180 build from scratch!

Status
Not open for further replies.
I saw the Mario Kart post on Friday so I asked to reserve a copy. It came out on Sunday and the store was plastered with posters about how they were sold out.

The tank is now surrounded by boxes though so I'm not sure how we are going to arrange to drill it tonight. The skimmer though is awesome. It ran for most of the night in a vinegar bath, and now looks brand new. There are two small leaks, both from the pumps, but they've been sorted out with a good cleaning.

Even though we are a few months away from bringing it all online, I am itching to fish shop! Anyone have any cool fish suggestions?

Also did luminarc go out of business? I need a third reflector, and today my google-fu is weak, or my liquor is too strong.
 
... I have a Wii, but honestly I have been so digusted with it and Nintendo I want to sell it... but of course the wife said no (And she BARELY plays it!). Nintendo charging for online is one of the biggest insults to the gaming industry in a while. :Rant Ended: :D

I too am fish shopping before my tank is ready.. one can not help it :)

Thus far for suggestions.. I'd say:

- Coral Beauty
- Six-line wrasse
- Bi-Color Blenny

Okay so I'm thinking about smaller fish.. it's not my fault! ;)
 
I like small fish though! I've never kept either the coral beauty or the bi-color. I have a tentative list already, but its feeling one sided, tang-sided. By the time this tank goes up I will already have three tangs, two of which are rescues of sorts.

I really hope that I will start to see some growth spurts once the fish are moved into this tank. At least my smaller tank has been useful for something, its become a QT system of sorts. The layout also really helps in teaching my fish to eat prepared foods.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12424867#post12424867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
I saw the Mario Kart post on Friday so I asked to reserve a copy. It came out on Sunday and the store was plastered with posters about how they were sold out.

The tank is now surrounded by boxes though so I'm not sure how we are going to arrange to drill it tonight. The skimmer though is awesome. It ran for most of the night in a vinegar bath, and now looks brand new. There are two small leaks, both from the pumps, but they've been sorted out with a good cleaning.

Even though we are a few months away from bringing it all online, I am itching to fish shop! Anyone have any cool fish suggestions?

Also did luminarc go out of business? I need a third reflector, and today my google-fu is weak, or my liquor is too strong.
Click to expand...

Luminarc is definitely NOT out of business. I just saw their booth three weeks ago at the MAX conference in Southern California. Once I get to that set of pictures, perhaps I can find you the URL that was on their banner, but don't get your hopes up. That part of the vendor's area didn't really catch my eye for some reason - maybe because I'd just bought new reflectors and didn't need anymore. :o

Good job on the skimmer. You can start cooking live rock in the meantime. :)
 
fish thoughts (my 2c)

top dwelling small fish
- a group of 5-7 chromis
- 3 lyretail anthias

mid level show fish
- tangs (3 of one kind or 2 of different), maybe one more
- 1 dwarf angel (coral beauty, flame, koran, others)
- pair of passive clowns (perk, false perk, skunk)

bottom fish or rock dwelling
- bi color blenny or other algea eater type (LMB type)
- couple gobies like firefish, or those blue ones, something with color that will flash in and around the rock work (if you don't have large mean shrimp - cleaners are okay)
- 1 pseudochromis

Others
- six line wrasse - helps with cleaning corals of pests
- yellow or christmas wrasse (maybe both - also help clean corals)
- dragonette, maybe a pair (but later on)
 
Nice suggestions!

Here is what I have right now;
Scopas tang
Doctor tang
Atlantic Blue tang (will be adopting in a few weeks/a month)
imperator angel
2 small chromis
yellow damsel
male mandarin

If you can get me that URL for luminarc I would love it. I just need one reflector and then my lighting set up will be done, albeit not assembled.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12425285#post12425285 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
Nice suggestions!

Here is what I have right now;
Scopas tang
Doctor tang
Atlantic Blue tang (will be adopting in a few weeks/a month)
imperator angel
2 small chromis
yellow damsel
male mandarin

If you can get me that URL for luminarc I would love it. I just need one reflector and then my lighting set up will be done, albeit not assembled.
Click to expand...

so you got the tangs covered
I'd add in some chromis - they do better in larger groups
If you put the damsel in the sump or maybe if he's friendly go with the anthias

With a male madarin it may be hard to get him to accept a female. mine has decided to be a bachelor for life

Still go with your coral cleaning wrasses, just have to watch size with the damsel
I'd also still get an algea eating blenny

Clowns and gobies will also be a challenge with a damsel
 
The yellow damsel thinks its a tang, always has, its harmless. It was one of my original fish from my first set up, so I'm attached. The damsel isn't a problem, never attacks fish, never does anything but follow tangs around.

My two chromis came from a group of 5, and just these two are left. I'm looking at glass-eye cardinals and anthias as schooling fish. I haven't done much research on either yet though.
I love 6-lines, and I've been looking at other wrasses lately as well, again haven't done any research.

I would rather have a large amount of smaller fish, then any a few large ones. There will be no more tangs or angels added. What I have now has a nice dynamic and I don't want to disrupt it.

Since the rock work is going to be relatively low until we get some SPS, I think i want to start by stocking a few bottom dwellers, and then more open water fish who will hang out in the middle-top of the tank. I am trying to be very aware of the fact that until the SPS grows in, I will have a limited amount of hiding spaces.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12425320#post12425320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psteeleb

With a male madarin it may be hard to get him to accept a female. mine has decided to be a bachelor for life
Click to expand...
Got his own little pad by the Chips Acro :lol:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12425364#post12425364 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
The yellow damsel thinks its a tang, always has, its harmless. It was one of my original fish from my first set up, so I'm attached. The damsel isn't a problem, never attacks fish, never does anything but follow tangs around.

My two chromis came from a group of 5, and just these two are left. I'm looking at glass-eye cardinals and anthias as schooling fish. I haven't done much research on either yet though.
I love 6-lines, and I've been looking at other wrasses lately as well, again haven't done any research.

I would rather have a large amount of smaller fish, then any a few large ones. There will be no more tangs or angels added. What I have now has a nice dynamic and I don't want to disrupt it.

Since the rock work is going to be relatively low until we get some SPS, I think i want to start by stocking a few bottom dwellers, and then more open water fish who will hang out in the middle-top of the tank. I am trying to be very aware of the fact that until the SPS grows in, I will have a limited amount of hiding spaces.
Click to expand...

good to hear about the damsel _ i just don't have any experience with that one.

as for the corals growing out, then I'd hold on the chromis, mine love to hide in my larger stag and are very happy having it as a place to run to.

Look into the Halichoeres type wrasses, they tend to be very friendly and pick at coral pests. The six line is also an great addition but they can get a bit rambunctious or territorial. Mine doesn’t seem to look at corals anymore so he’s not doing his job, he just likes to get fat (and I mean fat) on mysis.

I like the more but smaller approach, gets you more color and unique action with a variety or personalities (hovering in schools, darting in an out of rocks, inspecting stuff, hanging around and upside down, etc) â€"œ not just your swimming back and forth stuff.
 
Thank you for the link, I'll be putting in my order shortly I guess. I just have to find the reflector that matches the two I have now.
 
The tank is drilled, two holes in the overflow. I wasn't here when it happened, I was out skating for the evening, but when I came back it was done. The process supposedly only took about 10-15 minutes to do both.

I'm STILL waiting on my bulk heads that I ordered about two weeks ago. I think I need to check on that. I'm not having a lot of luck lately with orders for this tank am I?

I have also gotten my dual chamber calcium reactor back out, and I will take my kalk. reactor off my current tank to move it to the 180g. So I have all my reactors now. My next set of purchases will have to either be the sump, the rest of the lighting, or a controller.

DSC_0242.jpg


Sorry for the awkward shot, I had to lean over the boxes and just shoot without seeing.
DSC_0244.jpg
 
Hmm, it seems that Kevin cannot drill two holes in line with each other! Oh well its just aesthetics, and probably doesn't impact the tank itself.
 
The set came from Totem in Edmonton, paid $60 for the set, it was on sale at like 60% off or something because there were no instructions. Pfft who needs instructions?!

I'm dying for fish and corals!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

ClownBubbaJoe
Can I trust My Favorite Fish, A Clown Trigger In A Reef Tank ?
Replies
12
Views
396
lebowski
lebowski
R
Stay Away
Replies
6
Views
250
saltypilot
S
jasonfrey
GIVEAWAY - AA 3W UV Filter - Help us test out our new APP
Replies
3
Views
149
jasonfrey
jasonfrey
A
DRILL aquarium only 1 DownPipe?
Replies
1
Views
324
Timfish
Timfish
Dr. Reef
Better and Sweeter than LiveAquaria
Replies
0
Views
323
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Back
Top