New Tank

Hey guys I just got an killer deal on a 150 gallon tank and stand, and then I talked to a guy that was taking down his tank(120 gallon) because he was moving so I bought his live rock and got all his sand and about a hundred gallons of his water. I have never set up a tank this big so my question for all of you- is there any tips or tricks to setting up a bigger tank? I plan on adding the sand and water in a few hours after I rest up.
Thanks

 

Well first of all . .. SWEET!!!! It's so damn exciting every time you set up a reef tank . . .big or small!

First and most importantly . . . where are you setting this bad boy up? Hopefully you are either on concrete slab setting it up or you are sure that your structure underneath the floor is strong enough to support the 2500+ pounds that the whole system will put on your 15 or so square feet . . .

once that is take care of . . .
if you do not have any other salt for making new saltwater . . . get some immediately.

I would only use about 10 gallons of that water . . . some people here will tell you maybe to use more or less. . . that's just me

You will want to keep the liverock "live" . . .if it has been allowed to be out of water and dry for more than a few hours . . .it will have to go through a complete cycle which will take at least 30 days to complete.

Same thing goes for the livesand . . . you will want to keep it wet also.

Hopefully you are going to have more than that single canister filter eventually. . . it will certainly get you through the cycle (might take longer with less water movement)...you are going to want a 50 gallon plus sump for that large of a tank. . . (again think of the weight of ANOTHER full 50 gallon tank in the same space)

after that . . . you will need to do a TON of research. . . you will go through some cycling. You will have to closely monitor your water chemistry every few days until you are stable. . .

For more specific questions search through the forums there is a TON of information on here. . . if not post specific questions under the appropriate forum and there will be an enthusiastic fellow reefer practically standing by to give information!!!

Good luck!

 

Well I did the math and it seems that my new tank is 130 gallons(according to the volume calculator online). The guy I got the rock from gave me his livestock too and besides the fish(that I transfered to my other tank) there are two sea cucumbers. I have only heard bad things about them dying and killing everything in the tank, so should I keep them or bring them to my LFS? They are both about a foot long when they stretch out.
As far as the rock and sand it hasn't been out of the water for more then a few seconds while transferring from the tank to my totes.
And the tank will be placed on a slab so I don't need to worry about weight.
Thanks Again

 

As far as I know, most cucumbers don't poison the water. Some, like the sea apple, do but it wouldn't kill everything in the tank. Unless the tank was really small. I do know they are good filter feeders.

 

day three

Still plenty to do but it is coming along good.

 

Going for the single island look or still need to get more rock? Looks pretty cool as is.