A 180 rises in NJ

Brando457 · Nov 22, 2010

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ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> Well I initially started the hobby with a 14g biocube, then went to a 135, which I had up for about a year. I had a tank crash on the 135 and when I went to reuse it noticed the trim was cracked and seam needed to be repaired.

I fixed both with the help of my friend, but found an awesome deal on a 180 on here in the mean time.

So now I have a 180 gallon tank that is in the process of filling with RO and figured I'd keep a nice thread going on its progress.

Equipment is as follows:
Perfecto 180 gallon reef corner overflows w/ custom built stand

2 x tunze 6101 & tunze 7985 controller
http://www.aquacave.com/tunze-turbelle-stream-6101-665.html - pump
http://www.seaquestmarine.com/Tunze_Multi_Controller_7095_p/tunze_7095.htm - controller

TEK 60" 6 x 80W T5 Fixture
- Front
- ATI Blue Plus
- ATI Blue Plus
- ATI 80W Purple Plus
- GE 6500K Daylight
- ATI Blue Plus
- ATI Blue Plus
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...igh-Output_Fixture_(Black)_by_Sunlight_Supply

Reefkeeper Lite Plus System
http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/RK-30-0012-003.html

Future Upgrades Soon/Looking for:
Upgraded skimmer, currently running an ASM G2, but I want to get a nice cone one!

I will have 2 x 33 Gallon Trash cans for water/water mixing station. Water changes will be performed by turning 3 valves on my return pump and then drained straight to my house's drain. For filling I turn a valve on the trash can and it fills the tank.

I will be adding LEDS for moonlights since the TEK fixture does not have any, with the way I plan to mount them I think it may be beneficial to other members in the future.

That is all I can think of right now, but I think for a comeback thread I'm off to the right start.

If anyone has advice please give it, I know take things SLOWWWW, which I am doing, but just trying to pump myself up and get in gear.

Oh for liverock approximately 180 pounds of LR + another 10-15 pounds rubble for the sump.

Stock list still thinking, but I do have a sweet Achilles from Paul that is currently in QT. (Recommendations welcomed)

Brando457 · Nov 22, 2010

Stand Build can be Found at:

http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/Brando457/180 gallon/Stand Build/

Plumbing Pictures:

http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/Brando457/180 gallon/Plumbing/

Aquascaped thanks from some help from Olivier (mainly me!

!)

]

nanchil · Nov 22, 2010

Looks good...

THEDLO · Nov 22, 2010

is it going to stay bare bottom?

WidebodyFish · Nov 22, 2010

Very good, If you need a hand i'm next door in Wayne...

jr973 · Nov 22, 2010

nice pick up from cnotes there great to have it in jersey lol GL

Brando457 · Nov 23, 2010

No it isn't going to stay barebottom. I have about 130-150 pounds of sand 100 or so dead and 40 live. I actually bought it all out from petsmart in Wayne

.

Thanks for the offer for help! Definitely appreciated.

And yeah it is cnotes old tank minus all the dirt build up I cleaned up.

Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

Brando457 · Nov 23, 2010

water is almost at the overflows!!!

oh man I cannot wait to get this baby cycling!

BobNY · Nov 23, 2010

Looking Good Brandon!
I have to start a Tank Thread for mine. Been so busy of late I haven't made much progress the past month.
Keep the pics coming.

Brando457 · Nov 25, 2010

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Yeah post a thread so we can see the progress. I almost set the 135 up instead of this, boy would I have regretted not going to a 180!. I don't see any upgrades in my near future as far as tank size goes for a LONG LONG TIME!

So today I mixed the salt!!! ESV salt is a pretty intense process as far as measuring everything then mixing then waiting for dissolve then mixing etc. etc. I used almost a complete 200g box and my SG is at 1.023 with a bit too much water in my sump so with evaporation I?m hoping it levels off to 1.025.
Also have one of my tunze 6101 running in the tank to help circulate water and 3 heaters to bring it up to temperature.

I added about 130-140 pounds of sand today, 100 pounds of it was dry dead sand, the other 40 lbs were live sand Carib Sea Ocean Direct. Water is cloudy and milky and ehh.
So as of now tomorrow I will go get a raw shrimp to help with the cycle and hope that the cloudiness clears up a bit. I am waiting for Digital Aquatics to release the new firmware for the RKL and myreef software before I configure that and mount it. Also need to finish up the mixing station and plumb the ATO.
But I figure that with the rock, sand, water, salt, and heaters I can at least let it start to cycle then finalize all the electrical components after.
The tank is getting there, once I get all the above completed then it is on to completing the room around it, need to put up a wall, mount a tv, and relax a bit.
Also any recommendations on a background? I was going to do a special vinyl that had a carbon fiber print on it, but to do a 72 x 24? area would be very costly. I am thinking of trying to find either a acrylic piece to paint and put behind it, or even use a thin piece of plywood behind the tank and make that the background.

And for now sleep?. Going to be crunch time with the end of the semester coming up and 3 papers due in the next 2 weeks.

Brando457 · Nov 28, 2010

shrimp is in the tank, almost completed with the water mixing stations just need that 1 more piece of plumbing you overlook when you go to home depot

OH!!!:

Brando457 · Nov 29, 2010

ugh feeling a bit overwhelmed, I feel like there is SO SO much left to do before this tank is even ready and yet no time to do it :/ 3 papers due in the next 2 weeks and then maybe I can get stuff done.

I think tomorrow I will try to make a list of things that need to be completed and try to bang them one thing at a time.

JARRETT SHARK · Nov 29, 2010

Looks good, keep pics coming

Brando457 · Nov 29, 2010

Thanks J, I saw the recent pictures of your tank I can only hope mine gets to that point someday.

Now if only I could take a week off everything locked in my basement working on my tank

Brando457 · Dec 2, 2010

Here are some updated pictures, I added my sand about 80 pounds try and 50 pounds live. I went with live because I have a friend at pet smart and she was able to get it for me for only $16 after tax!

The shots are taken with my iphone and only 2 ATI Blue Plus bulbs are on.

I also mounted the float valve for my ATO. This is a temporary solution, but my pump almost ran dry because I couldn't sit and monitor the RO filling the tank so this works for now.

If anyone has a recommendation for mounting it nicer I am all for it, unfortunately the hole I drilled in my sump wasn't big enough for the valve to go through and I can't drill it out anymore as the tank is running and I don't want to get acrylic shavings in the water!.

pauliwalnuts · Dec 2, 2010

Looking good there. Keep the pics coming

Brando457 · Dec 2, 2010

Hoping to have some movement by the end of December in this bad boy. Debating if i should go buy a pound or two of LR to help seed this base rock.

pauliwalnuts · Dec 2, 2010

Sounds like a plan, my man.

Brando457 · Dec 5, 2010

So today I fixed my ghetto ATO float valve:
Then

Now

Also was able to setup my RKL for the most part. I need to calibrate my PH and temp probes though, but am waiting for 2.0 to come out.
During one of my classes I drew this beautiful diagram up, which actually helped a lot when trying to figure out where everything goes.

Brando457 · Dec 7, 2010

I think I might want to redo my return plumbing with flex pvc to reduce vibration and make the bends a bit less sharp.

Also definitely want to upgrade my protein skimmer within the next 2 months. Per NYCreefnoob recommendation I am holding off until the ati powercone is released which I hope is soon.

A 180 rises in NJ

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