Lenny_S
Well-Known Member
I took about a 15 year break from the hobby and I'm rounding the bend on getting a new 160 gallon mixed reef tank operating and stocked. I'm pretty OCD when it comes to things so I like to make very detailed plans way in advance. Here is where I am at and what my current plan is... Advice and comments are welcome.
I have all the equipment I plan to use minus the tank which is coming in about 2 weeks. The list is pretty long, but basically; Stand, canopy, 4x AI Hydra 26's, 60 gal sump refugium, fudge light, really big protein skimmer, bio pellet reactor, GFO reactor, GAC reactor, a couple of pumps, wave maker, a few power heads, dosing pumps, RO/DI, Apex Gold, heater, 200 lbs dry rock (will pick the best pieces and give the rest to my nephew), 90 lbs sand, and all the various test kits, salt, and supplements.
My current plan is to set everything up, fill it, and cycle it for a few weeks with some fish food and dial everything in. Once it is cycled I'll stock the refugium and do a 50% water change. Next I'll start adding the fish a few at a time, eventually 8-10 in total. Once all the fish are added I'll add the cleanup crew and let the tank settle in for a while and tune the system/make any needed adjustments. At this point I'm probably about 3-4 months post startup. This is the point where I plan to start adding the coral. I plan to add some small number of pieces (2-3) at a time, and let it run for a few weeks and continue to monitor and make adjustments. It will probably be at close to the 1 year mark before the whole process is complete.
Suggestions, comments, thoughts?
I have all the equipment I plan to use minus the tank which is coming in about 2 weeks. The list is pretty long, but basically; Stand, canopy, 4x AI Hydra 26's, 60 gal sump refugium, fudge light, really big protein skimmer, bio pellet reactor, GFO reactor, GAC reactor, a couple of pumps, wave maker, a few power heads, dosing pumps, RO/DI, Apex Gold, heater, 200 lbs dry rock (will pick the best pieces and give the rest to my nephew), 90 lbs sand, and all the various test kits, salt, and supplements.
My current plan is to set everything up, fill it, and cycle it for a few weeks with some fish food and dial everything in. Once it is cycled I'll stock the refugium and do a 50% water change. Next I'll start adding the fish a few at a time, eventually 8-10 in total. Once all the fish are added I'll add the cleanup crew and let the tank settle in for a while and tune the system/make any needed adjustments. At this point I'm probably about 3-4 months post startup. This is the point where I plan to start adding the coral. I plan to add some small number of pieces (2-3) at a time, and let it run for a few weeks and continue to monitor and make adjustments. It will probably be at close to the 1 year mark before the whole process is complete.
Suggestions, comments, thoughts?
