What Am I Missing For My Reef Tank.

[german shepherd]

I bought an established 180 Gallon fish only tank. Its be running for 4 years.
I want to get some corrals and such going this is what i have what am i missing.
These are just what i think they are called believe me i bought books and wow who would of thought all this was involved. But i love it.
2 jet movers
1 wave maker
2 heaters
2 - emperor 400 dual bio wheel filters
1 30 gallon mud refugium
1 overflow tank
2- 36" lights with reef/sun light bulbs
1 uv sterilizer
250lbs of rock.
I bought have not added yet a
220 gallon protein skimmer
and 4 light T5 light fixture. I have not go the bulbs yet.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advanced.

 

[acrylic51]

Welcome to the boards!!!!!!!!

First you said a fish only system to this date....What fish are currently in the system? Depending what you currently have my limit what your future upgrades/additions might be as far as corals.
Not entirely sure 4 T5 bulbs over a 180 is enough, but again depends what your planning on keeping.....
Do you currently have an RO/DI system? What are you currently running as far as filtration on your current setup as well?

 

[german shepherd]

here is a video of what is in there know (I will get rid of what ever fish i need to)
i know there are
3 tangs
2 clowns
1 -2' ell
1 - spiny starfish
a few crabs and there are some clams at the top if that matters.
and 4 others
one is half blue and yellow
one is the big guy
one is orange with black strips
one is purple with black strips.
The current system has 2 emperor bio wheel 400 filters. but the coralife 220 gal protein skimmer i am going to add into the refugium ASAP. i think that will allow me to eliminate the other two.
I just want some corals mushrooms something like in the fish stores something you look at and say WOW. Can i send the video to you thru email it is not letting me upload it..

 

[monsinour]

if its on youtube, post the link for it.

 

[german shepherd]

One is in the bottom left

 

[monsinour]

no expert but what i see are
Flame angel
coral beauty
couple tangs
picasso trigger
bi color angel

 

[german shepherd]

the guy wanted to see what fish i need to get rid off ?

 

[monsinour]

you dont have to get rid of a thing, if you dont add any coral.
the angels are all possible coral nippers, tuff to say for sure.
Not sure on the trigger, but i am not an expert.

 

[abeandlulu]

The trigger IMO is the only thing that needs to go. I cant beleive there are 3 angles in there and they are getting along.

 

[german shepherd]

Ok what about the equipment what will be a good asking orice for him I will put him up on craglist

 

[acrylic51]

Agree the Picaso would need to go...there are some reef compatible (nothings 100%) triggers.......Coral Beauty should be perfectly fine.....Flames can be sometimey, but time will tell.....The Bi Color can be picky.....Mine did nothing but devour green star polyps though.....
Your plan on your sump/fuge is an excellent start IMO....It will give you a place to put your skimmer and move your heater and such to as well. It would also negate or allow you to remove the HOB filters your currently using.
What powerheads (jets) do you currently have?

 

[german shepherd]

I have two maxi jet 1200 and a wave maker is that enought
The refuguim has also been runningv for 4 years

 

[acrylic51]

The 2 PH's might be sufficient at the present, but as you add LR and corals you'll probably find you will need to add additional flow inside the tank.

 

[german shepherd]

So whats better the jets or those wave makers

 

[monsinour]

dont the wave makers control the powerheads? What exactly do you mean by wave makers? Better still, do we have a complete list of equipment? If you dont know what something is (manufacturer and model) just post a pic of it. On a tank as large as yours, 2 really big powerheads on either end is a good start, but you might need some along the back wall pointing forward to keep the current going in the middle of the tank.

 

[german shepherd]

i have the 2 maxi jet 1200 and in add to that is was called a wave maker but in the video above it is in the top right hand conner of the tank.

 

[monsinour]

Oh, ok. Have you checked out the Koralia line of power heads? they make some great units and will, in my mind, look better than the maxi jets.

 

[german shepherd]

I just googled it and that is the other one that is in there how many more do i need inaddition to the 3

 

[monsinour]

guessing here, 72" long?
If it were me, I would get 2 big ones at opposite ends of the tank, and then maybe 3 small ones along the back wall. Of the 3 on the back wall, those maxi-jets will work, just gotta hide them behind some rock or something. I dont know, maybe its me. I like the look of the Koralias better than the maxi-jets.

 

[german shepherd]

well the koraline in there is a 1300 gph and the maxi are 1200 gph so i i will get two more koraline 1300 gph and that should be good correct. also do you stage the jets to move the water in a circulation or point them to move the water in different directions.