TaNuki's Upgrade to a 180!

[TaNuki]

I recently purchased a 75 gallon tank and have been setting it up as a reef tank. Not more than 2 weeks ago I found a stellar deal on a 180 in the area and decided that even though my 75 is basically brand new still, I wanted to do the upgrade. I mean how do I pass on a great deal for a 180?

I haven't decided if I want to use any of my existing live rock, water or sand to cycle the tank. I kind of want to start from scratch with fresh RO water, but we will see. Also debating going totally bare bottom as well.

Anyway, here are a few pictures I took of the new tank. I will be bringing it home today!

It does all need a good cleaning too.

Comes with a wet dry filter, timers, lighting (needs upgraded), pumps, skimmer, the works. I am pretty excited.

Updates to come.

 

[TaNuki]

I trucked the tank home tonight and cleaned it up. It had a good layer of mud and sand mixed with gravel on the bottom.

We had to cut a few of the lines in order to disconnect them and move the tank, so tomorrow I will:

Replace Lines
Clean Sump
Throw away Bio Balls (Shopping bag full if someone wants em)
Plug everything in
See what is broken and what is working.

I am hoping all goes well!

 

[TaNuki]

I cleaned out the wet/dry filter and threw out the bio balls. Put maybe 30 lbs of live rock in where the balls were, but I am going to break some more down and put them in. I am still trying to decide if I want to cut that section of the sump open so I can have lighting and bigger rocks in there, but I may brake the rocks and put them in.

I also redid the plumbing on the tank. Bought new hoses and clamps and went to work. I also plugged in the ballasts and lighting to see what really works vs not.
The Halides warmed up and work fine, but the others seem to not work. I am guessing the bulbs are bad as I am almost positive there is electricity.

I still need to polish the inside of the acrylic, but after that, I am ready to add RO water. I am guessing monday or tuesday.

 

[TaNuki]

I got the scratches all sanded and buffed out. I then cleaned out the wet/ dry filter. Threw out all the BIO Balls, and filled that section with LR and Chaeto.

I re plumbed the overflow/ return and put a powerhead in the sump to move the water while I slowly fill the tank.

I also picked up about 200 lbs of live rock for the tank and have added maybe 60 gallons of water now (5 gallon bucket at a time).

My neighbor has been letting me use his RO, though I realize with a tank of this magnitude, I need to just order an RO.

My rock will mostly all be fiji with a few other things as well.

Here it is with maybe 35 gallons of water and the rock:

I am hoping to finish filling the tank with water this weekend, but we'll see what really happens. I started scaping last night, but realized the water wasn't high enough so I Couldn't go as tall as I wanted. So to prevent die off, I just made it all flat again until the tank fills.

 

[TaNuki]

While I was in San Diego my friend filled the water for me 5 gallons at a time with his RO unit. I am glad he lives like 5 minutes by foot from my house. I got home late last night, but still made a point of scaping the tank.

Here is what I came up with:

 

[Jackd1987]

Cool looking aquascape!

 

[TaNuki]

^Thanks. I have a hard time with scaping and always end up changing them. I hope to decide on something permanent prior to corals.

Here is a closer shot of the bowl thing:

 

[littleangeldawn]

I love the rock scape! Especially where the big bowl thing is!

 

[TaNuki]

^Thanks. I have my cleaning crew in the tank now along with a few peppermint shrimp. I am interested to see what the cycle is like. I used all Live sand, and all live rock with a good amount of growth.

I also don't have a drop of tapwater in the system.

It will be cool to see how it all transforms with coral eventually too.

 

[Zalman]

The cycle should be pretty quick. Mine took about 3-4 weeks before it hit 0 ammonia and nitrites. I am right around 7-8 weeks now and my nitrates are in the 5-10 ppm range.
(180 gal DT, 75 gal fuge, 150 gal sump - not filled all the way... 300 lbs live rock with lots of growth and 380 pounds live sand)

 

[TaNuki]

Something I did to hopefully help the cycle, was 200lbs of live rock in maybe 60 gallons of water for a couple of weeks then added the remaining water. Now that all the water is there along with the sand I am guessing it will be quick. This is all good since I sold my 75 like a month ago and the guy is just waiting for my fish to move

 

[Tahoe69]

Awesome scape!

 

[TaNuki]

Thanks. I finally checked the parameters today. O ammonia 0 nitrite 5 nitrate. Looks like it's rocking already. Inverts have been doing well and I'll test magnesium and ph tomorrow if I get a second

 

[TaNuki]

Here are a few shots of the different angles around the scaping. This will give you a better idea of what the fish have to work with:

Also I noticed that I missed a couple of the scratches when I sanded or maybe I scratched it while scaping. Is there a way to get scratches out of acrylic once the water is already in? I am assuming any level of sanding will leave the tank looking cloudy.

 

[TRITON1]

That aquascaping is pretty awesome. Would even look good as a FOWLR.

I think if you sand the scratches with water in the tank it may get a little cloudy, but should clear up (run a micron filter sock), its a good time now since you don't have any livestock in it.

I also like the art hanging on the walls.....do you have anymore pictures or close ups?

 

[TaNuki]

That aquascaping is pretty awesome. Would even look good as a FOWLR.

I also like the art hanging on the walls.....do you have anymore pictures or close ups?

Thanks! I actually have a few things living in the tank now as the levels are stabilizing. I have to add a few at a time and watch the levels because my other tank sold and I need to slowly be moving everyone.

The YWG did get a new friend though as his GF got eaten last month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R56VsAHqnFI&feature=player_embedded#at=82

As far as the artwork goes, I painted those. Here are a few pics of them:

I also was commissioned to do one of some Garden Eels, but I can't seem to find an image of it. It was a three canvas series.

 

[TaNuki]

I added another series of small caves this afternoon. I wanted it to remain subtle though. Observe:

Also Retested the water again today now that things have been living in it.

Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- Less than 5
PH-8.3 or so
Salinity- .025

I am pretty happy with the flow of this tank so far to say the least! I will probably add my remaining fish next week

 

[Eel Freak]

It's looking really good so far! It will be cool to watch this one come around and end up packed with awesome colonies. What skimmer do you currently have for it?

 

[TaNuki]

The skimmer is a us aquariums one that was built into the sump when the tank was created. I am working on an upgrade though.

I pulled the hood and added a new t5 set up tonight. Ati sunpower 60"

 

[TaNuki]

sorry here is a pic. I will be working on micro bubbles tomorrow.