Rhodes19's 180 build

[Scooterman]

just to add, Boomer said to use Amquel when doing the soaking stage.

 

[Krish]

just to add, Boomer said to use Amquel when doing the soaking stage.

What does that do Scooty?

Also, on the boiling, make sure it is done outside. The fumes can be lethal!! . I did mine over a burner that was attached to my outside gas grill. I did this to get read of lobophora. Worked like a charm.

 

[mojoreef]

No I would want to do that Scotty, I want to see the level of ammonia in their so I can know when its ready to move it out. Converting it could lead to misleading info.

Mojo

 

[mojoreef]

Opps yea wouldnt

Mojo

 

[Krish]

So amequel converts ammonia? If so, into what?


Edit: I moved my question Mojo because it was pretty obvious what you meant. Sorry. Didn't think you'd see my reply in time before I removed it LOL. For those wondering Mojo meant wouldn't not would in post 163

 

[mojoreef]

If the product hasnt changed it turns ammonia into ammonium

Mojo

 

[Krish]

If the product hasnt changed it turns ammonia into ammonium

Mojo

Hmmm...Cool! Thanks!

 

[Rhodes19]

Never said boil the crap out of the rock Chris! LOL, that was Krish.

Cooking it will be the best thing for it. Bring it on over and i'll kill that algae. I am glad your understanding that you need to break this tank down and start over. You did very good for your first large reef but the algae has you now and it's time to rebuild. Look at it as a great way to do the things you have wishes you had. After a year and a half I am sure there are thngs you would have done diferently if you knew better.

Frank

Yeah, the way I'm looking at the break down is just another lesson in marine biology and in this hobby. I've definitely leaned a lot from you and Mojo about what is going on and why. Now it's time to fix it. The break down will also give me a chance to make a few changes to the system that I really couldn't do while it was full of water.

 

[Rhodes19]

Are you going to Bleach the rock then boil it or just boil it?

Bleach, boil, cook in a vat with a skimmer running, then soak and rinse. And after all this work, I will not be adding any more live rock or coral plug that has not been cleaned/sanitized. I don't want to be fighting algae again.

 

[Rhodes19]

This should work out well. When in doubt, boil LOL!! I think with the knowledge you have now, starting fresh without any pests will be the way to go. Seems like a bit of a setback, but battling algae sometimes is a losing battle. Algae beat me up really bad the first time and came back better equiped the second time around.

Good luck!

Thanks Krish,

Yeah, no pests the second time around. Like I said, this has and will be a good leaning experience. I also took down my BioCube 14 a couple of weeks ago because I couldn't win with the algae problem for the same reasons. This time while the BC 14 is down, I'm going to clean it up and make a few mods to it like you did on your nano. I'm going to use some white pvc sheet for the bottom and I'm going to add a closed loop system to it as well and make a media rack. I'm debating on whether or not I want to upgrade the lights from 2 PC bulbs to 3 or just replace them with a LED retrofit kit. This time around, no softies, just some small lps like acans.

 

[Rhodes19]

What does that do Scooty?

Also, on the boiling, make sure it is done outside. The fumes can be lethal!! . I did mine over a burner that was attached to my outside gas grill. I did this to get read of lobophora. Worked like a charm.

LOL! Oh yeah, I'll be doing it outside alright. My wife hates it when I make beer inside and I have to do it while she's gone for a few hours and ventilate the house! Um, that's probably why I haven’t made some in a while.

 

[Rhodes19]

Well, I broke the news of the break down to my wife yesterday and I have her permission to temporarily set up the 40 g next to the 125 and use it to hold the corals I'm going to keep. I promised her that all the stinky stuff would occur out side and at Frankie's place. I'll get the 40 set up over this weekend and start weeding out the corals I don't want. There are several 6-8" brown monties with blue polyps I think I'll get rid of, I not sure if I want to get rid of them as is or frag them out and then get rid of them. I'll have to think about that. I'm finding myself gravitating more to the more striking colorful sps corals.