Barely made the club but time for my 180 upgrade (Warning: Progress may be slow)

[cilyjr]

the mag floats with razor do work quite well. i have found a few issues with them however. first off you cannot leave the razor in the water even though they are stainless they rust quickly. i take mine out when done using them and rinse with fresh water. also getting the corners and such can be tough. still with the finished side done it is surley the best option.

 

[myaerica]

Looks good. The one thing your going to regret is not making an access in the front. I to have an 180 in wall its been up for about 2 yrs now and I cant take it anymore im cutting an acess in the front.

 

[nightOwl]

cilyjr,
Thanks for the heads up on the mag floats with the blade attachment. I was wondering why the blades on the ones that came with the tank were all rusty and brittle. I think this hobby has taught me stainless steel will rust no matter what if the salt water is not rinsed off immediately. Hopefully the limited access will not have an big impact on the viewing.

myaerica,
Welcome the build party. Please post pictures of yours if you get a chance. What type of access will you be adding?

Updates- General

I stopped by a local fish store today and saw two new potential utility fish to add to my list. I had looked at the Copperband Butterfly initially for aptasia control, but after more research on it excluded it. From what I had read they sometimes slow starve to death once all the aptasia is gone. I saw a Kliens Butterfly (Chaetodon Kleini) today and plan on doing some more research but things are looking promising for adding it to the list. I have read they can be nippers but for the most part are model citizens. The other fish I saw was a full grown
Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus). As a juvenile I was not impressed but the adults are flashy . I will have to research more on both of these. They are known to eat nuisance pests. One of my goals of the new tank is to have fish and other critters with specific functions to earn their keep not just look pretty...lol.

My drill bits were attempted to be delivered today and I missed them so tomorrow I will pick them up. Once I have them I can see if it will be easy to drill a 1 - 1/2" hole for the bulkheads or just use the 1" that are already on the tank.

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[BowieReefer84]

If you want to control Aptasia get some peppermint shrimp for the tank. They are cheap, and DO eat it. I experienced them eating it first hand. The key is to not let the aptasia get out of control, or to large before adding the shrimp.

Yellow Wrasse are "with caution" fish on LA. To me this means "not reef safe." I would stay away from them personally, even though they do look good... Once added it would be very hard to catch in a tank of this size imo.

Copperbands die in aquariums due to transport. Their long beaks become damaged, and this is the reason they are difficult to get eating. The key is to buy one from someone local that is willing to part with a healthy fish. That could be tough. Again, they are a very nice looking fish.

 

[nightOwl]

BowieReefer84,
I keep at least 4 peppermint shrimp in the tank at all times. I know one of the ones I have does not eat aptasia at all. I think they can be hit or miss sometimes just like fish. I agree with you totally about not letting it get out of control or too big. When I had the 65 gallon I let it get infested. I threw some peppermint in there and I could tell they liked the little ones because they were the first to go .

I saw the with caution on the yellow wrasse . I read that they can be bullies once bigger, but I am hoping that while he is small he will be a model citizen. I will have to wait and see if its worth it. He has a lot of benefits though. Thanks for the heads up on why the CBB seem to perish over time. I guess they are another fish you need to see in person eating and healthy before purchasing.

Updates- General

Tonight I finally had a chance to re-drill my drains. I can always throttle them back but they have gone from one inch drains to 1-1/2" woo hoo. I also purchased some more pluming parts tonight and started a dry fit of my manifold and the return lines to the sump. I also ran into some issue with the Apex asking for a password when I press the main button so I am now off to research that.
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[SPotter]

less typing more plumbing

 

[nightOwl]

So I have been a little bit busy since my last post so lets recap and bring everyone up to speed.

Tank Plumbing - Update

The tank is still in the dry fitting stage. I need to purchase hooks to support my plumbing on the back. Both Home Depot and Lowe's have been out of the ones I want on my last two trips. Coupled with the fact I am on hold with the sump construction. I also started my manifold. It consists of 3 x 1/2" and 2 x 3/4" outlets.

Manifold

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Fish list - Update

After more research the Banana Wrasse is out.
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Tank Stand - Update

Since I made a weeeeeeeee bit of a mistake when gluing my sump together I am about 1/4" two wide. I weighed a few options and I then started to cut into my support legs. I will use the chisel to finish the removal and then cut a piece of plywood to fit the removed area.
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Sump - Update

I was making great progress on my sump. I am now in a hold phase until my new can of Weld-On #4 comes in. For anyone working with this stuff remember to close the top completely each time and always place on a level surface. I did not close the top completely and accidentally knocked the can over and the stuff spilled out. I have added three baffles, and drilled my two return holes. One return from the tank and the other will run from the frag tank. I tried to router some teeth for the refugium section, but that just led to teeth flying all over the place so after chipping away 4 teeth and trying to to adjust I decided to just router them all away. I will use some white plastic mesh and just let the water run through that to stop any algae that may try to make the trip from the refugium to the return area. Monday my new weld-on comes so I can get back t construction.

Sump with baffles

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Power Center - Update

I put the "brains" of the tank where I think it will be located. This should work for now. I still need to complete my plumbing to see how everything will be mounted.

The "Brains"

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Frag tank

I drilled the frag tank and built a three tier frag rack. I eventually plan on putting a fish or two in it to that eat nuisance algae. The tank will have a single 250 Watt bulb on a spider reflector (that's all I have at the moment), and two VHO actinics for coloration. I already had a stand that use to be where I performed my water tests at so that will now be used to support my new frag tank

Frag tank

Frag rack

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Wall Framing - Update

I finished framing the wall so that I could place my frag tank along the wall.
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[nightOwl]

Light rail

I ordered on 2/14 and it arrived today (2/16) McMaster-Carr has some fast shipping! I thought I had a day or two to get parts but they shipped super fast. After a trip to Home Depot tonight I installed the rails and suspended the lights. After picking up some quick links, plastic washers, and hook and turnbuckles this is what it looks like.

Quick Link

Hook and turnbuckle

Out the box

Before rail

After rail

 

[SPotter]

Looking really awesome!!!!!


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[ScubaPrawn]

This is a great build thread. I like all the pictures showing off your hard work.

 

[nightOwl]

SPotter - Thanks

ScubaPrawn - Welcome aboard.

I will have some updates tomorrow hopefully. My shipment from Rideout Plastics came so I was able almost finish my sump tonight. I also made a trip to Lowe's for some plumbing parts.

 

[dave.m]

Do you have plans for sealing all that exposed wood and the backs of the sheetrock? The tank is going to produce a lot of humidity.

Dave.M

 

[nightOwl]

dave.m,
Welcome aboard...I guess I had not thought about the exposed wood. I know I have plans to get a dehumidifier and plumb it to the furnace drain or sink but I had not thought about the wood itself. The sheetrock I used is mildew resistant so I had thought about not putting just plain sheet rock around it. Any suggestions on the type of sealer or if a humidifier will be enough? Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[dave.m]

I would think that just a couple of coats of paint (spray if you're brave), an acrylic primer and then a coat of latex. Give it a Navy job.

Dave.M

 

[nightOwl]

dave.m,
I should be able to use KILZ® General Purpose Interior primer like in a tank stand right? I had planned on using that on the external drywall before painting the room to cover the mud and plaster. I guess I may need a few more gallons .

 

[SPotter]

You should just have your tax refund sent to home depot


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[nightOwl]

SPotter,
Lucky for me I aim for no tax return that way I can spend all year long .

Sump - Update

I was running low on my pieces of acrylic from the old tank. I was down to what was supposed to be the top of the new tank and the back. I used the top to frame the top of my sump. From left to right refugium, return, intake chamber. I plan on painting the refugium area black. I should have done this before but hindsite is always 20/20.

Before routing
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After routing

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Plumbing - Updates

So I made some more progress on plumbing yesterday and tonight. Yesterday I ran out of supplies so I had to make a run to Lowe's today after work as well as place an order to Savko for some flexible PVC. I placed an order 1" and 1-1/2" and it should arrive Friday.

Since the main return may get heavy I added some support so that there is no unnecessary strain on the bulkheads. Everything is still in a dry fit stage for the most part. Here is what I have so far.

Tank with plumbing

Reefflo Snapper

Each side will have a 1" return and a 3/4" return that can be adjusted via ball valves. The 1" return lines have 1" flow accelorators on them. I will try to remember to take a picture tomorrow.

Return 1" and 3/4" split - Left

Right side

Using a Wye for the branch not sure if I should use a T or not?

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Sump - Updates

The sump is now under the tank for a temporary dry run. I was trying to get an idea of how everything would fit in. From left to right: Calcium Reactor, Kalk Reactor, Two Little Fishes Media Reactor 1 & 2, and finally the Reef Octopus Skimmer. The three 1/2 outlets will feed the Kalk Reactor and Media Reactor 1 &2. The 3/4 outlet I will pipe down to feed the Calcium Reactor. The other one I am saving for UV Sterilizer possibly. The manifold will be feed off the return from the pump and has the ability to bleed back into the refugium area.

Sump

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[nightOwl]

Sump - Updates Continued

Macro Gro Light - 25 Watt version

Macro Glo Light

Macro Gro Light

Skimmer and manifold

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Two sump intake bulkheads. I made these so I could have a place where I could make the return from the frag tank and main display return to the sump. I will use filter socks to catch the water and will create a holder once I finally decide how they will be plumbed.

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Sump - For reference the intake bulkhead in the sump return section is 2"

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Top-Off Container - Update

I was looking back through my thread tonight and realized I never posted a picture of the completed top-off container. Pictured below is the container with the attached lid. Once I finally decide on on the location I will drill a hole in the top and run the line to the sump for when evaporation occurs.

Lid closed

Lid Open

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[Bamm Bamm]

wow Im very impressed its all coming along nicely!! Where you get that refugium light and how much was it thts really sweet..

 

[nightOwl]

Bamm Bamm,
I purchased my JBJ 25 Watt Macro-Glo Adjustable Refugium Light from Marine Depot They look pretty nice and can be adjusted at the head, arm, and base. They run about $54 but the 25 watt version I think is equivalent to 120 watt incandescent bulb.