180 project build... Will it ever be over...

[infamous_6969]

I am currently documenting this on another forum as well but would like to see what type of input I can gather from you guys here.

The story:
I currently have a 72 gallon bowfront and as they always say, we are always planning our next tank. Through many different problems with my current tank and stand I finally said it was about time to make something new. This project started about 6 months ago when I was able to purchase a true Oceanic 180 for next to nothing. I decided that I was fed up with the limited space offered in factory stands and chose to build my own.

The plan:
180 gallon tank
75 gallon sump
vertex illumina sr260 lights (2)
Reeflo Blowhole 1450 return pump
Reeflo Dart closed loop pump
Oceans Motion 4 way
SRO 3000sss skimmer
Algae scrubber

I am probably forgetting some things but not sure. The skimmer will be moving over from the 72 as I purchased extremely large since I knew I would be upgrading. The lights are awesome and I need to purchase the second fixture when this build is complete. The return pump and closed loop pump are purchased. The Oceans Motion will be coming shortly. The sump is designed and in the stand. The stand has been built and only the canopy is left to build. I have a design for my plumbing but have not yet started to complete it. Unfortunately I designed part of the stand around using a blowhole 1450 for the closed loop and just recently decided I was going to upgrade that to the Dart.

Closed loop:
The closed loop will be fed from a Reeflo Dart through an Oceans Motion 4-way out 1" pvc and up over the back. Since this is a true Oceanic tank I did not want to risk the drilling and decided I will go over the back and hide the plumbing via other means.

Completed as of 3/2/2013:
Stand
Tank
Sump
Skimmer
CL Pump
Return pump
1 of the light fixtures

Still to do:
Plumbing
Build canopy



I have a ton of pictures from the stand build which will be posted below. I also have some renderings I completed of the proposed closed loop layout.

 

[infamous_6969]

A little bit of info on the stand I built.

Dimensions:
80" long
26" deep (top surface)
41" tall

Interior:
72" long
20" deep
37" tall

I was so tired of never having enough space in my stand that I designed this with removable front panels and full open side doors. I also made removable slats that hold a shower pan liner to a height of 7 inches around the border of the bottom.

 

[infamous_6969]

 

[infamous_6969]

 

[infamous_6969]

As you can see, I designed this so that I could run the closed loop plumbing up through the cutout in the upper back so that I would not have a problem. I also have cutouts on either side for routing cables through to the outlets.

 

[infamous_6969]

The top was made so that I can completely remove it to reduce weight if I am moving it. I did so by putting in supports to stop it from sliding back and forth. The top is made from 1in hardwood plywood sitting on top of 2x6.

 

[infamous_6969]

Surprisingly enough, this was my first time making doors. These were made with a 1x4 and sandpaper plywood. Secured with liquid nails, staples, and a nailgun.

 

[infamous_6969]

The side doors are using long hinges and the front panels are secured with magnets on the bottom and picture hangars on the top making them easy to remove with little gap on the sides.

This shelf was built with the original intention of the Blowhole 1450 being the closed loop pump. Since it no longer will be, the OM 4-way will be placed here. This shelf is also lined with foam and sandpaper plywood. In later pictures you will see it was also covered with shower pan liner.

The wood was pre-treated, stained (3 coats), and sealed. The top was covered with a laminate counter top secured with liquid nails and sealed also.

The interior is lined with 1" of foam underneath another sandaper ply floor to eliminate vibration and eliminate the sump from sinking.

 

[infamous_6969]

To stop the stand from sinking in the carpet and stop any possible leaching from the stain, I took an old piece of carpet and laid it down. I then put another piece of 3/4" hardwood plywood for the stand to sit on so it would have a firm surface.

 

[infamous_6969]

Here are the removable side slots I made for holding the shower pan liner.

 

[infamous_6969]

The sump was baffled with a mixture of glass I had laying around and some acrylic.

Going from left to right:
Skimmer section (16 inches tall) - skimmer will be on a 9 inch stand
Middle - has both a refugium (no sand bed) and a section for live rock. These will be housed separately and I can divert flow to regulate the refugium.
Return section (15 inches tall)

Live rock will be housed in all sections for seeding and I might place a frag rack in the non refugium middle section.


Excuse the color of my water. I have a well and no city water.

 

[infamous_6969]

In order to make life easier while preparing for this tank. I found an awesome deal on craigslist for a water storage container. So I put it in the garage and mounted my RO/DI system. This totally beats the 35 gallon Brute I was using.

 

[infamous_6969]

That is where this project has taken me so far. Here are the renderings I made for the projected layout of the plumbing and the closed loop system. Although these are labelled as Reeflo Snapper, I have indeed actually purchased a Reeflo Dart.

 

[infamous_6969]

My next step is to build the canopy..... More to come as soon as I get some more money for it...

 

[owenspackman]

looking good. we're both at the same stage of setting up our 180's. I will be tracking this build. What software did you do those designs with?

 

[infamous_6969]

I created those with Google Sketchup... It took me a little while to get comfortable with but they have some excellent tutorials.. All of those renderings are actually accurate to the measurement. I measured a piece then designed it with the same measurements. So I can effectively use my 3d model to design my plumbing and get a rough number for how much I need without touching a tape measure.

I am probably a few months out from being done. I cannot afford to continue at the moment. Then I know I will be moving sometime this year so I am not sure if I will make the system active before I do that..

 

[cugly]

Nice I like the stand..and the color of the stain...wish I had to room to build my own stand..great start keep the pics coming

 

[rpjaws74]

pretty good carpentry skills

 

[infamous_6969]

I have decided a change in the closed loop plumbing. Now I am planning on plumbing my rock support stands into my closed loop and putting some flow through my rock structure as well as outside my structure.

 

[infamous_6969]

I just finished the majority of the design phase for the canopy. The only thing this does not show are the trim and the lights.

The plan is to use the hanging drawer rollers to allow the lights to be shifted from the front to the back so I can move them out of the way while I am working in the tank.

That is a 12 inch piece which will fold up. I will also use an actuator on each side to hold the door open.