Help with new build

[reefertank]

Ok so a friend from work says to me "a friend of mine is moving and has a saltwater tank and wants to get rid of it. Do you want it no charge" lol anyway a tonight he drops of a 180 gallon drilled tank. He was definitely running it on a budget, it came with

3 marsaqua leds
Eshopps R200
Skimmer
Mag 9 pump
75 pounds of live rock, that has been out of water for about 8 hours, but still damp.
100 pounds of live sand, I have in water with slow pump running.

OK now for what I have (I want to get rid of and just use the 180)

2 maxspect xf230
4-800gph flow pums(new in box)
maxspect razor r420r 300w
BRS 48inch t5 hybrid 4bulb
Bubble magus bm 180 (rated for up to 400 gallons)
VECTRA M2 DC RETURN PUMP
Another 100 pounds of live rock with corals
15 fish or so

OK now for the fun part, not wanting to invest more, how would you set up the 180?

 

[reefertank]

Help

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

I’m confused... are you asking what equipment from what you have to use or what?

 

[Small triggers]

Need to build a stand so... $75 in lumber and set this bad boy up! You really dont HAVE to do anything else... but you will be limited to a fowlr with maybe some leathers/ softies...

 

[reefertank]

I’m confused... are you asking what equipment from what you have to use or what?

I have all that equipment, I should have specified the second list is my running 90 gallon which I want to upgrade to the 180. What equipment should I use out of everything.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Ok now it makes a bit more sense.

Can you use your old light fixture? If so I’d use that, the 2 maxpect xf, the bubble magus, vectra dc.

Might need to plan it out because you’ll have to transfer all your stuff over.

 

[reefertank]

Yes how long will the stand stay good for, a week?

 

[lapin]

The sand?
The sand will be good as long as you have it in salt water.
I would rinse it good before adding it back to the new tank.

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

The sand?
The sand will be good as long as you have it in salt water.
I would rinse it good before adding it back to the new tank.

+1

 

[reefertank]

Figured I would post pictures of progress, taking my time, lol.

 

[reefertank]

Slow progress

 

[reefertank]

Can you use a Mars aqua 165w for refugium light?

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

Can you use a Mars aqua 165w for refugium light?

You probably could but you’d get better or same results with a $20 grow light from amazon

 

[reefertank]

Worried about the switch, will my corals and fish be OK to take from my 90 gallon that has been running for 2 years and put into the new 180?

 

[Rogued_Reefer]

They will be man corals are tough

 

[acer]

Wait a while and let the sand and the rock re-establish and do some testing before adding the fish = Ammonia especially. Add coral only after you have tested and see at least a mini cycle. Are you going to use the 90 for a sump? or what? How long have you had the 180 up with rock and sand? is the 180 cycling from sump to display or what? Your last pic of the 180 was an emply tank on a stand 3 days ago. So at best its been running only 2-3 days= not long enough for coral - maybe fish if test results are A-OK. A pic of the 180 now with info on the skimmer, sump, test results, etc. would be helpful.

 

[AdamB]

Don’t see a problem with switch if you use your live rock and sand so you have a cycled tank and match water parameters. I assume you will use some of the water out of your 90 as well?

 

[reefertank]

OK yeah I have extra sump in garage, and about 150 pounds of rock and sand that has been running in trash cans for a few weeks. might just let it run for a bit to make sure everything

 

[reefertank]

I have enough bare bone equipment to let the 180 run for a few weeks, just won't have great lighting and will have to use cheap powerheads for flow until I switch everything else over.

 

[HawaiianReef]

Dont use the sand from your 90. Set up the 180 with the sand you just received and let it cycle. Switching your sand from the 90 to another display will spike huge amounts of ammonia and you'll be without an established tank for your livestock.