55-Gal In Progress (1 MB of Pictures)

[bpiermat]

I have been working on my (8+ year old) Tank recently
(adding some corals/softies).

Tell me what you think/suggestions...

I am been fighting nitrates recently probably due to my thick sand bed
(When I stir/increase flow... nitrates increase)

Thus:
I have increase flow in the main tank..but have been unable to increase flow to the sump/refug (I have maxed out a DIY 3/4" Overflow... I want to add another overflow but don't want to have to take all the water out.

I have been slowly removing the sand bed and doing weekly water changes of 3 gallons. Here are some pics. Right now I only have one fish..
a large Grouper...who either needs a new home or a new friend/and/or a bigger tank.

Ben

 

[jsmkmavity]

3 gal water change is no where near enough during the changes you are making. also try filter media changed every other day while stirring/removing sand, and watch the nitrates drop. if matter is suspended in the media for longer than that it can begin returning more nitrates to your water. are you using carbon too? by the way, nice looking grouper!

 

[bc_slc]

That grouper is georgeous.

You could always try an over the back overflow/durso style to add some flow to the sump. Is the tank glass or acrylic? If it is acrylic you could drill a drain up high on the back wall.

And I agree, more water changes.

Mat

 

[bpiermat]

Response to Comments

Thanks for the positive comments !!! (I will do larger water changes)...Right now I have no mechanical filtration IE. Only a skimmer/fuge, but I can add a temporary carbon filter if desired. I think I will try adding a filter and start removing more sand. I have a acrylic tank that I have successfully drilled before but I would like to avoid emptying the tank again (Very time consuming).

On another note...I have bought a new submersible pump (RIO 1100), for the Sump to increase flow. However after running it in the sump for a while I came to two conclusions:

1. That I need a larger overflow...this I can do/fix.

2. I am worried about this pump running dry. I don't have the ability to do an auto-top-off setup (Water is a long ways away)...so I have to check it every couple days. Some times I forget or go on vacation... So what will happen if that “large” pump starts to cavitate (suck in air)? My current pump is much smaller and I don't have to worry about this issue. -- oh and I have thought about doing a large bucket system...but there is no place for the bucket..(unless it is under the house....but then I might as well run the pumping)

Thanks!

 

[bpiermat]

PS. I have kept this grouper on a very strict diet.
IE. Once a week I feed it one cube of Formula 1 and two or three small bits of needlefish... Watch your finger (literally)

I know that seems like a small amount, but as you can see he/she is very health.

 

[Krish]

Beautiful grouper man...And they taste real good as well(LOL JK) I removed my sand bed totally because I was afraid of things getting all tied up in it, and it has kept my nitrates down some. I agree on the 3 gal water change being too small. I'd try bumping it up a few more gallons if possibly to maybe 10-15%. One thing I do to help keep waste down is besides my regulary weekly water change, I'd vacuum the rocks and tank floor with a hose and run it throgh a filter sock in a bucket. The sock catches the crap and I throw the clean water back in. It helps a lot and I do that maybe twice a week along with a water change. HTH and best of luck!

BTW...How much flow do you have?

 

[vwmoneypit]

hc cdhjccww

 

[BCT182]

hc cdhjccww

Yeah what he said:lol:

Good looking grouper. The blue flakes in that fish are intense.

 

[vwmoneypit]

sorry guys KID was in here messing around likes looking at other tanks

 

[bpiermat]

Unfortunately I lost what little soft corals I had during the Storm of 2007. But the grouper did survive despite 60 degree water for 3 day....now he is doing better than ever. I have a new skimmer, a octopus recirc 110. It works great and my water quality has greatly improved. All of the bad algae has died and the fuge has to much cheato...must do something about that.

P.S. The Grouper is 8+ years old (bought in 1998?) !!! How long do you think it is going to live. 100? I don't know if I can keep it that long? I guess I will have to put it in my will or sell it...He is kind of hard to give him up...but I can't get any other fish...because he will bite anything that hits the water.

Thanks.

 

[bpiermat]

I also want to give him a better home...I plan to buy a 125 gallon tank (48"x24"x24"), hopefully in the next 12 months or so. So I am looking for a good deal on a cool reef tank and stand...used or new.

 

[Damsel13]

Nice fish dood, I hope he gets a bigger tank SOOOOONNNNN!

 

[bpiermat]

Well, sad night..The grouper died tonight...I bought it back in 1998, so he was 10 years old. I rearranged the LR a week ago, and he placed his head under his usual rock...but I did not leave enough room when I rearranged it and he got trapped and died. Kind of sad, but I think he had a good life. Hard to keep a fish alive that long.

I think I will take a short break from the Hobby...keep the tank running. Maybe buy two Anthias. Any suggestions regarding these fish?