HB AL'S 180G upgrade/build, replacing my 90G

[HB AL]

So its time after 5.5 years to upgrade for the benefit of my fish . I have my current tank a 90G in my bedroom and my new 180G is going right where my 90G is. Since it's replacing my 90G in my bedroom the biggest I could fit due to the space I had to work with and getting it into my bedroom was a 180g although I could have had a custom built taller tank making it closer to 300G but the thought of not being able to reach the bottom of a tall tank made the 180G much more appealing. So now that I have the new tank in my garage I can slowly start getting the new tank ready and plan out everything that's gonna need to be done to make the transfer in 1 day and hopefully have no loss or very little at worst. Here's some pics of the new tank I could get as my garage is currently filled with my wife's stuff from her classroom and a couple pics of my current tank it's replacing. At the moment I'm shooting to make the actual transfer day 3 to 4 weeks from now but it might be a little longer at worst 8 weeks.

 

[Not_Eeyore]

Green with envy! What are you going to put the stock in to while the tanks are being swapped?

 

[HB AL]

Kiddie pools probably

 

[Not_Eeyore]

Kiddie pools probably

If they get too $ for quality, then consider a Rubbermaid stock tank from Tractor Supply. Note the built in drain at the bottom of this $90 hard side 100 gallon version. Then it becomes an outdoor pond.

 

[HB AL]

Ready for paint, was gonna go black but I also like blue so I went with Midnight Blue.

 

[HB AL]

Coat 1

 

[HB AL]

Second coat on, done.

 

[revhtree]

Ooh can't wait to see this complete!

 

[HB AL]

Me too, I'm now in fast track mode, was originally going with the idea of within 2 months now its looking like hopefully in the next few weeks the transfer will be complete. My fish are gonna love me even more when the see there new home! One thing that has made my anxiety over having minimal loss is my lfs offered me 120 gallons of conditioned water from his coral tanks which brought my anxiety down alot as he uses the same salt and conditioned is gonna help alot versus freshly mixed especially since I havnt done a water change in over 4.5 years.

 

[HB AL]

Got it in the house, was a little dicey going through the window. If all goes according to plan tomorrow will be D-DAY

 

[HB AL]

So after an 11 hour swap tanks marathon I got the tank running, put all the fish and corals in and had to quit so I could get a couple hours sleep. Now I've got the skimmer going along with the wavemakers. Next up are the lights. Found a good size crabs was gonna feed it to my triggers but figured the guys a survivor so I released it into the tank.

 

[HB AL]

Made a little more progress.

 

[HB AL]

Still need to scape but atleast the transfer went well with minimal loss of some acros, but all my fish are smiling with the larger living quarters.

 

[Nigel35]

How do have the triggers and a CUC? I have tried it before and no success.

 

[Nigel35]

Btw beautiful tank!!!!

 

[HB AL]

How do have the triggers and a CUC? I have tried it before and no success.

They do pick some off here and there but they have alot of rock which they hide in when the lights are on as they are strictly nocturnal now.

 

[Midrats]

Now that's Kessil done right! The new tank is looks great.

 

[HB AL]

A vid of new tank 1 month running,

 

[HB AL]

Scaping tomorrow so here are some from now, and will post the new scape pics tomorrow.

 

[Poseidon's snail]

Wow looks amazing congrats on the transfer!