Sigh....

[Sobo's Reef]

Have you ever just thought to yourself, I really wanna start over with my tank.. From scratch? Get rid of the livestock, corals, cuc, keep the equipment and start over?

This thought has been popping into my head for the past few months. Plus you can actually save up for the things you really want and plan accordingly. For example, my sump and everything around it. I HATE IT! wires are everywhere and its just so tight underneath.

Again, just a thought, will probably never go thru with it tho, my gf would kill me Lol

Anyone else like this or is it just me?

 

[r2reyzer]

Just went through this Dan. My system crashed during Hurricane Sandy. I ended up breaking down the entire system and started from scratch. Best thing I did!

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Just went through this Dan. My system crashed during Hurricane Sandy. I ended up breaking down the entire system and started from scratch. Best thing I did!

I want to so bad. Having to swap out my leaky 135g non RR with custom stand to a RR 150g really hurt me since I was in a pinch. Rushed a lot of things, wish I did so many things differently. Especially my plumbing for sure.

 

[dan_k]

Dan I'm saying this as a friend
You have been putting your tank on a roller coaster since day 1
Ich pellets carbon BB salinity problems calcium an alk problem just all over the place

I really think that you have not even been able to enjoy your tank for more then a month really
Buddy just take a step back relax let the tank fix it's self then you can enjoy it for awhile
You have years to fix all the odds and ends
The best thing for you and your tank is to leave it alone
Sorry if that sounds like I'm a monster but it's true you came to far to start over

 

[dan_k]

I spent 2 months planing and putting together my tank and there will always be things I want to change or do different
Your not alone

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Nah I hear ya Dan, but those r all good reason for me to start over anyways. I can eradicate the ICH, I could cure my live rock, i could do my plumbing the way I want it, not the way I was forced to do it. A rebuild sounds like it should be in the cards, I just don't know if I could do it.

IF I did it. I'd more than likely be out for a few months. Give me time to catch up on bills and not worry about the expense of the tank. Build up slowly. Just basically do everything the right way.

Again, not saying I'm definitely doing this but it has been something I've been thinking about for the past month or 2.

 

[saltkreep88]

Dan I'm saying this as a friend
You have been putting your tank on a roller coaster since day 1
Ich pellets carbon BB salinity problems calcium an alk problem just all over the place

I really think that you have not even been able to enjoy your tank for more then a month really
Buddy just take a step back relax let the tank fix it's self then you can enjoy it for awhile
You have years to fix all the odds and ends
The best thing for you and your tank is to leave it alone
Sorry if that sounds like I'm a monster but it's true you came to far to start over

+100, you have made more big changes to that tank in a few months than most do in years. I would keep the tank up, and go back to basics (good light, good flow, and stable parameters). I would avoid anymore changes to anything for awhile.

 

[Brando457]

As someone who lost everything and rebuilt I can say it was good to be able to do everything how I wanted. With my current system I am very happy with how it is running and have nothing really to change except maybe my lights.

Take some time to think about it and consider what it means. With mine I carefully planned everything out and then set it up as I went not rushing. Heck I let mine cycle for like 2 months.

Everyone is right though your tank has been on a roller coaster, slow and steady wins the race.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I know my tank has been thru a roller coaster ride but IF this happens, its not to fix all of my issues I'm having inside the tank(ich, nutrients, etc etc) its to fix my plumbing and sump area the way I want it. The other stuff would be just a bonus since the tank would be empty.

 

[JRWOHLER]

This was a hard one to answer, but I would say stop doing everything except water changes and basic maintenance for 2014 or what is left of it. First your tank needs to stabilize, second your mind has to stabilize too. Don't go to the frag swap and buy a bunch of stuff, buy raffle tickets if you have the urge. If in 3 months you still feel the same way after your tank and mind have had time to settle then you can sell off your live stock...spend the winter months getting ready, make plans, and then put it together in the spring/summer.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

This was a hard one to answer, but I would say stop doing everything except water changes and basic maintenance for 2014 or what is left of it. First your tank needs to stabilize, second your mind has to stabilize too. Don't go to the frag swap and buy a bunch of stuff, buy raffle tickets if you have the urge. If in 3 months you still feel the same way after your tank and mind have had time to settle then you can sell off your live stock...spend the winter months getting ready, make plans, and then put it together in the spring/summer.

I'd be doing this for the equipment/plumbing stand point, NOT the chemistry of the tank. I know if I kept on with what I was doing. Things would get better, I don't doubt that. I would wanna do this so I wouldn't feel rushed with planning everything out. It just so happens that IF I do this, I'd have the opportunity to help out with stuff for when the time comes to put it all back together. I can't stress enough that this has NOTHING to do with how the tank is doing rather than the way its put together.

 

[Brando457]

I'd be doing this for the equipment/plumbing stand point, NOT the chemistry of the tank. I know if I kept on with what I was doing. Things would get better, I don't doubt that. I would wanna do this so I wouldn't feel rushed with planning everything out. It just so happens that IF I do this, I'd have the opportunity to help out with stuff for when the time comes to put it all back together. I can't stress enough that this has NOTHING to do with how the tank is doing rather than the way its put together.

Would you be getting rid of the tank & sump or just switching the plumbing and equipment?

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Would you be getting rid of the tank & sump or just switching the plumbing and equipment?

No, I'd be keeping the tank and equipment, just redoing the plumbing completely and maybe investing in a different sump possibly. And as time goes on during the planning, save up for 2 mp40s and an apex system.

 

[MatteZ]

There is no need to take the tank completely down to redo your sump and plumbing. Especially if you plan on getting a new sump. You can just mock everything up slowly and make sure it's what you want and then one weekend do the upgrade.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

There is no need to take the tank completely down to redo your sump and plumbing. Especially if you plan on getting a new sump. You can just mock everything up slowly and make sure it's what you want and then one weekend do the upgrade.

Thought of that, BUT the part I really wanna fix with the plumbing requires me to take the tank off the stand. When I had to cut out the holes on my stand for the overflow pipes, the support beams got in the way of the pipes(since this stand was built for my old 135g and not a RR tank), so the right overflow drain pipe, is under the slightest bit of pressure and I kinda wanna fix that. It scares me to think of a shattered overflow bc of something so little.

 

[Brando457]

Use a jig saw to carefully cut it away

 

[Sobo's Reef]

Use a jig saw to carefully cut it away

That's what I plan on doing but can't do that until the tank is down

 

[Brando457]

That's what I plan on doing but can't do that until the tank is down

Snap a pic of the tank on the stand and the pipe you want to cut, I'm sure our trained engineers can find a way to fix it without draining and disassmbling the whole tank.

If you decide to redo it, I would just borrow someone's large brute and drain the water/move rocks & fish then fix the plumbing and get it set again.

 

[Sobo's Reef]

I'd rather not set up a temp tank, bc then I'd feel rushed bc it'd be in the way. I appreciate everyone's concerns and ideas but I really think the way for me to do it right is the way o originally stated.

 

[horseplay]

It's hard to visualize this without a picture. But have you considered flexible PVC? It may work from your description. You will get a new bulkhead...