Bigge3415's 180g salt water journey.

[Bigge3415]

Tank has been up and running for a month now but here is a rundown. Got the setup from one of my customers for free the best dea l ever :D . Tank was in rough shape when I got. It hasn't had a water change in close to a year. There is a clown and a coral beauty angelfish that came with it.

Here is a pic prior to pick up.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120702_150348.jpg

[Bigge3415]

First thing was getting the tank moved. Pumped water into A 32G trash can. Then transferred live rock from tank to tote full of water then from tote to trash can in truck. Netted fish drained tank keeping roughly 90g of water.

Here is a pic of everything loaded up on the trailer.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120707_124828.jpg

[sheamurai]

Free! what a find!

I'm guessing there are more pictures forthcoming still...

[Bigge3415]

Got everything home scrubbed tank and sump clean. Unfortunatly I had to use the 90g of old water to refill some of the tank for the live rock and fish. Got rock and fish transferred dropped the 2 power heads in and started mixing my water. The salinity was at 1.016 when I got the tank so I slowly got it raised to 1.021. I plan on getting it to 1.024 over time.

Here is a pic of the tank now its a work in progress.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120729_111800.jpg

[ScottishFish]

Looking good already, what a deal! thumbs2:

[Bigge3415]

I almost forgot the remodel to fit another massive tank in my living room. Basically I removed a old wood burning stove. Removed a sliding glass door from the living room. Removed a window from the kitchen and installed it in the living room then installed a single door where the window was in the kitchen. Took 2.5 days
a total of 35 hours not bad for a weekend job.

Here are some pics of the remodel.
Before
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120630_085943.jpg

Work in progress
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120701_185104.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120701_185123.jpg

[Bigge3415]

After
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120729_112827.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h151/Bigge3415/20120729_112844.jpg

[sheamurai]

lookin' good!

[Bigge3415]

That's all I have for now sorry it is a month into the project before I had time to start a journal. Still need substrate and upgrade of lighting I currently have dual hot5 probly going to add another quad hot5 and some more power heads. Its gonna be a slow process things are expensive.

[sheamurai]

Have a look at craigslist and check out your local reef club. There's always someone breaking down a tank that has good used stuff for sale, way cheaper than you could get new.

[Bigge3415]

I'm a member of a local club. And there is a store near me that specializes in used equipment. Will be checking that out shortly. Substrate alone is going to cost me 150-200$. Worming on getting the substrate first then I will deal with my equipment needs :D

[sheamurai]

Lots of people run saltwater bare bottom. I myself run less than than an inch in my tank...unless you have some sand lovers in your stock list perhaps that is one worry you can postpone or cross off?

[Bigge3415]

Well I have debated it quite a bit I think I want something on the bottom even if its really thin. It will help keep the rocks stable and cover up all the scratches on the bottom oh the tank.