Would love some opinions

[Daddio]

Moving from a mainly DIY 75 gallon to a 150 tall. I have had my 75 for around 13 years and am finally getting my chance to do thing right with a complete tear down and rebuild. My existing 75 is built into the wall so I am limited to 48 inches wide so getting the extra 6 inches both depth and height hopefully will make a pretty big impact.

My tank now, while healthy and nice enough to look at is really not stable enough to stock anything more than say Galaxia or torch corals. I'd love to have the option to try a few SPS in the future or some more challenging fish.

Things I have new:
- 150 drilled single return and drain (have over the back now)
- 2 radion LEDs (on tank now)
- 2 mp10s
- going to reuse my DIY sump

Things I am going to need to replace:
- asm g2 skimmer (looking at CAD Lights PLS 150 or 200. - price being the driver here)
- return pump -no big deal, but any brand suggestions?
- entirely repla

Things I am entertaining:
- losing chaeto and DSB and replacing with biopellet reactor and rubble

I know that most of the time you get what you pay for and while I want to do things right, I have exceeded my budget already and haven't even begun the real build!

I'd love some thoughts on what you think I bought that you like but more what you don't and why.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[rjcranor]

As far as lighting I would check Reef Radiance LUMENTEC pro240. As far as pump maybe sicce pump or jebao. If you up grade power heads check out the jebao wp25.

 

[Mike J.]

I agree with the Sicce return pump. I'd rethink going with a rubble bottom? Also I'm a fan of a DSB if it's deep enough. Instead of Chaeto maybe consider an algae scrubber?

 

[Daddio]

Cool. Thanks. I have been reading about the Sicce return pumps. The more I read, I think I am going forego the Biopellets for now. Too many scary stories.

I currently have a DSB on my existing setup - averages about 4 inches that I am just going to keep. Hopefully it helps with the cycle.

I have been reading about the Jebao pumps also. They look great but are pretty large. If my vortechs don't work well enough I will definitely look that way. I hear great things about how quiet they are.

I am really afraid of this rebid and my existing stock - not so much the fish (I can repurpose my QT to hold them for as long as I need)- but my rock and corals. It is going to take me at lest 4 days to rebuild to house the new tank as I am upsizing in the same spot. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[rjcranor]

I've always just transferred from one tank to the other and topped off with water as a water change. Have not experienced any issues.

 

[Kworker]

I wouldn't re-use the sand, Im kind of biased though because Im all for bare bottom.. But as what I understand, your best off using all new sand because the rock will cover you in the area of beneficial bacteria.

Good luck on the upgrade, take I slow an learn from others mistakes

 

[TrialandError]

I would use new sand as well but add a cup or 2 of old sand rinsed in old tank water just for some good critters and bacteria that may be in it.

 

[kschweer]

I would also suggest getting new sand especially with your existing sand being 13yrs old. Sand holds a lot of detritus and for the relatively small expense it's nice to start fresh. For a return pump I would suggest one of the dc pumps. I'm running a jebao dc-6000 and I really like it. It moves a lot of water, it's quiet, controllable, and doesn't use very much energy. As far as skimmers go I would stay away from the asm's. This is just my personal preference from experience with them. There are much better built skimmers in that price range. An example would be a reef octopus nwb-200. It's only about $25 or so more than the asm and is rated for more water and is constructed much better. I run reef octopus skimmers on both my frag tank and display tank and really like them. Good luck with the upgrade!

 

[Daddio]

Thanks. I was planning on new sand for the display and seeding with a little old... my sand is so nasty and purple - I think it so old that the coraline algae thinks its live rock. Would you start fresh with the refugium sand in the sump or leave that alone?

Taking notes on the return pumps. Thanks.

How long does anyone think I have for my rebuild with my rock if I place it tubs with a heater and powerhead? I am debating tearing down the 75, saving the water (or most of it) and resting it ups quickly to try and give me time on my build. I'm really nervous about trying to get the new system worked out, the water parameters correct, checking for leaks, etc. is a short period of time.

While I don't have any coral that is super-expensive (except for a huge branching variety of alveopora in which my clown hosts), I do still have a colony of first coral I bought which I'd love to try and save (nostalgia - they're just green zoas - but they look great next to the purple).

I am going to take some of my rock covered with red shrooms and prune those back - they're pretty but invasive like xenia.

 

[Mike J.]

It's as simple as just keeping everthing heater and aerated. A container like a cattle trough will hold all your livestock or a couple of 30 gallons; just for a few days it'll be fine.

 

[Daddio]

Thanks. As I am collecting and planning, i guess I am getting overt nervous. I know that most of the softies I am worked about even be out of the water for periods of time with no major ill effects.

I am thinking I can have my plumbing pretty much dry fit, have enough water mixed and ready to go and close to temperature, have my temporary home for my fish and tubs for rock & coral set up all ahead of time.

It will take me 1 day to rebuild/install my stand and retool my sump which equals 4 days in "reality" = 7 days in real "reality". I can plan in my head how it will work but nothing usually goes as planned!

I really appreciate the help and input. It has been a long time since I set up a tank (10 years since I moved to my new house) and with an in wall installation, it is even a little more daunting.

 

[Daddio]

I've been reading and am intrigued by the DC pumps - especially the prices of the jebao pumps.

I don't really like water screaming through my sump but may build a manifold for possibly 2 reactors (just in case). Would yo go with the 6000 or 9000.