BWolf's 75 gallon Nano!

[BrothaWolf]

After the long long decision process and with a little help from my RS friends and LFS... a special thanks to my buddy AWD (he still ascared to post on here) who helped me lug everything home and in the house...
The 75 is almost ready to go.
Heres what I have so far....

AGA 75 gallon RR with mega overflow and AGA Oak stand
Current Outer Orbit Lighting 150 HQI MH x 2, T5 x4, Moonlights x 18
Eheim 1262 return pump
Tunze 6025 x 3
ASM G-3 Skimmer
Phosban Reactor (might get a second one)
40 gallon breeder for DIY sump

Im almost ready to go. I bought a 40 gallon breeder tank to use for my sump. The breeder is deeper than the stand by 1/2" and over hangs the bottom edge by 1" but the way the AGA stand is made with no middle supports I just cut a piece of 1/2" plywood the size of the tank for it to sit on. Sealed the wood today. It probably wouldve been ok but I didnt want to chance it. The only thing I dont like is that it takes up the ENTIRE bottom of the stand with maybe 4.5" on either end but it will hold a working volume of about 30 gallons. I think that should be ok. I figured in a power failure I will get about 4 gallons of spill back... I hope! I will build some shallow shelves to at least hold food, nets etc. Im having glass cut at a local shop here to make baffles and the refugium divider. They will be ready tomorrow. Skimmer/intake area will be 11" x 17.5", return area will be 10.5" x 17.5" and will fit my return pump and one or two phosban reactors, refugium will be 12" x 17.5" and will be fed off a t from the main pump to a locline spray bar. Will be 3 baffles. First and third will be 11" high. I will see how the skimmer works at that water level. If is a problem I will have room to raise the skimmer an inch or 2 but from what Ive read it should be ok. I also picked up all the plumbing to do the gate valve mod on it. Wonder if I should run it first without....
I have a box full of pvc for the plumbing but Im sure Ive forgotten something...
I have a can of black acrylic latex paint waiting for the back.
I went with the 150 MH's because I got a great deal on em and the 250's woulda cost much more. For what I will be keeping they should be fine and anything that needs light can be moved up on the rock.
My tunze 6025's will handle the flow in the tank. I found out to late that tunze doesnt recommend they be used on a wave maker unless you do 15 min intervals....but they sure look cool! not sure how much a wavemaker matters...

My BIG DILEMA now is the BioCube. Do I take everything from the Cube and plop it in the 75 or do I leave it be and just take a few pieces out when the 75 is cycled with all new rock... My original plan was to put the Cube critters in the 75 and use the cube to cycle new batches of rock until the 75 was full and then start from scratch with the cube. Of course the Cube is also right in the spot in the livingroom that I want to put the 75. I would like to paint the room and clean the carpet before the new tank goes in.... I really didnt want to move the Cube critters TWICE! Ugh its making my head spin thinking about the best way to go about this.....
I will do some progress photos when i stop being lazy.

[saltwaterfarm]

Nano my tushy!!! Sounds good so far... I'm gonna hitchhike and hear what everyone says about the change over from the cube b/c I will be working on the same thing real soon! Looking forward to some pics and DIY magic...

[boozeman]

[Dentoid]

Looks like you have the bases covered. Good luck!

[lgerold]

Do you already have the new live rock? If so, if it isn't cured already, I'd suggest curing the rock in tubs, rather than in the tank itself.

I ordered my live rock through our LFS, and they cured it for me for no extra charge! I guess they figured that I'd be buying lots of new corals.

We put our new 210 gallon tank up exactly where the original 125 gallon tank was, so it was a big job, and a long day to complete the upgrade. Since you are upgrading from a cube to a 75, it should really go pretty well for you, especially if you have some fantastic help like I did.

I carefully placed of the corals into tubs, and kept the fish in a bucket with an airstone.

The only thing I think we could have changed, was to use more tubs for the corals. I think some of the corals reacted negatively to the close quarters - I expect that some of the negative reaction was due to coral aggression. We were careful to make sure the corals never touched, but I'm sure the chemical warfare was intense. It's been 8 days now, and some of the corals are still off a bit. The water quality is perfect.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to put charcoal at the bottom of the tub, and then lay a piece of egg crate over the charcoal, to place the corals on?

I think it would be less stressful for the corals to just move them to the new tank, rather than tearing down the nano, to re-establish it in another place, and then move the corals again.

You are certain to enjoy the new tank!

[lcstorc]

Definitely does not sound like a nano to me.
Wow sounds like you have everthing well planned. Moving the critters is gonna be tough no matter what you do. I think I would try to move the 29 with livestock or at least at the same time keeping the substrate undisturbed and keeping all the old water etc. Then basically you have the cube just in a different place temporarily.
Then fill the 75 and after it is done cycling move the livestock slowly to the 75. This way the bioload can be increased gradually giving the bacteria time to catch up. Then when the 29 is empty you can make it whatever you like.
I really am no expert since I have never moved a tank, but I just like the idea of keeping them in their existing home while the new digs are prepared and slowly introducing them to the 75 to reduce spikes.
I assume you are going to seed the 75 with water and some substrate. I would at least. Give things a bit of a kick start on the 75.
Best wishes and keep us posted.
You know we want pics.

[saltwaterfarm]

Get your lazy b-hind over to your PM's and clean them out!!! I just sent a long, well thought out PM and your box is full! HAHAHA

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by saltwaterfarm

Get your lazy b-hind over to your PM's and clean them out!!! I just sent a long, well thought out PM and your box is full! HAHAHA

Sorry

[saltwaterfarm]

It's OK... all better now.

[Woodstock]

You can cerainly move the contents of your nano straight into the newly setup 75. Using the same cured rock and sand will supply the needed nitrifying bacteria. I would not add any new live stock though until you add more cured rock... and then slowly.

Karma to you for being so prepared!

I like the 40 breeder idea for the sump... My ASM G3 skimmer barely fits into my acrylic sump. I might get a 40 breeder instead before I upgrade...

[BrothaWolf]

So many good ideas! I picked up (3) 31 gallon rubbermaid tubs today at Lowes. Im gonna start curing some live rock as soon as LFS gets the next shipment of tonga and fiji in. Im gonna have to do as search as to the proper way to do it.
I picked up the glass panels for the sump today and they fit PERFECTLY! I had them made higher than I originaly planned because I wanted the extra water volume. The overflow for the refugium is at 14" with the top of the tank at 16"... Of course I couldnt find any aquarium safe silicone to use except for the tiny tubes but at $8 for 3oz I think I will pass. I got some GE Silicone 1 at lowes. It says not for aquarium use or use in applications over 400 degrees and from what I can research its a liability issue They dont want to have to pay for leaky tanks but its safe for the animals. If anyone knows better please speak up.

Definetly seeding with substrate and water from the Cube.
I think I will take Lynn, Doni and Lucys advice and combine all your tips. I may try and get those slidey feet things under the posts on the Cubes stand and then muscle it on to an adjacent wall temporarily. I moved it out 4 inchs from the wall by myself so with the sliders and some help... That way the critters can stay in there home. I will start curing live rock in tubs now. Then I can get in do what I have to do set up the 75. Transfer the critters right into the 75 when Im all set....
Wait maybe now is the best time to get new carpet.... UGH!!!

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by Woodstock

You can cerainly move the contents of your nano straight into the newly setup 75. Using the same cured rock and sand will supply the needed nitrifying bacteria. I would not add any new live stock though until you add more cured rock... and then slowly.

Karma to you for being so prepared!

I like the 40 breeder idea for the sump... My ASM G3 skimmer barely fits into my acrylic sump. I might get a 40 breeder instead before I upgrade...

Doni if you want the sizes on the glass I ordered send me a PM

[Gina]

Originally Posted by BrothaWolf

So many good ideas! I picked up (3) 31 gallon rubbermaid tubs today at Lowes. Im gonna start curing some live rock as soon as LFS gets the next shipment of tonga and fiji in. Im gonna have to do as search as to the proper way to do it.

I don't know if this will help you or not but, this is how we cured our LR several years ago when we got it.

We first inspected all the pieces that came in for dead tissue and anything we didn't want on the LR and removed it.
We then placed the rock in a tub of salt water that we kept at about 73 degrees with a couple of PH and heater.
After 3 days, we took out each piece of rock and scrubbed it with a soft scrub brush and toothbrush for the hard to get to areas and then placed that rock into another tub filled with water.
Some people like to use a skimmer but, we didn't do that.

Every few days we tested our water for Ammonia and after several weeks when we finally got a 0 reading we placed the rock into our tank.

Keep in mind, if you cure your rock inside, it does smell!! LOL

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by Gina

I don't know if this will help you or not but, this is how we cured our LR several years ago when we got it.

We first inspected all the pieces that came in for dead tissue and anything we didn't want on the LR and removed it.
We then placed the rock in a tub of salt water that we kept at about 73 degrees with a couple of PH and heater.
After 3 days, we took out each piece of rock and scrubbed it with a soft scrub brush and toothbrush for the hard to get to areas and then placed that rock into another tub filled with water.
Some people like to use a skimmer but, we didn't do that.

Every few days we tested our water for Ammonia and after several weeks when we finally got a 0 reading we placed the rock into our tank.

Keep in mind, if you cure your rock inside, it does smell!! LOL

Thank you Gina thats exactly what I was looking into today Now I dont have to!

[BrothaWolf]

HOLY CR@P! Moved the BioCube this morning in preparations for the 75 which should be up and running monday. Removed the fuge and hood. Drained out 7 gallons of water. Removed any coral from the top of the LR. CAREFULLY lifted up one side of the stand while g/f slid huge pieces of cardboard under the legs. Repeated on other side of the tank. Very very slowly half walked half slid the tank to the perpendicular wall. Reconnected all the pumps and lights. Fuge is going to remain pumping in one of my large tubs for the time being Did a water change. Replaced coral and all done! Everything has already opened back up No fatalities, not even my back!
75 gallon tank back wall is painted black. All the baffles in the sump are in place. Just need to silicone the fuge wall in and its gtg. Now Im getting excited!