Alaskan's 180 Mixed Reef Build Thread

I also got my ro/di filter in from the filter guys and got it mounted in place now just need to get the plumbing done to feed it along with all the plumbing for the tank and the drains. More info on those later.


My water here is rain water but it goes into a cement tank so there are lots on minerals in it, this should take care of that.
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Nightly update:

WE HAVE WATER!!!

I got the stand and tank into position and got the plumbing done to the valves on each bulkhead fitting, and so far no leaks (knock on wood:crazy1:)
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Details of the start of the plumbing. There will be a union after each valve so that I can redo plumbing later. I like unions!
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So I have a question to ask you all, I'm thinking of using the Hofer Gurgle buster for my overflows and I was wondering if any of you have used them and how do you like them. They seem easy and cheap to make. I have 2 1.5in drains that I will be able to control the flow with the valves so I'm looking for something to go up top and be somewhat quiet and not surge like an open pipe.

p.s. here is the link to the build web site.
http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/HGB_construction.html

Thanks for the help all, and I promise lots more pictures to come!
-Justin
 
OK all I've got some updates for you!
The tank is up and running with the first setup and even after a few days I already see lots of stuff that I think I'm going to change, Funny how that works. Pics to follow:spin3:
-Justin
 
P.S. I just wanted to give Jim at The Filter Guys a shout out:wave:
He has been great at getting me the help I needed with the filters that I got.
-Justin
 
Here is a mockup of my sump it is 30 gal and I think I might upgrade to a 40 long here in the near future to give me some room to make a small refume for some macro.
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My new ladder that I just got a NAPA for only $50 its 20" high on the platform and works great for short people like me.
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-Justin
 
OK so I did have one little holdup that took another 3 weeks to get the new parts. On the 1" bulkheads in the bottom of the tank I ordered double threaded for some reason when I got my tank and that was a big mistake.
Me like many others that I have read about had a lot of trouble with dripping fittings. One of mine was leaking on the bottom where the pvc pipe threaded into the bulkhead It is almost like the threads in the bulkhead weren't tapered like all the other pvc fittings because I could thread the fittings all the way in and they wouldn't get tight till they seated all the way so the water just worked its way down the threads. So I ordered all new bulkheads to replace all of mine $$ but I figure that Its a lot easer to change them now than later.:hmm5:
My advice to anyone looking at fitting is to do like I did and get all glue in bulkheads.
 
I covered the bottom of the tank with light screen to lift the rock off the bottom of the tank, less scratches I hope.
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I got some water in it and no leaks :celeb3: don't mind all the temp water controls.
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Oh yeah I'm still working on the hood and there will be 2 lights in the hood not just the one, temp setup.
 
I got my rock work done for this go-around
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The sand is from fijisandman on ebay I really like the stuff very clean it is very fine but once it sits in place it don't move unless you point a power head right at it.
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My current sump up and running I haven't put all the probes and heaters in here yet still deciding on a bigger sump.
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Looking good. I'm still subscribed. When can we expect the "life forms" to get in there? Is the rock cycled or do you have to cycle the whole thing yet?
 
Nice to see ya again salty I did get the live stock move over from my 20 gal setup today pics to follow. The rock was cycled when I placed it into the tank it has been in totes in my shop for a little over a month and it has had no am, Ni and very little Na for the last two weeks so hopefully it won't jump much at all in the tank. There is a lot of different life forms that looks to have survived the trip from Florida to Alaska in air cargo. This is what makes it hard up here, getting livestock that can survive the trip up . My LFS doesn't stock any salt water fish just some supply's, but he can order them for me and I get them in the bag when they get off the airplane.
 
who made your sump? and about how much was shipping up here on the barge? i live in wasilla and am thinking of getting a large tank sooner or later. PM is fine.

so how does your plumbing work? you have 2 bulkheads in each overflow correct? then you have the 2 bulkheads with the locline as the returns? what pump is powering this?
 
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