Switching from FOWLR to reef thank

[miesenjr]

I had two tanks, a Bio Cube 29 reef, and a 180 Aquavim 1/4 corner FOWLR. long story short, my bio cube split the glass and dumped out while at work.
It's been two years with out a reef tank. now I want to convert my 4 year old 180 to a reef. NOT sure what changes I need to make?
The 180 has approx 100/125 lb. live rock that has been in it since start up.
The sump is approx 35/40 gallons, I run two 300w. Finned heaters, AquaEuro skimmer, 1350 gpm return pump. I have been running submerged bio balls since new. And it has a smallish fuge compartment with 2" sand/ crushed coral substrate with some live rock pieces and about 20 mangrove shoots. I do have a Two little fish 550 media reactor I occasionally run carbon or phos ban in.
In the tank I have two Jeabo wave maker pumps with controlers.
I am awaiting 3 - 165watt (120 true watt) dimmable Chinese (Mars Aqua)full spectrum LED lights.
My water tests well, Ph-8.3, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5.0, calcium 460, KH ppm 180, phos 0,
I do use a Coralife 4 stage RO/DI water. And have been using IO salt
What first?

 

[miesenjr]

Switching from FOWLR TO reef tank

Switching from FOWLR TO reef tank

I had two tanks, a Bio Cube 29 reef, and a 180 Aquavim 1/4 corner FOWLR. long story short, my bio cube split the glass and dumped out while at work.
It's been two years with out a reef tank. now I want to convert my 4 year old 180 to a reef. NOT sure what changes I need to make?
The 180 has approx 100/125 lb. live rock that has been in it since start up.
The sump is approx 35/40 gallons, I run two 300w. Finned heaters, AquaEuro skimmer, 1350 gpm return pump. I have been running submerged bio balls since new. And it has a smallish fuge compartment with 2" sand/ crushed coral substrate with some live rock pieces and about 20 mangrove shoots. I do have a Two little fish 550 media reactor I occasionally run carbon or phos ban in.
In the tank I have two Jeabo wave maker pumps with controlers.
I am awaiting 3 - 165watt (120 true watt) dimmable Chinese (Mars Aqua)full spectrum LED lights.
My water tests well, Ph-8.3, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5.0, calcium 460, KH ppm 180, phos 0,
I do use a Coralife 4 stage RO/DI water. And have been using IO salt
What first?

 

[dave.m]

First try to get nitrates down to as close to 0 as possible. Increase use of GAC. Reduce feeding. Make sure substrate is clean. Add a clean-up crew. Softies should accept this tank as is. SPS may be fussier.

Dave.M

 

[ReefProDiablo75]

The only difference between a fowlr and a reef tank is the lighting and water flow, plus filtration has to be top notch for easy maintenance and quality water parameters.

 

[MCC]

1. Lower your nitrates using water changes and reduce feedings. Also get rid of the bioballs that seems to be your nitrate factory.
2. All depends on what corals you want to get. I am not sure how good those Chinese LEDs will be for SPS/LPS corals. Your tank looks quite deep, so not sure how good PAR values are those LEDs for such a deep tank.
3. Your water circulation should be enough assuming those are Jebao WP25 and up. Just crank up the flow and/or arrange them better in the tank for better water circulation and avoid dead spots.
4. Good that you seem to have some what of a refugium set up with the mangroves. Just add some more cheato and you good to go.
5. Once you start adding SPS/LPS its time to start testing for Cal/Alk/Mg and also dosing daily using manual or a doser machine. If you are more advance you can go for Calcium Reactor.
6. Test your IO batch each time you open a new bucket. I been getting readings of 380 ppm of Cal for my batch. I have to add some calcium into the water change water to bring it back up to 425 ppm. I was finding that my water changes drops my overall Cal levels in the tank.
7. Also what is your skimmer rated to? In a full SPS/LPS/softies + fish set up, you will take 50-60% off your rated total water volume.

 

[miesenjr]

Progress

Progress

So I got my new lED'S, and made a big difference. Much deeper penetration, brighter and wider spectrum of color (visually looks nicer). My Aqua Euro Needle wheel skimmer is rated for 160 gallons, it is the largest skimmer that will fit in the sump, My sump has very narrow chambers, only 8" wide.
I will remove the Bio balls to help lower Nitrates, only some are wet/dry, above water level. if the others are below water level, don't they behave like live rock?
my refugium has the Mangroves growing very well, I have tried several times to add cheato but it never grows? may be too much water flow?

my next planed step is to make room for a water reservoir for my new ATO and test water and start adding coral.