180 gallon tank build

[acdraindrps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12040435#post12040435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SkiFletch
Ah but GE has come to our rescue Gary. They have a new silicone out that is designed to bond glass to acrylic . You can typically find this in the acrylic section at HD/Lowes, and if not there, in the silicones area. It's in a red tube I know that much

A lot of the new silicone being manufactured today contains mold inhibitors that leach out chemicals that aren't safe for our animals...

Frontier auto glass will cut you glass to size for very cheap.

 

[SkiFletch]

True true Chris, should have mentioned that. The tube I read did not have any mold inhibitors, but as always YMMV

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12040435#post12040435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SkiFletch
Ah but GE has come to our rescue Gary. They have a new silicone out that is designed to bond glass to acrylic . You can typically find this in the acrylic section at HD/Lowes, and if not there, in the silicones area. It's in a red tube I know that much

thanx for that tip- I'll have to look for it!

 

[magdelan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12053484#post12053484 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acdraindrps
Frontier auto glass will cut you glass to size for very cheap.

How thick should the glass be? 1/4?

Will I need some sort of baffel in my refugium just before the drian? I am guessing that I will because if there isn't, the macro algae may clog the hole, yes? Can I do a short baffel with eggcrate attached to the upper half?

 

[magdelan]

OT: new fish

OT: new fish

This is my new guy. Still hiding a bit, so this picture is the best that I could get considdering the circumstances.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Kole tangs are awesome fish!

If you ask me, their beauty is really underrated in the hobby!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Kole Tang

Kole Tang

nice fish choice

 

[Ellery]

Re: OT: new fish

Re: OT: new fish

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12060515#post12060515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magdelan
This is my new guy. Still hiding a bit, so this picture is the best that I could get considdering the circumstances.

I got one of these too in my fish only but none would still touch any hair algae.

 

[magdelan]

I have loved these fish for a while now. I think that they are so beautiful. That's odd that he won't touch your hair algae, Ellery. They are supposedly voratious algae eaters!! Hmmm... I'll document my findings with this guy.

 

[tmz]

I've got one in waiting to go into the new 90g.He picks all day in the frag tank. I think they eat more detrius and diatoms than hair algae but in doing so make it hard for the hair algae. Beautiful active fish.

 

[magdelan]

I am going to wire a fuse dirrectly to my tanks needs. I am not sure whereto find this information, but I need to total the amperage for everything that will be used so that I can put the appropriate fuse in the box. I will be running, three 200w heaters, asmg4xx skimmer, 36" florecent light for the fuge, maybe a couple powerheads and 3x250w mh with actinic lighting (not sure of what kind). Does anyone have an idea of how many amps this consists of?

 

[tmz]

There is a formula somewhere to convert watts to amps. I use 100watts per amp. Eg 20 amp circut with 12gauge wire gives me room for a bit more than 2000w.I'm sure someone will chime in with more precise numbers.

 

[magdelan]

tmz, that's a good rule of thumb. Thank you, I'll keep it in mind.

I spoke with a friend who knows a bit about this stuff and he suggested that a 20amp circuit should be enough, but he wanted me to look into it to be certain.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I'd pull a couple of circuits for redundancy, especially if you'll be using GFI's.

You don't want your lights tripping the circuit and shutting everything down when you're at work.

 

[controlguy]

FYI,

If you running wire for a 15amp breaker/fuse then you should use 14/2 wire.

If you running wire for a 20amp breaker/fuse then you should use 12/2 wire.

If you run 14/2 connected into a 20amp breaker you are risking the wire getting warm as you are overtaxing it.

 

[magdelan]

Thank you for the info. I will refer to this when the time comes.

 

[magdelan]

It's Go Time, Baby!!!

It's Go Time, Baby!!!

I just got the rest of the b-notes that I will need to complete my build. First, does anyone have a core drill bit to drill a 1.5 inch return to my pump from my sump and to redrill the overflows in my 180? I also need a 1 inch core drill bit to drill the returns to my 180.

Next, is anyone looking to sell 150 lbs of live rock? I'd hate to spend $750 on rock at the LFS when I could get nice stuff from someone/somewhere else for cheaper.

What is the final verdict on "Play Sand"? Which kind is safe to buy? Does anyone have a black and white answer??

Thanks everyone... money and time is tough to come by. Now that I have the money, maybe I can buy some time.

 

[tmz]

On the sand. If it were my tank, I would just use a little sugar fine oolicitic sand from a 1/2 inch to 1and1/2 inch beach effect. If you wan't a dsb I do it remotely and use carrib sea argonite.

 

[magdelan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12150925#post12150925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tmz
On the sand. If it were my tank, I would just use a little sugar fine oolicitic sand from a 1/2 inch to 1and1/2 inch beach effect. If you wan't a dsb I do it remotely and use carrib sea argonite.

Can I buy this at Lowes or Home Depot? I don't want to spend $25 per bag for live sand. I will already be transfering my current sandbed to the refugium/DSB.

 

[tmz]

No, it's in the $25 range made by carrib sea. Foster and Smiths has it. You will need 2 or three bags fro a shallow bed..It does look good and works well. Good Luck either way.