Want to completely replace aquascape in existing tank. But how?

[Reefin' Alaska]

So I have an old IM 40G that is about 4 years old now, all thats in it is 4 clownfish that have been together for about 3 1/2 years, and some softies. I was new in the hobby, hate the way it looks, and have wanted to redo it for a long time. It was all just base rock, and stacked it.. would just like the have to negative space and really something nice to look at at night in our loft.

Recently purchased 80lbs of Carib Sea arch rock from a local guy for cheap who didn't end up using it. Used some in my reef, and want to use the rest to redo the scape in the 40g.

How would I go about doing this without disturbing too much? Is it really even possible to do?

 

[danenelsen]

I think it is possible to redo it. I did something similar a few months ago, but I also replaced the sand. Here’s what I would do:

1. Remove all coral. Put it into a bucket with a heater, light, and maybe some type of flow?

2. Remove all rock, so that you can catch the fish. (If you have a trap, this step might not be necessary).

3. Remove fish. Put them in a 5 gallon bucket with a heater, air stone, and maybe a small piece of live rock. Watch the ammonia and salinity levels closely.

4. Drain some of the water. (This will ensure that you’ll have enough room to work).

5. Redo the aquascape until it is just how you want it.

6. Fill it back up, and wait for the water to settle. I would plug all the pumps back in, so that it begins circulating.

7. Reattach corals.

8. Replace fish.

This is just what I would do. Obviously I don’t know all of the details for your situation, this is just roughly what I did when I redid my aquascape. Hope this helps!

 

[Lavey29]

If you take out all your existing rock you will lose your cycle due to bacteria loss. There are transfer methods that may work though especially if you use a couple of your existing rocks with the new stuff.

 

[Jack Ravensbergen]

I think there's o ly one good way .
Sell the contense and start all over again with a new scape .

 

[Lavey29]

I think there's o ly one good way .
Sell the contense and start all over again with a new scape .

Yes plan B works fine too

 

[jabberwock]

People talk about cycling a tank, but you are really cycling the rock. I would set up a clean new storage tote with heat and flow. Seed it with some existing rock (preferably some from both of your setups to increase biome diversity). And the new carib sea rock. Put in 2 of the clowns to push the cycle, test until the cycle in the tote is complete, THEN you can complete the process as described above.

If it was me, and I did not live in Alaska, I would just order real ocean live rock. I don't think that is an option for you.

 

[Reefin' Alaska]

People talk about cycling a tank, but you are really cycling the rock. I would set up a clean new storage tote with heat and flow. Seed it with some existing rock (preferably some from both of your setups to increase biome diversity). And the new carib sea rock. Put in 2 of the clowns to push the cycle, test until the cycle in the tote is complete, THEN you can complete the process as described above.

If it was me, and I did not live in Alaska, I would just order real ocean live rock. I don't think that is an option for you.

Unfortunately not. It's sooo expensive to ship here. I paid $150 for 80lbs of this rock, which is dirt cheap. I only wanted like 20lbs but the guy only wanted to sell it all.. So here we are. Lol.

It would cost probably $200-$250 to ship that much here. Or buy it locally for I'd guess $8-$9 a pound. Can't imagine what the bill would be on live rock. Lol.

 

[exnisstech]

If you are building the scape and bonding it together I would build it then put it in a tote or similar container. Add some live rock and bacteria, heat if needed and flow and cycle the scape there. I've completely escaped a tank once and used all dry rock. It was basically a full reset and had to battle nuisance algae and other nasties all over again. I was a pain. @jabberwock beat me to it but I'll post anyway since it took me so long to type the reply

 

[Reefin' Alaska]

If you are building the scape and bonding it together I would build it then put it in a tote or similar container. Add some live rock and bacteria, heat if needed and flow and cycle the scape there. I've completely escaped a tank once and used all dry rock. It was basically a full reset and had to battle nuisance algae and other nasties all over again. I was a pain. @jabberwock beat me to it but I'll post anyway since it took me so long to type the reply

Yeah, I guess in the end, that's what I'd like to avoid somehow, if I could - or at least minimize disturbing it. I don't do ANYTHING to that tank, it just works. No skimmer, no water changes, and once in a while some mechanical filtration. On an auto feeder and fish hang out in the softies. Lol.

Guess in the end, I'll have to go thru a bit of a reset, which is okay.

Thanks for the help =)

 

[exnisstech]

Yeah, I guess in the end, that's what I'd like to avoid somehow, if I could - or at least minimize disturbing it. I don't do ANYTHING to that tank, it just works. No skimmer, no water changes, and once in a while some mechanical filtration. On an auto feeder and fish hang out in the softies. Lol.

Guess in the end, I'll have to go thru a bit of a reset, which is okay.

Thanks for the help =)

Hopefully you get a scape you like. I still didn't like mine after redoing it

 

[jabberwock]

Could we get a full tank shot? Just curious...