180g Overhaulin'

[DeepDiver55]

After having my tank up and running for the past 7+ years it's time to do some remodeling. Automate, modernize, and rearrange.

 

[Fish Fan]

Beautiful tank!

 

[vlangel]

After having my tank up and running for the past 7+ years it's time to do some remodeling. Automate, modernize, and rearrange.

I dont know, looks pretty good to me! Actually it has to be pleasing to you and some times a change is just what you need to rekindle more excitement for your hobby!

 

[kevgib67]

I think it looks great, well done. I’m sure any changes you make will be fantastic.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I think it looks great as well! Can't wait to see what you end up doing with it!

 

[DeepDiver55]

Beautiful tank!

Thx - I appreciate the compliment

 

[DeepDiver55]

I think it looks great, well done. I’m sure any changes you make will be fantastic.

Thx - I appreciate it. As for changes - I hope so. The proof will be in reef stuff I can add without looking overly crowded.

 

[DeepDiver55]

Opening move - the rocks. I won 80ish lbs of Marco Rocks at Reef-a-Palooza last year that I’ve been looking at ever since. I’ve set the basic layout, and got the mortar. It’s a 180g tank dimensions 72x24x24. The *reef* is ~ 45Lx17Wx12H. That’s subject to change as I figure how much room I need for the rocks I’ll keep. I’ve got some time to get used to it & rearrange as desired. I’ll start cementing once I get back from our Orlando vacation. WWC here I come!

 

[vlangel]

That's an attractive aquascape. You are going to notice the disruption to the maturity of your tank with so much new dry rock however. Potentially it will open up the possibility of uglies until things settle back down. The more of your current rock that you integrate the better. Maybe create some fingers coming off the Marco rock scape using your current rock. That will create some Coves which could be nice also.

 

[DeepDiver55]

I dont know, looks pretty good to me! Actually it has to be pleasing to you and some times a change is just what you need to rekindle more excitement for your hobby!

Thx - I don’t think I need a rekindle. Of course admitting it is half the battle. I hoping this expands my livestock options. Giving me
more options for corals, zoas etc.

 

[DeepDiver55]

That's an attractive aquascape. You are going to notice the disruption to the maturity of your tank with so much new dry rock however. Potentially it will open up the possibility of uglies until things settle back down. The more of your current rock that you integrate the better. Maybe create some fingers coming off the Marco rock scape using your current rock. That will create some Coves which could be nice also.

*Hopefully* I’ve got this thought thru. Due to weight/overall size the plan is mortar in sections. Once accomplished put into a trough to cure. I’ve got the brightwell microbacter kit to cycle the rock before placing it into the tank. Maybe avoid the uglies? Just got parameters under control and don’t want to mess those up any more than I absolutely have to. Thoughts? Yes on the fingers. The center of the reef is bowed, I have rocks with stuff I want to keep but can’t remove. I was looking for an idea for where to put them. Now I’ve got one. The BTAs, frog spawn etc I can move. Then there’s the huge head of Duncans I need to find a place for. Thx for the input

 

[vlangel]

That is a good plan. Mortaring the new rock in modular sections is a great idea and cycling it with Brightwells Microbacter is also good. Are there any smaller pieces of old rock/rubble or a cup of sand from your reef that you can add to the cycling process to add more diversity? There is fully cycled and there is diversity of biolife due to tank maturity. Fully cycled tanks still often get a bad case of the uglies. You may not by pass the uglies completely but hopefully you minimize them.

I transferred the contents of a 56g and its 30g sump into a new 75g aquarium. It was the rock, sand (washed), coral and fish. I still got uglies and they have lasted a year! They are only now subsiding.
One big mistake I made at 2 months in was to treat the tank with Prasipro and Cipro to deal with sick fish. I think that was a major disruption to a new tank that was still recovering from the transfer disruption. I may have had some dinos that then turned into cyano. If I weren't such an old reef keeper I might have gotten disheartened but I knew the tank would eventually settle and it finally is. I just dont want to see anyone else go through that.

 

[DeepDiver55]

That is a good plan. Mortaring the new rock in modular sections is a great idea and cycling it with Brightwells Microbacter is also good. Are there any smaller pieces of old rock/rubble or a cup of sand from your reef that you can add to the cycling process to add more diversity? There is fully cycled and there is diversity of biolife due to tank maturity. Fully cycled tanks still often get a bad case of the uglies. You may not by pass the uglies completely but hopefully you minimize them.

I transferred the contents of a 56g and its 30g sump into a new 75g aquarium. It was the rock, sand (washed), coral and fish. I still got uglies and they have lasted a year! They are only now subsiding.
One big mistake I made at 2 months in was to treat the tank with Prasipro and Cipro to deal with sick fish. I think that was a major disruption to a new tank that was still recovering from the transfer disruption. I may have had some dinos that then turned into cyano. If I weren't such an old reef keeper I might have gotten disheartened but I knew the tank would eventually settle and it finally is. I just dont want to see anyone else go through that.

Didn’t think of the rock. My lfs had offered mud when I start cycling the rocks. I was planning sand. The guy I got my 1st tank gave me sand and added ammonia. Really kick started the process. But was starting from scratch. Don’t know about the ammonia but sand yes. Would adding some livestock in the trough near the end help? Maybe mollies?