"Wally's World" 180.5 Upgrade

[WallyTime7]

Wait…what…water levels will be same ? Aren’t you going from a 55g display (rs250) to a 130g display (180.5) ?

How are you handling the extra water for mixing ? Bigger Brute cans ? Curious as I’ve currently been using a 25 and 45g container.

You said Radions…XR30s ?

Sorry, as in parameters. I'm keeping the same salt and my alk, nitrates have been pinned down. So there shouldn't be a big 'swing' in a new tank exploration. It's really going to try and test the new Radions with a par meter and get something slightly above where I am now, move my LPS down and adjust slowly.

 

[WallyTime7]

Wait…what…water levels will be same ? Aren’t you going from a 55g display (rs250) to a 130g display (180.5) ?

How are you handling the extra water for mixing ? Bigger Brute cans ? Curious as I’ve currently been using a 25 and 45g container.

You said Radions…XR30s ?

Yes on the water changes too - I have a 55 gallon RODI storage that is always filled to the top with a 22 gallon wheeled brute I can stroll over to the tank and use for weekly changes. Plan on doing 20 gallons weekly, so about 12%. I have a 33 gallon brute in storage that I'll swap out if I want to increase fish/bioload

 

[WallyTime7]

Played around and added more arches for hiding spaces on the new rock. May bump up my move to the next few days since I had this rock going already for 30 days.

 

[MW319]

Love your tank. I have the WB 170 4.5. It’s been up and running since 03/19. Following to see which reefmat you end up getting. I have a decent size bio load with 9 fat fish. ( regal angle, purple tang, yellow tang, yellow eyed kole tang, blotchy anthrax, yellow Cora’s wrasse, red hawk fish and a pair of clowns)

 

[WallyTime7]

Love your tank. I have the WB 170 4.5. It’s been up and running since 03/19. Following to see which reefmat you end up getting. I have a decent size bio load with 9 fat fish. ( regal angle, purple tang, yellow tang, yellow eyed kole tang, blotchy anthrax, yellow Cora’s wrasse, red hawk fish and a pair of clowns)

Love your tank! Just saw your message sorry on the delay.
I'm actually holding off on the ReefMat. Returned the 1200. I work from home and the upgraded 7" sock size would help. I can easily change them 4-5 days.
Also, don't mind it compared to my RedSea I HATE how they designed it under the ATO. These WB's are so much nicer for access.

 

[WallyTime7]

The move went wild but successful! I'll post more pictures tomorrow on that. So in reverse order - been brainstorming how I can place my Clear Water CW-100 Scrubber in my sump. I returned the 200 because it was wayyyyy too big.

Jimmy ridged this 11.5" stand that the exit valve will go right through. It'll sit 1" above the water line when my return is off, so not worrying about back-up when it's off as a safety.

Also put together a short 2" exit extender for a silent operation when it exits into my live rock section in the sump. PUtting it together on the manifold tomorrow!

 

[MW319]

Love your tank! Just saw your message sorry on the delay.
I'm actually holding off on the ReefMat. Returned the 1200. I work from home and the upgraded 7" sock size would help. I can easily change them 4-5 days.
Also, don't mind it compared to my RedSea I HATE how they designed it under the ATO. These WB's are so much nicer for access.

Thanks, appreciate that. I’m doing my socks every 3 to 4 days and after 3+ years I’m Tired of washing them. LOL

 

[WallyTime7]

Thanks, appreciate that. I’m doing my socks every 3 to 4 days and after 3+ years I’m Tired of washing them. LOL

Totally get it - maybe a year out I'll change my mind. I upgraded my salt to ESV, so was just trying to weigh costs and can cut $25 a month on filter rolls, I'll do that.

 

[WallyTime7]

Monday was the move to the upgraded Waterbox 180.5 from my RedSea 250. Overall, it went great with zero losses in coral or fish.

My blue hippo & wrasse were hiding in a big rock piece and would NOT get out. Tried splashing water and everything, so I had to pick the rock up and run downstairs with it out of water and the fish still on the rock (super stubborn!) but they made it.

Yesterday I added a Kole tang and cardinal. My scopas tried to alpha him a bit but they get along great now. Feeding heavy to please the group. Nitrates around 5 and Phos at 0.05 so I can't complain.

The week leading up to the move, I did small water changes from my old tank to the new one, ten gallons at a time. This helped feed my newer tank with existing bacteria. I also made sure my salinity, temp, and Alk were identical before moving, which they were and probably the main cause for no casualties.

My lights are using "ReefDudes AB+" Radion G6 Pro cycle but at 50% since I ran a low par tank upstairs. I'm getting 250 par on the peaks and 125 on my sandbed at the moment. I feel that's a good start for 30 days and bump up 5% every month afterwards.

 

[WallyTime7]

Here we are two weeks in! (morning lights, blue heavy)

Trident is honing in, keeping alk 8.8-9.2, PH is around 8, Nitrates are 3.5-4 (feed two frozen cubes twice a day) with nori, and phosphates 0.05. Added some new frags on the right side.
Anemones are not doing great after the move, probably will re-home soon. Everything else survived and flourishing greatly.

I have 6 fish on order and going through QT. 2 fire fish, naso tang, 2x female anthias and a blenny. should help the bioload a bit. My goal is 10ppm nitrates.

 

[WallyTime7]

well - since the tank is in the basement, had PH struggles so installed a custom made dual C02 scrubber with controllable ball valve.
Hooks right into my apex power connector at the bottom. Put a tap into the top of my skimmer. Apex controls to keep it on until it hits 8.4 PH and back on when it hits 8.2 as a floor.
Just started it last night, but already see my nightly dip starting to rise - can't wait to see where this can take me for PH control.
Put quick-connects for easier assembly when changing the media. Have them 'forked' from the ball valve so it's not choking my skimmer for easier media distribution.

 

[WallyTime7]

Wait…what…water levels will be same ? Aren’t you going from a 55g display (rs250) to a 130g display (180.5) ?

How are you handling the extra water for mixing ? Bigger Brute cans ? Curious as I’ve currently been using a 25 and 45g container.

You said Radions…XR30s ?

Just saw this - sorry! If you're still interested in the set-up happy to share.

 

[WallyTime7]

Tank is one year old after the upgrade from the RSea 55. Things are looking good! Had some issues along the way (gorilla crab snook in and wrecked some damage on corals and three fish), peppermint shrimp ate aptasia but also some torches when they were done, fish compatibility, etc.