150G FW to Reef Conversion

[jc8745]

I'm not ready to start the conversion yet. And i wont be able to go out and buy everything i need at once. I will be buying the right peices spread out over a bit of time.

This is what i will have to start with:
150g 48x30x24 Aquarium and Stand
A DIY Canister Filter, that pumps about 1100gph
A Wood Canopy with 36" 40w Blue and a 40w 10 act bulb


I was thinking of something like this, doesnt have to be this and i am open to suggestion to the right setup at a decent cost:

CPR SYS 2000 Wet/Dry Filter Package w/rio 2100 around $350

Upgrade the Lights to 48" not sure what would be best, but expecting to spend around $400 (maybe more)

Will need a Protien Skimmer, not sure which one yet or cost.

Some Power Heads, not sure which ones.

With 150 gal, not sure how much total rock i would go with, but i would want to create layers/shelfs, the tank is 30" deep so i would want to be able to get corals at the right heights for the right lighting needs.

I was thinking about making a plenum, open to comments about that.

What i was thinking is that once i get the tank moved and the cichlids into the 260, i could go ahead and build the plenum, get the substrate and some live rock. With the DIY canister, low lighting i could go ahead and start letting the aquarium start its thing.

Which one first, skimmer, Sump or lights ?

Anyway these are the things that i will be sitting down and planning out.

My thought is that this tank will be a 2 year process before i have it looking like a killer reef tank. This is based on cost, even if i had all the money i needed, i know it will take some time for it to get established and there will be steps to be taken.

Open to all suggestions, thoughts, and comments i want to do this right, and not have to undo anything and redo it right.

 

[naterd1976]

This sounds like a good plan you have. It's good you plan on taking it slow.

I assume the 150 is not reef ready (drilled to accept plumbing to a sump). This would be the first thing I would do if it is not. A reef ready tank has many advantages especially if you plan on using a sump. Travis Stevens has a thread out there than shows you how to make a tank Reef ready on a budget. Although it might be a little more risky with a big 150 like you have.

I would get a sump first (over lights and skimmer). You can get everything plumbed and water tested. Plus you will want a sump in place before the skimmer to ensure you buy a skimmer that will properly fit in the sump.

Second, I would upgrade the lights. I personally would go with T5 lighting w/ individual parabolic reflectors in a canopy. This will allow you to keep most any type of coral in your system (need to check out Lori and Donny's (cichlid67) tank that runs t5's. I went with T5's because I had a canopy and they run cooler that metal halides. If your canopy sits pretty high off your tank, you should be able to put any kind of lighting you want with a couple fans.

I would choose a skimmer last since it really isn't even necessary to get a tank going as long as you do frequent water changes. When you do get one, I would go with the highest quality one you can afford.

As a matter of fact, If I could do mine over again, I would only buy quality proven equipment, everything from the heater to the lights, it will save a lot of frustration and heart ache down the road.

Good luck with your endeavor,

nate

 

[jjmcat]

For my filtration I used and old 55 gallon tank that keith and I made into a sump.Didnt cost that much to do it.With the money saved on the sump you could get an overflow and upgrade you lights.I would really look and research skimmers.I just upgraded my skimmer to a corallife super skimmer.Theres nothing like pulling black liquid out of clear water.You can do this one of two ways,you can go out and by everthing or you can go to the DIY forum and make your own.Travis and I both have some DIY live rock in our tank but I would buy some as well.On the three you mentioned above id go sump,lights,then skimmer.I didnt use a skimmer for the first six months of my firts tank.BTW I wouldnt go that long unless your a die hard on doing weekly water changes.So in short Id do what nate said.

 

[naterd1976]

Once you have an idea of what type of equipment you are looking for. Keep your eyes peeled on the buying/selling forums here on RC. Also put word out on the forum and amongst the people in OMAS/COMAS. You can find quality used equipment for a fraction of the new price if you are patient. I would even keep an eye on ebay.

 

[SoonerReefer]

If you could I would try and stay with a Reef ready tank that makes the plumbing much easier and less stuff hanging off the back of the tank.
As far as a sump gos you can make your own or use a 55 like Jarod said,see what kinda budget your going to have and go from there.
I would for sure buy a skimmer thats rated for your tank size or bigger,dont go with a cheap brand go with something you can afford the better the skimmer the better your water quality!
As for lighting read up on it and decide what best suites your interest. MH,VHO and T-5s are all good lighting,retro fit kits are good and the least expensive to buy......

Invest in an RO unit that will be the most important piece of equipment you can purchase for your tank!

Donny
:beer:

 

[jprince58]

I agree with Jarrod and Donny. Ditch the cannister filter and go with a sump/refugium/skimmer combo. Add in the live sandbed and rock, and you have a potent biological filtration system. When we set our tank up (and we're headed the same route with #2), we started out buying things piece-meal, but had a master plan and spent the extra $$ to get good equipment from the start. It's a decision that has paid off over and over.

 

[jc8745]

The 150 that i have isnt reef ready,

I'm still thinking about the drilling thing,
i know i will be going with a sump/wetdry,
utilizing the canister will just be short term, cause i have it right now, and i think i could start the sand and a small portion of live rock.

The sump wet/dry will be first i get, looks like everyone thinks that should be first.

That will give me some time to figure out which skimmer i should get.


a 55 sump sounds great, because i will have a spare 55, bad thing is it wont fit in the cabinet underneath, and i wont have room to place it beside it. So i'm leaning towards a pre-man sump with over flow box.

I'm also leaning towards the t5 lights.

 

[jc8745]

First 2 steps completed this weekend. Quite a few more to go,
Moved the grow out tank to a different room, and setup a second holding tank until the 150 is changed to the 260


Fish Room Upgrade

Current Content's
150g SA/CA Cichlid, Fresh Water Tank
55g SA/CA Cichlid Grow out tank
55g Saltwater Reef Tank
20g soon to be 50g Bearded Dragon Cage

Current Layout

Upgrade
Change 150g sa/ca tank to a 260g
Convert 150g to a saltwater reef tank

Planned Layout

 

[jc8745]

My Overall Plan Of Action

1.1 and 1.2 completed this last weekend.

Phase 1 - Convert SA/CA Cichlids from 150g to 260g tank.
1.1 Break down 55g fw grow out tank
1.2 Temporarily setup (2) 55g holding tanks (mainly to keep all filters running)
1.3 Break down and move 150g tank
1.4 Tank stand for 260g needs new wood on outside (cosmetics)
1.5 Shore/reinforce raised wood floor ( mainly for piece of mind)
1.6 Temporally relocate Bearded Dragon
1.7 Relocate book shelf's
1.8 Place 260g tank stand
1.9 Place 260g tank
1.10 Aquascape tank
1.11 Fill Tank
1.12 Transfer filters from temporary 55g tanks and from the 150g
1.13 Verify water parameters
1.14 Transfer Live Stock

Phase 2 - Convert 150g to Saltwater Reef
2.1 Determine which wetdry/sump to run, budget and plan purchase
2.2 Build Plenum
2.3 Start making a bunch of RO water
2.4 Scrub 150 gallon with vinegar and rinse out
2.5 Wash out existing canister with vinegar (canister will be a short term, depending on timing, I may have sump at this time and will omit this step)
2.6 Add new media to canister, it has (2) 4" diameter by 16" tall chambers, thinking about using lava rock.
2.7 Determine which protein skimmer to run, budget and plan purchase
2.8 Start adding saltwater to tank
2.9 Add Power Heads for water movement, qty (4)
2.10 Add mixture of sand and live sand, and first batch of live rock.
2.11 Top off tank, and start the cycling process
2.12 Plan what type of corals and live stock
2.13 Determine lighting, budget and plan purchase
2.14 Determine Purchase/Adding Live stock plan
2.15 Upgrade canister to a wet/dry sump (may already be completed back at 2.4) (If added here, media from canister will be added to the new filter, i expect to add time for the new sump to cycle)
2.16 Add more live rock
2.17 Add Protein Skimmer
2.18 Add more rock
2.19 Upgrade Lights
2.20 Add more rock
2.21 Verify water parameters
2.22 Start live stock plan

 

[jc8745]

Quick update,
Steps 1.1 - 1.8 completed,

On the tank stand keep in mind i had to borrow all the tools to do the work and i had only one year of shop back in 9th grade 25+ years ago. It turned ok, i'm happy with it, it does look better than it did.

Tank stand as i got it,

Wood added

First coat of stain

Second coat of stain, doors added, not stained, moved into fishroom

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Looks great, but you'll probably be sorry that you didn't make the doors bigger.

 

[jc8745]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8836492#post8836492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
Looks great, but you'll probably be sorry that you didn't make the doors bigger.

Thanks

Your probably right about the doors either bigger or more across the front,

but what i did do, that you cant see in the pics is leave each end open, i framed them in to look better, but they are open so i can store stuff.

The front doors will be used just to access the canister filters.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8836595#post8836595 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc8745
Thanks

Your probably right about the doors either bigger or more across the front,

but what i did do, that you cant see in the pics is leave each end open, i framed them in to look better, but they are open so i can store stuff.

The front doors will be used just to access the canister filters.

ooOOoohh. That'll work well then! I thought that the ends were closed off.

 

[jjmcat]

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[jc8745]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8836608#post8836608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis L. Stevens
ooOOoohh. That'll work well then! I thought that the ends were closed off.

Well leaving the ends off wasn't the original plan,
It was a field modification, after moving it into the house I realized my mistake, lots of storage potential but little accessibility, so that's when I took the end caps off

Hoping to get the 260 moved from the garage to the fish room within the next 2 weeks.
Currently have on two 55g and my 150g I have 3 emp400 and 2 magnum350 that will get moved to the 260, these filters have been running for almost 2 years.
I have 150 pounds of gravel in the two temp 55gals (holding the trimac and midas)
I have 100 pounds in the garage sitting in rubber tubs, with heaters, and air stones (during water changes take water out of the 150 and the 55's, and change water out on the tubs)

So over all phase 1 should be completed within 2 - 3 weeks.

 

[jc8745]

Phase 1 sa/ca cichlid tank 150t to 260 relocation
99% completed - Need to add a back ground

Fish
1 Female Midas,
1 Male Festae,
1 Jaguar,
1 Mayan,
1 Leopard Pleco

 

[jc8745]

I'll get a pic of the 150 tonight,
I'm leaving it setup as a growout tank until i am get a sump to start its conversion to saltwater.

Its housing:
1 Newly aquired Trimac, its still too small to add to the 260
1 Yellow Lab
2 Jewell cichlids
5 Blue Crayfish

The trimac will end up in the 260, and probably the crayfish (when they get bigger), my sister breeds them, so if i loose them wont be too big of a loss,

The africans will go back to my sis, they are just keeping the trimac busy until he gets bigger and can make it in the big tank.

 

[evil_monkey]

I would so have an arowana in that tank, maybe grow out an arapaima!!!!

 

[jc8745]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8940878#post8940878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by evil_monkey
I would so have an arowana in that tank, maybe grow out an arapaima!!!!

My son so wants an arowana in that tank,
Its a pretty aggressive tank, but i would like to have one.