulation: 2 x 2000L powerheads, 1200L return from skimmer Skimmer: Marine Sources Evaporation Top Up: Auto top up (20 litres of RODI w 1 t/s baking soda) Current Water Chemistry: Nitrates: 0 Nitrite:0 PH: 7.9-8.4 (8.1-8.3 goal) Amonia: 0 Calcium: 420 Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.026 Magnesuim: 1300 Alk 2.8 - 4 (3.5 goal) Temp 26 Fish and livestock 1 x clown 1 neaon dottyback 1 x Yellow Tang 1x blue damsel 1 x domino damsel 1 x grey fish Invertabrates CBS 3 starfish Purple tipped white Anenome Hermit crabs Turbo snails Clam Nudibranch Corals Daisy, Lobo, Candy Cane, Torches, Hammers, Elegance, morphs, Purple & pink Stags, Pipe organ, Golfball, Fungia's, acans, bubble, gorgonian sea fan, blue sponge, green & purple plating montis, zoas Pics of water damage and current tank shot will follow soon. Would really appreciate any advice on repairing the hole, it's about 4 x 1! I was thinking to brace then cover with glossed MDF?

12/14/2011, 09:41 PM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Are you referencing the stand having a hole or the wall? __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/14/2011, 11:02 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Soory to hear that, you have a nice setup to have to tear it down. How is the skimmer leaking? is it a hang on back skimmer? Do you live upstairs or downstairs? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/15/2011, 07:37 AM	#5
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'm not sure who 'THE Dustin' is but....If it was me I'd consider moving the tank. I would not want the liability of it falling through to the floor below. If it has already managed to make a 4" hole then I'd guess that the floor around it is not in good shape either. Maybe you could use a super powerful pump and move the water to a storage container leaving only about an inch of water, move tank, then pump water back into the DT. If you have to tear it down and move it....Then go ahead and ditch the crushed coral as it will likely be a nitrate problem in the future. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/17/2011, 09:55 PM	#8
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	What is that orange black and white thing in the first pic? Its really cool looking __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

12/15/2011, 12:13 AM	#4
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	@Dustin - Its a massive hole in my floor! I can see down to the apartments below's roof. Hey your not THE Dustin are you? @ Sisterlimonpot - Cheers. Yeah I would hate to tear it down, going to spend the weekend trying to fix it, fingers crossed. What happened is my tank and ATO/skimmer all sit on a ledge in my apartment, which has fallen through on the ATO/skimmer side, right next to my tank. The plastic screw cap where the pump joins to the skimmer came loose and was dripping for God knows how long and rotted the dodgy plasterboard shelf away completely.

12/15/2011, 08:43 AM	#6
harthag12 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hamilton, NJ Posts: 118	Nice looking tank, definatly a shame that you have to move / break it down but If I were renting and it already put a hole thru the floor I wouldn't risk / want to be reliable if it were to cause more damage, you could end up w/ a nice law suit if it fell thru and injured someone in the apt. below.

12/15/2011, 05:52 PM	#7
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	@Dustin1300 - Your probably right. Damn. I'm going to check to see how it is re-inforced underneath the tank and if its the same story I'm going to have to tear it down and rebuild. My crushed coral is only 2 inches thick, will it still become a nitrate factory if I stir it up now and then? I don't want bare bottom tank, what do you think the best substrate would be? Argonite? I meant Dustin as in Dustin's fish tanks http://www.youtube.com/user/Dustinsfishtanks either way so far as your concerned I'm sure you are THE Dustin @ Harthag - Yeah there's lazy and there is dangerously lazy. I'm going to have to move the tank and re-inforce it. There goes my weekend, and most likely alot of my coral & fish . At least now I can re-build with painting tubing and glue my rock

12/17/2011, 10:49 PM	#9
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Looks like some form of nudibranch. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

12/17/2011, 11:38 PM	#10
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	+1 it's a nudi, they look awesome for the short period of time you have them, they eventually starve to death in your tank. Some are toxic and can wipe out your tank if you don't get them out after they die. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/28/2011, 09:57 PM	#11
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	Yep its a nudibranch, LFS misinformed me, and it looks awesome so I grabbed it. I bought a sponge for it but never seen it try and eat that, seems to like my dendo more than I would like. Had it for about about 2 months so it must be eating something! Hole is fixed woot woot!

01/02/2012, 09:29 PM	#12
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	Pics! Ok seems my tank isn't the exception Nudibranch - 1. I noticed he was stuck to the glass in the same spot for a few days, then ALL my corals starting withdrawing despite my parameters testing ok so he is out. All corals but toxic hammer almost recovered. Last edited by NicksMixedReef; 01/02/2012 at 09:36 PM.

01/02/2012, 09:49 PM	#13
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	Look on the bright side....At least it was on the glass and not a mystery hidden within the rocks and no explained reason why the tank was going down hill. How'd you get the hole patched? __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

11/28/2012, 07:03 PM	#14
NicksMixedReef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15	Been of the forum for a while, got a new tank now. Patching the hole was abit of a nightmare. I used 2x4's, hardwood ply, filled gaps and painted over the top. Came out ok.