Ghellin's 180 build.

[ghellin]

Thank you both very much!

As this is a slower build and the wood facade will not be on my short list, I needed a temporary canopy to hold lights and also let me start planning how I want to build the canopy when that time comes. $35 in pvc and it is solid as a rock.

Second pic is with a little DIY sump light with a few NW and RB Cree LEDs.

 

[ghellin]

Rock has been going for a 2 weeks now. Good mix of flat shelf Marco, Tonga branch, and miscellaneous. All rock was purchased dry or dried by me to ensure no pests. I plan to have 2 large rock structures with am open valley in the center. So all this rock may not get used in the display.

 

[ghellin]

So the stock Marineland returns have a anti siphon hole in them to reduce the amount of water that flows back in the sump in a power outage. Well they squirt water everywhere, so I found a free solution. I used a mag pump prefilter and cut two 1/2" rings to still allow air flow but keep splashing to a minimum. Will be easy to slide down into the water to keep clean as well.

 

[ghellin]

Time for rock, I used hydro stop cement to construct the two pieces. There will be two main structures in the tank. Here is the left side.

 

[win98ena]

Looking great .. how about the equipment there is any change

 

[thabizness]

How loud is the overflow? I have this same tank and wondering if I want to change overflow styles

 

[ghellin]

Thanks! No new equipment yet have to get this tank up and cycled first so I can break down my other tanks. I am looking at the maxspect rip tide for flow.

Tank is still a little noisy but once I get the proper return pump I should be able to make some adjustments to quiet it down.

Today's update. Rock is in the tank!

 

[greyreef]

Great rocks!
Looks like dumbo on the left and daffy duck on the right!

 

[greyreef]

Might wanna make more rock caves etc
Wrasses sure love hideouts!
Mine will disappear for a minute or two, see them peering out from a hideout...

 

[ghellin]

Lol dumbo and daffy! A local member told me the left one looked like jaba the hut lol.

 

[ghellin]

I was able to score some awesome Marco Rock prime cuts from MACNA via Paul @ HighDefCorals. Decided the back glass looked a little empty but I did not want to loose real estate since this is where my herd of clams will reside.

 

[ghellin]

Cycle is nearing completion so I will soon start my tank transfer process to get my fish moved over. Tank transfer should take 17-20 days for one or two fish at a time.

But while I have been waiting I added some cheap LEDs to the underside for fun effects, they have a nice 44 button remote all for about $25 on Amazon. They are RGB LEDs so almost any color is possible.

Red



Blue


Green

 

[ghellin]

Cycle is complete! Time to start moving fish. My pair of corris wrasses go first!

 

[dotkat77]

looks nice. Need more pictures

 

[ghellin]

Thanks! Will do.

 

[DLdraconias]

How are the rocks attached to the back glass?

 

[ghellin]

GE silicon 1.

 

[ghellin]

Rocks are Marco rock prime cuts.

 

[deleau]

Following along.

I see you are in Edmond; I am in SW OKC and starting my own 258g tank at my office (72.5"x30.5"x27") from Planet. I am a couple months behind your build (PA just now getting started on the tank build).

I noticed you went with a 39" stand; I am going with 32", but maybe I need to request a taller one. I also want to go with a glass sump similar to yours. Which skimmer are you using and how much clearance do you have? One of my biggest concerns with sump selection is being able to service the skimmer.

 

[ghellin]

Right now I have a reef octopus xs160 skimmer that is getting me by until I can find a super reef octopus 3000 int. with my water volume I should have a few inches of clearance. 39" was important to me as I hate looking down into a tank. Now the tank is right at eye level for me.