TruReef's 180 build

[TruReef]

Caution, this will be a slow build!!

I'm officially starting my build thread to help persuade me into working on the build more. My wife and I recently had our second child and time is at a premium. I bought the tank new about 2 years ago, made a stand using RocketEngineer's plans and there it sits in the garage. I painted the stand with 2 coats of Killz and topped that off with Rust-Oleum appliance epoxy.

I wanted to do a foam rock wall on the back glass but opted to use hydraulic water stop cement instead. I wanted to avoid to possibility of the foam floating or breaking down over time. Here is the process. Cut egg-create to size, layout rock on egg-create, add cement. This stuff dries in minuets so do small batches.

I will use silicone to attach these panels to the back glass to ensure they don't move around. The bottom piece will be covered by appx 2inches of special grade reef sand.

For a sump I am going to use an old 75gal I have and probably add a 25gal for a refugium.

Return will be Eheim 1262 over the back thru a 1" Sea Swirl. With all 4 holes in the megaflows as drains. Probably going to do a Herbie drain.

Lighting will be 3 250 Radium and more than likely a few VHO actinic. Unless this build takes long enough for led technology and prices to improve.

Flow will be provided by 2 Vortech MP40w es on the sides and 1 MP10w es on the back.

Skimmer I currently have on the 90gal will be used in this tank as well. Octo Extreme 200 with bubble blaster hy3000.

 

[TruReef]

Made a little progress this week. Finished the other side of the rock wall and started the back. After I finish the back wall I will be plumbing and adding baffles to the 75g sump.

 

[shawn.short]

dont u have to let that cement cure first??

 

[TruReef]

Yep. I plan on soaking it when I fw test the tank in the garage.
I'll let it cure further down the road when I'm ready for sw.

 

[TruReef]

Wow, it's been a while since I posted last... It's been busy at my house with the holidays and new baby girl, but I managed to finish the rock wall and got it in the tank, with only 1 minor scratch to the front glass. Grrrrrrr. I tried really hard to prevent this, but the angle at which I had to insert the middle piece was very odd and that piece is heavy and awkward. Chalk it up as a learning experience I guess.. I also got my acrylic baffles cut for the 75gal sump. Installing them will be the next project in line then I can work out my plumbing and see how I want to add a refugium to the system. I'm thinking a 25gal tank next to the 75gal with a feed off the return and a gravity overflow back into the sump.

and here is what I plan to do for the sump

 

[guc32]

That wall looks great!!!

 

[TruReef]

Almost done on the 75gal sump. I found a use for all my old CD's. They were the best option I could find to get the baffles in straight. I still need to make a couple probe holders and figure out how I want to mount the 2 250watt heaters. I never like to use the suction cups as they fail often. I'm thinking of using some left over acrylic to make a holder for them. Next up I'll put the sump in place and get the plumbing done. I still need to get a 25gal for the refugium, skin the stand, and make a hood.

 

[pgr11]

Looks like its coming along nicely. You have more patience then I would letting a tank sit for 2 years before I did anything with it.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[TruReef]

Yeah, Kids kinda get in the way of what I want to do vs what I HAVE to do..

 

[TruReef]

So, making some progress and changing some things around. I'm going with a Water Blaster 7000 for a return instead of the eheim, and the big change is the lighting. I'll have a 60" ATI Sunpower in a couple days, 8 bulb. I wanted to do a DIY Led, but with two kids and operating a small business, I have very limited time to invest. I felt the best bet to keep running cost and heat down was to go T5. I have almost finished my sump and am awaiting shipment of the WB-7000 from coralvue, it's been delayed in shipping,edit,Just now received notice from Premium Aquatics it shipped.....YEAH....water in the tank is just around the corner....I'm going to wrap the 2x4 stand with a pine skin and stain it very dark to match my existing entertainment system. I did a test piece to see if I can get color right.. I nailed it on the first try, 3 parts red mahogany to 1 part ebony. It took 3 coats to achieve color I wanted.

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and some under tank pics, all plumbing is NOT glued yet. I'm waiting till I get the pump to finilaze plumbing. I might still add a baffle on the right side of the sump so I can hold more water volume in the sump.

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[MHG]

In would use a black grain filler so that the texture matches as well...

 

[TruReef]

In would use a black grain filler so that the texture matches as well...

The tank and other furniture are not right next to each other so I don't need an exact match on texture, just needed to get close on color. I'm happy with my result as it was fairly easy and I don't want to over complicate anything. I still plan to put polyurethane on top of the stain, so that too will change the look again. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[MxReEfEr92]

I love the rock wall it looks so cool cant wait to see updated pics!

 

[Pallobi]

so far, i really like what you got goin on here... very cool...

:beer:

 

[Aporia]

Nice work looks like it is coming together. I just started a 180 build, and my daughter is 2 months old so I understand the time issues you have!

 

[rpjaws74]

I can appreciate taking your time and doing things right the first time. Saves a lott of money that way also lol! But I like what your doing everything looks very well thought out!!

 

[Aporia]

Almost done on the 75gal sump. I found a use for all my old CD's. They were the best option I could find to get the baffles in straight. I still need to make a couple probe holders and figure out how I want to mount the 2 250watt heaters. I never like to use the suction cups as they fail often. I'm thinking of using some left over acrylic to make a holder for them. Next up I'll put the sump in place and get the plumbing done. I still need to get a 25gal for the refugium, skin the stand, and make a hood.

What is the area for behind the filter socks?

 

[TruReef]

What is the area for behind the filter socks?

This is where water from the tank enters the sump, then it rolls over into the filter sock area. Trying to keep micro-bubbles to a minimum.. I will try and use only one sock at a time, when one is full I will pull the hole cover and put new sock in there then pull dirty sock out and put hole cover in its spot. I'll see how that works and If I don't like it I can always run two socks at a time or just keep one with the other covered...

 

[Aporia]

What is the area for behind the filter socks?

This is where water from the tank enters the sump, then it rolls over into the filter sock area. Trying to keep micro-bubbles to a minimum.. I will try and use only one sock at a time, when one is full I will pull the hole cover and put new sock in there then pull dirty sock out and put hole cover in its spot. I'll see how that works and If I don't like it I can always run two socks at a time or just keep one with the other covered...

OK I understand now thanks! I want to do better with micro bubbles on this build. I have an issue with them on my tank now.

 

[TruReef]