180 build from scratch!

[michika]

If we get the house we'll take over as owners at the end of September.

We took some tentative measurements and tentatively we are thinking a big L shaped system with the tank lining 2 out of the 4 walls in the main basement area. The whole basement is a big square with this offjut that I think was supposed to be a bedroom, it would make the prefect tank room!

Anyways back to the 180g system for a second. I ordered the lighting, and checked on the Digital Aquatics RKE. FYI (more for me) the dimensions of the RKE head unit are 3.46" x 4.44" x 0.85". Lighting may take a couple weeks to arrive, there is some stuff on backorder.

 

[kar93]

Hope you get the house. When you setup the 1k will the 180 be sold?

 

[jnarowe]

The 180 will make a nice QT.

 

[michika]

180g will become a QT system I think. If not it may become a refugium, or sump. I don't plan to sell it. I would probably dismantle it and use all the pieces elsewhere in the big system.

I want the big system to have a display, sump, qt (fish), qt (frags), frag system, refugium, mixing & water change system. I think as a QT it would be best, but its a big system just for QT.

 

[michika]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12711425#post12711425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
The 180 will make a nice QT.

Mind reader!

 

[jnarowe]

You know it! :lol: I just know that my 40g and 29g are just plain too small as QT tanks for a large system.

 

[maroun.c]

Good luck with the bid. As for the pink that should be a very easy fix. 180 G Q tank that is huge but then again the 1k is also huge.

 

[michika]

We are going to see another house tonight, just in case, keeping our options open, etc.

Once I get home permanently from house sitting I am going to make some aquascaping changes in the 180g. While I want to continue with my idea of numerous low rock islands, with SPS growing off them, I think I need to maybe help it along a bit. I've been browsing threads where people have made pillars, and subtle frag rags. I also like some of the ideas that have come from the guys at Frag-mags.

I'm also ordering a bunch of frags from a few sources, lots of great deals have been springing up around here lately. Lots of unique montis, but not nearly enough SPS that grow upwards. I need to visit my favorite frag guy soon.

Kevin is going to pick up the glass, since he didn't do it last week, tomorrow. I'm hoping assembly can start on Sunday when we get home.
This thread feels empty without photos!

 

[Slakker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12716772#post12716772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
This thread feels empty without photos!

Yeah...what's up with that?!

 

[michika]

So some bad news;

1) Didn't win on the house bid.
2) My regal tang, who was been living it up with a friend since August died.
3) My lighting order was mistakenly not filled when their merchandise orders came in, I am back on the backorder list and am looking at 2-3 weeks.
4) 3rd buyer for my 28g nano fell through today.
5) Stinks like wet dogs in here, 4 of them! The rain/hail combo here isn't letting up.

I'm going to browse the SPS forums to cheer myself up.

 

[jnarowe]

sometimes we just have days like that...at least your tank didn't catch on fire!

 

[kar93]

Sorry to hear that, Not winning the house could be a blessing in disguise. There may be your dream house out there just waiting for you to find it.

 

[michika]

Yes, no fires, so its all good! I also hear the floor is still dry, so a double bonus there!

We'll just keep on our house hunt, and hopefully something else that is just as good will come along. They also got back to us super quick, since we were told that we'd hear by Friday.

 

[michika]

All fish are accounted for. Scopas tang looks a bit thin, and we didn't see it eat directly. If I don't see it eat by Sunday we'll look at doing something a bit more aggressive.

I went through the photos on my camera and found these

My new little crocea clam, its so blue!

 

[michika]

I was thinking of putting my hydor koralia 1 in the 180 and clipping it onto the eurobrace. If the pump is facing downwards in a power outtage and is intended to break the surface and inject some air into the tank, is this going to burn out the koralia? I'm just going to plug it into a backup power source in case of a power outage.

 

[Slakker]

I don't really know why the koralia wouldn't be able to run dry for a few hours...I wouldn't think they really rely on the water to lubricate the moving parts, but I have no idea.

 

[michika]

I'm thinking that if this works, or will work, that I will add on another couple of hydors along the back of the back of the tank for an inevitable power outage. I'm going to look if Hydor is a sponsor on RC, and see if I can ask them this question.

We are also trying to plot out our next set of livestock additions. I'm still thinking our next additions should be more bottom dwelling fish. Suggestions? I'm liking the idea of a pair of yellow-headed jawfish, however I would need to make a screen top before adding them.

I also desire some cake...and apple juice, and some smarties... I'm going to rollerskate to the store to buy these things now. Today is feeling pretty random.

 

[michika]

I'm thinking that if this works, or will work, that I will add on another couple of hydors along the back of the back of the tank for an inevitable power outage. I'm going to look if Hydor is a sponsor on RC, and see if I can ask them this question.

We are also trying to plot out our next set of livestock additions. I'm still thinking our next additions should be more bottom dwelling fish. Suggestions? I'm liking the idea of a pair of yellow-headed jawfish, however I would need to make a screen top before adding them.

I also desire some cake...and apple juice, and some smarties... I'm going to rollerskate to the store to buy these things now. Today is feeling pretty random.

 

[jnarowe]

Koralias don't always re-start even on a UPS. I have had trouble with this during power outages.

 

[michika]

I've heard and seen that they don't restart if they are on DJ powerstrips, but that is all I've heard so far. How do you have yours wired up? My #1 works with my UPS reliably, but I don't plug it into anything else. Mine will not restart on my DJ powerstrip, and I've also seen the same thing on two other DJ powerstrips.

Any other suggestions for getting water movement in a blackout/brown out?