My RSM: Version 2.0

[LaurentSeattle]

The continuation of the nightmare thread or a new beginning? We'll see...

Here is now how it looks after a full day of cleaning and a major re-aquascaping:



Everything is lower... Less rock. All easily removable. Good and strong flow everywhere.

By the way here is my vaguely "new" chemical filtration "system":



It has been working nicely lately, whithout impeding the flow in the back chambers.

[alphasierra]

Wow... big changes LaurentSeattle!!

I'll be watching closely and will have fingers crossed.

[Reefmack]

Wow - what a change! Looks good Laurent, and should really improve the flow with less rock. I'll be watching with fingers crossed also.

It's difficult to tell from the picture - is the skimmer pulling anything out? If not that could be another area to address as the skimmer will help eliminate excess nutrient and nasty stuff that could be feeding the brown and green algae.

[redseareef]

Laurent,
NICE JOB THERE!!!! Corals already look happy!!! Yes, water level looks to be too low for the skimmer. You may need to raise it a bit!
How do the water parameters test out? Nitrates? Phosphates? Let us know, LET US KNOW!!!!!!LOL!
Good job! The rock work was very smart. That's MUCH easier to keep clean now!
NICE!

[LaurentSeattle]

ReefMack: Skimmer is only consistent in its inconsistency... Sometimes works, sometimes nothing. I am considering putting the skimmer on timer and stop skimming from 4pm until 10pm: At least I will have much less bubbles during the "prime time".

RSR:

It is very difficult to raise the water level in the OLD RSM. You open the gate in full, and the skimmer skims. But if you do, there is no surface skimming and quickly you get a nasty film at the surface.

Same problem if you try to put more water in it when the water level is a bit above the top rim.

I am going to get the surface skimmer upgrade when it becomes available.

[Reefmack]

Laurent - I think the skimmer on a timer sounds like a great idea! Let us know if you see more skimmate being produced with a "non-prime" time schedule.

[LaurentSeattle]

A quick update:

The "BIG" change seems to be OK for now for all corals that look healthier and nicer than before...

However, fishes are not doing so well. The "pyjama" damsel is not swimming as usual. The yellow wrasse is hiding in the sand. I thought it was dead earlier this afternoon so I tried to remove it but it burried itself even deeper in the sand...

The cleaner shrimp is doing business as usual...

[Reefmack]

The fish are hopefully just confused by all of the changes. Any negative changes in the water parameters?

[Mavjoy]

laurentseattle- Your new version looks soo much room. No more problem of water movement and dead spots. Just do what you do for maintenace and your tank will look pristine in no time. Love the rockwork.

[LaurentSeattle]

Bad news here: The yellow wrasse did not survive. I am a bit sad because it was in the tank since 15 months and doing quite well. I problably hit it while pulling out all the rocks when cleaning the tank... Or maybe it did not survive the stress of the massive "crapstorms" that came with removal of the bigger rocks. I will never know. However, on the other hand, this guy was a real bully and killed: a pseudochromis diadema, a beautiful dartfish and a royal gramma.

Here is the latest FTS: I am quite satisfied: Pest algae has not regrown...


The Candy canes are doing a bit better and the Yumas are now fully expanded.

I have set up a little mushroom farm in the back, it cannot be seen on the picture. I am considering buying a Mag Rack.

Next thing to do is to remove corraline on the front and the sides. I will wait a bit for things to stabilize.

[Reefmack]

Wow - the tank looks soooo much better! Sorry about the yellow wrasse. I remember from your thread on the other forum that it had bullied several of your fish to death. It's a sad loss, but it opens the door to getting other fish in the future.

[LaurentSeattle]

A quick update...

The tank is doing quite well since the big reset.

I am now convinced that there is an amount of algae in a tank that no kind of water change and brand of phosphate remover will ever be able to deal with. Removing everything now seems to me that it was the only solution. I lost the yellow wrasse but all other animals are now doing much better.

I introduced four more algae eating snails and a tank raised violet dottyback from ORA. ( Pseudochromis fridmani ) The damsel is a bit bullying him but not too hard.

Algae is not regrowing except on the big rock on the right where it is still impeding the growth of the Green Star Polyps. I will work on this rock with a tooth brush later this week...

[jb673]

Laurent;
Congrats! I'll continue follow as always.
Wish you the Best!
Jerry

[Reefmack]

Laurent - good news on the tank! I think you're on the way to solving the problems. The hardest part can be finding the time and ambition to keep up the maintenance. The violet dottybacks are a pretty fish, and more peaceful than other dottybacks from what I can remember - good choice! You'll have to post one of your great pics of the new dottyback when you get a chance.

[LaurentSeattle]

Here is an almost full tank shot taken after cleaning coralline from the front glass.



In other news, I found my cleaner shrimp dead tonight. I don't get it. It was doing perfectly right yesterday...

The Orchid Dottyback is still very shy and therefore no picture yet.