jeffltodd
Member
After more than 15 years, I am upgrading my tank. I'm going from a 72 gallon bowfront to a Waterbox ReefPro 180.5, and I couldn't be more excited!
I would like your input because while I've been in the hobby for 15 years, I've kept mostly the same equipment, except upgrading lights to Reefbreeders LEDs and recently adding a Neptune Apex, that I plan to expand in the new setup.
I have relocated my tank when moving from one house to the next, or even in my same home when I had hardwood floors installed. I have always saved as much water as possible and treated the event like a massive water change, except I move the rock to large trash cans, separating rock with coral, and put the fish in a Home Depot bucket with the skimmer.
1. Live Rock - I currently have about 80 pounds of live rock. I am thinking I will add another 20-40 pounds of Caribsea (dry) Life Rock. Everything I read says this does not need to be cured. I assume I can just aquascape as best I can in the new set up and then let it settle for a day or so and going back in to make adjustments. I can't really lay things out on a table to plan it.
2. Sand bed - I will leave the old sand behind and add new dry sand. I will wash it in RODI water before adding it. Before I always used live sand. What is the best method for washing sand? I though of just poking holes in the sand bag and then running water though it to give it a rinse.
3. RODI water - My tank sits right around the corder from my kitchen, which is great for dumping water out, but my kitchen faucets all have sprayers built into them, so bringing water in though an RODI unit is not ideal. I was thinking of setting up a new RODI until through a garden hose and into the garage (no water supply in garage). Right now I have an RO Buddy set up in my upstairs laundry room (far away from the tank) to make 5 gallons at a time. Obviously I need to make A LOT. I was going to get a 100 GPD unit, so I can make/keep large quantities of salt water on hand for weekly water changes.
4. Other equipment - I am thinking of adding the following equipment (in the immediate):
- Nyos 160 skimmer
- 2 MP 40 powerheads
- Neptune Systems Apex ATO
- Neptune Systems COR-15 return pump
My plan is to start with this and then add on later as I go with a Trident, DOS, etc.
Oh, and if anyone is looking for a 72 gallon all glass bowfront with sump and skimmer, powerhead and Icecap wavemaker, and practically brand new Reefbreeders V2 Photon 48 with stand, glass tops and canopy - this system has been great! Just time to upgrade myself.
Thoughts?
I would like your input because while I've been in the hobby for 15 years, I've kept mostly the same equipment, except upgrading lights to Reefbreeders LEDs and recently adding a Neptune Apex, that I plan to expand in the new setup.
I have relocated my tank when moving from one house to the next, or even in my same home when I had hardwood floors installed. I have always saved as much water as possible and treated the event like a massive water change, except I move the rock to large trash cans, separating rock with coral, and put the fish in a Home Depot bucket with the skimmer.
1. Live Rock - I currently have about 80 pounds of live rock. I am thinking I will add another 20-40 pounds of Caribsea (dry) Life Rock. Everything I read says this does not need to be cured. I assume I can just aquascape as best I can in the new set up and then let it settle for a day or so and going back in to make adjustments. I can't really lay things out on a table to plan it.
2. Sand bed - I will leave the old sand behind and add new dry sand. I will wash it in RODI water before adding it. Before I always used live sand. What is the best method for washing sand? I though of just poking holes in the sand bag and then running water though it to give it a rinse.
3. RODI water - My tank sits right around the corder from my kitchen, which is great for dumping water out, but my kitchen faucets all have sprayers built into them, so bringing water in though an RODI unit is not ideal. I was thinking of setting up a new RODI until through a garden hose and into the garage (no water supply in garage). Right now I have an RO Buddy set up in my upstairs laundry room (far away from the tank) to make 5 gallons at a time. Obviously I need to make A LOT. I was going to get a 100 GPD unit, so I can make/keep large quantities of salt water on hand for weekly water changes.
4. Other equipment - I am thinking of adding the following equipment (in the immediate):
- Nyos 160 skimmer
- 2 MP 40 powerheads
- Neptune Systems Apex ATO
- Neptune Systems COR-15 return pump
My plan is to start with this and then add on later as I go with a Trident, DOS, etc.
Oh, and if anyone is looking for a 72 gallon all glass bowfront with sump and skimmer, powerhead and Icecap wavemaker, and practically brand new Reefbreeders V2 Photon 48 with stand, glass tops and canopy - this system has been great! Just time to upgrade myself.
Thoughts?
