What a weekend! Transferred from 75g to 180g. Started 1500 Friday, broke down 75g, moved 180g in its spot and filled with water, including a 1.5 hr. Trip to LFS. Ended at 2000 with fish in the 180g and power heads for circulation. Had previous engagement Saturday morning and early afternoon so didn't start till 1600. Installed new 55g sump, and plumbed everything up. No leaks, woohoo! Started again Sunday morning, installing skimmer and adjusting siphon drains. Losses appear to be limited to a cleaner shrimp and a pistol shrimp. Corals appear to be doing okay but stressed.
Lessons Learned
1) plan for solid day and half work to make transfer, preferably with no other commitments.
2) try to have at least one other set of hands. Had to load 18-5 gallon buckets of water into garbage can in back of truck, which of course was halfway across the parking lot. See item 3.
3) you cannot have too many buckets, totes, garbage cans and power heads
4) if possible dry fit everything before hand. Skimmer barely fit in sump location. I didn't install bulk heads prior to moving tank for fear of breaking them so all the plumbing had to be done in place.
5) use gate valves for siphon drains as recommended by everyone. Orange bulk store did not have so I used ball valves. Will be replacing this weekend.
6) installing sand did not go as planned and resulted in major dust storm which I did not have sock filters installed, another trip to the LFS. Cleaned up in about 4 hours after building holder and installing socks.
7) you can not have too many PVC fittings and pipe when plumbing up a tank.
Overall one long weekend but is totally worth it looking at the tank once complete. This weekend install gate valves, uv sterilizer and fuge plumbing. ATO coming in the near future.
Lessons Learned
1) plan for solid day and half work to make transfer, preferably with no other commitments.
2) try to have at least one other set of hands. Had to load 18-5 gallon buckets of water into garbage can in back of truck, which of course was halfway across the parking lot. See item 3.
3) you cannot have too many buckets, totes, garbage cans and power heads
4) if possible dry fit everything before hand. Skimmer barely fit in sump location. I didn't install bulk heads prior to moving tank for fear of breaking them so all the plumbing had to be done in place.
5) use gate valves for siphon drains as recommended by everyone. Orange bulk store did not have so I used ball valves. Will be replacing this weekend.
6) installing sand did not go as planned and resulted in major dust storm which I did not have sock filters installed, another trip to the LFS. Cleaned up in about 4 hours after building holder and installing socks.
7) you can not have too many PVC fittings and pipe when plumbing up a tank.
Overall one long weekend but is totally worth it looking at the tank once complete. This weekend install gate valves, uv sterilizer and fuge plumbing. ATO coming in the near future.
