My 180 Setup From Start to.....

[spiderman2000]

Well it's time I simplify my Salt Water Life. I currently have two Tanks
a 46 Gallon FOWLR and a 20L nano Reef. You may ask how is setting up an 180 Gallon simplifying. Well its going to a lot easier to maintain then the 20L. Littler tanks can fluctuate a lot more and require more attention. Thats why we are going to setup a 180 reef tank to replace both smaller tanks. ( and i want a powder blue tank ) The tanks isn't up and running yet. this will be log of setting up the system. The next post will have pictures.

These are the specs of the initial build.

1) used 180 gallon Sea Clear acrylic tank with built in overflows.
1) 55 Gallon Acrylic Sea Clear Tank for the Refugium, Skimmer, and return.
1) Iwaki R70 Pump Return from sump.
1) PS-250 Protein skimmer.
1) Quietone 6000 Closed Loop. Spa Jet bulk heads used for returns on the closed loop
~200Lb Live Rock
150 lb Live Sand
Auto Top Off
PFO Lighting... I think I will get the LED setup when its out in July.
Check their webpage
auto Topoff
Kent Salt.

 

[spiderman2000]

Pics

Pics

Here are pics of some of the equipment and supplies.

My 180 Gal Tank. I will be buffing out some of the scratches.

Live Rock... I local guy's tank broke so I purchased 400lbs of live rock from him. I got a really good deal so it in my garage with heaters powerheads and filters.
These are old pics I will add new ones later.

Pump ( I got this from the same guy as the rock)

Here is a pick of my fittings. the container its in is going to be my fresh water container for auto top off.

My Skimmer. This is from Pacific Imports. its a PS-250 I got an awesome deal on this.

I will be adding more pics later.

 

[spiderman2000]

update

update

Last night I finished my sump. tonight I plan on finishing my plumbing.
hopefully I will be able to fresh water test it Wednesday and make sure all the systems are go.

Things I still have todo:

possibly add support under the house.
I think the wall its going against is load barring wall.

Send an extra dedicated 20 amp circuit to the wall.

Plumbing.

Fresh water testing.

Move the tank to the new location.



I have added small fish to my live rock to help increase the bio load the rocks can handle. the rocks have been in my garage for about 2 months now so they are fully cycled. so I am not torchering the fish.

I hope I will have the tank fully up and working within 2 weeks.

it been in the making for 2 months now. I had built a Nice Hood, because I was
going to use MH and actinics but, after seeing the LED lights on PFO's website I am going to wait for them. the cost savings would be significant. and it always cool to be the jones....

 

[spiderman2000]

Update

Update

My Sump is finish except for the cutting and placing of the bulkhead for my pump.

 

[spiderman2000]

updated pics of the live rock

updated pics of the live rock

the last pictures were over a month old.

as you can see they have alot more color.

in this pic you can see a couple fishies.

 

[spiderman2000]

Misc. Pics

Misc. Pics

Here is a pic of some of the plumbing i have done.

Here is a Pick of the hood i build but i an now now going to use.
i am going to try to sell this.

 

[steveo32]

the pumps is going under the stand ? I have this pump and its kinda of loud. Well it makes like a hmmmmmm sound. So idk if you have palns for something to deaden the sound

 

[spiderman2000]

pumps

pumps

I am going to put a piece of foam under pump. that should quiet the any vibration.

 

[steveo32]

yeah I just put all my stuff in the basement and now that why I ahve to get a bigger pump but it looks good so far

 

[spiderman2000]

I wish i had a basement it would be alot easier.

 

[steveo32]

can't wait to see more. How do you plan on aquascaping ?

 

[spiderman2000]

I am planning to do a ridg around the back, and an island in middle front.
I have a prized Rose tip. i will be puting on the island.

 

[spiderman2000]

Update

Update

Well I planned to get all the plumbing done today, but i had to pick up the spa jets. and i stopped by the LFS. one of my friends just opened up a new store in Salem, Or
Its really nice. and as you know it took me a while to get out of there but I picked up a new bucket of Kent Salt(yes its a good batch my friend contacted kent and the confirmed he had good stuff). Any one in the salem area should check out the store.
he only sells good equipment, and will not sell you crap. He is located on Lancaster
next to Wendy's. But i did get some stuff done.
here are pics of what i piced up last night.

 

[spiderman2000]

Ok I cut the foam to place under my tank , my sump,and pump.
And cut and installed the Bulk head in my sump. also at the LFS
I picked up 4 more purple croms, to add to my live rock i am working to increase the bioload of the live rock. Here are more pics.

 

[steveo32]

nice, your aquascaping plans sound beautyful. And those spa jets are freaking huge lol it gonna shoot out some crazy water. Oh, if that pump does end up making noise my friend made a insulated box/ cover for his but put slits in it and than ran a fan for it as well. just a thought

 

[spiderman2000]

I didn't get as much done last night as i wanted to. I did get the Jets installed. and some of the plumbing. I ended up hyper extending my thumb so it made it difficult.
i hope to get more done tonight. i will post pics tonight

 

[spiderman2000]

update

update

Well this weekend i was able to finish my plumbing, here are the pics.

view of tank

under the tank

 

[spiderman2000]

close loop

close loop

I plumbed my close loop. here are some pics.

 

[spiderman2000]

Fresh Water Test

Fresh Water Test

I was able to water test my tank.

I only had one Bulkhead leak and was able to fix it
and a couple of smaller leaks I was able to fix
I will do a full blown fill in 2 days.

 

[spiderman2000]

steveo Can you post pics of the insolated box, I test fired the system up and that Pump is loud.


shane