180 build from scratch!

[michika]

Thank you!

Tank is just a few hours short of being full. We think we are short about 20g so far to finish filling up the display. Since its still early in the day there may actually be sand, salt, and rock in there by the end of the day.

 

[fareforce]

Just remeber, add salt first, let it mix a little, then add sand.. I made the mistake of adding sand first, then the salt got stuck in the sand, and it took several days for the S/G to balance out. lol

 

[michika]

Oh I know, I've done this quite a few times before.

 

[fareforce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12517506#post12517506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
Oh I know, I've done this quite a few times before.

I know you have. SO have I, but on my 3rd or 4th tank setup I got curious. Hey I can add the sand, then slowly add water, then add salt.. Boy that was a big mess.. lol

 

[michika]

Anyways there is salt in the tank, its almost all finished mixing in. I have now remembered why I stopped using Kent/IO etc. They always leave this collection of crap & film on the water surface. All the water is in the display portion right now, nothing in the overflow or elsewhere yet.

Skimmer is in place, but the hardware store is out of 1.5" PVC. We have to head out again later this afternoon, so maybe we will try to visit another hardware store so we can get started on the plumbing aspect of this system.

 

[michika]

Top portion of the stand is on, fugly 70s fan is still unfortunately present.

Tank full of RO/DI. We held off on filling it completely full to account for the space sand, rock, and the salt would take up.

Then we put the salt in. Just a single bucket for now.

We also picked up a piece of live rock to seed the tank today. Nice piece that should make a nice island at some point.

 

[lemkerailroad1]

looking good so far

 

[lemkerailroad1]

looking good so far

 

[michika]

Thank you everyone!

Tonight's final update for a few days;
- water; done, temp 79
- salt; done, SG 1.024
- sand; done
- rock; done
- temporary sump; done
- skimmer (temp. placement); done

Some more photos for you all;
Return plumbing

Our Foreman, constantly putting her nose where it doesn't belong!

Temporary sump & skimmer set up.

Starting to clear up!

 

[jnarowe]

you guys must be stoked! I remember when I first got my tank wet, and I couldn't containmyself. Of course, it took like 28 days to fill!

 

[michika]

This feels like my first tank all over again that is for sure, except this time I know what I'm doing! This is tank #7 for us actually, its nice to have a big system again.

I just have to test some levels on the tank, and that will be it for this weekend.

 

[psteeleb]

looking good - makes me want to start another one, but then again one big one is enough work.

 

[fareforce]

Grats on getting it wet with salt water.. Your build is making me itch to finish mine. I am just a few days behind you guys! lol My tanks are coming in Tuesday, and live rock Wednesday. =D


Have you thought about what you are going to use to face your cabinet, or are you going to leave it open?

 

[maroun.c]

Glad you're getting closer to have fish in the tank. I'm at a vary close stage as you and can't wait to finish that thing anymore.

 

[michika]

Everything is going to be skinned in maple I believe, and stained in a dark chocolate brown type color. The wood may change though, it depends what is available once we are ready to do that part. I've found a few stains I really like in color, and may go with the Minwax gel based stain after seeing its results on a few other builds.

Chemistry from last night at about 10:30
SG 1.024
Temp 79
pH 8.1
Nitrate 0
Ammonia ~0.75ppm

There isn't anything for me to do on the tank today, so I am feeling kind of bored. It sucks not having any lighting over the beast, because I can see the shape of all the rocks in the gloom. We tossed on an old Fluval 404 filled with filter floss for the day on the tank to clean out the sand particles that were still floating around yesterday evening. Hopefully the Fluval can come off this evening.

Tomorrow I'll pick up a gate valve for the skimmer, and then I think we will be moving on to the return manifold.

 

[fareforce]

If you can find a color you like minwax makes a all in one stain that you put on and leave on. No wiping or rubbing. It says to use 2 coats, but I use one coat for the base, then two coats of polyurethane over the top for maximun protection. Works, and looks great, and did I mention there is no wiping or rubbing? Clean hands!!

 

[michika]

I like clean hands! I found the Minwax products here, but there are no samples out for display. I went to the website (http://www.minwax.com/products/wood_stains/gel_stain.cfm) and they only display 10 colors. I want something richer in color, a nice dark chocolate with some rich red mixed in would be fantastic.

The tank is just whispering, "fish, fish, fish" to me. I can't wait for the chemistry to come into line. Not doing anything in the tank today is killing me.

 

[michika]

We have a cycle!
Ammonia ~0.5
Nitrite ~0.15
SG 1.025, right where I want to see it!

I'm going to aquascape a bit tonight with the rock that is already in the tank. I have about another 50lbs to add to the display, and probably another 70lbs for the sump.

 

[fareforce]

Is the tank starting to clear up at all yet?

 

[basssnake]

What do you use for a frame at the bottom and top? Also, i was told you are supposed to use actual aquarium silicone for sealing a tank is that not right? Also, aren't most large tanks made out of thicker glass?