180 Gallon Frankenstein

[QuarterTang]

I had quite a few starfish and snails if you couldn't tell. no more algae problems and everything was looking pretty good. I had a few more corals and was seeing growth in SPS and LPS. So I am not a complete idiot. Lessons learned and time to start going bigger.

 

[QuarterTang]

I got to take a break. I will be back later to continue. I hope everyone enjoys this. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them when I get back.

 

[Neogenocide]

It's nice to see a thread where someone isn't afraid to share their mistakes. I'm glad to see things are on the up swing, and I can't wait to hear the rest of your progress.

Scott

 

[iLLwiLL]

Thats a cool idea with the stand, but to me it looks a little top heavy, and those angels - while decorative - will rob you of ever important under tank space. What a coincidence, I got a nearly free 180 last week myself now all I gotta do is convince the wife why we need a bigger tank in the house.

~Will.

 

[SBV]

Rock on dude,

 

[QuarterTang]

It's nice to see a thread where someone isn't afraid to share their mistakes. I'm glad to see things are on the up swing, and I can't wait to hear the rest of your progress.

Scott

I have done much more reading here than posting, obviously since my post count is low, but besides that, I have noticed that everyone seems to hide their mistakes or be ashamed of them. I really try hard not to let my mistakes define me, more I like to learn from them. If anyone is to learn from someone elses mistakes they need to see them as well. I hope that I can shed some light on a few of those mishaps and allow everyone to see them clearly. I have taken more pictures than I wish to shrink down to upload, but if there is something in particular you would like to see up close, I don't mind grabbing some of them.

There has been tons of progress since the photos have left off. Actually, there is no more 55 gallon tank at this point. I have the 180 up and running now. So more will follow as I get time to shrink photos and upload.

 

[QuarterTang]

Thats a cool idea with the stand, but to me it looks a little top heavy, and those angels - while decorative - will rob you of ever important under tank space. What a coincidence, I got a nearly free 180 last week myself now all I gotta do is convince the wife why we need a bigger tank in the house.

~Will.

I assure you, it is VERY solid and has no movement at all. The angles also do not take up much space at all. Once you put weight down on the stand everything is about as solid as you are going to get.

I will get more specific on the stand here in a while. I have to do some chores around the house and I will get back into it.

 

[Asterix]

I respect your style. In order to get that perfect reef tank\system its honestly a good thing to make mistakes some times. Each new system you setup will benefit from the knowledge of previous builds. Getting things right the first time rarely happens on a first build.

On a side note, those pics made my day (along with your advisory warnings) . I must say there were times when I was so confused and unsure of what I was actually seeing that I thought someone was playing a prank. The sheer multitude and diversity of cleverly reconfigured house hold items coupled with the physics defying engineering marvel that is your 55g stand have brought a smile to my face. Thank you so much for sharing, I would be lying if I said my first build went any better.

 

[Beaner3]

awesome work, school of hard knocks, I like it, consider me subscribed

 

[QuarterTang]

Hehe, yeah, this kinda worked.

But these worked better.

I will get into those a little more later as well. But Really thank you for the words of encouragement. I wasn't sure how this was all going to be taken on here.

Oh, I might as well, I already have these uploaded. If anyone was wondering just how bad it was... Well, I'll let the pictures talk.

 

[QuarterTang]

I respect your style. In order to get that perfect reef tank\system its honestly a good thing to make mistakes some times. Each new system you setup will benefit from the knowledge of previous builds. Getting things right the first time rarely happens on a first build.

On a side note, those pics made my day (along with your advisory warnings) . I must say there were times when I was so confused and unsure of what I was actually seeing that I thought someone was playing a prank. The sheer multitude and diversity of cleverly reconfigured house hold items coupled with the physics defying engineering marvel that is your 55g stand have brought a smile to my face. Thank you so much for sharing, I would be lying if I said my first build went any better.

I hope they made you laugh and cry at the same time, they do me. Everytime I sit back and look at where I am at now with it, I look back. I have taken so many photos I can look at each stage of my tank. All the way to tear down.

Anyway, thank again for the words of encouragement. Some days you need them.

Oh yeah, no prank either it really was bad. You know that one thread about ghetto equipment, I think I have a few things that belong there.

 

[sirfisher]

That's the way I started with a Frankenstein tank and it was also a 55 gal. I learned alot on that tank and how to correct my mistakes in the two years that I had it up and running. I now have a 125 reef tank that has been running for about 3 years now and it's doing great.

 

[temperatepuffer]

Wow. Looking at all these different pictures your tang has experienced quite an amount of growth.

 

[jayreef1213]

As long as your progressing then thats all that matters. I love the color of the lights. Also it looks as the zeoit works.

 

[kynsee]

Wow, great ideas; it'll just get better and better over time. Can't wait to see your final.

 

[cartouche]

Great Thread QT .... we've all made mistakes - motto being 'learn don't quit' !

Looking forward to seeing the 180!

 

[QuarterTang]

That's the way I started with a Frankenstein tank and it was also a 55 gal. I learned alot on that tank and how to correct my mistakes in the two years that I had it up and running. I now have a 125 reef tank that has been running for about 3 years now and it's doing great.

I think we all go through some sort of Frankenstein at one point or another before we get to the goods. I have pretty well decided to go with two of them. The 55 I started on and this one the 180. Since I am just an average Joe and don't make a six figure salary, I can't aford to buy everything I want to make a dream tank yet, so I am doing it in pieces. The 55 was to learn what was important, and now the 180 is still a big ugly, but with better equipment. As I continue on with the 180 I will get over sized equipment that is capable of handling an even bigger system so the next time I build a tank bigger, I will have everything I need equipment wise minus a tank and stand, and then I can make those look nice. In the mean time, the contents of the 180 are all that is going to look good.

 

[QuarterTang]

Wow. Looking at all these different pictures your tang has experienced quite an amount of growth.

Thank you much. There has been a significant amount of growth. Many of the corals I had in this tank were ill and stressed when I bought them. I am kinda cheap sometimes. While I was learning, I didn't waste alot of money on expensive coral. I would buy something that had fallen ill in someone elses tank and bring it in to mine. I spent very little in the contents of the tank and figured if I could keep something alive that was already on it's way out the door, then I could keep healthy good stuff.

Much of what has grown out has really grown and should continue to. By maintaining an ULNS and supplementing only the right stuff, I have seen some incredible growth from the few corals I did have.

 

[QuarterTang]

As long as your progressing then thats all that matters. I love the color of the lights. Also it looks as the zeoit works.

Thank you, I always move up. If sometihng breaks, something stronger goes back to replace it.

As for the lights, those are 14k XM's. I have seen the comparable Radiums though and I think when I upgrade my lights in the beginning of next year, I may be going with those. I am still very stuck though, I like the size of the HQI's and I am about 50/50 between staying with single ended and going with Radiums, or going the HQI route.

The ZeoVit has worked very well for me. It is not something for the undisciplined though. It does take some time to do. There is usually something to dose or agitate daily. I don't mind that, I have about an hour every free every morning before I go to work that I get to tinker. Also, some of the supplements that you dose with Zeo are VERY easy to overdo it with and will have negative results. When a dosing is 1 drop /25 gallons daily, that means exactly what it says. The stuff is strong and if you let yourself think maybe an extra few wouldn't hurt, well, it will hurt.

Otherwise, I love the method. It has kept all my algae gone and very crystal clear water. The growth has been showing and great polyp extension and color.

Moving forward is the only direction to go. Even if it is two forward and one back, you are still pressing on.

 

[QuarterTang]

Wow, great ideas; it'll just get better and better over time. Can't wait to see your final.

I can't take credit for all of the ideas, just the action taken to put them in place. The final, or at least current looks good and I am making my way there.