conversion from fish to reef

[fishforlife]

I am in the process of moving and I'm contemplating converting my 125 fish only to a reef. I currently have a 20 reef. My reef is nothing advanced, xenia, colts, a few inverts, an anenome, a durasa, and 2 clowns. My lighting is two small power packs and I have a tiny skimmer on the tank. My 125 has 2 damsels, 2 tangs (blue & yellow) and a tomato clown. I have an excellent skimmer and a UV sterilizer on the 125. If I do the conversion, I don't plan on getting too complicated to start. I only have about 30lbs of live rock and I don't plan on trying stony corals any time soon. Aside from needing new substrate and new lighting, what else would I need? I haven't had copper in my 125 for at last 5-6 years, but I do bleach all my corals between cleanings. I really like my little reef and don't want to kill it so help me out. Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

As long as you rinse your coral skeletons thoroughly bleach is not going to effect anything. An easier way of cleaning is to allow vinegar to completely dry on them and then rinse. This elimanates they worry of diluting the bleach off.

As far as converting. Start at the base. Once you have removed your current substrate, Use a 1 1/2" PVC pipe to add sand. You do not need to pull any of the fish, the sand is constantly being churned on reefs the fish will be fine. Then just start building you rockwork, upgrade the lights and you are ready.