A New Start

[TDIGUY]

A new start.
I think I made almost all the rookie mistakes when I jumped into my first saltwater tank this year.
First I listened to the LFS when I bought my tank instead of doing my own research and I ended up with a lot of stuff I never would have bought now having done more research.

I have a 110Gal tall tank with what started as 110lbs of dead rock and 4-5 lbs of live rock to seed it and I have a crushed coral base.
I am currently running a FX5 Canister filter and a HOB Super Reef Octopus 1000.
Lighting is a Fluval Sea Marine Full Spectrum LED.

The tank has been running since August and all my levels are good. I have 1 Ocellaris clownfish and a decent CUC that has been helping fight off the hair algea from starting the tank with Tap water.

I now have a water change/mixing station and a RODI unit in the basement.

Now for the new start,
I just picked up a 90Gal RR Center overflow drilled tank so I can start a proper reef setup. I have a 55 Gal FW tank in the basement that will be transferred into the 110 once it is empty, Then I can use the 55 for a sump in the new system.
I have 70lbs of sand as well as 4 korilia powerheads(2-1500, 2-1050) with a wave maker and a mag 9.5 for the return and last night I picked up a Reef Octopus NW-200.
I will be building a stand over the next few weeks to hold everything. Once it is up and running I need to move everything over from the 110 before converting it to a FW tank.

So now I am looking for thoughts and opinions on any additional equipment I should be looking into as well as suggestions for switching over. I do not want to use any water from the 110 as I started it with tap water so I will start the new tank with fresh RODI/Salt mix.

My plan is to get it up and running with new water then move over some of my live rock while the tank cycles then transfer the rest after that. CUC and Fish to be moved last or possibly into a QT if I can find a spare tank to use in the meantime. The QT tank I was going to use will be holding my FW fish during the transition so I can set up the sump.

Let me know what you think and I will get some pictures up of the current setup to start.

[BlindZide]

I would opt to purchase new lighting if you want a reef. Other than that you seem to have the basics covered. I would put all the rock into the tank at once. If you add a little now and a little later you may cause a spike in parameters. Just a thought.

[FTDelta]

Well ditch the canister filter for they are known to be nitrate factories since you already have a HOB skimmer anyway.

[BlindZide]

Well ditch the canister filter for they are known to be nitrate factories since you already have a HOB skimmer anyway.

+1. I need to stop drinking......

[TDIGUY]

OK, I will pull the canister and put in the new powerheads until I get the new tank set up. And move all the rock at once when it is ready.

Any other suggestions?

[cab395]

+1 to above...

As a side note, any Arrested Development fans in this thread? The title made me think of Tobius' attempt at a license plate where instead of 'ANEWSTART' be was forced to write 'ANUSTART'. Anus tart. Man, I miss that show. Carry on...

[TDIGUY]

Ok, I am nowhere near where I thought I would be as my new stand is way down the to do list as per my wife.

I unfortunately lost my clown due to an ammonia spike which I am assuming is from overfeeding. I was trying to use frozen cubes and break off chunks as needed but there was always too much left over. Thinking of going to pellets until I have more fish in the tank to make sure everything is eaten .

My question now is a recommendation for what to do until I have the new tank ready which could still be a couple months. My levels are all back to normal now but I am hesitant to add anything since I will have to move it again when the new tank is ready but my wife and kids want something to look at.

All I have is about 10 snails and 3 small crabs not sure on types.
What can I add that will be okay to move later? Or should I wait until the new tank is ready? If wait what should I keep doing in the meantime? Weekly water changes ect. Should I still be adding food for snails , crabs ect?

[TDIGUY]

On a side note I picked up a 40b for my sump, a 20 long for a qt tank and a 10 gal for a ato tank at the $1 a gallon sale.

I just need to build the stand now.