Coming out of retirement..180 build

[erik2302]

I first started with aquariums about 10 years ago...dabbled with a bunch of different setups the biggest being a 100 gallon fish only tank.


I'm finally back at a point in my life where I can setup another tank. I started thinking something cheap and used...then my wife wanted me to build a "built in" in the new house, I somehow managed to sneak an aquarium into the plans [emoji39]

And this is a silly video I made summarizing that month of construction hell...8,453 trips to Home Depot later(PS we're expecting a child! Wife does not have a beer belly!)

https://vimeo.com/177913417

The posts below I'll update the different components and details of the build. Please feel free to critique, it's done and cycling now with some rock from a local reefer. Here's the finished product(minus a vertex Cerebra I've been waiting on for over two months).

 

[erik2302]

Equipment list:
2 - Ecotech xr30w PRO g3s (still trying to quiet these down)

Maxspect Gyre 150

Simplicity 320dc skimmer

500w heater (not needed this time of year)

Ecotech Vectra M1 return pump

Kore 5th Doser with ATO/AWC

Beautiful 40gal Sump by advanced acrylics

This is the "blank canvas" I started with.

This is the ugly inside of the stand...and a 180gal tank, drilled for a bean animal drain system.

 

[erik2302]

The finished sump...1.5" drains, 1" return, red pipe is dirty water out, blue pipe is clean RODI water OR clean SW in.

Also visible in the last picture is the vent that has a fan on the outside of the house pictured below in my WC station.

RODI unit is tucked into the water heater cabinet to the right, plumbed off the cold water feed to our water heater.

SW is lightly mixed by a solar powered fountain pump, and small dc pumps controlled by the doser are in the FW and SW barrel.

These lines feed both barrels and directly to sump.

Tank is cycling...after 9 days I'm at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and about 35ppm nitrates. Excited to start stocking it!

 

[homer1475]

Very nice setup! I'm guessing the gash in you thumb came from a razor knife? Been there, done that, got 26 stitches to prove it.

 

[erik2302]

Haha thanks! And close guess but it was actually from a forstner bit drilling the cups for the hinges! Was really trying to line it up


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