180 custom reef build started 8/15/13 !

I just did a small review on the skimmer which arrived today in the skimmer section, but I copied and pasted to update my build thread!

After waiting close to month on back order, my Aquamaxx ConeS-CO3
Skimmer arrived today!

The build on my 180 Reef tank can been seen here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2324085

The Skimmer arrived from Marine Depot in a separate box which was all most twice the size of the skimmer box! Packaged well, with peanut's all around it!

Thanks to Marine Depot for shipping the skimmer out the same day it arrived at your warehouse!

The skimmer was very easy to assemble. The instructions were also very simple to follow.
Basically It's a few easy steps:

1: Connect rubber feet to both the skimmer stand and pump stand
2:Connect the air hose from the air intake to the silencer
3:Connect the water outlet from the shark pump to the skimmer body
4:Install the cup on the neck, make a 1/8th turn to lock,clockwise

That's it!

Best thing which I love, is the 3.0 Shark pump only draws 27 watts!

The skimmer is made to sit in 9.5" of water, so I built my sump using a
40 gallon breeder, and made the first baffle ( skimmer area) 12" tall, to give Little more volume of water around the skimmer. I used 1/4" glass with polished edges, cost me $27.00 from a local glass shop, to sit the skimmer on
a 2.5" skimmer stand.

I will have my sump up and running ( 180 tank is cycled ) this week, and will follow up with videos of the skimmer starting up, and it's performance !

I must say, I had a Reef Octopus POV-DC1 on my 120, and seriously looked into their POV-DC2 , but couldn't justify spending $760.00

I also considered the Reef Octopus Diablo 200 DC200 , and the Reef Octopus
SRO-3000 INT, all in which had proven track records

So this was hard decision as their was not allot of reviews, I found none
on the Aquamaxx ConeS-CO3, and feedback

I am very happy with the quality of the Aquamaxx ConeS-CO3, I love the
8" cup with handle, the acrylic is thick, polished well, and comes off and on with ease.

Enjoy the pic's !













 
Yeh I messed up. The baffles were supposed to go towards the return area, not the skimmer area
I'm deceiding if I should just redo the baffles

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Look what I got yesterday!!!
Mine will not be up running as soon as yours but interested in performance.


 
No way ! Awesome!
I started a thread yesterday under filtration, for the skimmer, can you post some pics for everyone also ! Looks great congrats!

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I will. I won't be up and running for month or so. Getting ready to stain stand. Need return pump. Rock being delivered. Etc,etc. I'll be following yours though.
 
fltekdiver said:
More Pics !













Click to expand...

I'm curious why you chose to use plywood for for visible parts of your tank stand. I'm looking to do something similar, and my choice would be to use hardwood lumber....probably Oak.

Did you do this as a cost saving measure, or is there a functional reason you did this. I'm not critiquing your decision, I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something before I start my build this winter.
 
Thanks for asking

Theirs no plywood except on the bottom where the sump is, where it got painted white on the stand :)

The entire stand is made out of 3/4" oak

Well, as always with this hobby, 2 steps forward, and one back

I pulled all the plumbing today, thank god I used Unions everywhere!

The glass shop is making my 3 new baffles for the sump, which will be skimmer section 9.5" tall, 1/4" glass with seemed edge, next middle baffle, then return baffle 8.5" tall

Now I will not need a stand for the skimmer, and this time I'll start at the skimmer side, and shrink the return side the 4"

This will leave me more room in the 1st compartment, and also leave the skimmer cup visible , instead of on a stand and where I can't see the cup

 
Got the glass cut today, $23.42 for 3 sheets 1/4" with seemed edges

Had to overnight from Amazon ( Prime member ) another tube of RTV 108, comes in tomorrow

While I'm waiting for that, I painted the bottoms off all 3 sumps today after work

Also hung the LED's ( 48 Proton Reef Breeders ) on the shelving brackets

I'm going to order the 24" LD light now that I went to a 180

Also painted the plumbing gloss white, everything got painted gloss white except for the down pipes that go into the sump

I didn't want any painted pipes in the SW

Tomorrow the RTV 108 Silicone comes in, I'll remake the sump

And get her wet over the weekend!





 
LOL, no, my rock's are just thrown in their, I figured I would wait at least until it looks a little better my pump has a full of crap and I had to pull all the rock out with the phone that I used to aquascape it I have little foam particles floatin all around on the surface I can't figure out how to get it out yet

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Third trip back to Lowes already this morning. I didn't want to permanently glue the returns over the tank in case I want to change the water flow down the road just bought 21 inch unions so if I need to take it apart I can. Made 60 gallons of water last night used it all up made another 60 gallons overnight to top off the sump and everything else. I am on my last batch of water I think to be able to turn everything on today

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tap Talk
 
Also had to remove a hundred pounds of Rock because the foam was going all over the place. I would like to get the Aqua scaping somewhat close so I can get fish in it today or tomorrow and get everything started up

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Hearts racing ! No leaks no floods balancing out everything now is Herbie system with all this gate valves is a little tricky everything is up and running for the past half hour still tweaking everything now will take pictures

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tap Talk
 
Ok, picture time, excuse the cloudy water, my friend Kevin came over today, and helped me with the Aquascapin, it was kickin my butt. I think it came out great, thanks Kevin!

After finding my low & high water marks on the sump, and testing the overflows to make sure they can handle a power outage, topping everything off, balancing two overflow box's, a remote fuge, ann return pump, I now have everything fully balanced

Here's some pics of the progress today!





 
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