Chaotic Reefer4u
♥Acropora Aficionado♥
this tank looks very nice, thanx for sharing the pik's...
ben&bobbi's 180 build
- Thread starter ben&bobbi
- Start date
ben&bobbi
New member
the main tank is almost full. it is being stirred my a quietone 3000 and a bubbler. I am hoping to get it running this weekend. I have been taking 5 gallons from my 75 all week to get as much established water as i can into the new tank. I am filling the sump with that water.
here it is with just some rock I have been collecting, no where near where it will end up!
the light is from a pair of 65w PC's, but they will not be part of the final setup.
here it is with just some rock I have been collecting, no where near where it will end up!
the light is from a pair of 65w PC's, but they will not be part of the final setup.
ben&bobbi
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9370656#post9370656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ben&bobbi
little catching up here to go.
i added some grating to the dorso drains and to the pump intake to block those little snails and hermits from backing things up.
i cut up a couple pieces of the white grating and glued them in.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!
i am having trouble with the drain system on my tank. after posting here and getting some good feed back. i had to remove these gurads!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1061692
i plan to modify the teeth on the overflows this week also! as well and get the aquascaping almost completed - because it is never really finished is it!?
ben&bobbi
New member
ok, had some issues getting the water level acceptable in the tank, so a couple modifications had to be made. One is the above post and the other was to cut out a couple teeth in the overflows to let the water level drop. Still not able to open the pump all the way, but i will get back to that at a later date.
ben&bobbi
New member
I took the day off wednesday to do some work on the tank.
1) made the above cuts
2) modified the sump water level
3) added a BUNCH of cleaning crew from liverockandmore dot com - like 150 hermits, 40 turbos, 10 LARGE nass snails, 3 emeralds, pepper mint shrimp, lettuce nudibranch, porceline crab & 3 large red legs. most of that i ordered, some of them and a few other things ended up in my box!!!
4) transfer most of liverock from the 75
5) drilled and stacked the live rock on the right side of the tank
6) transfer a few SPS from the 75
7) took 3 buckets of stuff to LFS
8) brought home a clown tang and couple cleaner wrasse (in QT tank for the week!)
9) painted the inside of the hood.
next weeks the lights should be going in!
Here's a quick shot of the tank so far. the empty low section will be the zoo and mushroom zone!
1) made the above cuts
2) modified the sump water level
3) added a BUNCH of cleaning crew from liverockandmore dot com - like 150 hermits, 40 turbos, 10 LARGE nass snails, 3 emeralds, pepper mint shrimp, lettuce nudibranch, porceline crab & 3 large red legs. most of that i ordered, some of them and a few other things ended up in my box!!!
4) transfer most of liverock from the 75
5) drilled and stacked the live rock on the right side of the tank
6) transfer a few SPS from the 75
7) took 3 buckets of stuff to LFS
8) brought home a clown tang and couple cleaner wrasse (in QT tank for the week!)
9) painted the inside of the hood.
next weeks the lights should be going in!
Here's a quick shot of the tank so far. the empty low section will be the zoo and mushroom zone!
ben&bobbi
New member
last one for tonight
tested the water with all the kits i have
Instant Ocean test Kits
pH - 8.0
Nitrate - 0 (no trace of color)
phosphates - < 0.2 (wasn't clear)
Alk - 4.0mEq/l
Ammonia - 0.1 (yellow - no green tint)
Nitrite - 0 (no trace of color)
Mag - @1350 (.12/.098 - 1320-1380 depending on shade of blue)
pH digital - 8.10
tested the water with all the kits i have
Instant Ocean test Kits
pH - 8.0
Nitrate - 0 (no trace of color)
phosphates - < 0.2 (wasn't clear)
Alk - 4.0mEq/l
Ammonia - 0.1 (yellow - no green tint)
Nitrite - 0 (no trace of color)
Mag - @1350 (.12/.098 - 1320-1380 depending on shade of blue)
pH digital - 8.10
Mr Bojangles
New member
looks alot better then when I last saw it, no really its looking real good! cant wait for you to have some stuff for sale again so I can come over and see it in person!
ben&bobbi
New member
hope this works, i have reached my limit on pictures on RC, so trying photobucket
took this past friday off to get the lights completed.
reflectors - PFO parralel reflectors 24" each
6' bulbs - (2) URI VHO 160w super actinics
2 end metal halides are 10K XM 250W
1 center metal halide is 20K XM 250W
end fans are silverstone PC fans rated somewhere around 162cfm, and have a variable controller - but will be left wide open!
once the power center is complete, i will turn the actincs on for a couple hours. Turn the center MH on for a couple hours, turn the outer 2 MH's on for a few hours and then the reverse.
i will have DIY moonlights on for evening viewing and nightlight for my little one!
the hole in the front will be the feeding door. i was originally going to put a hinge on the door, but might go with magnets instead. i will trim the edge of the cutout piece and use that for the door.
took this past friday off to get the lights completed.
reflectors - PFO parralel reflectors 24" each
6' bulbs - (2) URI VHO 160w super actinics
2 end metal halides are 10K XM 250W
1 center metal halide is 20K XM 250W
end fans are silverstone PC fans rated somewhere around 162cfm, and have a variable controller - but will be left wide open!
once the power center is complete, i will turn the actincs on for a couple hours. Turn the center MH on for a couple hours, turn the outer 2 MH's on for a few hours and then the reverse.
i will have DIY moonlights on for evening viewing and nightlight for my little one!
the hole in the front will be the feeding door. i was originally going to put a hinge on the door, but might go with magnets instead. i will trim the edge of the cutout piece and use that for the door.
jay24k
Active member
Man your tile looks similiar to mine! Bad bad bad on the canopy with no hinge! 
Wait till you have to clean corraline algae on your front glass through that tiny hole. OR wait till you have to replace a frag that fell off or the glue unset. Trust me, you want FULL access in the front or as much as you can.
However, looking good and it is easy to convert to a open front.
Wait till you have to clean corraline algae on your front glass through that tiny hole. OR wait till you have to replace a frag that fell off or the glue unset. Trust me, you want FULL access in the front or as much as you can.
However, looking good and it is easy to convert to a open front.
ben&bobbi
New member
i figured since my tank is built very similar to yours, why not the whole room! JK, i can honestly say, if they are the same, total coincidence or very subliminal!
actually it does hinge, down the center of the top. the face plate and half the top open back. the reflectors ar mounted to a center brace that runs side to side. the top hinges on that brace. the reflectors give me about 6" to the glass.
i have tried to reach stuff through that opening though, not very easy - your right!
actually it does hinge, down the center of the top. the face plate and half the top open back. the reflectors ar mounted to a center brace that runs side to side. the top hinges on that brace. the reflectors give me about 6" to the glass.
i have tried to reach stuff through that opening though, not very easy - your right!
ben&bobbi
New member
got the skimmer in last week also. it's the ASM G3 with the modifications asmskimmer.com, plus i did the impeller mod. trust me i was worried about messing up a $40 part, but it worked out fine.
i left a few of the "needles" to help hold the mesh.
not sure how it works right out of the box, didn't try it! but in just a few days on the new tank, there was 1/4" green juice in the cup!
i left a few of the "needles" to help hold the mesh.
not sure how it works right out of the box, didn't try it! but in just a few days on the new tank, there was 1/4" green juice in the cup!
cutnup
Member
whats up ben? i just ran into your thread and i see why you didnt make it to the meeting, you've been busy! i love the rockwork. did you drill it then stack it on acrylic rods? i've been seeing this lately and whenever i get a bigger tank that is def. what i will do. well, keep up the good work and keep us posted!
ben&bobbi
New member
between this and the little one - keeps me going!
It is stacked with the smaller yellow 1/2" PVC, actually i think it's called CPVC. Used a 1/2" concrete drill bit and stacked it up. That way, stuff won't avalanche over! Other pieces are held together with a little portland cement.
It's coming along! Thanks for comments!
It is stacked with the smaller yellow 1/2" PVC, actually i think it's called CPVC. Used a 1/2" concrete drill bit and stacked it up. That way, stuff won't avalanche over! Other pieces are held together with a little portland cement.
It's coming along! Thanks for comments!
