My 180 build

[poppin_fresh]

After having it on the back burner for several months I have finally made a little progress, and I've decided its time to post a few pics of my 180 gallon tank build. Before the pics, I thought I share a few details about the system and its components, many of which are coming from my current set up.

Tank: AGA 180 gallon "Reef Ready" with dual corner overflows.
Stand: DIY (not completely finished yet)
Substrate: 100+ lbs Kolorscape play sand
Live rock: Approx 200lbs- 1/2 Fiji and 1/2 Tatoka
Sump: 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank- in basement
Refugium: 20 gallon glass tank also in basement.
Return Pump: Gen X Mak4- approx 700 gph
Skimmer: H & S A150, recirculating and direct fed from overflow.
Lighting: 8 x 55w T5 w/ individual reflectors in DIY hanging light rack
Water movement: 1 x Tunze 6000 with controller, 1 x Tunze 6060 and 2 x Tunze 6025 (modded)
Controller: Aquacontroller 2 (lighting, heating, moon lights, top offs, etc.)

Heres a old pic of my current 72 bow shortly after setting it up about 2.5 years ago.
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/P1010084.JPG

A picture of the basement sump shortly after building it about 2 years ago. No, I dont use the extension cords any more!
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/P1010103.JPG

The 180 on the stand, still needing some plumbing to the basement.
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/tank.jpg

More to come...

[poppin_fresh]

I realize that the pic of my current tank is way old, but its been a little neglected over the last couple months. As you can imagine its not looking very photogenic these days. I have been doing W/Cs and feeding the tank, but I've been very lax in cleaning the glass knowing the 180 is in the works! :D

[CarmieJo]

Nice! I am looking forward to seeing your build progress. What's your stocking list in the 72? Are you planning on transferring it all to the 180?

[V]

hey bud, haven't seen you in ages, how you been?

Come on, i know you still use at least one extension cord..lol

cool, a new build-up, looking forward to the journey also.
& dont forget your favourite choice of building material......lolhttp://theimaginaryworld.com/pic558.jpg

[poppin_fresh]

I plan on taking down the 72 once the 180 is complete. Heres whats in the 72 currently:
1 med. Yellow Tang
1 tiny Hippo Tang
4 Blue/Green Chromis
1 Six Line wrasse
2 Ocellaris Clowns


mmmmmm...cupcakes!

[Danamck]

Excellent job! I am also looking forward to following the progress. 180s are a really nice size tank. big enough to have pretty much anything you want. Not so big that they take forever to maintain.

[poppin_fresh]

Man, it takes a REALLY long time to fill a 180 with RO water. I have been picking away at it, adding about 20 gallons a day while I'm home at night. I have a twin 100gpd membrane system with a booster pump and it is still going to take a long time.

[Pescaiolo]

Wow really nice! I just got a 120g with dual corner overflows and seeing yours just makes me wanna get it up so bad! Can't wait to see what happens next! :D

[V]

Yeah presco, get it happening, time waits for no man, well maybe me, but there;s always exceptions to the rules...chop chop, have a show down with Poppin fresh . i'll be the judge, beers are awarded to the stronger suit, in a subtle attempt to slow progress of the victor! lol

[poppin_fresh]

Heres a pic of the filling process, I'm guessing about 55 gallons or so. I really need to get my buddy over here to help me finish the front of the stand (hes a finish carpenter).

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/filling.jpg

I bought some more polyethelene line from the hardware store so that I can run the RO directly to the tank. The nice thing about doing this is that it doesn't disturb the sandbed and cause a cloudy tank for a week.

[poppin_fresh]

I also learned a lesson about cheap levels.

I grabbed a plastic level I had on hand to check the tank and stand for level...it was off according to the level. I was baffled becuase the water level appeared to be level by looking at the tank, yet the "level" said I should be over 1/4 inch off from end to end?? Needless to say, I went and got my good 3 foot contractors level to double check. According to my "good" level the tank is dead nuts perfect.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/cheaplevel.JPG

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/goodlevel.JPG

[V]

plastic warps more so that metal.

[Danamck]

So - any updates for us? The tank has to be filled by now!

[poppin_fresh]

So - any updates for us? The tank has to be filled by now!

Do you have any idea how much water it takes to fill a 180 gallon tank?? :D

Seriously though, the tank is almost full and the 6060 is circulating water to which I have started adding salt. I should have some pics in the next couple days of more plumbing and some LR additions.

[poppin_fresh]

Heres a pic of some of the LR for the tank, 100 lbs of Tatoka that has been in this tub since February.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/tub_811640.JPG

A shot of the rock in the tank. I have approx. 100lbs of Fiji in my current tank to add to this. Note how I used the traditional "fruit stand" method of adding the rock. Obviously I still have to form it into something natural looking.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/rocks_263158.JPG

Heres the dog...obvioulsly he doesn't care much for the time I spend with the tank.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/dog.jpg

[poppin_fresh]

I cant believe its been a month since I started this thread and I still haven't moved the fish over yet. Here is a pic of the canopy I made for the tank. I have been working on it for the last couple weeks a few hours at a time. Eventually I will finish the stand in the same style and finish. I still need to mount the 8 four foot T5's in it...hopefully tomorrow.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/P1010062.JPG

[lReef lKeeper]

looking very nice man !! i wish i would have bought a 180, but i got the greatest deal on my 125 so i went with it. keep us posted.

[Danamck]

Slow and steady is the way to go. Looks like things are progressing nicely.

[poppin_fresh]

Very slowly. Not always intentional, I am just way to busy. Between working on my house and trying to save my troubled company, I dont have much free time for the tanks. Even when I did have time I still took my time, heck, almost three years into this hobby and my only SPS is a Monti Cap!

[poppin_fresh]

I have been installing the T5s into my canopy. I need still need to remove 2 of them from my current set up at some point.

Here are some LEDs I picked up at the auto parts store for $14! They are made to mount on vehicle so they seem to be fairly well sealed. The cool thing is that they come with a batter pack so you can test them out! Once installed, they will wire up with a small 12 volt adapter. The kit comes with 8 LEDs, but I am only going to use 4.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/lights1.JPG

In canopy

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/lights2.JPG

[poppin_fresh]

Finally got to move everything over to the 180 today. Here are some quick, but not that great, pics.

FTS
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/newtank.JPG

Some of my softies


supposedly rare Green Nepthea...litterally glows green
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/nepthea.JPG

Button Polyps
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/buttons.JPG

Large, plain ol' leather in need of fragging.
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/leather.JPG

A couple green Frilly mushrooms
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/frillys.JPG

I dont know what this coral is. I thought I killed yet, here it is.
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/mystery.JPG

[PhotoJohn]

looking great

[CarmieJo]

Jon, it is looking good!

[lReef lKeeper]

John, can we get a pic of just the LEDS ?? i was thinking of doing the same thing.

[poppin_fresh]

OK Bobby, but just for you! Here is a pic of the tank with just my semi-diy moonlights. This is a about a 5 second long exposure and makes them look a little brighter than they really are. They have a nice shimmer that the pic doesn't capture.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/moons.JPG

[lReef lKeeper]

thats NICE !! i gotta get some of those !! thanks for the pic.

[Skurvey Dog]

Looks awesome! You have done super job. The canopy looks great too. I wish I knew electrical wiring, but I best leave that to the experts. Can't wait to see upcoming shots. Good job!

[poppin_fresh]

Heres a funny shot... a turbo snail had latched onto a hermits shell. It was kinda funny, so I had to take a pic.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/turbocrab.JPG

[poppin_fresh]

My newest addition... a Copperband Butterfly! I know their tough, I have only managed to keep one for a couple months, but I have a good feeling about this one. He will have plenty of Aiptasia to feed him for a while! :D

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/butterfly.JPG

[CarmieJo]

Heres a funny shot... a turbo snail had latched onto a hermits shell. It was kinda funny, so I had to take a pic.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/turbocrab.JPG
"Help! I've fallen and can't get back up" says the hermit as he futilely waves his legs in the air.

[poppin_fresh]

they both acted kinda screwed. The turbo couldn't use the crab to flip over, and the crab was helpless to move with the snail that was twice his size. It was hilarious, but I finally had to intervene with nature and solve the problem. :D

[lReef lKeeper]

thats a priceless shot !! funny

[poppin_fresh]

After taking down my Biocube I have a couple new pics of some stuff I moved over.

Here is a small colony of Zoas...complete with an Aiptasia Anemone! :(

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/zoas.JPG

A shot of several Kenya Tree frags and in the back are Woods Polyps.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/kenwoods.JPG

Frogspawn reaching for some food

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/frogs.JPG

[Skurvey Dog]

:kewlpics: Thanks for sharing.

[V]

Is the effect to strong with 8 still? or are you content with only 4 running?
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/moons.JPG

[poppin_fresh]

I do think 8 of those LEDs would be too bright. There is plenty of light for me to see in and observe, but not so much that its no longer "moon" light.

[V]

Fair call.

[poppin_fresh]

You can stop over any time and check it out if you want. :D

[V]

next time i go out for milk & bread ok:huh:

[poppin_fresh]

New additions today!

Besides a few Peppermint Shrimp to reduce some aiptasia, I came home with this Pink Pocillopora. Unfortunately I cant seem to get a good pic of it, but here is one with "Baby Blue" in the back ground.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/pocillopora.JPG

Here is a shot of my Green Star Polyps which I keep separated from the rest of my rock. I call it GSP Island.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/gspisland.JPG

[CarmieJo]

Nice pocillopora colony.

[Danamck]

Looking great. Smart idea keeping the GSP separate from the rock.

[graphixx]

very nice build so far. going to be a fantastic tank. how is the copperband doing so far. does the aptasia seem to be disappearing???

[lReef lKeeper]

looking good poppin fresh !! before you know it ... you will be another "stick" reefer !!

[poppin_fresh]

Other than some plain ol' pink Montipora, the Pocillopora is my first SPS. I cant wait to see how it does under my T5's.

[poppin_fresh]

very nice build so far. going to be a fantastic tank. how is the copperband doing so far. does the aptasia seem to be disappearing???

The Copperband only lived about four days. I think it was too starved from shipping already. I would love to know the secret to keeping a CBB, they are one of my favorites, but I dont have a reliable source for them.

[lReef lKeeper]

The Copperband only lived about four days. I think it was too starved from shipping already. I would love to know the secret to keeping a CBB, they are one of my favorites, but I dont have a reliable source for them.

really no secrets for them, just make sure they are eating before you buy them, and be sure that they are fairly fat (for a thin fish). i had mine for about 3 years before the rock slide (caused by the pistol shrimp) got him AND the blue jaw trigger. pinned them both between the rocks that slid. that was a bad day ... now i have 1 aiptasia in my tank !!

[poppin_fresh]

I'm 0/3 with CBBs from my LFS. The first one lasted for about 3 months before it died, The other two only made it a couple days. :( I really feel that their supplier is not so good. I did find an online place that sells CBBs that they claim to be trained to eat aiptasia and prepared food... and they guarantee them. I'm already $120 in the hole so I dont have too much to lose.

I still have yet to see one of the 3 peppermints I added the other day. Goodbye $30 more!?

[lReef lKeeper]

you gotta love this hobby !!

[nay,kid]

can you tell us the name of that online store or is that against the rules?

[Small Fry]

i never thought of looking for car leds

looks great, and no doubt a cheap solution??

[poppin_fresh]

The LEDs were pretty cheap... about $14. I already had a 12 volt DC transformer from some old gizmo I had laying around, so I didn't have to buy anything else.

[poppin_fresh]

small update.

The tank still looks like crap but it seems like things are growing just fine....go figure. Heres two pics from tonight after a serious siphoning party.

Mushrooms that have grown bigger and apart.
http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/shrooms.JPG

Heres the Pocillopra I bought in january (before and after)

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/pocillopora.JPG

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/3/pink.JPG

[CarmieJo]

They both look nice. The Pocillopora has really colored up nice! When it needs fragged let me know. I am always looking for new genotypes, mine are all green or tan. And the tan ones that color up have all turned... you got it, green.:mrgreen:

[PhotoJohn]

Did any of the pepermint shrimp ever show themselves? I only see mine every week or so at most

[poppin_fresh]

Haven't seen any peppermints in weeks. The Aiptasia is less than before, but I'm not sure if that scourge I'm fighting has smothered some out, You can see in the pic with the Pocillopora that there is still a fair amount hanging around.

On a side note, I got a nice little frag of Rainbow Montipora from my club meeting that I cant wait to see grow out.

[Skurvey Dog]

You're sinful Poppin! Because of your geogeous mushroom, you madeeeee me go out and get one for myself. Thank you so much!!!!! :D Hey, I like the Hippo Tang in the background. I see the lil guy. How long have you had him? They are so beautiful, but I have been very pesimistic about adding any other fish with my lion. He is so beautiful I don't know if I want to add another fish to my tank. I'd hate to think that Vandamere thought I was being unfaithful to him! :rotfl:

[lReef lKeeper]

so are you ever gonna tell us the name of that online store that sells the trained CBBs ?? i could use another one !!

[poppin_fresh]

Thanks everyone.

Carmie, not only has the Pocilopora colored up, but it has definitely become much thicker and dense.

Skurvey, I've had "Baby Blue" for almost a year. She has grown a little, but she is still reletively small.

Bobby, that site is Inland Aquatics. I am not sure if they sell to the public or dealers only.

Inland Aquatics' Guide to Maintaining the Aiptasia Eating Nudibranch, Berghia Verrucicornis (http://www.inlandaquatics.com/info/faq_aiptasia.html)

[NaClFinatic]

Jon, That's a nice colored pocilipora, I have little brown one and green one, but would really like to get some pinks and reds in my tank. Was it still pinkish when you got it or completely different?

John, I had one peppermint that hid all the time until I got two more. Now I see at least two almost daily. And they almost always come out when feeding.