180 gal reef build

Wiring is ready to go

Wiring is ready to go

I finished most of my wiring up tonight, and actually I can barely type now.... Tired as ever, but its almost complete.. Few Hours and this tank is ready...

Now for the fun part, Pictures!
 

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More Pics

More Pics

More wiring pictures from the tank stand... Enjoy!
 

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Almost complete... its 5 am here and im going to crash for six hours, and do it all over again.... Heres the pics
 

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Ahh awake, and still tired as ever...

Ahh awake, and still tired as ever...

So I didn't get all of the wiring finished last night.. I need to run to the Hardware store and get 3 junction boxes for underneath...

I also will be setting up my sump today, so I ill post pictures then...

I said earlier taht I had ordered 75 lbs LR from marco's and 160 lbs sand... I ordered another 50 lbs rock and 50 lbs of sand again today... should take care of it...
 
Tank

Tank

Tank will also get put up on the stand today once everything gets hooked up.. I need to run a leak test on the tank and the plumbing after all is said and done.

Keep you all posted....

So far I have 120 lbs Marco's Dryrock and 200 lbs bahama's aragonite sand

good enough?
 
Brings back memories ........ I had a 180 predator for years until I had to move. Frankly I like what you have selected for the tank. When I moved I had ....

30" zebra moray
18" snowflake
Clown Trigger
Huma Trigger
Porcupine Puffer
Spotted Puffer
Greenbird Wrasse
14" Large Lionfish
4" Neon Damsel which was king of the tank. He was a seed fish (1") that toughened up. I had him the life of my ownership of the tank!

.......... Good Luck and I'll be watching your progress!
 
Tank is downstairs!

Tank is downstairs!

Thanks man, I really appreciate all the feedback... I JUST got this tank downstairs into my basement.. WOW, three grown men one on a rope for added stability when we were hauling this tank downstairs... Heres some pictures for ya!
 

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More Wiring!

More Wiring!

I went back to the hardware store today, and purchased 3 junction boxes, another 25 ft of 14-2 w/grnd, some wire nuts, silicone, and my pvc tubing and fittings.. Here is some updated pictures as I go..

I realize that all my wire nuts are yellow... This would NOT pass NEC inspections... Since it's a dedicated circuit for my fish tank, I can get away with using yellow for my ground wire nuts... Just made sure you remember folks if you use this method, and to not forget!
 

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Brings back memories ........ I had a 180 predator for years until I had to move. Frankly I like what you have selected for the tank. When I moved I had ....

30" zebra moray
18" snowflake
Clown Trigger
Huma Trigger
Porcupine Puffer
Spotted Puffer
Greenbird Wrasse
14" Large Lionfish
4" Neon Damsel which was king of the tank. He was a seed fish (1") that toughened up. I had him the life of my ownership of the tank!

.......... Good Luck and I'll be watching your progress!


Damn the one he'll of a stock list, any pics?
 
Build Complete!!!!!

Build Complete!!!!!

So I have finished the stand and majority of the plumbing. I filled the tank up for a leak test and to check the level of the tank.... I'll have to shim about 3/8 of an inch on top of the 1/2'' I have had too already..

Here is a picture of the sump, and my other plumbing part's/steps.
 

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Tank Fill!

Tank Fill!

Pictures of the tank as it is being filled... Various other photo's... Sorry I don't have a lot to say right now.. I have put in almost 40 hours in this thing in the last 2 1/2 days... It's almost 3 am here again, last night was a 5 am(er)..

IM POOPED!!! Later fella's I will leave you with some more pictures...

There is a picture of my current 55 gal reef in progress...

2 clowns
2 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Cleaner Shrimp... ( He struts his sh** around the tank ALL day..)
5 Damsels.. 2 are domino's
12 turbo's.....
 

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Last but not least...

Last but not least...

Here's a few more.... One of these pictures, it looks as if I'm blowing something off... Way to go bra for getting a shot of me choking... Cough cough :bum:
 

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Finally complete!!!

Finally complete!!!

So I finished the tank stand and all the plumbing tonight.. Now I just wait until my rock comes from Marco's and my sand, and go from there..

Sorry my build thread isn't the most exciting right now, but I have worked my butt off making this stand, so give me a week or two and we should see some progress for sure! Until then, here is some pictures..

The flooring for the sump was made out of 1 sheet... It was like trying to suck syrup out of a straw.. Too darned difficult, but we managed...

All in all, the stand and the tank look great... I am extremely pleased...

Total Cost for initial 180 Gal setup.. $2000 and thats with everything including fish... My LFS has my two Snowflake Eels now and is ordering my other fish for me, as he is going to house them for a bit to make sure they are healthy..

I even started feeding my Two snowflake eels shrimp by hand today!!!!!!! :bounce1::bounce1:
 

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Meet Harry!

Meet Harry!

Meet my new sidekick guys, the name is "Harry" the "460 XVR". He is just one more to the ever so fast growing pistol collection I have...

Harry travels with me from time to time, I prefer my XD 45 for carry... Don't want no criminals trying to robb me of my fish when im leaving the fish store :):fish2:
 

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great build so far and have u figured out what type of skimmer ur gonna go with?


Since I am not going to be putting any reef specimens in the tank, I am not going to be using a skimmer in my tank. I will be using filtration pads and the middle area of the sump is my refugium....
 
What should I use for the bed of my refugium? Sand or that mud mix crap I hear everyone talking about?:spin1:

On my reef tank I almost bought Miracle Mudd, but just went with caribsea direct sand. On my pred tank, did put any sand, just smaller live rock pieces and cheato.
 
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