Mrpontiac80 ‘s 180 gallon build

[mrpontiac80]

I got paid from my mini split install for my coral guy in cash and coral…. Got this indo gold. Or 24k. Either way I like it. Only been in the 65 gallon for a couple hours now. Also got a nice Goni but it’s all closed up

 

[mrpontiac80]

Meanwhile, I’m testing the waters so to speak in the 180 by moving a few corals over. A rock with some mushrooms on it, a purple candy cane that fell down in the sand a month ago, a rock with a blue acan and a couple of others.

 

[Fish Styx]

I got paid from my mini split install for my coral guy in cash and coral…. Got this indo gold. Or 24k. Either way I like it. Only been in the 65 gallon for a couple hours now. Also got a nice Goni but it’s all closed up

Sweet!

 

[mrpontiac80]

Sweet!

He usually has some nice stuff he sells on Facebook. I grabbed this acan not too long ago for $20

 

[mrpontiac80]

I just checked my par. Acros doing well in 65 gallon are 200-230 average. My acans torches and most everything else is 130-160 ranges. The two primes over the 180 was 15 at sand I don’t want to help algae take hold but I bumped themup to 80% to see 50 par on sand. Just trying to get things to survive in there.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I’m really trying to weigh the pros and cons of just competing a transfer from my 65 gallon into the 180.
The end game is to get everything in there anyway, but I’m limited on what I feel comfortable moving. This is because some acros and etc have encrusted rocks, limited funds for new lights so I plan to use my reefbreeders 48” and add to it once I get the 65 gallon sold.

I feel like My chances of keeping and loosing coral is about the same either way. With a full transfer or going slow. On the plus side, half the 180 would be stocked with 2 year old rock covered in coraline and corals. Currently the 180 is all new dry rock.

there are too many to count very tiny vermited snails on the rocks but I just feel it’s inevitable I get them again since I’m moving all the livestock over at some point. I plan to add a bunch of bumblebee snails.

 

[Zero_Cool]

Looking good! And following along.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thank you. I’m trying!!

 

[Fish Styx]

I’m really trying to weigh the pros and cons of just competing a transfer from my 65 gallon into the 180.
The end game is to get everything in there anyway, but I’m limited on what I feel comfortable moving. This is because some acros and etc have encrusted rocks, limited funds for new lights so I plan to use my reefbreeders 48” and add to it once I get the 65 gallon sold.

I feel like My chances of keeping and loosing coral is about the same either way. With a full transfer or going slow. On the plus side, half the 180 would be stocked with 2 year old rock covered in coraline and corals. Currently the 180 is all new dry rock.

there are too many to count very tiny vermited snails on the rocks but I just feel it’s inevitable I get them again since I’m moving all the livestock over at some point. I plan to add a bunch of bumblebee snails.

Yeah, I completely feel your dilemma. I say pull the trigger. It will plus up your biological filter in the new system and seed the sterile rock. Plus, it will give life, color, and movement to the new system. This will also allow you to sell the 65 gal faster, enabling you to get the new lighting and purchase a small army of bumble bees. There may be loss either way, so be prepared. As always, this advice comes with risk, and you should exercise caution if following it. I don't want to be burned at the stake if it goes south, but like I said: If it were me, I'd pull the trigger.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Yeah, I completely feel your dilemma. I say pull the trigger. It will plus up your biological filter in the new system and seed the sterile rock. Plus, it will give life, color, and movement to the new system. This will also allow you to sell the 65 gal faster, enabling you to get the new lighting and purchase a small army of bumble bees. There may be loss either way, so be prepared. As always, this advice comes with risk, and you should exercise caution if following it. I don't want to be burned at the stake if it goes south, but like I said: If it were me, I'd pull the trigger.

I tend to agree but just in case..

 

[mrpontiac80]

Well it’s 9:40 pm here but the family is getting ready to call it a night (I hope!) and mine is getting ready to start. Going to move everything from the waterbox 65 over to the new 180.
I’m not going to rearrange the corals or anything…. They are mostly on 2 main rock structures. So my scape is going to be off for a bit, but maybe after things settle in I can move some coral around this weekend.
Wish me luck.

 

[Fish Styx]

Well it’s 9:40 pm here but the family is getting ready to call it a night (I hope!) and mine is getting ready to start. Going to move everything from the waterbox 65 over to the new 180.
I’m not going to rearrange the corals or anything…. They are mostly on 2 main rock structures. So my scape is going to be off for a bit, but maybe after things settle in I can move some coral around this weekend.
Wish me luck.

You got this!

 

[hikebikebrew]

Looking good! Hope your move was successful with minimal to no losses! Will follow along as I'm a few weeks behind in a similar upgrade journey! Cheers!

 

[mrpontiac80]

Well it’s 1:00 AM now, but I’ve done all I’m gonna do tonight. The livestock and rock transfer went fairly quickly and smooth. Took about 1 hr. After that it was moving the reefbreeders light over along with the other gyres.
I never saw my pair of zebra darts… they hide in the rocks until feeding time so I assume they were in a structure as I moved it. I think everyone else is accounted for. Hopefully I didn’t hurt the rock flowers. I had to use a credit card to get them to let loose of the glass bottom.
I reset all my lights at half % of the normal schedule and plan to increase them gradually back to normal in a 2 week timeframe. The waterbox looks awful sad looking. But I’ve got it listed locally for sale. If no one bites on it, my lfs has offered me a price he would pay. Hopefully I can rearrange some stuff tomorrow or definitely over the weekend.

im definitely going to have to move over my ato tank and build some sort of control cabinet in the stand. It’s a mess under there!

but here’s pics a

 

[mrpontiac80]

It’s not quite 24 hrs later but everything looks pretty good all in all. The leathers are ticked off and some zoas are not full but the acros look as good as they did, the fish have so much more room and my monster Mexican turbo snails don’t look as big
I tested all the parameters tonight after work and things are not too bad.

 

[Fish Styx]

It’s not quite 24 hrs later but everything looks pretty good all in all. The leathers are ticked off and some zoas are not full but the acros look as good as they did, the fish have so much more room and my monster Mexican turbo snails don’t look as big
I tested all the parameters tonight after work and things are not too bad.

Looking good!

 

[mrpontiac80]

Looking good!

I’m just glad the stressfull part is over!! Now I just need to do the work part by cleaning up the old tank…

 

[mrpontiac80]

It feels like it’s been more honestly but in reality everything has been in the 180 now for 3 days. Thankfully I don’t think anything has been lost due to the transfer. The toadstool and devils hand leather is still ticked off, but everything looks good.

The sps looks like nothing happened as of right now.
My lights are getting increased slightly everyday since I set them at half the power that they were before the move.
I’m thinking I may try to place some pieces tomorrow in a more permanent location.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Thought I’d update. Tanks been running after the full transfer now for two weeks. The clarisea sk5000 gen 2 is awesome. The skimmer is doing it’s thing well and no coral deaths or livestock at all for that matter.
I do have diatoms on the sand and rock and glass but nothing horrible.
I feel like the gyres are satisfactory for now. I’m still trying to dial in the flow I like.

I did pick up a used reefbreeders photon v2 24” with the nexus upgrade already done this past weekend. I plan to fit it next to my current 48” and hang them hopefully this weekend.

 

[Fish Styx]

Thought I’d update. Tanks been running after the full transfer now for two weeks. The clarisea sk5000 gen 2 is awesome. The skimmer is doing it’s thing well and no coral deaths or livestock at all for that matter.
I do have diatoms on the sand and rock and glass but nothing horrible.
I feel like the gyres are satisfactory for now. I’m still trying to dial in the flow I like.

I did pick up a used reefbreeders photon v2 24” with the nexus upgrade already done this past weekend. I plan to fit it next to my current 48” and hang them hopefully this weekend.

Stunning!