ben&bobbi's 180 build
- Thread starter ben&bobbi
- Start date
ben&bobbi
New member
thanks for the compliments. glad there is some useful information here.
as soon as i finsh putting the corals in place, i will get an updated FTS. The center island is almost complete and just a few more pieces to go. then sit back and enjoy - yah right!
i did have to do some minor rewiring in the house this past weekend. I kept popping the GFCI breaker and decided to run a dedicated line as originally intended. The existing circuit had 3 ceiling lights, and 2 wall outlets on the same circuit which were very rarely used, so i thought it would be fine. But now everything is better so far, and i have a second circuit if needed for little things!
as soon as i finsh putting the corals in place, i will get an updated FTS. The center island is almost complete and just a few more pieces to go. then sit back and enjoy - yah right!
i did have to do some minor rewiring in the house this past weekend. I kept popping the GFCI breaker and decided to run a dedicated line as originally intended. The existing circuit had 3 ceiling lights, and 2 wall outlets on the same circuit which were very rarely used, so i thought it would be fine. But now everything is better so far, and i have a second circuit if needed for little things!
ben&bobbi
New member
It's been awhile since an update, but not much exciting happening. Been trying to work out some minor issues. I still have a slight drain issue, but very close.
I just bought the last week. i got it used and will have to figure out how it works. I think i got a super deal on it! It's an Aquatic Life Systems CR-250 with additional Cal-Mate. I haven't even looked to see how big that bottle is, but around 30" tall. it will be close under the tank!
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I just bought the last week. i got it used and will have to figure out how it works. I think i got a super deal on it! It's an Aquatic Life Systems CR-250 with additional Cal-Mate. I haven't even looked to see how big that bottle is, but around 30" tall. it will be close under the tank!
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ben&bobbi
New member
Finally got the feeding door finished. i had some help cutting it out, so i had to work with what i ended up with - not so straight cuts! I got the magnets at the hardware store, 3/4" round about .25" thick - about $3. I was afraid they wouldn't be strong enough, but with all 4, holds really good.
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here's a pic with it stuck on.
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here's a pic with it stuck on.
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ben&bobbi
New member
Here's a FTS shot from late last month. Not alot of colonies in there yet, but the frags are encrusting and growing good. "Soon" it will be full!
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Mr Bojangles
New member
nice reactor! I had the same problem with the big co2 tank and had to trade it for a smaller one to fit under the stand. Have fun with it
ben&bobbi
New member
Got some work done finally on the new power center.
The top row - first 4 outlet will be where i plug the timers in, the fifth one will be a standard outlet.
bottom row - 4 of them will be plugged into the timers only. This will allow me to plug lights and fans into a single timer. 3 of them will be wired to a switch panel so i can shut pumps and such off as needed. The last outlet will be another standard outlet.
I plan to mount this to the bottom of the tank (there is plywood there!), so the outlets are pointing down. The switch panel will be behind one of the front doors for easy access.
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The top row - first 4 outlet will be where i plug the timers in, the fifth one will be a standard outlet.
bottom row - 4 of them will be plugged into the timers only. This will allow me to plug lights and fans into a single timer. 3 of them will be wired to a switch panel so i can shut pumps and such off as needed. The last outlet will be another standard outlet.
I plan to mount this to the bottom of the tank (there is plywood there!), so the outlets are pointing down. The switch panel will be behind one of the front doors for easy access.
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ben&bobbi
New member
thanks!
right now there are
6 blue/green chromis
3 lyretail anthias (lost a female)
1 black/white striped damsel
1 blue damsel
2 false per clowns
1 sailfin tang
1 firefish
1 dottyback
1 clown goby
1 flame hawk
i think that's everyone, i want a few more female anthias, but will wait till i get the main stuff wrapped up.
ben&bobbi
New member
Hey Mike! sorry to hear about your situation, being patient is one thing - looking at that tank and NOT being able to do anything almost has to be as painful!
the tank is around 80-81 just before the MH's shut off, and about 78-79 in the morning. The salinity is around 1.022 with refractometer. I am doing bad on checking the alk and calc, but use limewater for top off, so it is pretty close. seeveral corals are colored up nice, a few are still brown.
I still haven't got the reactor in, the bottle fits, but that's as far as i got.
I am trying to get the power center finished, but still not getting a plank signal with the switch turned off. whole panel passes with the switch on, but turn the switch off and says open ground!
plus, in college, summer term is going on right now, 2 nights 3.5 hrs a night and then homework.
look, i made it to 500 with VERY limited useless posts!
the tank is around 80-81 just before the MH's shut off, and about 78-79 in the morning. The salinity is around 1.022 with refractometer. I am doing bad on checking the alk and calc, but use limewater for top off, so it is pretty close. seeveral corals are colored up nice, a few are still brown.
I still haven't got the reactor in, the bottle fits, but that's as far as i got.
I am trying to get the power center finished, but still not getting a plank signal with the switch turned off. whole panel passes with the switch on, but turn the switch off and says open ground!
plus, in college, summer term is going on right now, 2 nights 3.5 hrs a night and then homework.
look, i made it to 500 with VERY limited useless posts!
ben&bobbi
New member
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here's the schematic of the power center. The green boxes and blue wires are timers that feed the connected outlets. Everything is up and working now. the feed through of the power was from the main switch, it is the lighted version.
here's the schematic of the power center. The green boxes and blue wires are timers that feed the connected outlets. Everything is up and working now. the feed through of the power was from the main switch, it is the lighted version.
ben&bobbi
New member
just a quick update for the night.
Got the main electrical panel mounted a couple weeks ago. Most things are plugged into the right spots, when that's done, i will bundle the wires together to kind of clean it up.
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This is the switch panel that runs the main panel and the second circuit. The first switch is the main cutout to the main panel, the second set of switches is for the second circuit and keeps the power heads and QT tank. THe next 2 groups of switches are for the main panel.
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with the panel mounted like this, i was able to place the light timers where they could be easily shutoff as needed.
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Here is the second circuit in the back of the stand.
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Next projects are 1) a new rack for the light ballasts and 2) plumbing the calcium reactor!
Got the main electrical panel mounted a couple weeks ago. Most things are plugged into the right spots, when that's done, i will bundle the wires together to kind of clean it up.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/ben-stang/mainpanelinstalled.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
This is the switch panel that runs the main panel and the second circuit. The first switch is the main cutout to the main panel, the second set of switches is for the second circuit and keeps the power heads and QT tank. THe next 2 groups of switches are for the main panel.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/ben-stang/switchpanel.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
with the panel mounted like this, i was able to place the light timers where they could be easily shutoff as needed.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/ben-stang/lighttimerswitches.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Here is the second circuit in the back of the stand.
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Next projects are 1) a new rack for the light ballasts and 2) plumbing the calcium reactor!
ben&bobbi
New member
Ok, felt like is was time for a little update! and a chance to show off, finally got some decent pictures with the camera.
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ben&bobbi
New member
still working through some issues. still having trouble getting the calcium reactor to work properly.
added a RK2, but got some water in it after 3 weeks, so it is on it's way back from repair.
we switched to reeflux bulbs.
little slacking on the water changes - sorry for the algea in the shots!
added some powerheads. we shitched for the seoi's to korlina 4's and adding a couple maxi-jet mods. I really wish i was brave enough to have the tank drilled - next time right!
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added a RK2, but got some water in it after 3 weeks, so it is on it's way back from repair.
we switched to reeflux bulbs.
little slacking on the water changes - sorry for the algea in the shots!
added some powerheads. we shitched for the seoi's to korlina 4's and adding a couple maxi-jet mods. I really wish i was brave enough to have the tank drilled - next time right!
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/ben-stang/180g%20fish%20tank/?action=view¤t=IMG_1001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/ben-stang/180g%20fish%20tank/IMG_1001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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