Community Discussion Thread - New Years Tank Resolutions

[Wiskey]

Hello TRT!

It's a new year, and while were all busy making and breaking new year's resolutions, it might be a good time to think about our tanks.

I'd like to have this discussion in two parts - in this first part, I would like everyone to chime in on problems that they have with their tanks that they would like to correct this year, or things they would like to change this year. I'm looking for issues like, trouble keeping nitrate down, or algae issues, etc, etc, not things like hardware setups - we can keep that for another discussion.

Even if the person above you listed the same thing you want to, go ahead and list it anyway

Later in the discussion we will compile all the problems, and come up with a list of common issues. Then as a community we can brainstorm for good solutions, and eventually have a good database of knowledge for solving the most common issues

So fire away! What are some things you would like to change with your tank this year?

Whiskey

[wolfe4372]

get the second tank up and cycled and get mosey (the tiger cowrie) away from my softies!

and i would like to lose a little of my pudge but that has nothing to do with the tank

[crvz]

For me, I kind of have two goals. One, thin out the coral population with corals that a) grow well and b) coexist well. I think, much like many who start a tank, I crammed too many frags in the tank too quickly, and now I'm fighting for real estate. I prefer the look of fewer large colonies over a frag factory, so that's where I'm headed livestock wise.

And then second, I need to get more flow along the bottom of my sandless tank while keeping in mind the LPS corals that reside down there (blow out detritus without destroying those corals). That's likely going to be challenge and potentially costly (anyone got used Tunzes for sale?), but it's too much of a pain to siphon the floor of the tank in some many places now that the corals in the upper half have grown.

[VWD]

Once we buy a new house, soon I hope. I want to start up some larger tanks and also start a nice seahorse tank, I miss my tanks. Give Kristine her Nano tank back.LOL

[YLChik]

I'm with Chris on the flow over the bottom of the tank- however I will want a cheeper solution

I have algae issues- that I would love to eradicate - I know i need to step up my water changes, but I got lazy!
and I said I wouldn't make any resolutions!

I also want to set Connor's tank back up, but that is going to go FAR slower than it did last time.

[Loverotties]

Love to go bigger!

[cerobbins]

I am looking for a good method do document coral growth so that I can try to optimize my setup for rapid growth of stony corals. Best method I have though of is a camera that will remain in a fixed location to take time lapsed measurements of both growth and pe. Only problem is I don't have a camera. Nor do I have the desire to spend the money to get a decent SLR and macro. Unless someone has a better option or I can figure out another method it looks like I may have to bite the bullet though.

[usmc2b2004]

Finish my frag tanks (I have 2, 1 at work, and 1 at home)
Get the stingray tank up and running if the wife will let me.

That's pretty mush it for me.

[OneDummHikk]

After having had problems with my back most of last year and no foreseeable end to (surgery again in Feb or so), my new years resolutions for my tanks and the inhabitants I have left are to get them set back up and in my own residence so I can see them. Currently they are in a friends tank being taken care of for me. If I can manage to do that this year, I will consider it a success.

Not sure thats what Wiskey was hunting, but its my tank resolution for the year

[aquawolf]

I have some algae that I still have not been able to get rid of, I believe it is bryopsis, but the funny thing is it is confined now to the Korailas and the return nozzles. It is not on any rocks and even though I would like it gone for good, I can actually live with it the way it is right now.

I also need to work on flow which probably means tearing the tank down and re-aquscaping it. I have 2 spots where Cyanobacteria likes to grow, but once again it is only in those 2 spots so I can deal with it pretty effectively during water changes.

I also have a dream to set up a rather large and elaborate coral grow out station in a separate building on our property, but am not sure if finances are going to support such an endeavor.

[jenglish]

I would like to actually get coral in my tank! Its been setup for 6 months and all thats in it is a few zoas and one acro frag. Everytime I get money I spend it on a piece of equipment I need and never have any money for actual livestock. I would like to get my FW tank turned into a sump, more sand in the display and a rocklift and support structure built.

[Junkzoo]

"Reboot" both tanks, and get them back to more than almost empty boxes of water.

At least that is my plan inna week or two(18th), when i have my first of 5 weeks of vacation (I'm savin' the other 4 for kinda more important things-Tom's pig-pickin' and a few weeks diving in da Keys)

[Junkzoo]

Mebbe the upsizing and moving everything downstairs project will have to wait til next yrs resolution...

[crvz]

Originally Posted by jenglish

... on a piece of equipment I need

I like the power you put behind you statement there. Need.

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by crvz

I like the power you put behind you statement there. Need.

Well, I don't need an RO/DI, refracto and TDS..... but I would feel a lot better iff I did Hauling 10 gallons of water a week in my coupe and no lids for my bottles.... well the novelty is wearing off of the trip to the LFS.