What to do

gji · 03/31/2015, 08:32 PM

So here is my dilemma, I started saltwater hobby back in 1998, I was successful in maintaining a FOWLR tank until i got out in 2005. Now that my kids are off to college, it leaves me with more time. Hence, the reason to jump back into the hobby. I would love to set up this tank without wasting any equipment that i don't have to. so tell me what i can still use or re-purpose and what has advanced and needs to be replaced.
MY SET UP:
180 gallon reef ready clarity plus acrylic aquarium, oak stand and canopy
lighting: ice cap 430 VHO retro kit(bought this brand new before I got out and never set up or used) I have the bulbs for them also
filtration: 200gallon rated wet/dry
aqua C 150 protein skimmer
jaeger 300 watt heater
2 RIO's 3100
150 pounds of live rock that is now dry
substrate is crushed coral

all advice would greatly be appreciated.

julie180 · 03/31/2015, 08:37 PM

If it worked before, why not give it a try. You can always purchase new as you see the need.
I would advise against the crushed coral, if you want any type of sand sifting fish or snails, its not a good choice. Some think its a nitrate trap but I can't speak to that.

Welcome back!

Martini5788 · 03/31/2015, 08:39 PM

Most people use aragonite sand instead of crushed coral because the crushed coral collects a lot of debris and effects water quality.

Martini5788 · 03/31/2015, 08:41 PM

Are you planning on having corals? Or remaining fowlr?

gotnoclue · 03/31/2015, 08:52 PM

Sounds better than anything I am running. I would still replace the bulbs in your lighting.

gji · 04/01/2015, 12:32 AM

i was attending to go with a mixed reef eventually, but will start out with softies. besides changing to argonite sand, what else should i change. my lfs says that my skimmer is out dated and no good, whats the opinion. He also said i should at least upgrade my lighting to t5 or leds. I was think about keeping the vho and adding some leds

CHizer · 04/01/2015, 02:15 AM

I had a hard time finding VHO bulbs when I started back recently. Probably could have found them if I looked harder but the price for LEDs now is almost as cheap as the bulbs. At least that's what I told myself.

Martini5788 · 04/01/2015, 07:14 AM

I would start curing the liverock now, that way you will know in a few weeks if you will need to replace any of it. I am going to have to go through all of the rocks currently in my tank because some of them areeaching phosphates and nitrates like crazy.

gji · 04/02/2015, 11:38 AM

Will do, was thinking about giving them a bleach bath and pressure wash soon. Unless there is a newer method. Thanks for the replies

BigCountry74 · 04/02/2015, 12:47 PM

Start soaking the rock. Everything u can still use maybe but the lights since it might be hard to find bulbs. If your gonna do fowlr again then lights do not really matter and u could run cheap led

I might upgrade water movement if your gonna play with some lps.

GilliganReef · 04/02/2015, 01:13 PM

I'd say you can reuse everything you had before. IF your not planning on getting it up and running for a couple of months. I would throw your rocks in a tote with a heater and PH's and start cooking them. If you feel like you would like better lights and skimmer that stuff you can alway purchase down the road.

Personally I would build my own sump for the tank, but thats just my opinion. I like to do a lot DIY and hands on things with my tanks. Right now you can go to petco and get 40B for $40 bucks. If your looking at coral I would upgrade your powerheads with jabeo or vortechs. Welcome back to the hobby and Good Luck Sir!

Martini5788 · 04/02/2015, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilliganreef

i'd say you can reuse everything you had before. If your not planning on getting it up and running for a couple of months. I would throw your rocks in a tote with a heater and ph's and start cooking them. If you feel like you would like better lights and skimmer that stuff you can alway purchase down the road.

Personally i would build my own sump for the tank, but thats just my opinion. I like to do a lot diy and hands on things with my tanks. Right now you can go to petco and get 40b for $40 bucks. If your looking at coral i would upgrade your powerheads with jabeo or vortechs. Welcome back to the hobby and good luck sir!

+1

gji · 04/02/2015, 02:53 PM

Thanks

03/31/2015, 08:32 PM	#1
gji Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago/west beverly Posts: 73	What to do So here is my dilemma, I started saltwater hobby back in 1998, I was successful in maintaining a FOWLR tank until i got out in 2005. Now that my kids are off to college, it leaves me with more time. Hence, the reason to jump back into the hobby. I would love to set up this tank without wasting any equipment that i don't have to. so tell me what i can still use or re-purpose and what has advanced and needs to be replaced. MY SET UP: 180 gallon reef ready clarity plus acrylic aquarium, oak stand and canopy lighting: ice cap 430 VHO retro kit(bought this brand new before I got out and never set up or used) I have the bulbs for them also filtration: 200gallon rated wet/dry aqua C 150 protein skimmer jaeger 300 watt heater 2 RIO's 3100 150 pounds of live rock that is now dry substrate is crushed coral all advice would greatly be appreciated.

04/02/2015, 12:47 PM	#10
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	Start soaking the rock. Everything u can still use maybe but the lights since it might be hard to find bulbs. If your gonna do fowlr again then lights do not really matter and u could run cheap led I might upgrade water movement if your gonna play with some lps. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef Last edited by BigCountry74; 04/02/2015 at 12:52 PM.

03/31/2015, 08:37 PM	#2
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	If it worked before, why not give it a try. You can always purchase new as you see the need. I would advise against the crushed coral, if you want any type of sand sifting fish or snails, its not a good choice. Some think its a nitrate trap but I can't speak to that. Welcome back!

03/31/2015, 08:39 PM	#3
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Most people use aragonite sand instead of crushed coral because the crushed coral collects a lot of debris and effects water quality.

03/31/2015, 08:41 PM	#4
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	Are you planning on having corals? Or remaining fowlr?

03/31/2015, 08:52 PM	#5
gotnoclue Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: ohio Posts: 99	Sounds better than anything I am running. I would still replace the bulbs in your lighting.

04/01/2015, 12:32 AM	#6
gji Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago/west beverly Posts: 73	i was attending to go with a mixed reef eventually, but will start out with softies. besides changing to argonite sand, what else should i change. my lfs says that my skimmer is out dated and no good, whats the opinion. He also said i should at least upgrade my lighting to t5 or leds. I was think about keeping the vho and adding some leds

04/01/2015, 02:15 AM	#7
CHizer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Tampa Posts: 193	I had a hard time finding VHO bulbs when I started back recently. Probably could have found them if I looked harder but the price for LEDs now is almost as cheap as the bulbs. At least that's what I told myself.

04/01/2015, 07:14 AM	#8
Martini5788 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 2,303	I would start curing the liverock now, that way you will know in a few weeks if you will need to replace any of it. I am going to have to go through all of the rocks currently in my tank because some of them areeaching phosphates and nitrates like crazy.

04/02/2015, 11:38 AM	#9
gji Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago/west beverly Posts: 73	Will do, was thinking about giving them a bleach bath and pressure wash soon. Unless there is a newer method. Thanks for the replies

04/02/2015, 01:13 PM	#11
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	I'd say you can reuse everything you had before. IF your not planning on getting it up and running for a couple of months. I would throw your rocks in a tote with a heater and PH's and start cooking them. If you feel like you would like better lights and skimmer that stuff you can alway purchase down the road. Personally I would build my own sump for the tank, but thats just my opinion. I like to do a lot DIY and hands on things with my tanks. Right now you can go to petco and get 40B for $40 bucks. If your looking at coral I would upgrade your powerheads with jabeo or vortechs. Welcome back to the hobby and Good Luck Sir!

04/02/2015, 02:53 PM	#13
gji Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago/west beverly Posts: 73	Thanks