Newer to this game

[Erick Merfeld]

Thanks for the information about the lighting clean up crew and live rock. Live rock and a better clean up crew is on the list.

dr Stratton how long would I be able to keep my livestock n everything in a plastic tote for? Was it difficult drilling the hole n completely changing the tank? Also did you see many improvements after the flip? My tank has been up for about a year. Yes I have API test kits. API good or no? Everything else looks okay but the nitrates. Phosphates could be just a tad lower. Calcium is good n no ammonia present. Any other tests I should be doing?

Cmcoker I but water from my pet store that is already premixed ocean saltwater. But no RO water from them. The regular conditioned tap water is to keep the level up. Water change water is premixed for water changes.

 

[Reefrookie220]

If you've got to use tap water then let it sit overnight in an open container, lets alot of the chlorine evaporate. Then use your prime or whatever your using.

I'd keep it going as long as it took for you to drop 100$ on an rodi unit and a box of salt. This is probably the most important issue, you have to know what's in your water and the only way to do that is make it yourself.

I'd take 4 jugs with me to the store and buy 2 full of saltwater, 2 RO water. That's your weekly water change , 5g top off, and 5g to rinse the crap out of that canister. Ahhh...weekly maintenance.

 

[drstratton]

I had my livestock in a separate tank for about 6 months. I didn't learn enough about what I needed to do before I started. I bought a used system and decided to do a major overhaul, threw out everything, but the tank, livestock & live rock. Drilled the tank, built a sump, built a new stand, plumbing etc... You will be able to keep your livestock in a separate container for less time than I did if you plan and do most of the steps before you break your tank down. You need to know what kind of overflow that you want to use. I installed a glass-holes 700gph on my 75g tank. When I do a new tank I will do a bean animal drain system (much quieter) with a coast to coast overflow. You need to know what you want for your sump, and have this ready to go along with all of your other supplies ie... plumbing, pumps, overflow, skimmer etc... Then you can break your tank down, clean it, drill, install overflow, plumbing etc...
It seems like a lot to do, but good planning on your part will make it go quicker. While you have the live rock out of your tank I would try to eliminate the Aptaisia Anemones that you have growing.
I'm sure that I have missed things in this quick post, but I'm willing to answer any questions that I can for you and if I don't have an answer, I know that we can find someone here who does! You can also see my setup on the link to my tank thread in my signature. Hope this helps!!!

Here are a couple of links to threads that I shared on how I drilled my tank and customized my 40g breeder sump.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/drilling-a-tank-for-a-glass-holes-700gph-overflow.216978/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-40g-breeder-sump-refugium.216934/

A picture of the plumbing!

 

[twilliard]

I had my livestock in a separate tank for about 6 months. I didn't learn enough about what I needed to do before I started. I bought a used system and decided to do a major overhaul, threw out everything, but the tank, livestock & live rock. Drilled the tank, built a sump, built a new stand, plumbing etc... You will be able to keep your livestock in a separate container for less time than I did if you plan and do most of the steps before you break your tank down. You need to know what kind of overflow that you want to use. I installed a glass-holes 700gph on my 75g tank. When I do a new tank I will do a bean animal drain system (much quieter) with a coast to coast overflow. You need to know what you want for your sump, and have this ready to go along with all of your other supplies ie... plumbing, pumps, overflow, skimmer etc... Then you can break your tank down, clean it, drill, install overflow, plumbing etc...
It seems like a lot to do, but good planning on your part will make it go quicker. While you have the live rock out of your tank I would try to eliminate the Aptaisia Anemones that you have growing.
I'm sure that I have missed things in this quick post, but I'm willing to answer any questions that I can for you and if I don't have an answer, I know that we can find someone here who does! You can also see my setup on the link to my tank thread in my signature. Hope this helps!!!

Here are a couple of links to threads that I shared on how I drilled my tank and customized my 40g breeder sump.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/drilling-a-tank-for-a-glass-holes-700gph-overflow.216978/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-40g-breeder-sump-refugium.216934/

A picture of the plumbing!

Nice Rene'!

 

[cmcoker]

If you've got to use tap water then let it sit overnight in an open container, lets alot of the chlorine evaporate. Then use your prime or whatever your using.

This only works if your city uses chlorine, does not work with chloramine. You can call your city water department, they should be able to tell you what they use. That said they don't have to warn you if you are going to change. They also don't have to warn you if they are gonna do a flush with certain chemicals that don't hurt us but can really hurt your tank...
My city uses chloramine and more and more are changing to it so best to check, then you know the appropriate treatment.

 

[Erick Merfeld]

When you drilled out your tank was there a significant improvement from not having a sump?

 

[drstratton]

When you drilled out your tank was there a significant improvement from not having a sump?

I've only had a sump, so I couldn't say! The more water volume you have the easier it is to keep your parameters, temp, salinity etc... where you need them. I wouldn't have a tank without a sump, but I know that people do.

 

[cmcoker]

When you drilled out your tank was there a significant improvement from not having a sump?

I've had both, sump is nice for extra water volume, and especially to hide equipment. Sumpless is doable though, just have to be creative with aquscape (hid stuff but not obstruct flow)
I built a simple "open canopy" really just a frame that sat on the tank and added 4 inch height to help cover the filters, wires coming over rim and hid the skimmer cup poking out the back.

Not the best pic, but this was the sumpless 55g