180 gallon tank build

[chrisguy]

Looks good.

I would move the Sump drain away from the Retun pump intake. Chances are you are going to get some air in that drain and the pump will suck in the bubble and create an aweful lot of microbubbles in the display.

As an option if you need leave it there, you could build another bubble trap that forces the bubbles to surface and not get to the return pump intake.

 

[tmz]

On the catcher and refugium. Make sure the outlet is at least as big as the inlet.It looks smaller in the sketch for the refugium .

 

[Capt_Cully]

ball valves in strategic areas will give you more control as well.

I'm jealous of that tank. That's the kind I wanted with the small curved overflows. Allows for maximal space for aquascape and viewing. It's just like Tom's tank at TRS.

As for lighting, you can always add a couple of T5 strips down the road. But once the tank is up and running, you're more than likely going to spend extra funds on livestock instead of supplemental lighting.

 

[magdelan]

The the drain pvc and the outlets on both the catcher tank and the refugium are not drawn to scale. For the exception of the catcher tank, the flow coming into the refugium will be much slower than the drain/outlet. Also, As for the refugium drain into the sump, I see your point. I will build another set of baffels just after the first set. This way the bubble will have a chance to surface as you said. Thanks!!!

Now, my next step is purchace all of the pvc, valves, and bulkheads. Also, I have to reinforce the floor with a couple 2x12's and then set up the sump and refugium. After the plumbing is done, I will need an electrician to come in and possibly build a tank box fitted with GFCI's. At some point I need to paint the back of the 180. After all of this is done, I will begin to set everything up upstairs.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I'm not so jealous any more..... It's alot of work, but well worth it.

 

[magdelan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11650877#post11650877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Capt_Cully
I'm not so jealous any more..... It's alot of work, but well worth it.

This is the hard part...being patient enough to do things right and not just diving into it head first. I'm on the diving board though, I just have to wait for the pool to fill up

 

[Ellery]

Hey Mike at least you could take your time to plan all this out and build slowly. I had to get mine done in 2 weeks before I had to move everything out of my old house. There are definitely alot of things I would have done differently that would simplify alot of time and work to maintain 3 tanks.

Looks good so far- So where will you have this on the first floor or basement?

 

[magdelan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11655938#post11655938 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ellery
Looks good so far- So where will you have this on the first floor or basement?

Hi Ellery!! The main display will be on the first floor in the computer room. This room is very visible from the living room aswell. The tank will be where the loveseat is now.

Here is a picture of Spencer being mezmorized by the 30g. I'm starting him young!!!

 

[otiso777]

What a great picture!

 

[chrisguy]

Great picture of your son!!!

One more comment. i would add a gate valve to the output into the refuguim, so you can control how much (or little) watter flows into that tank. Without it, your return water will follow the path of least resistance and will flow into the refugium and never make it into the display.

 

[teamdulski]

As a Grand Island resident, newly promoted assistant manager/fish department manager at Markheim and someone that is seriously considering upgrading to a 180 gal, I am tagging along.

The plans look great so far.

 

[magdelan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11659261#post11659261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisguy
Great picture of your son!!!

One more comment. i would add a gate valve to the output into the refuguim, so you can control how much (or little) watter flows into that tank. Without it, your return water will follow the path of least resistance and will flow into the refugium and never make it into the display.

You are absolutely correct. The one thing that I didn't take time to do in my sketch was to add in the placement of the ball valves, gate valves, and unions. I fully intend to have a valve where you mentioned. Good eyes though!! I'm glad that you and others are paying such close attention to my plans. More than one set of eyes are always a plus!!!

Thanks

 

[magdelan]

I have been anticipating a decent return from my taxes. Now, after having them done, I have realized that the return won't be as big as I had hoped. I am going to have to take things even slower now.

First, I am going to buy a SpectraPure ro/di unit. Next I will buy all of the plumbing that I should need. Then I will get the pump. After I get the plumbing started, I am going to order the skimmer. I think the hardest part is going to be finding the rock that I have in mind. What is the minimum per pound a tank this size should have. I am not looking to save money, but instead looking for a very clean look and not the "wall" as I sort of have now. I will also need sand. I know that many people here use the play sand, but I feel that there are so many different types. What is a nice white sugar fine sand? I am only going to use enough to barely cover the bottom. I am going to add to the sand bed in my 30g/soon to be refugium to make a dsb.

Last I am going to order the lights. I am not sure which unit yet. I am looking for a light system that has 3x250w 10k+ bulbs with 4xVHO 160w actinic.

If anyone knows of any system like this, please let me know!!!

 

[magdelan]

On my 120g that I am going to use as the sump, I noticed that on the bottom center brace there is a sticker that says "tempered glass. DO NOT DRILL". Is this only for the bottom or for the whole tank?

Also, my 180 is already drilled for a 1" drain and a 3/4" return. Will I have to re-drill this for the 1 1/2" drain that I want and the 1" return?

When drilling a tank, how much extra must one drill to fit the bulk heads that will fit the above dimensions?

 

[bjromaine]

Magdelan,
I am no expert at this, but I know from experience that the bulkheads require a "standard" clearence hole depending on the size of the bulkhead. It isn't always a certain size larger than the bulkhead for each size. Hypothetically, a 1" bulkhead might require a 1 1/4" hole (1/4" larger) while a 1 1/2" bulkhead might require a 1 7/8" hole (3/8" larger). Don't use those numbers though.
I don't know how difficult it might be to drill a existing hole larger. I know doing it in wood, etc is very difficult.

Hope that helps. Great planning too....tagging along to get ideas for my up and coming 120 setup.

 

[doryarlin955]

For the rocks you could get some dead rock and try what they did in these threads. I'm doing this in my 37g since there's no way I could afford all the live rock. Plus I won't spend hours balancing everything lol

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...hreadid=1188352

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...hreadid=1300282

 

[magdelan]

doryarlin- did you check those two links? I'm not sure what it is that you want me to look at.

 

[silkchaos]

Perhaps he meant these?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1188352
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1300282

 

[doryarlin955]

Yeah, sorry I had copied and pasted them and it messed with the links when I did it. Thanks, those are the ones I was talking about

 

[magdelan]

I got my ASM G4XX skimmer today along with my rodi unit. I'm so excited!!! I am going to build a stand for my sump and refugium this weekend (I feel so handy). Next I will buy the pump and do the plumbing. Slowly, but surely...I'm getting their.