Got the new 90 today! Thanks Francis!

[mfisher2112]

Got it home in one piece (thanks Francis!)

Got the old tank taken down, and everyone is swimming happily in the 30 gallon temporary tank. Working on getting the new tank in place now.

I'll take some pics shortly! ;D

 

[sinkingbeach]

Don't rush it Don't forget what I told you about the overflow and the rings sitting in it ;D Have fun

 

[mfisher2112]

Took it to the shop first thing. Pulled the rings and cleaned the overflow. Gave it one more good cleaning (just in case, you saw how greasy that truck was... ugg)

Right now the PVC cement is sealing on the new plumbing for the return. Need to go to Lowes AGAIN cause I got one piece that is the wrong size.

Fish and corals will be fine in the 30 gallon indefinitely. I cycled the rock in it for about 4 weeks, and then the tank ran for about another 4 weeks before anything went in. Heck, the tang and angel damn near have one of the rocks cleared of algae already. LOL! Clam is open, zoas opened right back, shrooms opened right back up, so far it seems the pains I went to to make sure the 30 gallon matched the 55 identically paid off.

I just want to get the plumbing etc done today so that I can get the water and rock from the 55 back in there ASAP. It's sitting in tubs right now.

Fish/corals relocating back to the new tank probably won't take place for at least a few days while I make sure everything is solid with the new water chemistry.

I should have some shots up later on once I get the plumbing done and am comfortable putting water back in.

(Plus, I gotta clean up this mess before my wife gets home or I'll be sleeping in that tank! LOL!)

 

[mfisher2112]

Ok, here's a few pics.

I don't have the sump plumbed in yet. 3 trips to Lowes and still don't have the right parts. That's what I get for trying to re-use existing plumbing instead of just redoing it from scratch.

At this point, water is in, rock is in, sand is in, power heads are running, and the skimmer is temporarily hanging on the display to help clean it up some.

Both bulkheads are holding water, and I have the valve closed on the return for now.

I will get the sump plumbed in probably on Tuesday. Right now, I'm exhausted and need some sleep! ;D

All residents are happily residing in the 30 gallon, and the tang and bi-color have officially rid the rocks of algae! LOL! Better than a clean up crew, those two!

As you can see, I have quite the "snow storm" right now. (the water isn't really blue, I got a nasty glare, and quite frankly, didn't feel like retaking the shot! ;D )

 

[mfisher2112]

Ok, everything tested perfectly, so I went ahead with the move. Everybody made the trip without issue. The wrasse is in there somewhere, but he is hiding.

Also got all me critters from the group buy today too (Thanks Rich!), they are happily munching away as well.

Sump is plumbed and operational. The extra light is sitting there just until I can get the hood built and the metal halides in. Probably another couple of weeks for that.

 

[sinkingbeach]

Wow it looks great

 

[JohnS_323]

That really looks nice Matt. Glad the plumbing worked out. That's always the nail-biter part of the whole project . . . "OK plug it in but be ready to UNPLUG IT QUICK!"

 

[mfisher2112]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, the plumbing had me going for a while, but $7 worth of parts and a jigsaw and I was able to use most of the existing plumbing for the return pump. Just had to step down the 1" pipe I was using back down to 3/4" to accomodate a barbed fitting and run a short length of braided pvc hose to the return bulkhead and PRESTO! ;D

Aquascaping was a PITA though! Looks kinda bare, needs more corals! ;D

(I think I just heard my wife sigh out loud! LOL!)

 

[mfisher2112]

I was a little worried about the anemone. He's been through 3 moves in the past couple of weeks. But, he has himself wedged in a corner in the back of the tank (his choice, not mine).

I put him in the front under a rock over hang, since I learned from the last time he doesn't seem to like the light (maybe he's a rare vampire anemone or something!), and he has managed to work his way clear across the tank and into the back left corner.

But, the good news is, the clowns FOUND HIM! AND THEY ARE BOTH HOSTING! WOO HOO! I was hoping for a mated pair when I bought them. Is it possible for two of the same sex tomato clowns to tolerate each other enough to share the same anemone? One definitely seems to be getting bigger than the other and is a bit darker. They have been stuck together since I got them. The swim together, sleep together, eat together, and now they host together, so fingers are definitely crossed for a mated pair.

Pics tomorrow if I can manage it, he's back in that corner pretty far.