JOINING THE BIG BOYS, The start of my 180g display 350g total vol.

[enemec1]

well I have been planing to get a larger tank after only 10 months of my 75 gallon being set up, This hobby is worse than alchol or drugs!
So I have decided to do a in wall set up in our dinning room adjasent from the 75g, not to the wifes apporval but my one and a half year old sons got my back on this dission. since around november I have been working on getting a tank from a LFS the were breaking down a tank for a customer and he was going to sell it to me for only $250. Needles to say that it was too good to be true they gave me the run around for 2 months Bull S__t, during that time I started purchesing items for this new tank I was going to get. Now that I have to buy new, this is where my wife is not happy. Going from 250. to 750. big step when she is a stay at home mom.
I would like to say thank you to all who have helped me get to this point and to all that will continue helping me in this quest for a bigger and better tank. Although no tank will ever be BIG enough in our minds. ( thats what she said).
Thanks, Eric

 

[enemec1]

punch list of what I have and want
180g AGA RR
100g rubbermaid sump
70g rubber maid fuge with DSB and shelf for doing frags
dart pump as return
snapper pump on a CL
these pumps because of there low wattage use
CL 125 supper skimmer I will upgrade later
2 175w MH and 1 250w MH, spaced as 175-250-175
4 75w actinic blue VHO lights powered by a ice cap 430
this is the jist of the main items for a reef tank, I do dose regularly so I am not into getting a calcium reactor or other stuff. Any sugestion are welcome

 

[enemec1]

I have the sumps, dart, lights,and CLSS 125, I need a CL pump, tank. I need sugestions on a heater set up I have been looking at a pro heat set up but not sure of the accuracy of them

 

[enemec1]

the tank will be built into the wall to the left of the closit door between the desk. The door will be moved downfurther to fit the tank

the door will be located where the little blue box is in the wall.

 

[enemec1]

I had a little help with this wall

this is what my fish room will look like behind the tank not as large as I would like but it will work, my son does work fast WOW!

 

[enemec1]

tomarrow night I will have my stand in place and I will post some pics. I am about to order the tank and is there any better way to have the holes for the CL drilled. I am looking for location options on the back glass maby around 5 holes 3 return and 2 feeding the tank split into 2

 

[drummereef]

Can't wait!

 

[enemec1]

can anyone give me advice on hole location for the closed loop set up?

 

[vegaskid11]

I will be plumbing down the backside of my tank for a closed loop. I like to have as few holes as possible in my tanks. I prefer to have my CL inputs located low as they suck in detritus and other matter and then blow it into my corals or out the overflow. I would set the intake 3 or so inches above your sandbed. I have seen alot of tanks drilled on the bottom for CL intake to.

 

[enemec1]

I was thinking of 3 one inch intaks and 2 one inch supplies split into two so there will be 4 total return nozzels. all drilled around 6 inches above the bottom

 

[enemec1]

anyone

 

[enemec1]

here are some photos of my stand. As you can see I have a double 2x6 with a 3/4 inch pice of plywood glued between to avoid having a rear center brace.

Here is the location that the tank will sit. Like I said I will have some room behind the tank for my equipment. I now just have to configure a way to fit the sump and fuge under and behind.

 

[enemec1]

well i went the the Hidden Reef Today and purchased my tank I decided to go with a 210 gallon AGA in stead of a 180. they will be drilling 5 one inch holes across the back just below the half way point.

 

[UnderwaterExotic]

i hope you are tall cause i am 6'3" and could reach the bottom of mine. I had 2 of them and sold them to go with 180's. Pain in the arse!!!

 

[enemec1]

Thats ok I'll buy my son some scuba gear if I need to get to the deep parts of the tank

 

[enemec1]

would any one guid me in a direction, should I use 2 160w 72" VHO or use 4 75w 24" VHO lamps?

 

[steve the plumb]

My friend had mh with vho I liked the look but mh gives off a lot of heat.I am looking into t 5 bulb setup from aquatronics.My other friend has 4 bulbs on his 125 its nice but needs a little more light.I don't know if you want to go with t'5 but many people have had good results using t'5 bulbs.You need more of them but they are not that expensive.

 

[UnderwaterExotic]

I meant couldnt reach the bottom! LOL

 

[enemec1]

well I got the phone call today and it was that my tank was ready to pick up from the Hidden Reef.

 

[enemec1]

here are some pics of the stand area waiting for the tank.

now the tank in place

It looks soo much biger than the 75g.
the back side where the CL holes are drilled.

and, the 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank sump under the stand.

all comments and sugestions welcome.
Thanks for looking, Eric