Moving a 120 gal tank any advise

[1eyedjyde]

looks like I cant upload any more photos, weird. The tank is a 120 gal as the title suggests 4'x2'x2'. It is currently drilled for a 2" overflow box on the right and a 1" drain upper left. Three holes were drilled in the bottom for the closed loop returns, the inlet was originally plumed in over the top. I plan on keeping the three bottom returns for the close loop as they are but I think I will move the inlet to the 1" left drain location. This means I will be drilling the back of the tank to increase the hole size up to the 2" for the snapper pump. The return pump from the sump is the mag drive 12 so at 5-6ft of head it will only be pushing 1000gph so the overflow with 2" drain should be plenty. The curent close loop return has one return on each side coming up from the bottom at 45 deg and a spray bar running between them. I like this setup as I think it will increase flow through the display rock and by moving the inlet through the back of the tank will be a beter visual. The sump just needs a good cleaning and it should be good to go.

weather permitting the stand should be inplace this weekend with the sump. The tank will have to wait untill I can get a large enough hole saw but in the mean time I can clean it up and get it ready. Then I can start looking into the lighting. The PO found a second MH pod but the coil is gone in the ballast so if I can get ahold of a replacement coil I will be running 2 - 250watt MHs. Should be good enough to start.

[amoreira]

After your move, I suggest you at least double up on your lighting. It looks like your anenome is bleached. They have zooxanthelea just like the stony coral and need intensive lighting.

[Kalifornia]

Put it on wheel's and tow it :P sorry

had to put my two silly sense in

[1eyedjyde]

Thanks for the input. I figured that since the light intensity is a function of the tank depth and most comercial MH light fixtures are equipped with 250 watt MH I assumed that the location in the tank would ie distance from the fixture would dictate quantity of light available to the coral. so basicly if i have 4 - 250 watt pendants over my tank I may be able to grow SPS coral at the lowest point in the tank but with the 2 I currently have I should be able to grow SPS at the top and leathers and lower light coral near the bottom. On a side note the anenome has desided it didn't like its current location and has relocated itself to a lower light sheltered area of the tank. so I will watch its colour over the next few days and see if there are any changes.

[whatcaneyedo]

From the sounds of it you bought Lego's tank, which used to belong to heyfredyourhat. Those were their screen names anyways.

Two 250W pendants should be fine to grow anything anywhere in a tank that size. The quality of the reflector will make a big difference though.

[1eyedjyde]

I think the tank has been around for a while but a little TLC and it should be back in business. As far as the lighting goes that is kinda what I figured, at this point I have the one pendant over the 30 gal temp tank and judging by how well it lights up the room there should be plenty of light with 2 on 120 gal.

[1eyedjyde]

Just a quick update on the progress.

The stand has been sanded and painted and the tank cleaned up. I just dropped off the tank to have the holes for the close loop and left drain drilled so I should be able to pick the tank up tomorrow. I have all the bulk heads I will need so it is just a matter of plumbing everything up. Hopefully I will be able to leak test everything next week and move the tank into the house on the following weekend.

[1eyedjyde]

update for this week, All the holes have been drilled, and the stand has been painted. I've also just built my 2 overflow overflow boxes so hopefully this weekend I will get those installed. I have also got the plan together for the plumbing layout for the close loop and 2 drains so I will be picking up some plumbing supplies tomorrow. I will try and get some pics up of the progress.