Durand tank build (1 Viewer)

[reef junkie]

I think it’s time for these fish to go. Im going to need to just about drain the tank and pull the rock out to be able to catch the ones I want out. Im really nervous what this will do to my corals that seem to be very happy. I think my game plan is to set up a 40 breeder in the basement or go pick up a stock tank and set up in the living room next to the tank. Then I can just pull the rocks out and set in a tank temporarily while I pull fish. im also thinking I might redo my aqua scape and make a large stacked center piece and have open space all the way around the tank. Im just typing my ideas so I can brain storm this project before jumping in. But once completed I think Ill have better flow around the tank and more open swimming room for the new fish list. 4-5 antheas, 2 existing clowns, 1-2 wrasses (Melanarus, yellow corri, pink mystery are on the top of the list).

Tank updates…Im still dropping my nitrate dosing amount almost everytime I test. This morning Po4 was 0 and No3 was 30. When ever I get over 15 No3 my Po4 bottoms out. I was currently dosing 5ml over 24 doses on Nitrates. Dropped it to 4ml this morning and will test in a week and see how we are doing. If the P04 wont increase it might be time to start dropping my time schedule for refugium. This will all change if this new fish plan goes into affect. Im no longer feeding frozen or reef Chili since adding the avast plank. This might explain the po4 drop as well. If that is the case and Ill be able to stop dosing Nitrates that would be a nice addition to the maintenance.

 

[BlindSwordsman]

I don't follow people and their business usually, to be honest. Even for work, I might have the admin right to certain things and I never care to put my nose into other people's accounts. I never have such curiosity . But passing through your subject lines, I'm guessing you want to get rid of the fish because you want to cut down the amount of waste and foods that you put into your tank? .. If so, I'm thinking picking 3-4 anthias as your next fish probably not a good idea? Anthias need to be fed regularly. Some places even recommend to feed them a few times a day. In my experience, I find that some of them can survive with once a day feeding schedule, but they will perish with once every 2+ day schedule.

 

[reef junkie]

I don't follow people and their business usually, to be honest. Even for work, I might have the admin right to certain things and I never care to put my nose into other people's accounts. I never have such curiosity . But passing through your subject lines, I'm guessing you want to get rid of the fish because you want to cut down the amount of waste and foods that you put into your tank? .. If so, I'm thinking picking 3-4 anthias as your next fish probably not a good idea? Anthias need to be fed regularly. Some places even recommend to feed them a few times a day. In my experience, I find that some of them can survive with once a day feeding schedule, but they will perish with once every 2+ day schedule.

Not a waste issue. Thanks for your input though. Currently have 9 fish in the tank and with the new avast plank feeder im able to spread out the feeding to 5 times a day so I dont think keeping antheas feed should be a problem.




Ordered a fish trap from BRS yesterday. Going to try this route before taking everything down and out to catch fish. I think the damsels are too smart to go in it. But im planning to feed into the trap only so hope they will get desperate enough to eventually go in. If this does not work, I found a 65gal stock tank at tractor supply for $100 that would work To house everything in the living room next to the tank for easy temporary storage.

 

[Jonty]

Your tank is looking great, I wish I could offer advice on catching the fish but I have had to go down to the rock out to catch method many times. I do have one of those Nyos bubble fish traps if you want to try it. It is still in the box and have never tried it myself

 

[reef junkie]

Your tank is looking great, I wish I could offer advice on catching the fish but I have had to go down to the rock out to catch method many times. I do have one of those Nyos bubble fish traps if you want to try it. It is still in the box and have never tried it myself

Thanks for the offer, i already ordered that exact one and should have next week. I’ve also have only had success catching fish with a total take down. I’m guessing this will be a waste of time and I’ll just end up having to take it down. But I don’t want to risk it and it’s worth trying this first.

 

[Jonty]

I have had great luck when two people work together FYI one driving and the other blocking .

 

[reef junkie]

I have had great luck when two people work together FYI one driving and the other blocking .

Are you volunteering to come and play catch a fish? . Thanks for info. I’ve done a little trying with a net and some food and my wife tried with a bigger net. But they all just go and hide behind the rockwork as soon as we approach the tank. Except the clowns. I can pet them .

 

[Chris Goetz]

It might be a silly suggestion but whenever I need to catch fish I put multiple nets into the tank and leave them there for a couple days so the fish get used to them and swim in/out of them without issue.

If their only exposure to nets is being chased, caught and thrown into a new tank - it’s not surprising they hide when they see the net coming.

 

[reef junkie]

It might be a silly suggestion but whenever I need to catch fish I put multiple nets into the tank and leave them there for a couple days so the fish get used to them and swim in/out of them without issue.

If their only exposure to nets is being chased, caught and thrown into a new tank - it’s not surprising they hide when they see the net coming.

I tried that for 2 weeks and it did not seem to help. I may have quite to quickly though..

 

[Fishfoo]

+1 to taking all rocks out. I just had to do this last night to catch all of my fish (ran into some prazi-resistant flukes I think with one of my new additions so qt’ing them all for a month which will allow all the flukes in the display to die out as well) and was able to catch 16 fish in under an hour. If I feel the coral on the rocks have been out of water for too long I’ll dip them back in and out of the water again.

 

[reef junkie]

Who will be the first victim. Lol

 

[reef junkie]

Almost caught a dotty back. Had the catch bubble a little to low so it was slow to flip and he swam out. But at least they are getting used to it or desperate to eat.

 

[reef junkie]

This trap is working pretty well. Ive been able to catch the dotty back just about as many times as I would like. LOl but kept it in the tank since it like to go in the trap often hoping it will convince the others. Caught and sold the lemon peel. Almost had the domino damsel twice but had operator error .

Any advice on where to order Anthea‘s from? Was going to just talk to LFS but maybe there is a better option? Ive heard petco onlihe has been good for some folks in terms of healthy arrivals.

 

[reef junkie]

Look what came back home. My old 40 breeder. Had a little time between meetings and was able to get some of it up

Need to find a few items to finish it off. But we are half wet.

Will be a basement frag tank

 

[montiporalova]

Look what came back home. My old 40 breeder. Had a little time between meetings and was able to get some of it up

Need to find a few items to finish it off. But we are half wet.

Will be a basement frag tank

View attachment 63112

That didn't take long

 

[reef junkie]

That’s 2 caught now. This things if you have patience works pretty well so far.

 

[reef junkie]

Wife took at pic after I dumped in some ab+ with all power heads off and return off. Looks like something from a scary movie. Lol

 

[reef junkie]

Less than 2 weeks and all the fish have been trapped and given new homes. Kept the two clowns and the dotty back.
Trap was slowly and tedious but works.

 

[reef junkie]

Think I have it narrowed down to either 5 of the bimac or 5 of the carberryi anthias. And then a yellow corris and a melanarus wrasse. Still on the fence about both the wrasses. I would like to get a fairy wrasse also but 8-9 fish is probably the max I want to do and if I do both corris and melanarus adding the fairy might be pushing it especially is the melanarus decides to be a crappy old man LOL, This should give some good movement to the tank though. My wife is pretty excited to be getting anthias, She’s been trying to get me to add them since 2009 LOL

 

[reef junkie]

Now that the angel is gone I’m finally starting to see a very small glimps of some polyps on my sps. How this continues to get more and more. Would love to see these sticks get fuzzy.