Setting up my new 180 gallon reef tank

M

mickey3390

New member
I had a 30 gallon reef tank for about 3 months and had 10 fish in it (too Many) so I said I'll get a bigger tank so I went and got a 180 gal tank. I put 120 lbs of liverock and 120 lbs of argonight and 40 lbs of livesand into the tank. I had this in the tank for three days while I finished filling up the tank with mixed saltwater using RO/DI water. Then I ran the tank for three days after it was full. I had also put about 12 lbs of live rock down in my sump. Well I took all the liverock out of my 30 Gallon tank aprox. 40 lbs and put it and all my fish into the 180 gallon tank today. The LFS guy said that would be ok and that I shouldn't have any trouble with it. What do you think? I have aprox 22" of fish in this tank heres the list:

1 goby firefish 2"
2 Oscelaris clownfish pair 1 1/2" each
1 Stary Blenney 2 1/2"
1 french damsel 2"
1 blue manderin ( one of the reasons for the larger tank.) 2"
1 black line blenney 1 1/2"
1 blue spot puffer (long nosed puffer) 2 1/2"
1 blue hippo tang 3"
1 yellow tang 3"
1 purple reef lobster 2 1/2"
1 decerator crab 1 1/4" body
1 grey serpent star 1" main body
18 or so hermit crabs various sizes
12 or so astera snales about 1/2" each

150 lbs of live rock ( out of running systems)
120 lbs of coralife argonite
40 lbs of live argonite
2 cups of sand out of the 30 gallon tank
and wife went to get 6 mor lbs of rubbel rock out of a running system for the sump.

Also filled tank with RO/DI Water

Water parameters are :
Amonia: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
PH: 8.2 ppm
Water Temp 78.2 F

Well what do you think? Please let me know I think I did right but as I am new to this I'm not sure. Fish seem to like it though.......
 
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the inches of fish per gallon rules doesn't work. You said you had 22'' of fish. Thats not their adult sizes. Your going by the size that the fish are when you are buying them.

Post some pictures.
 
Personally I think it was too fast. However, your parameters seem better than can be expected. Check them daily and do water changes if necessary. You should watch for the next couple of weeks.
 
setting up my 180 gallon tank.

setting up my 180 gallon tank.

I also put my fuval 204 that was on my 30 gal tank in the sump to asyst in stability thought about leaving it there for a week or two..
I will try and post pictures tommorrow though sorry.
 
Re: setting up my 180 gallon tank.

Re: setting up my 180 gallon tank.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6486027#post6486027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mickey3390
I also put my fuval 204 that was on my 30 gal tank in the sump to asyst in stability thought about leaving it there for a week or two..
I will try and post pictures tommorrow though sorry.
Click to expand...

Ill be waiting. :D Sounds like your going to have a nice tank.
 
Thanks

Thanks

I will try and post pictures tommorrow although I'm not sure how to do this. But I wlii try and figure it out and have some up by tommorrow. Thanks again for all your coments. Wes
 
120 lbs LR in a 180 is a little light I have that much in my 120 and I want another 100 lbs but my rock is pretty dense maybe your has alot more surface area.

and your not talking about adding all those fish at once... right?

thats only 10 fish, which is great for that size tank but wait 6 mon. to 1 yr. for the manderin
 
Pictures

Pictures

Here are some pictures I hope this works but if you can't see them you can view them in my Gallery. Thanks for your comments and responses. I greatly appreacate any help I can get. Wes:rollface:
url]
 
I have about 160 LBs of rock in the tank and about 13 LBS in the sump. All the fish are fish I've had in my 30 gal. long they were just relocated to the 180. Also I have had the manderin for 2 months and all seems well. I didn't read enough before I got him but all my Live rock came oyt of well established tanks and I had thousands of copods swimming around the tank on several ocasions. so he should be ok he also eats brine shrimp and some flake food. Thanks for the coments. Wes
 
IMO, that is way to early. I started up my 180 - 8 days ago. I will have 270# of LR when I am ready to add the fish and coral. I intend to let it run for 3 months at a min before I add the fish, etc. Give the pods a chance to get going, etc.
 
I put the fuval 204 that was running on my 30 long in the sump that should help also I had to many fish in th e30 that is the reason for the upgrade. I also intend to get more rock should endup with about 200 to 250 LBS when i'm finished I want some bigger pieses though and they are hard to find at a diecent price. Wes
 
I think you need more rock also. I would also be concerned about adding that many fish all at once, I agree with hans let your tank get established with all the little critters first.

The background would have to go!
Thanks Dubbin for pointing that out.

Let your tank buildup before you add anymore. Is this a reef? or FOWLR tank didn't see any corals just wondering. WAIT ON ADDING CORALS.
If this is a reef I would find a new home for some of your fish as they tend to nip at corals.

Good Luck
 
Thanks Radone for your coments and also thanks for your help and expertise in setting the whole thing up and going and getting it and basicly being there when I need help. Thanks alot.... Wes
 
IMHO more rock & patience needed. You made a huge leap from a 30 to a 180 with only 3 months experience. That's a busy 3 months!:rollface:

Take your time. This hobby is expensive enough. Minimize your mistakes - and casualties. Let your habitat grow and flourish over time.
Read whatever you can about anything you consider doing - before you do it. The good folks here will let you know if you are heading down the wrong path - and that will save you time and money!

I go with the crowd on the background. Sorry. The stand and canopy looks pretty good. I might have added a couple more doors for better access, but if you're skinny that will work. :spin1:

Overall, I would say you have done pretty well with limited hobby experience. Keep up the good work!:thumbsup:
 
Thanks... I am going to wait for awhile before I add anything else other than rock to this tank as for the background I am considering changing it to an all blue thought the fish might like the one that I have on there, thought it may make them feel more at home. Thaknks for all the coments I am taking in every word. By the way all parameters are amonia = 0 ppm Nitrate 5 ppm nitrite = 0 ppm and ph = 8.2 not too bad. Wes
 
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