Dave's 180 gallon/fishroom adventure

[asudavew]

I know 180 is small for this section. But I wanted to document my tank setup and build on RC.
So here it goes.....

I'm converting a small den at the front of our house into an "entertainment" room.
Tv and Video games for the kids and a 180 gallon tank for me. :dance:

I ordered a Perfecto 180 with no overflows. (72"x24"x24") It will arrive tomorrow at my house.

I'm thinking a BA overflow setup.
I will likely order about 100 lbs of dry rock. Plus 25 lbs ofr live rock for seeding when the proper time arrives. I might add more or less or I might do all live rock. I'm not really sure yet.... decisions...

I don't even have my equipment list together.. and I haven't decided what to stock it with.... Likely I will move my 2 clowns and my bicolor angel from my 55.
Not sure about the shrimps, blenny, or gobys.

I'm in no hurry at all.
I'm going to go slow and enjoy the whole adventure.



Let the fun begin!

 

[asudavew]

Thanks Mattie!

The tank will weigh 400 lbs when it arrives.....

I don't think the delivery guy is going to help me place it in my house....

Plus I don't have the room or stand ready.........

Whats a fellow to do?

 

[asudavew]

Time for a little lumber!

A couple hours work

Roll on!

That's a 70 gallon I had for a goldfish for a number of years. Godzilla was his name. Maybe he was a she. I'm not sure. But it was a goldfish won on the midway by my son's friend. It lived for over 10 years. Not sure why it died.
I still keep goldfish. I have a soft spot in my heart for them.
All of my goldfish now live in an outside pond. Except for one. It lives in my 110 gallon fresh.

The 70 will now be my sump.

 

[Sacohen]

So far so good.
Take it slow and try to get and plan together on what you want to do.
The more you think about it and talk it out with other you may realize a better way of doing something and not have to re-do it later.

 

[asudavew]

So far so good.
Take it slow and try to get and plan together on what you want to do.
The more you think about it and talk it out with other you may realize a better way of doing something and not have to re-do it later.

I couldn't agree more.
I'm still not quite sure how to build the Bean Overflow yet, but that will be my first step after the stand. I understand the overall concept, but I need to look further into the details.

I'm going to hang lights for the first time over an aquarium. I've always used a canopy before.

I will likely go LED. I might even study up on building my own.
I really enjoy DIY and since I was a carpenter in a former life I own plenty of tools and a few rusty skills.

 

[Sacohen]

I read up on the Bean overflow design,but it has been a while.
Is this an open tank or an in wall?
I've read so many tank builds today I'm getting confused.
If it's in wall there is no need for a canopy.
I hung my lights using 1/2" aluminum bar that I bent to a soft 90° angle and attached to the wall.
The lights are just sitting on top of it.
It was a temporary thing until I build my canopy which I'm not sure if I'm going to do now.

I found a really interesting DIY LED build that I'm going to do when I get the money together.
I'll PM you the link if you want.

 

[leveldrummer]

You have never treated the 70 with copper based medications for your goldfish have you?

 

[dave.m]

I would strongly suggest you lose the castors right away. They indicate that you are thinking of moving the tank around after it has been filled and that could quickly lead to disaster. The slightest dip in the floor when you are rolling several hundred pounds of water could fatally weaken your tank and suddenly introduce a whole new look to your livingroom floor.

Dave.M

 

[asudavew]

You have never treated the 70 with copper based medications for your goldfish have you?

No. But it's cool.

I had some frags and shrimps in there temporarily while I prepared my 40GB at work. Hence the funky lights I built for it.
They worked good by the way.
Great coral growth.


Thanks for the thought though!
That would have sucked!

 

[asudavew]

I would strongly suggest you lose the castors right away. They indicate that you are thinking of moving the tank around after it has been filled and that could quickly lead to disaster. The slightest dip in the floor when you are rolling several hundred pounds of water could fatally weaken your tank and suddenly introduce a whole new look to your livingroom floor.

Dave.M

Nah. No Casters for me.
I'm just going to use the cart for moving around the 400lb empty tank.
Then I'm going to retire the cart to use for lumber storage and as my movable electric miter saw stand. :beer:

I'm going to build a "permanent" stand for my tank.

 

[dave.m]

:thumbsup:

Dave.M

 

[asudavew]

Well the tank arrived. But it had several scratches on the front. After some "failed" negotiations with Amazon. I decided to send it back for a new one. But now I am having second thoughts.. I might keep it at the discount they offered. ($280 off) Time to call Amazon back...

The front will get painted and will become the back.

The size of the tank is unreal! And I love the black silicon.


Now I need to order some bulkheads and figure out how to set up a Bean overflow.
I think I will order three 1 1/2" slip x slip bulkheads or would 1" be better?

I'm thinking of using a Water Blaster HY-7000 as my return pump. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[asudavew]

 

[asudavew]

Tank was delivered scratched. But since it was one side I decided to keep it. A few discounts didnt hurt.

I've removed the carpet out of our front den. I've filled nail holes in the wall. I will start painting this weekend.

I think I'm going to take zen street with the room.

I ordered 1.5 inch bulkheads and elbows from an online seller.
I also ordered a WaterBlaster 10000.
All should be here Friday.



I plan on adding a 48"x"24x12" (60gallon) frag tank to the system. The bulkheads will be here Friday. But the tank was delivered broken yesterday.
It will take a month to get another. UPS sucks!

I should have some progress pics this weekend.

Still need to get some glass locally for my sump baffles and C2C overflow.

I will also have to get this 400 lb tank off the floor in my garage.
Time for a keg and home made wood fired pizza party me thinks.

 

[asudavew]

No beer keg pics. But here's one of the pizza oven.