Rise And Fall to Rise Again: My Story of my 75g

Discussion in 'Show Off Your Fish Tanks!' started by ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011.

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  1. ndtechie05

    ndtechie05 Spaghetti Worm

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    Messages:
    180
    Location:
    Near Philly, PA
    Hello all...so this is my story of how I went from having a decent reef set up to it falling apart in a split second to how I was able to bring it back to life...

    I started this build in Spring 2009. It's a 75g with a 20g sump/fuge combo. I added about 100lbs of rock with a thin layer of sand on the bottom. I got it all cycled, thru some nice fish and coral in there then one afternoon it all went down hill. I didn't put a check valve in place on the return. We lost power one after and most of the water siphoned into my sump, overflowing onto the floor and thru the floor one the first floor of the house. Here are some pictures before and right after that happened...

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    Now here are some pictures from 2009-2011 where I just let the tank go...too busy cuz of jobs, getting engaged, etc...I know not an excuse but such is life. The whole time I managed to keep my Hippo and Purple Tangs alive as well as blue spotted goby and a clown goby...

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    I finally got tired of having it look like this. I asked my friend to come clean it out as he worked for a LFS doing tank cleaning...before touching any of he checked the params and they were PERFECT! Don't ask me how but they were! The only thing that was low was the Alk...Here are the pictures of during and after the re-build..please feel free to comment, ask questions or be mad at me for letting it go! And yes, this time I did add a check valve on the return line and tested it..all good!

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    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    #1

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  2. trijam

    trijam Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2010
    Messages:
    378
    Location:
    Hamilton, ON Canada
    Looks to me your on your way back but you probably need to take the rock out and scrub them you'll probably end up with some GHA. It looks like you also have a nice little aptasia issue to deal with also, but all in all 1000% better. ;)
     
    trijam, Apr 4, 2011
    trijam, Apr 4, 2011
    #2
  3. ndtechie05

    ndtechie05 Spaghetti Worm

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    Messages:
    180
    Location:
    Near Philly, PA
    We did actually take a wire brush to the rock...I forgot to mention and I zapped the aiptasia this afternoon with some Joe's Juice...man that stuff rocks!!!
     
    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    #3
  4. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2010
    Messages:
    1,462
    Location:
    San Antonio
    I wouldn't celebrate yet. those aiptasia are survivors. :)
     
    SAY, Apr 4, 2011
    SAY, Apr 4, 2011
    #4
  5. ndtechie05

    ndtechie05 Spaghetti Worm

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    Messages:
    180
    Location:
    Near Philly, PA
    So I hear!

    Some new pics taken yesterday before juicing the aiptasia! More to come!

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    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    ndtechie05, Apr 4, 2011
    #5