Young@Heart
Active Member
My Name is Ed, my first SW tank was a 20 Gallon that I did for my daughter - a "Nemo" Tank - it had a 45 Gallon HOB filter with about 15 Lbs of Live Rock. Kept it until I got too aggressive with cleaning the filter (HOB) and got some cleaning solution (maybe vinegar) in the tank (I did not know it at the time). Eventually all live stock died (Rest in Peace). Fast Forward 4 years or so. I started a 55 Gallon Mixed Reef Tank (Fish, Live Rock and Corals). Using 2 75 Gal HOB Filters and about 38 lbs of LR + 60 lbs of live sand and 2 AI Primes lighting about 10 hrs a day ramping time included in that figure - this tank has been running about 2 Months now. Inhabitants seem happy, but I hope I am not moving too fast. I have 2 Clowns, Pigmy Angelfish, Sleeper Goby + 3-4 Emerald Crabs, 2 Zoas, 2 Gorilla Nipples a Fancy Chalice and a Torch Coral (The Torch was a fathers day present from my wife and daughter).
This is where I hope I am not getting over my head - Within the next couple of weeks, I plan on getting a 185 Gallon Aquarium (Stand, base, Sump, UPS, Protein Skimmer, any living livestock (including corals and LR), t5 Lighting, reference books and Canopy included). I realize, I have a few things to look at:
- Live Stock Compatibility
- It is a Pre-Owned Tank - so it will need TLC (Cleaning) - Maybe even stain the wood.
- Cycle the Tank (Planning for a month)
- Plan for Aquascapeing (after all the new tank is 3.3 times the size of what I have now)
- Once Cycled - Decommission 55 Gallon Tank and Transfer Livestock, LR.
- Still thinking about Substrate - Not Sure I want Sand, but I have a Sleeper Goby and he sifts sand and he hides in the sand/Builds Tunnels.
The Biggest Problem, I foresee is I don't know anything about sumps, protein skimmers. I am trying to read what I can find here, But I am getting a little nervous. I have created a check list for moving the 185, but I hope I am not forgetting something; Please help with comments, suggestions, tips, references to look at.
Best to all,
Ed
This is where I hope I am not getting over my head - Within the next couple of weeks, I plan on getting a 185 Gallon Aquarium (Stand, base, Sump, UPS, Protein Skimmer, any living livestock (including corals and LR), t5 Lighting, reference books and Canopy included). I realize, I have a few things to look at:
- Live Stock Compatibility
- It is a Pre-Owned Tank - so it will need TLC (Cleaning) - Maybe even stain the wood.
- Cycle the Tank (Planning for a month)
- Plan for Aquascapeing (after all the new tank is 3.3 times the size of what I have now)
- Once Cycled - Decommission 55 Gallon Tank and Transfer Livestock, LR.
- Still thinking about Substrate - Not Sure I want Sand, but I have a Sleeper Goby and he sifts sand and he hides in the sand/Builds Tunnels.
The Biggest Problem, I foresee is I don't know anything about sumps, protein skimmers. I am trying to read what I can find here, But I am getting a little nervous. I have created a check list for moving the 185, but I hope I am not forgetting something; Please help with comments, suggestions, tips, references to look at.
Best to all,
Ed
