LR re-arrangement in fully setup tank

I recently bought a fully setup and operational reef tank (75g) and I have moved it to my place and when I arrived, I just wanted to get everything in the tank to minimize any die-off. Well, now that everything is doing well and settled, it is time to arrange the LR in a way that is more pleasing (other than what looks like a reef after a hurricane).

Is there any "easy way" to arrange the 80 lbs of LR that I have without taking it out of the tank and seeing exactly what I have (as far as shapes, what is already growing on it, etc.) so I can arrange it in a more pleasing way?

I would appreciate you input.

Thank you,

Steven

 

I would put some water out of the tank into a big cooler and put the LR in there. By doing that you can see what shapes you have and minimize the amount of time its out of the water while rearranging. Just make sure while doing this if you have corals that are attached you keep them from being damaged. using a cooler you can lay it out where you can see it without it just being piled up in a bucket. If you dont have a cooler you can get one of them big shallow tupperware containers from walmart and do the same thing.

 

Steven

I cant think of any way to do what you want to do, without removing the majority of the rock - moving rock whilst its still in the tank is risky, if you try and pile it up in 1 area while working on the other, your likley to end up with rock slide and possible critical damage

IMHO - if you have a few large tubs, and can thus keep the rocks submerged in tank water while you rearrange thats the best method

you can leave 3 or 4 of the larger, base pieces in the DT and then build up your reef from there

disturbing the sand bed ( if you have one) as little as possible, is key to avoiding water parameter issues IME - so if the bottom level of rock is left alone and only rocks sat on rocks are moved, you should avoid any parameter spikes ( providing you keep the rock at least damp)

if it where me, Id have an extra 10 gallons of Saltwater made up
because then you can rinse those rocks good and proper in the old water you fill the tubs up with and leave that sediment loaded last couple of inches of water and throw it away, replacing with new water


Steve

 

Thanks Steve I didnt mention that.

 

Steve said it all,

Go to home depot and get a few all purpose buckets for a few bucks(if you dont already have them from moving the tank/water) use either the tank water or new saltwater and fill the buckets some, transfer the LR into the buckets and do your aquascaping from there.

while your at it i would also recommend doing a water change after you are all done and suck out debris that you loosened up.

 

Well, yesterday I rearranged the LR in the tank. I filled coolers with new W and took most everything out being careful not to "misplace" or damage any of the fish or corals. I have to say it went pretty smoothly. Now if looks much better (IMO). Here are the pics:

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I still have to do a bit of fine tuning, but this is pretty much the way it will be.

What do you think?

 

looks great! you did a very nice job

 

Looks Good. Thanks for the pics of your work. I like the caves 8)

 

wow! looks awesome! good job!

 

That's beautiful!! Good job - I am very impressed!!