Setting up a 180

muelpaul

muelpaul

New member
Hello there, I have just about finished the planning stage for a used oceanic 180 with 2 corner overflows that I have purchased.
I was very lucky in finding this tank for sale from a local reef central member (Three fish) and I should be able to pick it up within the next week(no rush Three Fish):D

The tank will be placed in our basement between 2 closets and will be "built in".... well sort of.

I will be using a Gen-X MAK-4 for a return from a 40gal sump and a mak-4 driving a Life Reef VS3-48 skimmer (all purchased from Three Fish). I will also be using a DIY calcium reactor that I made a couple of months ago.

I am considering purchasing a 72" 1062W Outer Orbit Pro HQI/T-5/LED light, I like the fact it is all contained (other than the external ballast) and can use mounting legs or suspend it using the supplied hanging kit.
I have been using a 36" Outer Orbit 342W for my 46bow for seven months now and have been very happy with it.
If anyone has a better alternative to an outer orbit please share it here.

This weekend I will be adding a sub panel, setting up the wiring and working on the wood stand. I will try and take progress pictures as well as timely updates.

I must say, without the information supplied by all here at Reef Central, I would never have even started with this project. I have learned quite a bit but still have much more to learn, Thank you.
 
Thanks Bucky 145 and thank you NG.

NG, I hope my try at the BIG 180 :D turns out as well as your current tank...in fact I am jealous of your amazing tank scaping ability.

I am going to start first thing in the morning, I can't wait!!!!!
 
wOOOH! :)

What are your plans for this tank? Is it going to be coral dominated, fish only, or combo? This should be a great thread to check out!!
 
It is going to be a combo tank, not sure as to just what will be in there... I am still searching through RC's large tank forum for rockscaping and coral choice/placement information.

I hope this goes fairly smooth, and I hope I get some good advice as I go along.

Of course I can always go back to your tank thread and steal some of your ideas NG:lol:
 
I needed to take a break, so it's a great time to upload pictures of my progress.
Unsuspecting storage shelf.

100_0714.jpg



Pile of supplies.

100_0721.jpg
 
100_0725.jpg



I am going to have to fix the wall a little bit and paint it and the floor with UGL or equivelant water proof paint.

I am going to start building the stand next.
 
Yes, Progress is good:) I did get the stand about 80% complete, I have the electrical sub panel installed and will be finishing the wiring Monday night. Hopefully I will have time left to finish the stand and get everything ready to paint.

I will post more pictures asap.

Thanks NG for your support:D

I now see from your 75 thread that you are now wavering between getting a 120 or a 180:lol: If you have the money and the room....180:p
 
You're welcome :)

Sounds great! I wish I could build stuff like you do it would save a lot of money and probably be a lot nicer built too. We wasted so much money on the AGA stands and canopy.

lol... well, if you didn't see in the thread where i talked about it, our goal was always a 120, 125 or maybe a 180. We had a 20g and a 54g and didn't want to tanks up and running, so we decided to combine the two together. Since we are having a new house built and will be moving in about a year, we didn't want to have to move a huge tank. So we decided on the 75. It was large enough to do what we wanted, but not so large it would be too hard to move.

I really like the 120 look, but think tangs would like a 6ft tank a lot more to roam. So i'll pay close attention to your thread to see how bad a 180 would be lol!
 
Hey NG, I am in no way a master carpenter but I do love to build and fix.

Update: I will be picking up the 180 this Saturday morning I can't wait, sub panel has been installed and 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits with 6 outlets per each circuit"(should be enough).

The stand was glued tonight and is in place with 4 20gal rubber maid totes filled with water to get the stand to set in place.

Tomorrow after work I will be painting the floor and wall with UGL, and putting the first coat of primer on the stand.

I will post pictures after all painting is done, would have tonight but camera went dead and needed a charge:mad:

Some corals I am getting along with the tank, blue tipped acro fraqs, leather coral, digitata and some more star polyps.
Other additions I am thinking of;Green BTA, 4-6 Green reef chromis, pink birds nest and a brown naso tang.

I will be moving all sand and live rock from my 46 and my sons 20 to the 180, all rock is overrun with apistaisa and hair algae, so to combat that I will be getting 3 peppermint shrimp and a blue tuxedo urchin.

That should about do it for now, more to come.
 
Picture time, although it's progressing slower than I hoped it's progressing nonetheless.


The start of the stand.
100_0726.jpg


Pegging for the legs.
100_0727.jpg


Installing the legs.
100_0729.jpg
 
final gluing and setting.
100_0731.jpg


I cut a plywood top and floor, I will install it tomorrow and then start the painting.
 
It looks great. as far as lighting I would look at sunlight supplies light you can get it at reefgeek. I think I am going to purchase from aquarium obsessed. Will has some great lights. have you looked into t5 only?
 
rlxwcapt when you build your stand did you tank in consideration the plumbing for the overflows?

Hello rlxwcapt, yes I did...but just in case, I can easily use my rotozip or router to make any needed modifications. Very good question by the way.


rlxwcapt It looks great. as far as lighting I would look at sunlight supplies light you can get it at reefgeek. I think I am going to purchase from aquarium obsessed. Will has some great lights. have you looked into t5 only?

Another great question, I have looked into using T5's only, but I really like the shimmer effect of MH, the Outer Orbit Pro however gives me the best of both MH and T5's combined in 1 single unit. Geese I sound like a freekin commercial. I am going to check out both sites you mentioned, I just might change my mind.

I really like the thought of going to all LED'S, but the only viable option (other than diy) is the solaris system which is too new of a product and way to pricey for me.

Thanks for following along and for the questions rlxwcapt :)
 
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