Pressing the RestStart Button: JonezNReef 180g 2.0 (plus 120g breeding system)

[JonezNReef]

So after I get the 120 up and running 100%, which I am hoping will be tomorrow, I will start mapping out where on the wall I am going to have the tank. I want the bottom of the viewing window to be no further down than 40" and it has to sit atleast a foot further to the right if you are looking at the tank in the bedroom. The real fun lies in making a stand for the 180 that I can fit an other 180 under. I will be making the stand out of the 2x6's for sure but don't know if I want to double up the top making it more like a 4x6 or if I want to make the top out of 2x8. If I do 2x8 I might be able to get away with not putting a brace in the front of the stand making really easy access to the bottom tank. I have a 7'x2'area to work with inside the fishroom.

 

[worm5406]

Nice updates. Thanks for sharing.

FL must be nice to be able to take it outside and let it sit. Here in DC area is is 46 right now.

 

[JonezNReef]

So I haven't been able to do much with the tanks. Between the kids and myself getting sick nothing's been getting done. But finally was able to get enough time to go and get some new frags from a semi local reefer.
Here they are with blues off

 

[JonezNReef]

Here's a FTS of the first 4'. The rest is covered by my by 40gB

And here are a couple other corals

 

[JonezNReef]

Decided to go ahead and drill the old 180g today and get it out of the way.

 

[siliconinja]

Looking good Jonez! Did the drilling give you any trouble? The hole on the left looks clean, im assuming the right side one hasn't been wiped down yet?

Did you decide to drill returns or will you go over the top?


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[JonezNReef]

Nice updates. Thanks for sharing.

FL must be nice to be able to take it outside and let it sit. Here in DC area is is 46 right now.

Sorry just noticed your comment and thanks for checking things out and leaving a comment.
One of the few perks to living in FL is while most places are snowing and iced over, we still get to run around in shorts LOL. The past week though its been getting below 40 on some nights which is quite cold by our standards. But the day I did the transfer that happened to be the last day in the 80's before we got our cold front. I actually had to run and cover all the tanks outside because it had rained at one point which was the front moving in. I think when I started working on the tanks it was 78 degrees out and was in the upper 50's when I got everything transferred back.

But it should be close to 80 again this weekend.

 

[worm5406]

Must be nice. It is supposed to be 30 here this weekend.

HAHAHA

But I bet we get to 'build a snowman'

 

[JonezNReef]

Looking good Jonez! Did the drilling give you any trouble? The hole on the left looks clean, im assuming the right side one hasn't been wiped down yet?

Did you decide to drill returns or will you go over the top?

Drilling went super smooth. I think drilling this 180 was easier than the first just because I wasn't as worried about something happening to this tank. I drilled it with the same pattern as the other 180 so if I decide to change things in the future the over flow box I made can work with either tank.
As for the picture after drilling, I didn't clean off the other side before I took a picture because it was getting dark and I was trying to get things picked up and inside in a hurry. It was a last minute decision to work on it.

As for the returns on the new 180 I think I am going to drill them after all. Just need to figure out if I want to do 1" or 3/4". I do know that I want the returns to have eductors or flow accelerators on them as well for extra flow. I am leaning towards 1 inch for the returns because I want to change my return pump to a Fluval SP4 or SP6 or possibly even a Reef Octopus VarioS-6 or Deepwater Aquatics BLDC8 but still undecided as well. Not sure if I will really need that much control over my return, just know I want a lot of flow. Another thing will be figuring out is if I want to go the checks valve route on the return or another way.

 

[siliconinja]

3/4" LOC-line is much easier to find fittings for. I went with a 1" return all the way up to a T, then reduced to 3/4"


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[JonezNReef]

Pressing the RestStart Button: JonezNReef 180g 2.0 (plus 120g breeding system)

So I was able to get a little bit done today. I was able to get all the wood for the stand cut except for the legs. I am making the legs one by one since the floor is uneven due to it being the old garage. So after I had everything cut I did a quick test fit to make sure I didn't mess up with my math. I don't math well some times LOL. And I did mess up on two cuts but luckily it was cut too long and not short. Here is my high tech designing software

The test fit for the frame...which was 3" too long. Luckily an easy fix with the chop saw

Here is a test fit on the stand top

And here is the wall after removing the old 180 and before cutting it for the new one.

I took my trusty saws all and cut out the wall for the new tank frame.

Here's the frame in place. Also if you look to the left bottom you can see where the old tank was versus where the new one will sit.

And here is a picture with a 2x6 in place so you can get an idea of where the tank will be

I will have the bottom of the tank sitting at about 4 feet. I went with this height so that accessing the bottom tank will be easier. Also I won't have to hunch over to look into the tank. There will also be a 11" ledge in the tank room side so I can stand on it when I need to reach in the tank I won't have to rely on the ladder. This week I plan on putting the stand top together and painting it with a few coats of paint.
Also since the frame is in place I can go ahead and work on the bedroom wall as well. Also I need to finish running electrical and putting up sheet rock in the fishroom and painting the walls. Then I can think about getting the stand in place. Hoping this doesn't take too long to get done but with work, family, and helping my parents on the farm time is scarce.

 

[JonezNReef]

So today I finally got around to breaking down the 40gB frag tank. I kind of hate seeing it go but at the same time it's exciting because I know I need it out of the way to get the new system in. Plus it's nice to see the other side of the 120. With that said I had to move everything from the 40 into the 120 and now there is little to no space on the floor of the tank. The only thing that I am biting my nails on is how my Malu Seabae Anemone of 4 years does with the move. The last couple times I moved it the Seabae expelled all its zooxanthellae. Guess we will see :hmm5:

 

[JonezNReef]

Pressing the RestStart Button: JonezNReef 180g 2.0 (plus 120g breeding system)

So far all is well with everything I moved over from the 40. Since I ran both tanks the same I didn't acclimate anything and for the first time the Seabae didn't expell any zooxanthellae when I moved it to a new tank. Also the clown was happy to be reunited with its anemone for the first time in a year or so.
https://vimeo.com/200447366
https://vimeo.com/200447436

 

[siliconinja]

That looks pretty awesome! I like the barebottom look, that tank is nice and long plenty of swimming space


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[JonezNReef]

Thanks it's my first acrylic tank. It is a 6' long by 2' wide by 16" tall roughly 120g. It's actually just being used to house all my coral and fish until I get the new system completed and up and going. Once I get the 2 180g up and running then I will buff the 120 out and the section it off to make a clown fish breeding tank with 3 sections.

 

[JonezNReef]

So I got a few things accomplished this weekend. I put the stand top together and test fitted it in the wall frame. Once I saw the stand top was good to go and got it level I measured for the legs. Then I took it back down so I can paint it the entire stand top before I install it for good. The top it made of all 2x6s and the held together with TiteBond 3, 3" screws and truss ties. I will be making the legs out of 4x4s and 2x4s but still need to buy the wood for that.

Also I was able to get the electrical boxes re wired and moved and I was also able to put up drywall too.

 

[Benson0219]

Lots of good work getting done there. The videos were great. I set up a 180 today. Upgrading from a 105. What fish are you going to have in the 180 DT?

 

[JonezNReef]

Congrats on you new 180...you have a build thread for it?
I currently have a Yellow Tang, Scopas Tang, 1 Ocellaris Clownfish, and 3 Blue Chromis for fish. I also have a Seabae Bae Anemone and a bunch of different coral. I know I want another Clown for sure. Not too sure if I want much more though. I might get a Blue Tang since my wife and kids want one but I am still up in the air. Not sure what other fish I might want. I am more focused on coral with the DT. I do know that I will have a 3 or 4 pairs of clowns in another set up for breeding so I will have plenty of fish to tend to which kind of makes me want to keep the DT lightly stocked.

 

[bigdave438]

very nice build...:thumbsup:
is there a big difference in clarity between glass tanks and acrylic tanks ? i am very curious to hear your opinion, being you have both..

 

[JonezNReef]

Yes there is a huge difference. My next tank will either be acrylic or low iron because going from having everything in a regular glass tank to acrylic was like going from a Tube TV with an antenna to HDTV with blue ray LOL. Only thing I don't like about acrylic is the fear of scratching it. Makes me wish my new tanks were atleast low iron but I'm sure I can live without it for a few years