New 180G Project HELP Wanted!

[Bacchus_fl]

Hello Everybody,

I finally found the set up I have been looking for. You might have seen it posted by Boydx6 in the Tampa area. I am really excited about getting it here and set up. I was on the border of upgrading or giving it up completely but after 10yrs I just couldn't walk away. This new system is exactly what I needed to reignite my passion for this hobby.

I really want to do this one right. My last several tanks have taught me lessons on things I won't do again. With those tanks though I was always in a rush to get one torn down and another into its place asap. This time I will be able to keep my current setup running while I get this tank installed properly.

So I really need your help. I want to tap into the brain trust that is ORCA. I know many of you are experts at many different aspects of this hobby and that is what I want to tap into. Below are the things I need help with during this build. If you are willing and able to help me with any of these projects I would be very grateful. I am not incapable of doing the work but would rather have some good advice and some hands on help when possible before diving in.

Projects:

#1 The tank currently has a 180 sump which I won't be able to house. I have an old 75G tank I was going to use instead. So I am looking for some good sump designs and some help drilling the 75.

#2 Plumbing this is where I really need an expert to help me get the best possible design for flow in my tank. It is a 180 with dual overflows built in. Right now all four ports are being used as drains to the sump. The return pump is a dart which is running into a homemade 6 way OM. I also have a blueline pump that I would like to use as a close loop to add flow deeper into the tank instead of powerheads.

#3 Aquascaping - Over the years I have seen some amazing rock designs on this site. I am hoping that one of you rock forming geniuses would be willing to help me.

#4 Cabinet Skin - This is the most important piece because I really want this tank to look like a piece of furniture. The setup I bought does not include the skin which is okay because I want it to match my room anyway. I am looking for somebody who is capable of doing professional quality cabinet work and understands the need for proper access in a marine aquarium.

#5 I am sure there will be plenty of other little questions here and there so I would love if as many experts as possible would subscribe to this thread to help me make this the best tank I can.

I know that nobody's time is free so if you need payment I can pay in frags, left over equipment, or cash. Just looking for some quality help and ideas at a minimal cost.

Thank You in advance for all your help. I will be sure to post picture of the build as we go.

Jason

 

[jsdancer]

Wow you sound as excited as I am! I too am going to upgrade to a 180g tank.

The one thing that I might be able to help with is aquascaping.
Tll me what you thoughts are. I'm sure you have something in mind already.

I will try and draw something for you and pm it to you so that you can comment.
Oh by the way what are the measurements of the tank?

 

[iLLwiLL]

Put me down for general labor / grunt work =)

I can plumb and offer ideas on aquascaping, but I am about as far from an expert as one can get. I have an uncle that has a huge cabinet shop up north, if you cant find anyone local to do it I can give him a call.

~Will.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Thanks for the offers guys.

Jsdancer the dimensions of the tank are 72x30x24 (LxWxH) I really don't have any ideas for aquascaping yet because I really have to make it work with the pieces of live rock that I have. I do know that I would like it to have plenty of space for positioning my corals at all different hiegths and flows. I would also like it to show some depth. Other than that I open to ideas.

Will I appreciate your willingness to help. I will give you a call once we have it here. I can definitely use your help with setting it up and an extra pair of hands is always a good thing.

Thanks!

J

 

[Megabite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15557616#post15557616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bacchus_fl
Thanks for the offers guys.

Jsdancer the dimensions of the tank are 72x30x24 (LxWxH)

A 72X30X24 is 225 gallon. A 72X24X24 is 180 gallon.

I have a 180 and would love those extra 6" of depth.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Sorry, I don't have the tank here yet so I was just going off memory. I think the stand is 30" deep not the tank.

What kind of sump are you running Megabite?

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Man that is sweet! Just curious what happened to the original skin of the stand and canopy?

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Steve decided to keep it since he wanted to turn it into a bar. He didn't think he would get enough out of it to be worth selling. I did get the granite beer ledge though.

Any ideas on who might be able to help me build a new skin and canopy?

 

[tangers]

cstires in the orlando area is a amazing stand/canopy builder!

 

[jsdancer]

Very good!
Do you have a current pic of what corals you have now?
What corals do you plan to add?
About how many lbs of live rock do you have now? Will you be adding more?
Finally what lighting are you planning to use?

 

[ben&bobbi]

#2 Plumbing this is where I really need an expert to help me get the best possible design for flow in my tank. It is a 180 with dual overflows built in. Right now all four ports are being used as drains to the sump. The return pump is a dart which is running into a homemade 6 way OM. I also have a blueline pump that I would like to use as a close loop to add flow deeper into the tank instead of powerheads.

i would leave the drains the way they are. Actually i would like to see pics of the plumbing when you get it. The closed loop will be nice, are you planning on drilling the tank? We have a 180 with dart return, and we are thinking of redoing the plumbing.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Thanks Tangers I sent cstires a pm about the cabinets. If anybody else knows of somebody let me know. I want the skin done well and I know it wont be terribly cheap.

jsdancer - I don't have any current pics but I can tell you most of what I am keeping. I am not very good with all the scientific names, hell I don't even really know all the layman terms for them. Sorry for my stupidity, I just know they're pretty. I am planning on fragging out these pieces if need be to make them fit in a good spot


-Green Birdsnest about 4"
-Huge Dersa Clam close to 12"
-Orange w purple center Ricordia
-Hammer head or anchor LPS 5"
-Huge Fogspawn Half 15" round
-Two Large Montis one orange and one green with purple rim 14"
-Candy cane brain w Green centers 7"
-Candy Cane Brain - Teal color 6"
-Green Open brain/ cats eye (not sure what the real name is) 12"
-Green Toad Stool Leather 4" Round
-Long tentical leather 6" (I may get ride of the leathers altogether thought to make it more friendly to SPS)
-Green Carpet Anenome 8"

Everything else is zoos and polyps that are just going to end up where ever thier rock fits. Going to get ride of all the shrooms, random leathers, and xenia (sp?)

As far as corals I plan to add, I'm planning to go more with sps. As for which ones I'm not really picky. Just whatever I can trade for that adds different colors.

I currently have about 100-120lbs, Will be getting another 70lbs or so with the tank. Thats just a wild guess though. If I need more I will find some

As of right now the tank will be running on 2 400W MH 14K and 2 160W VHO Atinic. Plan to add 2 more VHO Whites and maybe a 3rd MH.


Hello ben&bobbi I attached the link to the "for sale" posting of the system I bought. I will have to change the plumbing around quit a bit since his fuge was on the other side of the wall and was the same size as the display. I am going to convert an olf 75. I do plan to keep the 4 drains. The return is through a 6 way mounted at the top of the tank. I want to plumb the close line into the rock lower in the tank. I'm not planning on drilling it though just going to run it over the back. Are you able to drill a tank?

I will post more pics when I pick it up. Let me know what you think.


http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1681150

Thanks Guys!

J

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Pictures of current coral

Pictures of current coral

Here are some pics of some of the stuff I currently have.

Large Dersa

A couple ricordia, sorry it is blurry

PEARLY JAW FISH

PURPLE TANG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/51668P8232620__320x200_.JPG
Not sure what type of zoo this is

 

[Bacchus_fl]

GREEN BIRDSNEST

TRUMPET OR CANDY CANE

LONG TENTICAL LEATHER

Not sure what this is but it has been struggling at the back of my tank for years. I want it to do better.

oRANGE MONTI

 

[Bacchus_fl]

aNOTHER cANDY CANE

This is the one I called a cats eye, I really Dont know what it is. We named it after my buddy. It just sits there, does nothing and gets bigger and bigger

hAMMER HEAD CORAL (?)

One of my percs protecting her ground. I have a mated pair but as hard as they try none of them make it.

I also have a green wrasse, flame hawk fish and will be adding a naso, 3 yellow tangs, a school of chromis, and a couple blennies.

I will be fragging out allot of the corals pictured if anybody is interested after I make the move.


Thanks,
J

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Pics of Current Tank, will be selling this as well

 

[iLLwiLL]

You might want to re-think the naso . . . might not last too long in a 180 IMO. I saw a 12"+ amazing male naso with streamers last night make an 8' x 2' 300 gallon tank look cramped. Beautiful fish, but man do they need alot of water.

That piece that has been struggling at the back of your tank, could it be some kind of scroll? I would definitely re-name the cats eye to brown eye . . .seems more fitting =P. Put me down for a chunk of the hammer and white candy cane if you decide to frag them up.

Awesome looking setup BTW, cant wait to see it in person one of these days.

~Will.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

The Naso comes with the tank and has been in there for 2 years. I think he will do alright but I agree that he may one day out grow the tank but not for several years.

The only fish I plan on purchasing are a few more chromis to go with the one that comes with the tank and a couple blennies to help with algea. After a while I will add some more small reef fish.

Thanks!

 

[ben&bobbi]

i wouldn't worry about the naso either. We picked one up out of a 90g tank, and they had it for years. it is about 7-8" and it will be going in our 180.

 

[jsdancer]

Hey will we see ya at this months meeting?