BL1's 75g upgrade

[BL1]

So, I've finally decided to convert my 75g tank to SW, I've wanted to do this since about the day after I set up my 28g tank. So, here was my tank this morning

I spent half the day emptying it out, cleaning and moving it. Tomorrow I'll be painting the back black and picking up my powerheads. Tuesday my stand should be delivered and sometime next weeks I'll be getting about 100 lbs. from Marco Rocks.
I still haven't planned out the whole setup, I'm still trying to make some decisions. I'll post more pics once everything starts coming together.

 

[Bifferwine]

Good job!

A 75 freshwater tank is a sad tank to waste. :(

 

[reeffreak]

Not a bad looking freshwater setup Brian!About a day after you setup the 75g,you'll want to upgrade again.It's a vicious cycle!

 

[BL1]

Good job!

A 75 freshwater tank is a sad tank to waste. :(

Thanks Biff, I agree, I set it up when SW really intimidated me.

Not a bad looking freshwater setup Brian!About a day after you setup the 75g,you'll want to upgrade again.It's a vicious cycle!

Thanks Reef! I'm already thinking about a 125g upgrade I want after I move back to Colorado, it'll never end! :frustrat:

 

[Jmck]

It will probably end when you get a 240 and cant fill it :P then we get a downgrade thread hehe

congratz brian, looking forward to this setup :)

 

[Hiker4twenty]

Good move. I just upgraded to a 75 and love it. Can't wait to see the progression pics.

 

[dcantucson]

Brian where are those conversion pics at? It's been almost a whole day. Converted yet? :lol: :mrgreen:

 

[BL1]

Brian where are those conversion pics at? It's been almost a whole day. Converted yet? :lol: :mrgreen:

Come on now Dcan, you should know better than anyone how long it takes to set up an imaginary tank :D

 

[yote]

Good move Brian.:D

 

[BL1]

So, I'm really upset with myself right now, I was planning on bidding on a new 48" 2x250w MH fixture on eBay for $200. Well, while building my tank stand, I forgot about it and didn't bid so I lost out. Now, I'm thinking about this guy Metal Halide Light Aquarium 300W Saltwater HQI 48" 4 ft - eBay (item 300447973520 end time Aug-18-10 14:37:48 PDT) Is that enough light to keep anything in the tank? Any suggestions in around the same price range? Thanks!

 

[yote]

MMMMMmmmm

I think you'd be under lit Brian.
If it had T-5s to,I'd say go for it.But its just 2X 150s.I'd shoot for at least 2 X 250s.

 

[BL1]

damn, I was afraid that was going to be my answer, Thanks Yote!

 

[Solarfall]

If you kept the more light-demanding corals toward the top you could probably get away with it. But I'm gonna agree with yote that 2 250w bulbs would be a better investment.
That way you can keep anything you want, in terms of lighting at least.

 

[BL1]

Here's the progress today, got the tank painted, stand built

 

[yote]

Looking good Brian.
Looks like y'all had a few clouds today.:D

 

[BL1]

Looking good Brian.
Looks like y'all had a few clouds today.:D

Thanks!
Haha, that's funny it rained for a while today, which is why I spray painted in the house, that was a reflection from the kitchen.

 

[yote]

Send some of that rain on over this way.

 

[BL1]

Thanks for voting everyone, and here's the islands that won! I've almost finished filling the tank, and I still have to add my live rock. I'm just trying to get my salinity a little higher it's at 1.023 right now, I wanna wait till it's 1.025 to add my live rock
FTS (disregard the filter, I'm just trying running a polishing filter to get all the debris floating around out of the tank)

Close up of cave on the left

And the cove on the right

 

[BL1]

The live rock is coming out of my established 28g, should I see a (mini)-cycle? Or should I be good right off the bat?

 

[reeffreak]

Awesome job!Is that Marco sand too?

Probably not about the mini cycle but you never can be sure.