Chronicle of my 180g Aquarium
- Thread starter Psyire
- Start date
Psyire
Premium Member
Alright, so it's been a slow month but I finally have an update for this thread.
I happened upon a good deal for a Quarantine Setup and jumped on it. And this is what my update is about.
Originally I was going to just setup a small tank for a Quarantine tank and only use it when I bought something new. However after thinking about it I'm sure it would be setup permanently for almost a year if I am ever going to get this 180 stocked, so I came up with a different plan. I would setup a tank permanently to use as a holding tank. This is where anything I buy will first go, I will then proceed to watch them for up to 4 weeks for signs of disease. After the 4 week period, they will get transfered to my main tank. If they do show signs of disease I will move them to a seperate smaller 'hospital' tank, in which I will treat them with medication.
My Quarantine (Holding) Tank Setup
----------------------------------------------
45 Gallon Tank (24x18x24)
Metal Stand w/ Wood Shroud
18 Gallon Sump
Aqua-Medic Turboflotor 1000 Multi Skimmer
(Aquabee pump)
Rio 850 Return Pump
150w Via Aqua Heater
Hamilton Tech. 24" PC Light Fixture 220watt (4x55)
I decided to use bioballs in a wet/dry fashion as I won't have any rock in this tank so this will give good bacteria somewhere to live.
On with the pictures:
1/2 done filling the tank:
Cleaning the skimmer in vinegar/water:
Sump, jammed with stuff:
Money Shot:
One of the things I'm not very fond of is the fact I have two pumps in such a small sump and it's almost impossible to get that 'hummm' to disappear as they are always 'touching/vibrating' something.
What do you guys think?
I happened upon a good deal for a Quarantine Setup and jumped on it. And this is what my update is about.
Originally I was going to just setup a small tank for a Quarantine tank and only use it when I bought something new. However after thinking about it I'm sure it would be setup permanently for almost a year if I am ever going to get this 180 stocked, so I came up with a different plan. I would setup a tank permanently to use as a holding tank. This is where anything I buy will first go, I will then proceed to watch them for up to 4 weeks for signs of disease. After the 4 week period, they will get transfered to my main tank. If they do show signs of disease I will move them to a seperate smaller 'hospital' tank, in which I will treat them with medication.
My Quarantine (Holding) Tank Setup
----------------------------------------------
45 Gallon Tank (24x18x24)
Metal Stand w/ Wood Shroud
18 Gallon Sump
Aqua-Medic Turboflotor 1000 Multi Skimmer
(Aquabee pump)
Rio 850 Return Pump
150w Via Aqua Heater
Hamilton Tech. 24" PC Light Fixture 220watt (4x55)
I decided to use bioballs in a wet/dry fashion as I won't have any rock in this tank so this will give good bacteria somewhere to live.
On with the pictures:
1/2 done filling the tank:
Cleaning the skimmer in vinegar/water:
Sump, jammed with stuff:
Money Shot:
One of the things I'm not very fond of is the fact I have two pumps in such a small sump and it's almost impossible to get that 'hummm' to disappear as they are always 'touching/vibrating' something.
What do you guys think?
Psyire
Premium Member
As far as the main tank goes:
The sump is being constructed right now and I hope to have it within 15-20 days.
I have decided to go with 3x 250watt MH's for my lighting and they will be in Lumenarc III reflectors, so I have an order in for those and I should see them in 2-3 weeks as well. I'm still doing alittle last minute deciding on the ballasts. I've pretty much decided to go electronic and I'm really leaning towards the EVC ones. People seem happy with them, which is a good sign, plus they are a good price @ $99ea.
The sump is being constructed right now and I hope to have it within 15-20 days.
I have decided to go with 3x 250watt MH's for my lighting and they will be in Lumenarc III reflectors, so I have an order in for those and I should see them in 2-3 weeks as well. I'm still doing alittle last minute deciding on the ballasts. I've pretty much decided to go electronic and I'm really leaning towards the EVC ones. People seem happy with them, which is a good sign, plus they are a good price @ $99ea.
Psyire
Premium Member
Thanks! I'm going to be doing another big update soon. I just cut all the plumbing off the QT, I wasn't happy with the way the previous person had it setup. I should be getting bulkheads in the morning and then I can start re-plumbing it. I've also started to glue together all the plumbing in the overflow of my 180, so that is coming along. I should have some LR in my Holding tank in the coming weeks. I should be well into the stocking process by Mid-May. (I'm gone for a week to the Bahama's late April, so this will also slow my process down abit)
Psyire
Premium Member
So...
I've re-plumbed in the QT tank, it's much better now, I eliminated 3x 90deg. Elbows. The tank has been up and circulating with saltwater since the 8th. I added 20 lbs. of Fiji and 10 lbs. of Vanuatu Live Rock on the 9th. I'm pleased with this rock as it has a variety of colors and is covered in good stuff.
The one thing that sucks is I have poor lighting right now until my new lights arrive, so its basically running with actinics and a refugium grow light.
I've been checking Ammonia and Nitrite levels every second day since I added the rock. Until today my Ammonia levels were around 8ppm even with a 20% water change on wednesday. Today however I tested my Ammonia and I was pretty amazed, it was down to 0.5ppm. So I tested my Nitrite and it was up to 5ppm, which it hadn't tested any higher than 1ppm previously. So my cycle is in full swing and going as planned.
I am very happy with how the skimmer has been performing on this tank as it is pulling out a lot of gunk. I have it set pretty 'wet' and it's working great.
As far as progress on my 180g. goes, I'm set to receive my sump as soon as I get back from the Bahamas. (27th-28th) So I will then begin plumbing in the main tank and circulating water. It feels good to have progress being made in the right direction.
Here are some updated pics:
I've re-plumbed in the QT tank, it's much better now, I eliminated 3x 90deg. Elbows. The tank has been up and circulating with saltwater since the 8th. I added 20 lbs. of Fiji and 10 lbs. of Vanuatu Live Rock on the 9th. I'm pleased with this rock as it has a variety of colors and is covered in good stuff.
The one thing that sucks is I have poor lighting right now until my new lights arrive, so its basically running with actinics and a refugium grow light.
I've been checking Ammonia and Nitrite levels every second day since I added the rock. Until today my Ammonia levels were around 8ppm even with a 20% water change on wednesday. Today however I tested my Ammonia and I was pretty amazed, it was down to 0.5ppm. So I tested my Nitrite and it was up to 5ppm, which it hadn't tested any higher than 1ppm previously. So my cycle is in full swing and going as planned.
I am very happy with how the skimmer has been performing on this tank as it is pulling out a lot of gunk. I have it set pretty 'wet' and it's working great.
As far as progress on my 180g. goes, I'm set to receive my sump as soon as I get back from the Bahamas. (27th-28th) So I will then begin plumbing in the main tank and circulating water. It feels good to have progress being made in the right direction.
Here are some updated pics:
Psyire
Premium Member
So today I added another 10 lbs. of rock and did some re-arranging. I'm much happier with these results.
Here are some pics:
My skimmer pulling gunk (2.5 days worth):
Some closeups of the rock and things that are on them:
I'll be now leaving this tank to complete the cycling process. Thanks for looking!
Here are some pics:
My skimmer pulling gunk (2.5 days worth):
Some closeups of the rock and things that are on them:
I'll be now leaving this tank to complete the cycling process. Thanks for looking!
mako56
Premium Member
Some very cool ideas. I am just starting a 180 gallon myself I am going to do all the picture taking too. Not really sure if I will post it all seems like it has been done a quite a few times already. I have gotten so many ideas from here and other posts my head is swimming. Hope I can do it better than my 75 gallon that one cost me allot more than it should have but it was fun. Good luck with yours.
Psyire
Premium Member
Psyire
Premium Member
As far as my auto-topoff goes I've pretty much decided to bite the bullet and run a line from my RO unit to my tank. It's going to be a pain but I think it's possible.
I am planning to do a big update to this thread very shortly. Things have started to come along again. I recieved my Sump from Barr Aquatic and I've started my plumbing. I also have some updates as to how my 50g Holding tank is doing. I have a busy week/weekend so I am planning a detailed update early next week.
I am planning to do a big update to this thread very shortly. Things have started to come along again. I recieved my Sump from Barr Aquatic and I've started my plumbing. I also have some updates as to how my 50g Holding tank is doing. I have a busy week/weekend so I am planning a detailed update early next week.
