What to do

[gji]

So here is my dilemma, I started saltwater hobby back in 1998, I was successful in maintaining a FOWLR tank until i got out in 2005. Now that my kids are off to college, it leaves me with more time. Hence, the reason to jump back into the hobby. I would love to set up this tank without wasting any equipment that i don't have to. so tell me what i can still use or re-purpose and what has advanced and needs to be replaced.
MY SET UP:
180 gallon reef ready clarity plus acrylic aquarium, oak stand and canopy
lighting: ice cap 430 VHO retro kit(bought this brand new before I got out and never set up or used) I have the bulbs for them also
filtration: 200gallon rated wet/dry
aqua C 150 protein skimmer
jaeger 300 watt heater
2 RIO's 3100
150 pounds of live rock that is now dry
substrate is crushed coral

all advice would greatly be appreciated.

 

[jrpark22000]

What goal do you have for the new tank? Fowlr, softie, sps, mixed?

The rios, LR and jagers are still good today. The skimmer takes quite a bit of power to get less results than many of the newer cone skimmer designs. Wet/dry are still in use for many fowlr but do little for coral tanks nitrates. I'm a bare bottom guy so have no experience with crushed coral.

You're likely good to redo a fowlr as you stand, but a coral tank might be tough with the gear you have today.

 

[madjoe]

Well i somewhat agree with josh to a point i think with what u have u can run a nice softie reef although will be wasting electricity with the skimmer and lights i ran vhos on a softie tank and ran great

 

[Smitty]

Definitely get rid of the crushed coral. It's a nitrate factory.

 

[gji]

was thinking about eventually doing a mixed reef, but start out with softies. what is the bulb life span of t5?

 

[gji]

and can i use the ice cap ballast on the t5's and just buy t5 end caps?

 

[rockhead]

and can i use the ice cap ballast on the t5's and just buy t5 end caps?

Yes I believe so, I ran the 660 I think it was that powered 6 t5 for me , it should have a wire diagram on it to show how to wire it up or search the web.


Tom

 

[gji]

Screw it I'm gonna run my vho until I can't get bulbs. I will supplement with LEDs


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[gji]

Smitty, did you get your 93 cube set up yet? Your brother in blue was eyeing that up, lol


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[Smitty]

Smitty, did you get your 93 cube set up yet? Your brother in blue was eyeing that up, lol


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Nope, it's not setup yet. Still grabbing all the equipment for it, just slowly going about doing so. Still deciding how I'm gonna set the sump and fuge up too.


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[gji]

Let me know if your gonna get rid of your 60, I might be interested


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