QuarterTang
Member
Coffee Break.
180 Gallon Frankenstein
- Thread starter QuarterTang
- Start date
QuarterTang
Member
I really hope that part is over with. The last time it flooded up was because of a blocked culvert. The other two times this past year was due to a floor drain. The floor drain drains into the creek and there must not be a one way valve in it. So as the creek rises it used to push water up through the drain. I have since capped off the drain. Other than when the water came up the front of the house and over the step into the basement, I haven't had a problem since. It is frustrating, but I just have to deal with it. Hopefully in the next year, I can relocate the basement entrance to the backside of the house (higher ground) and block off this one. With everything resealed I doubt I would ever have that problem again.
It's only money and time.
I have a similar issue with my electrical. Maybe not as bad though! I had a new line run and added a 20amp fuse to the breaker box just for the fish tank. GL with that box, I had an electrician quote me a couple grand just to move my breaker box.
That is a solid stand, don't think you will have a problem with the 2x12's!!! Nice job.
That is a solid stand, don't think you will have a problem with the 2x12's!!! Nice job.
QuarterTang
Member
It isn't so much the electrical is bad, as it is horrible how it is layed out. I have a small home and it really probably could run onjust the 100 amp box, but the way that each circuit is layed out makes no sense and the combination of lights and outlets on each one do nothing to level the loads out. So when I do go to 200 amp service and put ina new box, I am going to have to re-wire the house and get it to make sense. At the same time I will do new insualtion and drywall. It's an old house and you can feel cold air coming off the exterior panelled walls. You can push on the panels with one finger and see wall bow in.
I guess that's what happens when you buy a place for the garage. (and you're young)
Thank you for the compliments, so far no problems with the stand. It has been up and running for over a month now trouble free.
QuarterTang
Member
I'm back....now where did I leave off. How about moving day?
Good enough.
Here are just a few more pictures I have of the holding tank with livestock in it.
I used a dollar store basket to hold some of the loose small corals. That helped out quite a bit really. It made moving them so much faster.
Good enough.
Here are just a few more pictures I have of the holding tank with livestock in it.
I used a dollar store basket to hold some of the loose small corals. That helped out quite a bit really. It made moving them so much faster.
QuarterTang
Member
I made a real mess the day I moved everything. Having a concrete floor that has been flooded helped. I didn't really mind a little salt water on it.
The same day that I tore down the 55, I got a few friends to show up late in the evening to help me move the tank from the garage to the house. Once the tank was inside I could work at my pace to set it up.
This tank is huge compared to the 55 from before.
The same day that I tore down the 55, I got a few friends to show up late in the evening to help me move the tank from the garage to the house. Once the tank was inside I could work at my pace to set it up.
This tank is huge compared to the 55 from before.
QuarterTang
Member
In my rush to get the tank in the house. I completely forgot something that I had planned to do in the garage. I forgot to paint the back of the tank. I had cleaned it before, originally it had a black paint on it that was falling off. I had cleaned it very well in the garage, but that had been so long ago, I just forgot. Once it would get filled up, I knew it would never happen so I abandoned the thought of staying up all night to transfer everything into it like I had originally planned and quit for the night.
When I came back to it on one of my days off, I moved the tank around a couple of times to find the nearest level spot on the floor and away from the wall then moved it out to paint it.
I didn't get any pictures of this process. I was painting quickly and didn't think to grab the camera. But it got three coats of an oil based Rustoleum enamel. Royal Blue. Not really as dark as I would have liked, but I still consider this a semi temporary tank. So I went with it.
This shows the size difference pretty well, the 180 above and the 55 below. At this point I started the process of leveling the tank and stand up using floor tiles. I had some from my bathroom remodle earlier in the year and went to work. I don't bother much with a level at this point because I find it much easier to put water in the tank and level it based on the trim.
You can see some of the water in the bottom of the tank used to level it up. I was using RO/DI for this. Since I had time I went ahead and made up about 40 gallons of fresh salt water in the tank for the start up. I had plenty of water to get the whole thing going, but I figured a little more wouldn't hurt.
The blue really isn't as dark as it looks here once you put the halides on it, but that gives an idea of color.
When I came back to it on one of my days off, I moved the tank around a couple of times to find the nearest level spot on the floor and away from the wall then moved it out to paint it.
I didn't get any pictures of this process. I was painting quickly and didn't think to grab the camera. But it got three coats of an oil based Rustoleum enamel. Royal Blue. Not really as dark as I would have liked, but I still consider this a semi temporary tank. So I went with it.
This shows the size difference pretty well, the 180 above and the 55 below. At this point I started the process of leveling the tank and stand up using floor tiles. I had some from my bathroom remodle earlier in the year and went to work. I don't bother much with a level at this point because I find it much easier to put water in the tank and level it based on the trim.
You can see some of the water in the bottom of the tank used to level it up. I was using RO/DI for this. Since I had time I went ahead and made up about 40 gallons of fresh salt water in the tank for the start up. I had plenty of water to get the whole thing going, but I figured a little more wouldn't hurt.
The blue really isn't as dark as it looks here once you put the halides on it, but that gives an idea of color.
QuarterTang
Member
With enough water in the tank to tell that is was leveled up using the trim I shimmed it up the rest of the way with the tiles and trimmed them.
A nice clean look and very sturdy. These are the peel and stick tiles, so after getting the height right, I stuck them to each other and put them back under before trimming.
A nice clean look and very sturdy. These are the peel and stick tiles, so after getting the height right, I stuck them to each other and put them back under before trimming.
QuarterTang
Member
Now time to make a mess.
Moving day came the following Sunday. I had everything about as ready as it could be and I started moving water 5 gallons at a time again from the holding tank to the main tank. I made a pretty big mess again, and organization went out the door.
Since the last time I moved that much stuff around took so long, I felt rushed all day. It took all day to get all of the water moved and then move the rock, corals and fish over.
Moving day came the following Sunday. I had everything about as ready as it could be and I started moving water 5 gallons at a time again from the holding tank to the main tank. I made a pretty big mess again, and organization went out the door.
Since the last time I moved that much stuff around took so long, I felt rushed all day. It took all day to get all of the water moved and then move the rock, corals and fish over.
QuarterTang
Member
This is my little fish shelf. Holds a bunch of junk and one day will be gone. Most of the hardware on it is going to get moved to the other side of the wall under the stairs and the supplements will find a new home that looks better as well. Beside's I still have an extra 55 gallon tank that might soon become a frag tank. I will need the space.
QuarterTang
Member
I finished up late in the evening with everything in the tank. I didn't do much for aquascaping, my goal was to get everything in there set the pair of 150's and I didn't have that much coral, so I wanted to make sure it was all in and under the light. I was tired again and ready for bed. I was going to have a day off again shortly anyway and would do more then.
QuarterTang
Member
Important note here. At this point the sump is not active. It was getting too late and my wife was coming home so from here I only had the main tank up. I put the circ pumps in along with the heater and the rest just had to wait.
MrineLfRlz
Active member
this is a far cry from your original tank and i like how you have pics of the progress of what you have learned
so are you going to be adding 2 more MH's then and are you going up in wattage also what about any supplemental lighting T5's, VHO's or PC's?
so are you going to be adding 2 more MH's then and are you going up in wattage also what about any supplemental lighting T5's, VHO's or PC's?
QuarterTang
Member
I have the 250's with the diy reflectors I made for them, I just hadn't got them on there yet. It was another few days ahead before I put them up. I am getting there....slowly.
As for supplemental lighting. I have two VHO actinic to put on as well. Due to the condition of the hood, they have not made it on there yet. I will eventually be putting them on the tank as well, but I want to remake the entire hood, as what I have now is more of a rack than a hood. The VHO's will go in when the hood is complete. For now everything looks healthy and happy under just MH's. 250's on the outside and the pair of 150's over the middle.
I had to use wha I had. I don't make enough to buy everything I want for this yet. I will try to get the rest of the story through current up as soon as possible, but it is about time to go run errunds and get out of the house for a while.
I need to find a PH probe and a bottle of CO2 today if possible.
QuarterTang
Member
I picked up a PH probe (borrowed until new one arrives) and a CO2 bottle (also borrowed until I can buy one) so I will be setting up the calcium automat soon. I have to go out of town today though, so I won't get to do it today, although I really want to set it up NOW.
Anyway, tomorrow I should be able to bring the build up through current set-up and post up some build stuff on the Tunze Calcium Automat.
Anyway, tomorrow I should be able to bring the build up through current set-up and post up some build stuff on the Tunze Calcium Automat.
QuarterTang
Member
Long enough wait now....time for the current photos.
Here is the tank as it was when the water cleared up.
Here is the tank as it was when the water cleared up.
QuarterTang
Member
Now to explain a few things. I added the two MH reflectors that I made, they are working pretty well. The bulb on the far left os over a year old and needs replaced. The one on the far right had blown out and I am borrowing a bulb from a friend that is obviously not the same color temp. It's a 6500. So it really looks odd. But it is coming along. As the budget allows both bulbs will be replaced with new 14k's. I am thinking Radiums right now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
QuarterTang
Member
Now to explain a few things. I added the two MH reflectors that I made, they are working pretty well. The bulb on the far left os over a year old and needs replaced. The one on the far right had blown out and I am borrowing a bulb from a friend that is obviously not the same color temp. It's a 6500. So it really looks odd. But it is coming along. As the budget allows both bulbs will be replaced with new 14k's. I am thinking Radiums right now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
QuarterTang
Member
Now to explain a few things. I added the two MH reflectors that I made, they are working pretty well. The bulb on the far left os over a year old and needs replaced. The one on the far right had blown out and I am borrowing a bulb from a friend that is obviously not the same color temp. It's a 6500. So it really looks odd. But it is coming along. As the budget allows both bulbs will be replaced with new 14k's. I am thinking Radiums right now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
The middle light(s) will also get replaced with a single 250 and it will get an electronic ballast.
Also for right now, the rockwork, not too spectacular is it? I need more rock and when I get more, I will be doing something along the lines of the following:
Starting from the far right, It will get a cave stack. Something big with a nice selection of holes and gaps and dark underhangs and little caves. About the center under the future 250 will be a nice solid pillar section that tapers a little out to the left and right, but none the less, a pillar type structure with the front and back opened up. Then to the far left is going to be a sandy flat. with maybe some rubble sticking up just a little.
I used the old sand from the 55 and it some pretty coarse stuff. So that isn't going to go in the sandy flat. I will get some fine sand to put over there and I will move the rest of the sand accross the tank to the other end.
I am going to keep lots of open swimming space for fish to swim around in. I like the tangs quite a bit and they have lots of character so I want them to be happy.
This will end up being a mixed reef with mostly SPS and some LPS and more fish than I have now.
