Bought A New Tank

[ouccmich]

Hi everyone!

So most of you regulars know that I am moving in May back to Michigan. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to upgrade the tank. Plus, my tank stand has no cabinetry and therefore no undertank storage whatsoever. So, I bought a ready-to-go used system from a nice guy in Indy. Haven't picked it up yet because we have to rent a u-halll. It's a 150 gallon reef ready drilled glass tank with stand and hood. It has 400W Metal Halides with new bulbs (3) and 2 HO T5 actinics. The tank is gorgeous and has two built-in overflows.

Question: Tank is glass and the tank itself is outside right now. Should I worry about the seals? He said it doesn't leak and it looks great, but it's outside in the cold.

Question: I want to get an auto-top-off. I can put it on a credit card with no interest for one year. Which one?

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ry_Code=Dosers

OR

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ry_Code=Dosers

WITH

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ry_Code=Dosers.

I am picking up the tank next weekend and stopping at PA to get some Tropic Marin PRO salt to start it up in MI. Want to have it up and running for 3 months before the move.

Question: Best way to move it and not have the tank cycle too much? Take LR from my tank up there? Some water as well?

I have my Protein skimmer already (Euroreef). I will start new thread with more questions for the pros!

Michelle

[wannareef]

i wouldnt bother to set it up unless you take 80% of the water and rock with you it will probably cycle on you. i would just start it up when you get there. matt

[Doug1]

Congrats on the new tank Michelle, thats gonna be fun, after the move and you get settled in.
As far as the top off, what do you want it to do, the last option detects falling water levels and refills as needed. The advantage is that as weather and humidity changes you dont have to recalcultae your rate of evap, something you will need to do with either of the Peristaltic pumps. Those look like nice units, and can be especially handy if you have to store your top off water quite a ways from the tank. One of they guys here used one to pump water from the closet in back of the house, up to the attic and over to the tank, some 50 + feet. My tank had a trash can sitting next to it with a float valve, my wife was NOT amused

[ChrisPrusha]

Wow!! Congrats, Michelle...very cool!!!

[dobejazz]

Congrats Michelle!!

[tashier]

Wow, sounds like it's going to be quite the upgrade. Should be lots of fun and lots of $$$

[ouccmich]

Originally Posted by tashier

Wow, sounds like it's going to be quite the upgrade. Should be lots of fun and lots of $$$

I know..I hope not but I know! I know the tank is going to cycle. I guess I need to start it fresh. LFS owner said that I should start up the new tank now, add LR, and let it cycle. Then move all my live stock up there in 3 months with all the LR I have, etc. He said that it should be no problem, bring as much water as I can and just chage it out when I get there. He said all my corals and what not would be fine!

Is that what you guys think?

[ouccmich]

Originally Posted by tashier

Wow, sounds like it's going to be quite the upgrade. Should be lots of fun and lots of $$$

I think I got a good deal on the tank. 150 gallon with 3 metal halide's and the ballast for all 3. Brand new 10,000K bulbs. 2 HO T5 brand new with ballast. Built in quiet fans in the hood. Oak stand and hood. Very nice. Seahorse handles and starfish for the hood. 4 cabinets below. All glass tank with 2 drilled overflows. 2 squids and intake valves included. Plus some extras. $1300. He said it cost him over $3000.

[Loverotties]

Sounds Great! Good luck with it and the move Michelle!