180 build from scratch!

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13404359#post13404359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
I am debating trying to bribe our neighbors since I always see them outside on their steps sharing ice cream. Hmmm...how strange would that be if some woman came up and offered you ice cream to eat, for free.

Thank you jimgldn!

down here; pizza and beer will get you an army of volunteers, just don't serve until after the work is done :D
 
Last time we moved a big tank we had a position called the Beer Taster. It was a very important roll. I usually have lots of volunteers for that!

We are trying to move the tank on Friday the 3rd now instead of waiting for Sunday the 5th. I should start advertising now for helpers.
 
Mata tang is mine, is coming home sometime after the tank move!

We have branched out to explore other shapes in our new tank. I really like the idea of an L-shape system with the short side of the L being more of a cube shape.

My parameters have fallen back into line now that we got that new check valve back on. Since Saturday we've seen a lot of new growth. I see growth tips on almost everything. I wish I'd been better about taking photos that I could arrange into a time-lapse animation.
 
My phone has been ringing off the hook this week. About half of my wish list for fish have been available and I turned all but 1 down. I ordered a magnificent foxface, I've been waiting for 5 years for one, and I doubt I will see another one for another 5 years.

I also turned down a Gem tang yesterday. Price on it was $3,200. In the end Kevin reasoned with me, and promised that if one came available again in Canada once the big tank is up and running, that I would get one. There are two available up here, so if anyone wants one!

Other beauties I turned down; mustard tang, helfrichi firefish (pair), atlantic blue, and a couple of unknown tangs (too small to reliably ID). It really does pay to ask to be put down on certain LFSs lists for fish.

Water parameters are looking fantastic. The new additions from last week are doing really well. The powder blue and the orange shoulder both graze religiously. I am very happy with my purchases.

My next step for the big tank is having a structural engineer come out to asses moving a telepost that is just off the wall in the soon to be tank room. We also think there is a second telepost hidden in a wall we may want to modify.

If we can't move the teleposts then I guess we will be looking into ways to skin them that mesh with the decore.
 
I would think moving those Telepost would be a major under taking. you may have to rework the structural beam above them and you may get into foundation (thickened slab) issues underneath - good luck, can't wait to see it come together
 
The thing with these telepost(s) is that they are only maybe 3 ft off the wall, which makes them somewhat ineffective. We do know from our home inspection that is a steel beam, however what we don't know is if its in the concrete of the walls, or if its resting on the telepost(s). From what we know teleposts need to be further from the wall to be effective, but who knows, this house was built in 1957. The beam has definitely been added to the house though since it was built.

I cancelled my Magnificient foxface order. I called for flight info yesterday evening only to find out that they had bumped the shipment to arrive Tuesday. That doesn't work for me, so I just passed. I'm sad, but obviously it wasn't meant to be.

So 6 days until we move...I probably get started on this packing thing.
 
I was referring to your hubby convincing you NOT to get the Gem Tang. That would just add way tro much stress to an already very stressful situation.
 
The tang wouldn't have arrived until well after we'd moved, but I can already think of many other places I would like to spend that money, e.g. new custom skates, stuff to start the big tank etc.
 
I think I will be glad to have waited too. Right now though I still see photos and I want it. Once we get into our new home (5 days!) I'll be happy to have that coin for other things.
 
I think I will be glad to have waited too. Right now though I still see photos and I want it. Once we get into our new home (5 days!) I'll be happy to have that coin for other things.
 
Awesome Tank. I've been reading the whole build thread over the last 3 days. sigh finally caught up. So how do you like the RKE, Ive been looking at it for my 90 gallon but the neptune has a nice price tag. Good Luck with the move.
 
Thank you.

So far I like it. We got a replacement head unit yesterday, and promptly installed the newest firmware update. Unfortunately we already have a problem, we can't update the time. It won't save. I've sent DA an email and hopefully they can suggest something else.

Our old RKE head unit had freezing problems. Sometimes the enter button wouldn't work, and then the up and down keys wouldn't respond either. DA has been amazing with their customer service. I'm really pleased with their customer service, and the fact that they are interested in fixing the problem and helping their customers.

We still don't know if we are moving the tank on Friday or Sunday. We are still waiting to hear what my game schedule is for this weekend. We are playing a couple of promo games out of town, so I have to factor in travel time and costs.
 
Tank moving is looking like it will be Sunday. I am having a hard time wrangling a meeting with our realtor to get the keys in a timely fashion. This guy is such a winner that he tried to tell me that if the money transfer doesn't happen in time we will have to wait for Monday to move in. Um no, because after Sunday at noon we would be technically homeless. By sheer force of will, we are going to move on Friday-Sunday, just because I say so!

I found a few really awesome ideas on skinning the teleposts if it comes down to that. Kevin's brother does beautiful wood work and we are going to see if we can pay him on his off days to come do some work for us by skinning the 180g and the new system when its time.

I also picked up a kiddy pool just in case anything happened. Since everything is going to go smoothly and fine (sheer will power will make it so!) its going to be for the dogs next summer. Matia loves water.
 
My office is in full panic mode after it came out that the US government didn't pass the bailout plan. I work in Oil & Gas and a lot of people are afraid today that in a year they won't be employed.

Whatever happens will happen, and either way I am going to have my fish tank! Even if it takes a little bit longer to build because I have to save more, I am still going to build myself my dream tank!

Amongst all this depressing talk I wish I was at home watching my tank. There really is nothing quite as calming as just sitting back and watching your tank.
 
Hahaha. I am home now, and when I look away from the tank I see piles and piles of boxes. Yet when I look at the tank to compare it seems extra peaceful! :D I also see some awesome new growth in my tank since Friday.

I feel bad for people in my office today, particularly my floor. A lot of people on our floor are looking towards retirement in the next few years, or at least they were. There are people who are pretty sure they can no longer afford to retire.
 
Its just brutal. We thankfully are mostly untouched by the pending crash so far. We did sit down tonight and we re-evaluated our financial plans in light of today's events. We have decided to still go ahead with the tank, but to do so more slowly, and to recommit ourselves to choosing DIY projects that will be cost effective. I guess we will just play it by ear and see how it goes.

The 180g is definitely moving on Sunday now. I can't lift anything because I hurt my foot a couple of practices ago. So we've got Kevin's brother in law, and maybe brother coming to help lift the tank. I am pretty much resigned to the fact that my aquascaping won't be the same again

Changes to make after the move;
- move sand space for the clams
- larger and more caves for the fish
- Better powerhead and return placements
- Better aquascaping for the SPS, a few more higher placements and some lower.
- I think I want to go with more pillars rather then wait for the current crop of SPS to grow out. I am too impatient.
 
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