ReeferMac
10/15/2003, 07:35 AM
It's official, I take the title, for worlds biggest retard.
Before I tell you my tale of woe however, I have one of survival (it's all the damned shrimp's fault).
My 90's been in-the-process of getting torn down for several weeks. It's been neglected since the new tank went up, to say the least. When I pulled the rock out last month, I all but forgot it was there. Sandbed got removed a couple weeks ago... and it's been untouched since. This weekend, I was draining the last of the water, and when I got down to about 1 inch left, I saw some 'activity' in the water on the other side of the tank. Lo and behold, there's a peppermint shrimp trying to find a deep spot!
Couldn't believe it had survived all that mistreatment (I mean, the lights hadn't been turned on in over a month). I knew acclimating the poor guy to the new tank's water was going to take a looooong time, so I put him in a bucket in front of the new tank, and started mixing the waters. I used one of the glasses I had kicking around down the basement (you know those 12-ounce glass one's the bar's usually have?) Well, after about an hour of doing this, I brought the glass down in front of the tank a tad early... smacked it right into the edge of the front perimeter brace.
Yes, it cracked the sum'***** right through. :( :( :(
Tank is OK.. I think. I can't tell if it's bowing any, and over 6-feet, I'm guessing I'd see it if it were a huge problem. Replacement glass has been ordered (might have found a local source!) I plan on finding a weekend in the very near future (this coming one's shot already), clamping the tank, draining it 2/3rds down (or more), removing the cracked brace, and replacing it w/ the new one. The plan goes as follows (and here's where I need all your cumulative advice - Gary, I'm particularly interested in your recent experiences):
Start very early some Saturday morning -
Place top rocks on sandbed wherever possible, plan on using the 90 as a water-holding facility as well as temp-home for some items.
Drain down to 2/3rds of the tank (leave ~8 inches of water in the bottom for the fish and corals now resting on sandbed).
Use 2x4's and clamps to brace the tank as flush and straight as I can measure it... With such little water in it, I'm guessing there will be minimal if any bowing.
Cut old silicone/brace away, cleanup w/ razor blades (I hear you have to COMPLETELY remove the old silicone).
Goop a bunch of silicone on the joints, drop the new brace in place, pray.
Get a new-shorn goat (what was the rest of that procedure Allen?)
- What Silicone and where do I get it (Lowes?)
- How long does it take to cure? 4, 8 hours? Please don't say overnight...
- Anyone got some big clamps I can borrow :D
- Who's free on Saturdays (prolly need 1 or 2 for moral support)?
Depending on how long the silicone needs to cure, will determine what I do w/ the fish/corals/water, etc. I have a soon-to-be-emptied 90, and a 60-gallon trash can to hold most of the tanks water, so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm hoping I can leave enough water in there to hold the corals and fish for as long as need be (temporarily place a few PH's and a heater). The bulk of the corals are on (re)movable rocks, so I can do something w/ most of it, but.. I do not want to tear the whole reef down if I can avoid it. I'd rather let 6-inches of rock run dry for the time needed (I'll hit it w/ the turkey-baster from time to time).
Sigh. But the shrimp made it into the new tank (haven't seen 'em since).
- Mac
Before I tell you my tale of woe however, I have one of survival (it's all the damned shrimp's fault).
My 90's been in-the-process of getting torn down for several weeks. It's been neglected since the new tank went up, to say the least. When I pulled the rock out last month, I all but forgot it was there. Sandbed got removed a couple weeks ago... and it's been untouched since. This weekend, I was draining the last of the water, and when I got down to about 1 inch left, I saw some 'activity' in the water on the other side of the tank. Lo and behold, there's a peppermint shrimp trying to find a deep spot!
Couldn't believe it had survived all that mistreatment (I mean, the lights hadn't been turned on in over a month). I knew acclimating the poor guy to the new tank's water was going to take a looooong time, so I put him in a bucket in front of the new tank, and started mixing the waters. I used one of the glasses I had kicking around down the basement (you know those 12-ounce glass one's the bar's usually have?) Well, after about an hour of doing this, I brought the glass down in front of the tank a tad early... smacked it right into the edge of the front perimeter brace.
Yes, it cracked the sum'***** right through. :( :( :(
Tank is OK.. I think. I can't tell if it's bowing any, and over 6-feet, I'm guessing I'd see it if it were a huge problem. Replacement glass has been ordered (might have found a local source!) I plan on finding a weekend in the very near future (this coming one's shot already), clamping the tank, draining it 2/3rds down (or more), removing the cracked brace, and replacing it w/ the new one. The plan goes as follows (and here's where I need all your cumulative advice - Gary, I'm particularly interested in your recent experiences):
Start very early some Saturday morning -
Place top rocks on sandbed wherever possible, plan on using the 90 as a water-holding facility as well as temp-home for some items.
Drain down to 2/3rds of the tank (leave ~8 inches of water in the bottom for the fish and corals now resting on sandbed).
Use 2x4's and clamps to brace the tank as flush and straight as I can measure it... With such little water in it, I'm guessing there will be minimal if any bowing.
Cut old silicone/brace away, cleanup w/ razor blades (I hear you have to COMPLETELY remove the old silicone).
Goop a bunch of silicone on the joints, drop the new brace in place, pray.
Get a new-shorn goat (what was the rest of that procedure Allen?)
- What Silicone and where do I get it (Lowes?)
- How long does it take to cure? 4, 8 hours? Please don't say overnight...
- Anyone got some big clamps I can borrow :D
- Who's free on Saturdays (prolly need 1 or 2 for moral support)?
Depending on how long the silicone needs to cure, will determine what I do w/ the fish/corals/water, etc. I have a soon-to-be-emptied 90, and a 60-gallon trash can to hold most of the tanks water, so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm hoping I can leave enough water in there to hold the corals and fish for as long as need be (temporarily place a few PH's and a heater). The bulk of the corals are on (re)movable rocks, so I can do something w/ most of it, but.. I do not want to tear the whole reef down if I can avoid it. I'd rather let 6-inches of rock run dry for the time needed (I'll hit it w/ the turkey-baster from time to time).
Sigh. But the shrimp made it into the new tank (haven't seen 'em since).
- Mac