New Tanks Build
- Thread starter H@rry
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
So I suppose that the cutover has taken place as scheduled. Any picture?
Tomoko
Tomoko
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
Well, the cutover is for the most part complete. I've got some rearranging and "sticking down" still to do but that can wait.
We emptied the 225 to tubs on Wednesday. The fish and starfish went to the new tanks. I scooped the sand out and put it in the new tanks. By the time I finished doing that you couldn't see in the new tanks. We let everything settle overnight. Thursday morning I put the rock in and then the coral. Didn't try to acclimate anything (if I did I probably wouldn't be finished yet). The water in the tubs had cooled off pretty well overnight. I lost some of the acropora and some of it has bleached. Actually some of what I thought was dead appears to only be bleached, I can still see tentacles with the magnifier. I'm pretty well satisfied that it happened about like I had planned. I didn't plan on having to wait a day to put the rock and coral in. When I got ready to do that I turned off the return pump and pumped as much water out of one tank as I had buckets to hold it. That got it down to about 5 inches. Then I could see how to arrange things. When I got that tank finished I pumped water from the next tank into it and did that tank until I got finished I pumped the water from the buckets back into the last tank. I had about 8 gallons left over.
Right now some of the corals are just laid in the tanks to keep them wet!
Here's some pics.
The new tanks
We went to Johnny's on Friday and M@ry Ruth bought this for her tank!
We emptied the 225 to tubs on Wednesday. The fish and starfish went to the new tanks. I scooped the sand out and put it in the new tanks. By the time I finished doing that you couldn't see in the new tanks. We let everything settle overnight. Thursday morning I put the rock in and then the coral. Didn't try to acclimate anything (if I did I probably wouldn't be finished yet). The water in the tubs had cooled off pretty well overnight. I lost some of the acropora and some of it has bleached. Actually some of what I thought was dead appears to only be bleached, I can still see tentacles with the magnifier. I'm pretty well satisfied that it happened about like I had planned. I didn't plan on having to wait a day to put the rock and coral in. When I got ready to do that I turned off the return pump and pumped as much water out of one tank as I had buckets to hold it. That got it down to about 5 inches. Then I could see how to arrange things. When I got that tank finished I pumped water from the next tank into it and did that tank until I got finished I pumped the water from the buckets back into the last tank. I had about 8 gallons left over.
Right now some of the corals are just laid in the tanks to keep them wet!
Here's some pics.
The new tanks
We went to Johnny's on Friday and M@ry Ruth bought this for her tank!
Last edited:
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
I see that the cut-over was quite successful 
. Can't wait to see the completed aquascape. Are you going to move corals from your other tank (195?) ?
Tomoko
P.S. The estimated delivery date of my new tank and bookcases is 5/15. I have to start moving my existing four book cases and all the books in them. That will be a big job for me. I may have to hire some young football players for the job
.
. Can't wait to see the completed aquascape. Are you going to move corals from your other tank (195?) ?Tomoko
P.S. The estimated delivery date of my new tank and bookcases is 5/15. I have to start moving my existing four book cases and all the books in them. That will be a big job for me. I may have to hire some young football players for the job
.
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
I moved everything today that was just in the tank to stay wet into what I hope will be their final resting place along with moving a few rocks. We took several pieces out of the 190 and there is a big green hammer that will be moved in a day or so. I'm really glad to have it for the most part finished. It was an ordeal and a lot of work with many trips to Lowe's. I think most people wouldn't believe how much you can spend of reef tanks at Lowe's.
Good luck with your new tank. Be sure to take plenty of pictures and start a build thread here.
Good luck with your new tank. Be sure to take plenty of pictures and start a build thread here.
"An ordeal" is an understatement! Worth the effort, though. I'm sure this new reef will improve Lowe's profit/loss statement. Everything is looking happy and content in the new reef. We still need to adjust a few rock and perhaps move a couple of the livestock to give them the best home available. After that we can relax a bit while everything settles down.
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
I hope my transfer will go as smooth as yours. It sure will be a lot of work. It makes me anxious just thinking about it.
Tomoko
Tomoko
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
I trust all of the livestock are doing well after the final move . I am watching the progress closely since I will be doing the same in the near future.
Harry, was that the Across the Pond on north Memorial Parkway that sells good lace rocks? I need to add a few extra rocks to the new tank since I am going from 120 to 180.
Tomoko
. I am watching the progress closely since I will be doing the same in the near future. Harry, was that the Across the Pond on north Memorial Parkway that sells good lace rocks? I need to add a few extra rocks to the new tank since I am going from 120 to 180.
Tomoko
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
It was Across the Pond but we went there and they didn't have any. They said they would get some more but it would be a couple of months and took my phone number to call me when it comes. They haven't called yet.
Actually, I'm glad we didn't get any more. We were a little surprised at how well the tanks look with a more open aquascaping. We don't like the rock wall or fruit stand type of arrangement that you see so often. We left plenty of room for the coral to grow.
Actually, I'm glad we didn't get any more. We were a little surprised at how well the tanks look with a more open aquascaping. We don't like the rock wall or fruit stand type of arrangement that you see so often. We left plenty of room for the coral to grow.
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
I like to create open aquascape as well with large caves and tunnels. I just might have enough myself if I don't follow the 1 to 2 lbs of rocks per gallon guideline. A shallow fine sand bed probably offers more surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize anyways.
Did you rinse (or stir up the tank to clean) your sand to get rid of detritus?
Tomoko
Did you rinse (or stir up the tank to clean) your sand to get rid of detritus?
Tomoko
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
I think 2 pounds per gallon is way too much. We had that much in ours when we started them several years ago. Later on we tore them down and took out more than half of the rock. That left room for the corals to grow and to make caves, tunnels, and overhangs like you mentioned.
I didn't try to clean the sand. I just scooped it up in a bucket and poured off the dirty water and dumped the sand in the new tanks. That's why I had to wait until the next day to put everything else in. I couldn't see in the tanks. If I had to do it again I would have enough bucket and tubs to evacuate all the water from the new tanks. Then I would put the sand in, create the aquascape with the rock, and add the corals. Finally pump the water back in. That's almost what I did this time because it was still murky the next day. I didn't have enough buckets and tubs so I still had 6 - 8 inches of water.
I didn't try to clean the sand. I just scooped it up in a bucket and poured off the dirty water and dumped the sand in the new tanks. That's why I had to wait until the next day to put everything else in. I couldn't see in the tanks. If I had to do it again I would have enough bucket and tubs to evacuate all the water from the new tanks. Then I would put the sand in, create the aquascape with the rock, and add the corals. Finally pump the water back in. That's almost what I did this time because it was still murky the next day. I didn't have enough buckets and tubs so I still had 6 - 8 inches of water.
Tomoko Schum
Valuable Member
Thank you, Harry. I am going to have to get some more containers and buckets....
Tomoko
Tomoko
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
Here's a couple of pics I just took. We cleaned the glass this morning. I went outside and cut the glass. By the time I came back in there was already a green film on the glass. I guess I need to feed more huh?
A few large bulkheads bteween the tanks and you have a connected system. I can't wait to get my new tank. 72x30x14 with stand should be here Thursday now. I've got a ton of work tot he current set up before I can set the new one up right, but since it'll clear out three tanks from the sunroom and replace with only one, Jenn will be pushing me on this one.
Keep us posted as everthing stabilizes, etc. I eventually want a 10' cube tank (x36" wide to allow for access to the inner portion of the tank for additional viewing) that is all connected with only one way into the center of the viewing area. One of these days I'll hit a lottery...
.Keep us posted as everthing stabilizes, etc. I eventually want a 10' cube tank (x36" wide to allow for access to the inner portion of the tank for additional viewing) that is all connected with only one way into the center of the viewing area. One of these days I'll hit a lottery...
OP
OP
H@rry
Troll
I already have a connected system. They all drain to a common sump. I did a 10 gallon water change today.
Good luck with your new tank. Make sure you feed us a lot of pics. Is this tank from Ocea?
Hoping you a speedy recovery from your kidney stone issue.
