A wolgers 180gal tank upgrade

[wetWolger]

New house, new tank....I am upgrading my old 120gal tank to a oceanic 180gal. I feel a bit bad posting in this forum, just because I don't view this as big yet. I do wish it had another foot in width, but I struggled to find a tank that large. And when building a tank feel through for several reasons, well....180gal. So if you will parden my somewhat small aquarium, I figured I still be more relevant in here than the general discussion board.

The tank is a 72x24x24...reef ready. For lights it has 2x250 watt MH, as well as one 400 watt MH and 2 48in VHO actinics. The return pump I have decided on is two panworld 100PX. I was debating about the Mak4 but I have had good experience with panworld, and I was too worried about noise as it is all in the living room.

One goal in this setup is to have a very large sump. As you can see in the photos I have choosen a 70gal tank as my sump. It barely fits, I cut a hole in the bottom of the stand just so I can get an extra couple inches. And even with that I can not touch the bottom nor can I easily fit my arm inside. I have not fully decided if this will work....it worries me. But I would love the extra volume and large fuge. Any thoughts on the matter?

I do plan to cover the bottom of the stand in 7mill panters plastic. Using that to prevent water from going in the hole where the sump is currently sitting (and hopefully protecting the floor below it). I am also curious if anyone has any comments or recommendations on this matter?

Tonight I got the lights hung, the parachute coard needs to be replaced with plastic coated steel cable. I have the parts and will probably do that tomorrow after work.

The pumps are on the way, and should be here on friday. I have not decided on what pump to use for the CL yet, but I am still going to start filling with RO as soon as the return pumps arrive.

Let me know what you think. Any comments/etc are always welcome. With any luck I will be moving the livestock out of the currently established 120gal within 2 weeks. I do plan to do the transfer of livestock gradually, probably over 2 to 4 weeks.

Pics:
http://www.bbdforum.com/gallery_image.php?action=view&iid=865#pictop
http://www.bbdforum.com/gallery_image.php?action=view&iid=866#pictop

 

[wetWolger]

Today I started filling it with water....it is going to take a long time, my RO unit is only 50GPD. And I don't trust it to run without me here. But even with that said, I have about 1cm of water in the tank tonight.

I also attached the bulkheads for the overflow and the return tubes (just in case the overflow box leaks a little).

No one has made any comments about my tall sump....I am still interested in if this is going to work. Sadly once the tank is full of water, there is no way to remove the sump. Of course I can always empty it again though. Any comments about having very tight access into the fuge? I will be able to pull macro's out, but I wont be able to reach the bottom. Today I cut the trim off sections of the 70gal, which gave me an extra 1/2in of clearance....not a ton, but better than nothing.

What do you guys think about having a fuge that can't be removed, and being where I can't reach the bottom?

I am excited to see water in her, even if it is just a few drops.

 

[waynem]

Its Ok you cant take out your sump, just makes cleaning a tad harder.

Carpet under tanks always scares the married part of me, good luck.

 

[wetWolger]

Yea, carpet is a real concern for sure. I just today verified it was level again, making a slight adjustment till it was perfect. As far as damaging the carpet, I just try to be careful and hope for the best. All my previous tanks were on carpet (granted the largest being a 120gal), and they came out with relatively small defects.

If you have any specific concerns I am not thinking of, let me know.

Thanks for the reply ^.^

 

[wetWolger]

Did some more work on the tank today. Here are the updates:

Put plastic at the bottom of the stand to help protect it and the carpet (since I had to cut a big hole in the stand).

Mounted the three panworld 100PX pumps....two for return pumps, one to run the skimmer. They are mounted on the stand of the stand. One thing I did not think of before I mounted them is fear of losing the prime. So I am looping the output tubing so it goes under the water level. In hopes that it will keep the pumps primed in a power outage.

All the plumbing is done, it is mostly like I had planned. Unfortunately I had to use more tubing and less PVC due to clearance issues in a few areas. But I still think the plumbing is coming out pretty clean. I still need one more tube from the middle pump to the left side return pump.

I have covered the tubes in black duct tape, in an attempt to try and curb some algae growth.

As you can see the RO is starting to get a bit of water in it......and I love it. The tank is basically full, the sump is starting to get some level to it... The tank water has had salt added to it, warmed up, an internal pump running. And I have placed some rock from my old fuge inside it (start some bacteria and a cycle...the earlier the better i figured since I finally got salty water and the main sump will be turning on tomorrow).

Obviously I decided to take the risk with the larger sump. I don't think I am going to divide it at all, except a wall of egg create before the intake area.

Sorry for the poor photos, I just wanted to take something really quick tonight. Show some the progress. An overall tank shot, some water and etc. And a picture of the three panworld's mounted in the stand with a bit of plumbing.

Let me know what you guys think...and as always, advice is always welcome.

 

[wetWolger]

Finally! Enough water to run everything.

I primed the pumps, fixed a couple small drops from the plumbing....and it was running great. Only two problems:

1) the panworld 100px pumps are way too loud for the living room. I had an old panworld pump and it is no where as loud as my two new ones. They are obviously running side by side so I can easily compare with one one and the other. It really is unbelievable how these two new pumps are so much louder.

2) the panworlds are giving more flow than I expected....the overflows are a bit too loud in themselves

So I am going to see if premium aquatics will take them back....so I can order some velocity s2's

For now the pumps will just run and I will deal with the noise till a long term solution is found.

 

[wetWolger]

Premium Aquatics was great!! they took the panworld pumps back no problem. In addition I got myself a couple Velocity PS2 pumps, and they are just what the doctor ordered. A more reasonable flow (wish it was a tiny bit more, but still will be just fine). And silent, well not silent, but well within what I expected. I am very happy with them, very quiet.

So other updates, I drained the sump, put in baffles to cut down on the micro bubbles. It seems to have completely eliminated the bubbles in the tank, a simple job with great results. As you can see, I also moved a few of the rubble pieces of rock from the main tank into the sump. Much more to follow.

Then tonight I just painted the back of the tank using a glossy black latex paint. Here you can see the tank taped up, notice taping the overflows away so I can still see into them via the back (but painted on the sides for cleaner viewing).

After one coat it was not looking very good

But the end result gives a much cleaner look overall:

The tank looks a lot darker with the black background. It was my biggest fear with it. I am not fully decided if I will keep it. But it really looks good, makes the tank look much cleaner. I thought about using a dark blue instead, but I am not sure that would increase the lighting by much (and I choose black to match the overflows). Any thoughts on what your guys opinions are on painted backgrounds?

Tomorrow I am taking off work so I can be here to receive some presents. I have 75lb of live rock coming via 1 day air. I am excited to put the rock in the tank, I figure this rock will be a great addition to some of the rock I already have in my 120gal. I plan to move a lot of the lesser quality pieces in my 120gal to the sump, as well as more of the rock that is already in the display of the 120gal (just leaving it out to be available should the aquascaping need it)

I am really excited, it is all starting to come together. I can't wait to move the contents of the 120gal.

 

[mikeb1409]

coming along nicely... what are you gonna use for a skimmer?

 

[waynem]

I dont think you will notice the black so much once you start to stock the tank

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15601229#post15601229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeb1409
coming along nicely... what are you gonna use for a skimmer?

First of all, thank you for the nice comment. I think it is coming along nicely too, there are a few things I am still very concerned about (the largest being clearance to reach my arm into the sump). But so far nothing has proven to be a problem, and I feel like things are going smooth (at least as smooth as any new tank setup can go)

Right now I am using a Berlin XL, that claims it can be used on a tank as large as 400gal (what a joke). I have made some modifications to it so that it can allow for more GPH, and am using it with the old panworld pump I was using as a return on the 120gal.

The only reason I am using this skimmer is it was basically given to me (brand new in box), and I wanted to give it a chance before throwing it in the garbage. So far I think it has potential, it is skimming stuff out of the water and there is no load, so that is a good sign. Also the column of water is large and appears to be very fine bubbles. It is covered in plastic right now due to the painting, but I can take a pic of it later. It sits behind the stand because it is too large to fit under the stand.

If this skimmer ends up not performing, I plan to replace it with an AquaC EV-240, and run it on the same pump I am using for the Berlin XL.

As always I am open to comments on the skimmer situation. Do you guys think the Berlin XL is even worth giving a chance?

 

[wetWolger]

I hate posting twice in a row....but i just got the rock!!!

First here are pictures of the skimmer, as promised:

And then the 75lb of live rock came in today, did not even smell too bad. Very glad I paid for the 1 day shipping. The 75lb actually ended up filling up the aquarium more than I expected (love nice surprises ^.^). Lots of rock will still need to go into the sump, but that wont happen till I start aquascaping. I still have lots of rock coming from the 120gal with corals growing on it, so I will have to fit all that in, as well as the nicest pieces of rock I have already (the rock I got today looks much better than most the rock I have in the 120gal).

So enough yapping, here is the nice looking rock (and a terrible photo from the phone, the photo does not show how the rock is covered in purple, red, and orange coraline algae):

 

[wetWolger]

I arranged the rock (and added a couple more pieces from the old aquarium). I am just trying to get an idea of what scapes I like or not. I still have lots more rock to add (it just has corals growing on it, so I can't add it till ammonia goes down, and the cycle finishes). Not a big update, but I thought I would post a photo. I like the right side quite a bit, but the left still needs work, not sure what I want to do with it yet.

Also I got my controller setup from the old tank. The skimmer has been doing an amazing job (I had to make it wetter, it was too dry to go down the tube). And the best part, I got a Vortech MP40w ordered (should be here on thursday). I am looking forward to the extra flow, eventually I think I will need two, but for now I will see what just the one can do.

 

[wetWolger]

I got my VorTech MP40w today, and just WOW! I am very happy I went with this option. I plan to get a second one in not _too_ long too (new light bulbs then another). It is dead silent on the back of my aquarium, and moves water in such a wide pattern. The biggest reason I went with it was for looks, because I did not want any plumbing visible since the tank is in the room and the top of the tank is visible. It looks great on the painted black background. I just could not ask for anything better for my needs. I wish I had got two from the start, but $$....

Ether way, having the one has helped me decide on my water flow patterns...I plan to have two vortech's on the back pushing forward in anti-sync mode for a consistent amount of flow. Then have the return from the sumps shooting sideways at a higher level above them.

Day dreaming aside, I am starting to see the first signs of my chemistry settling out. Ammonia is still high, but 4ppm lower than it was (uncured rock = crazy ammonia, was my first time with that but it surprised me). Nitrites yesterday were at .25ppm and today they are at .5ppm. Nitrates on the other hand are about 5ppm. I am really pleased since I had nothing but high ammonia for a very long time, and did not expect that since I added so much cured rock from my current aquarium.

Needless to say, just saying things are coming alone nicely. Which is good because the amount of time my current corals and fish can remain in the 120gal is getting shorter and shorter (plus I hate the 75min drive each way to get to it).

 

[waynem]

150min round trip? Thats got to be hard work, how do find the time??

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15652258#post15652258 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waynem
150min round trip? Thats got to be hard work, how do find the time??

I only see it on the weekend. And the tank shows it, but everything is still alive. Tomorrow I am getting the last of the live rock that does not have any corals on it (as well as do the normal refill the top-off, etc).

Believe me, I am anxious to stop making the trip every weekend.

 

[SMOOTHIE]

How are you liking those pumps?

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15652441#post15652441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SMOOTHIE
How are you liking those pumps?

Which ones? The velocity PS2? I like them quite a bit. I can definitely tell they add some heat into the system, but nothing I can't manage. They are unbelievably silent, and they move a perfect amount of water for my needs. I am thinking about replacing the panworld pump that operates the skimmer with another velocity pump in fact. They really are silent, and I am trying to make this aquarium as quiet as I can.

(note about the above comment, for some reason my old panworld that is about 1 year old, is tons TONS quieter than the panworlds I got earlier in this thread. I don't know why, but my old panworld is tolerable while the new ones were just terrible. But even with that said, the old panworld is no where near as quiet as the velocity pumps I got.)

 

[wetWolger]

Not much of an update....the ammonia is finally down to zero. The nitrites and nitrates are still crazy high. But I have a couple corals that have been in the tank since last weekend. They don't look like they are dying, but they are only half open too.

Needless to say, the pressure to move the 120gal means that I plan to move a few of the corals this weekend. I am _hopeful_ the chemistry will be close enough next weekend to start moving the sps, as well as the fish. But right now the nitrites are just soooo high, much higher than I expected too.

 

[SMOOTHIE]

Thanks for the info.
PM link to velocity pumps?

 

[wetWolger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15709044#post15709044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SMOOTHIE
PM link to velocity pumps?

PM sent....

On another note, MY CYCLE IS FINISHING!

Last night I saw the final bits of my chemistry getting in check. Which is good news, because I need to have the corals moved by next weekend. So with any luck next weekend I will have all the livestock in the new tank.

Also I ordered my second vortech pump, which should be in tomorrow. I have new pictures but I can't post them right now. I will probably just post them once all the corals are in.