new tank questions

[maxdout]

ok, im just about to start a new tank to replace my nc24. i been wondering about the lighting if i went to a 35 gallon if the 150mh would still be enough. i've heard that adding actinics will help the color in the tank. anyone have any experiance with it??? any suggestions would be gratefull. also, looking for some stand and canopy designs. thanks

max

 

[maxdout]

anyone have any stand and canopy blueprints??? the tank will be viewable from both long sides. thanks.

 

[bluenassarius]

max,

you should just go larger bc i have a feeling your gonna have that urge to upgrade again

 

[maxdout]

sam,
that is right i most likely will but im trying to keep it small enough so i don't have to put too much maintenaince into it. + im limited on space allowed. i've got xia helping me out with designing the overflow. we'll see how this goes, im a bit confused as to how to switch things over to the new tank once i get it up and running. Am i supposed to wait till it cycles or do i just dump all my stuff from my NC into it?

 

[djscribz]

Ok first thing is first, 1 150w pendant wont be enough.

2 150w or an Outer Orbit 36" fixture (comes with actinics).
That will be enough for just about all corals and clams. SPS may require a little more depending on how shallow your tank is.

There is no need to cure anything in your new tank except extra liverock you might have purchesed.

Ive switch 4 times from my original 12g tank to a 20+20 tank and lost nothing but a few crabs to hijackings.

Just have enough water made to make up the difference from the 24g.

Step 1 - Put everything from your 24g into buckets with your dirty water you have in the tank. Leave only the sand.

Step 2 - Scoop out the sand and put it in the new tank with some new water and some old water.

Step 3 - Put all the rock work back in and fill old water to cover the tops of the rocks

Step 4 - place all inverts and livestock back in the tank

Step 5 - pour fresh made water in at a matched salinity and temp. to top off your tank.

Step 6 - turn on all pumps and returns to clear out all the gunk

Step 7 - few hours later turn the lights on and onto their regular cycle to avoid more stress to your livestock.

 

[maxdout]

hey thanks for the info djscribz . I was worried i'd have to wait 3months or so before i could toss my stuff into the new tank.

 

[Reefugee]

I have a different opinion. I think that a 150 watt MH will be enough for a 35 gallon tank. I have a 120G tank with 500 watts of MH (2 x 250 watt XM 20K). That works out to be about 4.17 watts per gallon. A 150 watts on a 35 gallon tank is about 4.28 watts per gallon. As a very rough rule, 4 watts per gallon is sufficient. However - this does vary a lot depending on the bulb, the tank physical dimension, and the type of corals you would like to keep.

I also recommend that you just junk your old live said, and start out with new sand. Just seed the new sand with a cup of your old live sand. Remember - your old live sand has a lot of crap in it, and it may cause your tank to crash. You might get lucky, and you can reuse your old sand. But you might get unlucky, and your tank will crash. Just search for a thread by Builderguy (Tom). In one move - he reused the old sand. In another move, reusing the old sand caused his tank to crash. Beside - how much sand would you need for a 35G?

Minh

 

[lanxang]

I agree with Sam, just get a bigger tank.

 

[maxdout]

thats a good point minh. thanks and yep, only 1 bag of 20lb would be enough, + a cup or 2 from my current sand. im trying to do a almost barebottom tank

 

[H20Sidhe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9684869#post9684869 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefugee
I have a different opinion. I also recommend that you just junk your old live said, and start out with new sand. Just seed the new sand with a cup of your old live sand. Remember - your old live sand has a lot of crap in it, and it may cause your tank to crash. You might get lucky, and you can reuse your old sand. But you might get unlucky, and your tank will crash. Just search for a thread by Builderguy (Tom). In one move - he reused the old sand. In another move, reusing the old sand caused his tank to crash. Beside - how much sand would you need for a 35G?
Minh

I have heard this advice before & I am curious - anyone here (other than Builderguy) experienced a tank crash from using 'old' live sand? I used to have crushed coral gravel as a substrate, but when I switched over to sand, I used mostly old live sand frome someone else's tank that he was tearing down, with a couple of bags of 'new' live sand & I had no problem at all. Was I just incredibly lucky, or are we perpetuating an urban legend?

Of course it is always better not to take unnecessary chances with living things, and if you only need one bag, the expense is nominal, but is there science behind this advice?