This project was started because my SW tank started to look like a mess. The substrate was filthy, and snail and crab shells littered the bottom. The live rock was too close to the glass making it impossible to lean algae in some areas.
I removed all of the corals and live rock, and replaced the substrate completely. I used Coralife Special Aragonite. I scooped it out in cupfuls into a shallow tub for sorting later. After adding the substrate, the water looked like mud, and I used the skimmer to remove this mess, emptying the receptacle every 15 minutes until the water was clear enough for live rock placement. I then placed the live rock so as not to make it too close to the viewing glass, after cleaning the glass completely. I placed the corals where they would receive adequate light, and filled the tank. After that I sorted the substrate, and miraculously found only 1 bristle worm in 20 lbs of substrate (thanks Arrow crab). I had to sort the substrate to find live rock rubble, Nassarius snails, and shells. The shells and rubble went into my mangrove growout tub. I put the bristleworm into the tub too, as I found only one.
Here is the result of my work:
20 gal super tall tank
Coralife Super Skimmer 65
20 Lbs of Aragonite substrate
30 lbs Tatoka live rock
Ocellaris Clownfish
Peppermint shrimp
Mystery Black Crab 1"
Hermit Crabs
Pics include my loan Bristleworm
I removed all of the corals and live rock, and replaced the substrate completely. I used Coralife Special Aragonite. I scooped it out in cupfuls into a shallow tub for sorting later. After adding the substrate, the water looked like mud, and I used the skimmer to remove this mess, emptying the receptacle every 15 minutes until the water was clear enough for live rock placement. I then placed the live rock so as not to make it too close to the viewing glass, after cleaning the glass completely. I placed the corals where they would receive adequate light, and filled the tank. After that I sorted the substrate, and miraculously found only 1 bristle worm in 20 lbs of substrate (thanks Arrow crab). I had to sort the substrate to find live rock rubble, Nassarius snails, and shells. The shells and rubble went into my mangrove growout tub. I put the bristleworm into the tub too, as I found only one.
Here is the result of my work:
20 gal super tall tank
Coralife Super Skimmer 65
20 Lbs of Aragonite substrate
30 lbs Tatoka live rock
Ocellaris Clownfish
Peppermint shrimp
Mystery Black Crab 1"
Hermit Crabs
Pics include my loan Bristleworm
