Upgrade thoughts

A local reef club member recently upgraded their tank from 90 to 180 gallons. They're now selling the tank, and I am going over for a closer look today.

Here is the description:

He's asking $200 for the setup, does that seem reasonable? I know it needs a lot of work... but I would need to paint the stand/hood either way to match my house, so realistically it mainly needs cleaning.

My plan is to do the following:
1. Use LED lighting (contacted an ebay seller based off the group buys here, said he could get me a driver that works with my reefangel. He recommended just starting with one fixture and seeing how it worked first)
2. Get 2 large rubbermade totes. Add an overflow to one and make it my fuge (for ease sake, I think I will use my current reactor pump to feed both my reactor and my fuge via the sump, both returning water to the sump). The other tote (or garbage can. Unsure at this point) will hold my top off water. These will both be plumbed through a wall.
3. 1 MP40
4. I need recommendations on a good skimmer for someone on a budget
5.. Other misc equip (rock, heaters, CuC)

The extra questions have to do with the upgrade itself (which will be a long term project). I currently have a 30 gallon with all HOB items, so I have no experiance working with the plumbing. Most of it is all there, but he offered to 3/4 inch drill returns if I wanted. What type of bulkheads do I need for the return lines (I see several types in each size).

My upgrade plan is as follows (spaced out over 4ish months):
1. Sand or prime (depending on condition) the stand/hood inside and out. Paint inside white or black, paint outside dark brown.
2. Clean Tank out.
3. Paint (or replace) PVC overflows black
4. Leak Test with tapwater
5. Aquire dry rock and sand. Aquascape
6. Aquire Lighting, heating
7. Fill with RODI water, mix sand in tank.
8. Cycle (aka wait for money to make next purchases).
9. Add Fuge near end of this time, add CuC(including removing reactor from old tank).

<not sure of the order of the next steps. Not sure if I need to wait to do step 10 til after step 11, maybe use small powerheads temp from old tank>
10. Add Livestock/Live Rockfrom Current tank
11. Aquire MP40
12. Move Reef Angel from old tank to new one
13. Add new livestock (yellow tang, Mandarin, copperbanded butterfly maybe, not sure what else. Going slow of course, and being sure the tank is ready for each )
14. ENJOY

Does my upgrade plan/train of thought seem reasonable? I am really excited about the idea... but now that I am getting to go see the tank tonight, I'm getting less sure of my plan!

 

for 200 yea thats not a bad deal I would make sure the return pump works and I might replace the sump to somthing bigger but thats not a necisity

 

Good Skimmer on a budget?

The SC150- best for the buck bar none

 

I asked him about it, and he said he took down the tank a few months ago, and it was working perfect then. I might ask if I can see it just to be sure.

I was thinking of replacing the sump to something bigger... but would a big fuge accomplish the same thing? I'm torn between selling my 28 gallon bowfront and getting a rubbermade tote fuge... or just keeping the 28 gallon for the fuge.

 

either way I prefer glass to thin plastic just because it lasts longer

 

That's something I haven't even considered!

 

plastis also has a nasty habit of leaching if you dont buy the correct plastic plus you already have the tank so that makes it cheeper still.

 

How old is the tank. Check the seams. You wouldnt want to fill it and stock it and.then have to reseal the seams after a few months. I speak from experience. Those were 3 stressful days

 

Tank is pretty old. What would I look for when checking the seams? Anyway to do it without making him fill it?

Thanks!

 

Silicone looked good. Picking it up tonight, going to start leak testing it in my garage once I get it home (getting local reef club member, not worried about him screwing me).

Decided to just drill one return and have locline Y inside the tank instead of having the hose split outside. Think it's easier. SUPER excited to get started!