Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Hey all So i've decided I want to re aquascape and scrap the whole "cove" setup as I'm having problems with coral placement, current flows, and accessing areas to clean that have diatoms/cyno algae because I use dirty Christchurch tap water (I put that in there for you reef . I'm thinking of something alot more simpler. Have done a bit of googling on aquascaping and am reading alot of "less is more" in respect to liverock. At the moment i've got HEAPS in the tank, thinking that this would be better in providing more biological filtration, but after all the reading, it would seem that this isn't always the case? What i'm thinking of at the moment is having less liverock than I currently have, unless of course my new idea requires more rock than I anticipate. What i'm concerned about though, is that if I remove liverock, I am changing the "balance" of bio filtration. Would it be wise to keep any "excess" liverock in the tank and remove it slowly, giving the whole tank time to build up the good bacteria? Or will it not matter a whole lot? From what I can tell, i'll be using 70 - 80% of my current liverock, with approx 20 - 30% being removed. Tank has had its current load for about 4 months (with the addition of a blenny not so long ago). I also got some what I'd call "mature" liverock from someone who broke their tank down. What do you people think? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I should probably add some details about the bioload 350 Litre Tank 7 Fish (Largest about 3 inches) 2 Cleaner Shrimp 1 Brittlestar Tons of snails Running Deltec MCE600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I agree that less is more, and i love tanks that have heaps of space for corals to grow and heaps of swimming room for the fish. I don't think that removing 20-30% of your rock will make any difference, but don't take my word for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I think you'll be fine. Perhaps you can just do it in steps to minimise the disruption, although constant fiddling about is probably more harmful than just getting it done and letting things settle. I retrospect I would have done my tank differently too, but I'm committed now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Thats another concern, the fish & inverts while I'm doing it. It "should" only take 30 mins to pull the rock out, have a quick clean of the sand, then put it back in. I am at the point that if I add anything else, I'm basically committed and it would be too risky to change anything. I should probably keep a couple of bits of rock in the tank for the fish to hide behind while I do it? I've got the bit underneith the "factory" filterbox, but once you put 7 fish and 2 shrimp under it, it may be a bit crowded. Although thinking about it, the clowns wont give a shit and will just be concerned about where I'm putting their torch coral i'd imagine, and the blenny will just spend the time biting my hand like he always does haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 I'd be inclined to remove the fish - you'll be stirring up lots of muck - they'll be relatively easy to catch once you start lifting rock out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 no problems removing some rock. put all the rock that you will keep into a bucket with water. also the fish/coral. all will be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Will there be bullying if they're all in the same bucket? Also, whats the best way to remove the cleaner shrimp? I dont wanna net them and damage them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Will there be bullying if they're all in the same bucket? Also, whats the best way to remove the cleaner shrimp? I dont wanna net them and damage them Scoop them up in a glass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 They will be stressed, so i doubt they will bully each other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 They're hardy enough tho aren't they? Was it you Conch who said Marine fish are hardier than freshwater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Hairdier could be anything. They shoudl be ok in one bucket, just keep a eye on them. Put the cleaner shrimp in a plastic bag, , just take it out with a net. Poly box would be better than a bucket. I am sure Organism will have 2-3 few spare. Just make sure that they dont leak, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Well I was just thinking I could probably leave the shrimp in the tank because they'll take refuge underneith the filter box and be out of the way of everything. Might just play it by ear, and put what fish I can catch easily in the bucket, and the ones who dont wanna be caught, just leave them in there because chasing them round the tank with the net is probably more stressful than just leaving them in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Moving rocks and having your hands in the tank is just as stressful as trying to catch them. Much better to catch them all and work on the tank without having to worry about stressing them more. Should be easy to catch if you take all the rocks out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 You'd think that, somehow I'm not sure its gunna be that easy :-? I'd rather my firegoby hid under the filterbox than try a suicide jump from the tank while i'm chasing him round with the net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Just stay calm and use a big net - or try swearing a lot - that seems to help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted December 4, 2007 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Its pretty easy, once you take the rocks out and some of the water to cover all the rocks it will be so easy. make sure you have a big net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 Hmm might go get the biggest net that John has for sale. I've got a decent sized one already but 2 probably helps. Got Friday morning off cuz of a mates wedding, so if I stop swearing until then I should be all good for swearing my head off haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 blenny will just spend the time biting my hand like he always does haha don't you just love blennies! what type do you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Digitata Muncheris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sapphire Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Digitata Muncheris? haha! Taht's good - almost J K Rowlingesque! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 :lol: when we moved the shrimp in my tank i think we just lured them in to a plastic bag. i don't think you'd want to be moving rocks around etc with them in there, imagine squashing one just remember they're sensitive to salinity changes so id use the existing tank water when you put them in the bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Alternatively they are good over a bit of rough cut lettuce with a bit of mayonnaise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fmxmatt Posted December 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Its a Bicolour Blenny Wee character haha Theres a good spot for the shrimp to hide under the filter box where they can't get crushed. I'll be extra careful anyways And if the unthinkable does happen, i'll sulk for a week then come on here and have a cry about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sapphire Posted December 5, 2007 Report Share Posted December 5, 2007 Hope it goes well! When are you planning on doing this? Go the 2 net method! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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