55g to 185g question

I have a chance to upgrade from my 55 to a 185. The 185 is a good deal especially since it is a RR tank. My question is would it be alright to run the 185 with all the stuff I have now? I want to keep a very sparsely populated tank. I currently have about 80 pounds of LR and all my sps, lps, and a few softies. Would I run into any problems with having 180 gallons of water with not much livestock? I would like to create the look of a sand bed on one side of the tank that then changes to a reef on the other end. I want a LOT of open space on the one side of the tank. My skimmer is rated up to 80 gallons heavily stocked would it be ok to use for a hardly stocked 185? I dont want to add any more fish or corals. If I set this up it needs to be done on a very strict budget, the only thing I may need to buy would be a light. And would my 55g tank be large enough to use for a sump?

 

the 55 would be an adequate sump. the split from one side reef and the other fish open to swim and roam around I think it is a great idea. It would work out. and since you dont have a huge amount of coral life the skimmer should do it. Wish I could swing a large tank. that wood rock............good luck
danny

 

Another thing is I would need to add about 150 pounds of additional sand to fill the remaining part of the tank. What do you all think?

 

I think it would just fine.If you keep your bioload load you should have no problems what so ever.

 

The bigger the better,i wish i could have a big tank as well and yeah that 55 would be great for a sump.

 

you should be just fine. my only concern is the pumps. yours may work great for your 55, but not necessarily big enough to move the water in the 185.

 

I think it would work also except the pumps. You might just want to add a couple of circulation pumps to keep the flow going around the reef area.

 

My mag12 would be the return and then my Koralias for flow as well as my other powerhead. I could always add one or two more if needed.

 

the more i think about it, the cooler that sounds.
hope to see pics soon

 

you might be ok. consider this, in my 180, I have about 1000~1500 gallons return from my sump and ~3600 from my closed loop.