I am upgrading from a 100g that I ran for almost 6 years. I have decided it was time to get something bigger and set it up for the long run. I plan on taking things extremely slow and starting 100% fresh no corals will be transferred over. I learned a lot over the last 6 years about what I wish I did differently. Goal is to basically cycle and run fish only for 4 to 6 months. Since I am ordering the tank new its obviously not the cheapest route The long cycle will give me time to plan and save for choice corals. I have the core equipment for the build but I will transfer over some old equipment that will need to be upgraded later. I have a 180G tank, steel stand with a Trigger Triton 44 sump coming in. I plan on doing all my hard pluming to include a manifold for growth down the road. Tank will have an external overflow with 3 - 1.5" drains two 3/4" return lines. My current skimmer will be transferred over since I will have a light bio load to begin with. Apex, dual MP40s and Radion G3 lights will also be transferred over. I am considering DOS pumps for auto water change but am not sold on it yet. I have RODI lines run into my house that I have on a solenoid to fill my ATO reservoir. I have it setup on a feed button on my apex that I manually can turn on for long enough to fill the reservoir. Apex alerts me when water gets low. I dont trust fully automating it yet.
Whats everyone's opinions on return pumps? On paper the DC pumps look really cool but beyond the power saving and ability to dial in flow through a controller and not a ball valve I;m not sure its worth it. I have a cor-15 I got cheap for my 65G and its cool but I dont use any of the features. Recommendations for 180G setup?
Thoughts on Neptune Fluid Monitoring Kit? Seems like cool info but not really worth the $$$. Anyone feel strongly for it? Why?
Is there any gear that you wish you would have got upfront and didn't? I obviously can always upgrade equipment and have been pretty low tech on my old tanks successfully. I would like to set this one up so my life is easier on the maintenance side.
The Trigger sump has 3 - 1" drian holes. My overflow is 1.5" Is it worth drilling out the plate to 1.5" or should i just convert to 1" at the sump? I guess the right answer will depend on my expected flow through the sump.
I plan on dosing 2 part but as the tank fills in and demand is high, I will move to a calcium reactor.
Any other tips or thoughts would be great. Its been a long time since I started a new tank and I haven't had one this size before.
Whats everyone's opinions on return pumps? On paper the DC pumps look really cool but beyond the power saving and ability to dial in flow through a controller and not a ball valve I;m not sure its worth it. I have a cor-15 I got cheap for my 65G and its cool but I dont use any of the features. Recommendations for 180G setup?
Thoughts on Neptune Fluid Monitoring Kit? Seems like cool info but not really worth the $$$. Anyone feel strongly for it? Why?
Is there any gear that you wish you would have got upfront and didn't? I obviously can always upgrade equipment and have been pretty low tech on my old tanks successfully. I would like to set this one up so my life is easier on the maintenance side.
The Trigger sump has 3 - 1" drian holes. My overflow is 1.5" Is it worth drilling out the plate to 1.5" or should i just convert to 1" at the sump? I guess the right answer will depend on my expected flow through the sump.
I plan on dosing 2 part but as the tank fills in and demand is high, I will move to a calcium reactor.
Any other tips or thoughts would be great. Its been a long time since I started a new tank and I haven't had one this size before.