Worm's 180 build

worm5406

Not afriad to admit wrong
Team RC
Well I started a blog:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/blog.php?u=280251

It is documenting where I have been so far in building a 180g inwall, in a dedicated fish room.

There are lots of pictures and video's so far. And I am not even up to 3 weeks ago.

Here is a preview of what is in the blog:

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xJ2H-WDHl-0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>

Hope you enjoy and follow along with me.

Ask questions away.
 
I am on for the ride...hell of an intro with a video :).


HAHA Thanks... Not that you want to see me (or my boys helping) but I just realized that looking at it in high def and in full screen you can see a lot more detail than pixelation. (HD -- the gear in the bottom right of the playback window. Full Screen -- the square box in the bottom right of the window. If you switch to HD you should restart the video otherwise it will continue to play in the same resolution. )

Here is another video of the anemone after acclimation, yesterday.

Now.. I wonder... who will view the blog or the thread here?

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QPf0EZEfwf8" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>
 
OK so here is what is in the blog so far:

OK so... this is going to be video heavy... While making this I realize that I can not add video directly to a blog... Sorry so you will have to click on the videos and view them. You may want to right click and open in new TAB incase they open in the same frame.

We started to work on the stand and beams. Then I realized that we had not turned on the camera at all. (oops) sorry.

Take the plywood out of the equation for a second as I type this. The tank sits directly on the 4x4's On the back it sits in the middle of each one, so basically there is 1.75 inches in the back non-load bearing. On the front side it is all the way up to the leading edge of the 4x4 for maximum closeness to the edge on the 'frame' an not have a deep sit back.

The reason this is we had already taken the sump and dry fitted it between the supports and knew the exact measurement where we had to be. We knew the max and the min.

The tank really sits on the plywood then sits on the 4x4.

So here are some videos. (They are all in High def so change the setting (gear) and see how it looks, less pix-elated.


Right after the main build we had to finish installing some cross bracing and front flashing for the finish to sit on, when I get that far.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JsSw5vYXw6s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Well there is a pipe in the back of the tank for the baseboard hotwater in this area. I knew I could not let that sit. At the store I bought the wrong parts (90's) and we decided to paint instead.
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<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OCt7KYRr0Og" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I got my flex hose in. It is braided and banded clear.
20130111_141553.jpg


As you can see the pipe is now gone and I can finally hang some drywall.
20130111_135812.jpg


<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tga0A9SwyLI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Now I get to add some more drywall and I wanted to take a break from it, so I decided that now I could cut and put in the decking that the tank will sit on.

You will see me sitting there just staring (I was not texting hahaha) The walls from the original build are not exactly plumb so I was using that scrap of wood and making notes on the size and how the cuts were going to be.

Around :50 watch the dehumidifier. You will see the ghost move some stuff around. Yeah at the end we flipped it and the blue was facing out. Ooops I forgot I measured so that the back would have the waving line and the front would be level... (duhhhh)

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xJ2H-WDHl-0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ok last bit of drywall to be put up to get rid of all the gaps for moisture to go.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6oVwppYa-1o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Now we need to cutout the drain sections in the plywood and paint the background. Yeah it is black. That way the tank overall will pop better and no extra lighting or anything shining around.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YO4pBJY0-7o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I had to run and get some plumbing parts for the sump to tank connections so the stand is getting a coat of paint.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YtUZX11-PpY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

When we got back from the store we decided to just take the kid gloves off and move the tank.

Well needless to say the camera was not rolling during that part. It would have been neat to see but then we could have seen who was straining and who was in shape. OK I forgot to turn it on.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jZBUjf8VySw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

OK the next set will be filling and some rock placement.
 
Coming along nicely. I am really liking the videos. I took a bunch of pictures during my build but the video thing sweet.
 
I have even edited a few of the video's.... Some times my boys would come in and do crazy things, like when I went to the store... So yeah... I had to edit them for "family friendly" atmosphere. hahaha...

Funny they know it is once every 2 or once every 5.. so they stopped motion animated in it.... hahahaha

New videos coming up soon...

Hey does anyone read the blogs here?
 
OK

Well I think I like posting things in this thread better.

The blogs do not like embeded video. Hummm (maybe a fix forum gurus??)

SO...

Lets fill the tank with some water and put some rock in?? OK??

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RKEXIk8p1RA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

So once I had it up to the edge of the overflow.. I decided to let it go, overflow, and check the fittings.

OOPS... Leaky bulkhead.... ARGH.... hahahaha

Ohh and added more sand.. BTW.... I let it run so you can see how it clears (sand particles)

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vyTR7M97Vls" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

One of the FIRST real inhabitants: CHEATO and about 1000 copepods.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZIlP0CtWHHc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NFDUNLTGCYg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c2orhiF9XmU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A glimpse of the return into the sump:

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FsJJHDBJaJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I moved a rock to the refug part of the sump so I decided to see what critters were in it. YES I know about the HA... I also know that the macro algae will take the nutrients... If you could see this rock now it has 1/10'th the HA on it.. the MACRO kicked it's but(t).....

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gk66Qxwsl_8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Another closeup of the same rock Wanted to see in better detail what was all over it.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gCVcrN-IdXE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
videos may be the new way to go. Good luck with the build..



Thanks... I have been documenting this build from day one... It is already built, cycled, and moved the inhabitants from my 120 to this new 180. :dance:

Actually this weekend I am going to start doing the drywall on the left and right walls... And get ready to start the final framing of the rest of the room. now that the tank is in place and working. I will make sure I cover the tank with plastic to keep out any drywall dust and stuff though. As long as the housework gets done first. (hahaha)
 
I have even edited a few of the video's.... Some times my boys would come in and do crazy things, like when I went to the store... So yeah... I had to edit them for "family friendly" atmosphere. hahaha...

Funny they know it is once every 2 or once every 5.. so they stopped motion animated in it.... hahahaha

New videos coming up soon...

Hey does anyone read the blogs here?

worm5406 - What software do you use for your video editing? I tried taking some video of my tank but with the high blueness of Radiums and VHO the colors don't look right.

Regarding the blogs I personally like that I can just hop on here and check my threads in one place. I have not tried to see if you can subscribe to a blog yet. Keep up the good work.
 
You can subscribe to a blog but I have seen more impact/reach with a post on here.

I got a vid camera a few days before I started the build out, right after the clean out (was the wifes craft room (evicted)). LOL

I got the JVC GZEX210. One of my sole reasons is that it has BUILT-IN time lapse recording (1,2,5,10,20,40,& 80 seconds.) More importantly 40x OPTICAL zoom. Digital zoom makes it so choppy and pixilated.

The camera came with Everio media software. It lets me cut and splice videos to make them shorter or even add them together to make long ones. A few of those long videos are actual over two+ days or just when we were taking a break. One video I actually cut out a whole scene of us eating looking at the tank and pointing out where different things should go. Needless to say that broke the moment so I cut it out and just spliced it right back to the next part (only took out like 20 minutes but it is seamless, espc when it is time lapse.)

-- -- -- --

OK so... I am almost up to current day videos... I have a few more to post up then I'll start taking some questions.

To start out here is an inventory:

Hardware DT:
180g marineland corner drilled
2x MP40's
3x Panaorama 24" with a multitude of lights
2x 500w heaters Odyssea
Steves LED 4x 4 port drivers and 1x AIC (interface with the VDM of the apex)
400w power supply for led's (wont need it all but it is ready for it)
APEX:

  • 3x 8 EB's
  • PM2
  • WXM
  • LSM
  • VDM
  • PH TEMP Conductivity

Sump:
Quiet One Pro Aquarium Pump 6000 (Return)
Supreme Classic Mag Drive Pump 700 (Skimmer)
Reef Octopus DDNW250 Dual 10" Recirculating Protein Skimmer
7" SOCK-it Filter Sock Holder with Filter Socks
2x BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor "“ Deluxe
2x Maxi-Jet Powerhead 1200
BRS Top Off Doser "“ 50 mL per minute
2x 7g FDA approved water storage containers for ATO

Software:
100 lb BRS Bulk Fiji Dry Live Rock
90 lb BRS Pukani Dry Aquarium Live Rock
20 lb BRS Tonga Complex Multi-Branch Dry Live Rock
20 lb BRS Tonga Large 20+" Branch Dry Live Rock
200 lb sand (oolite and pink fiji and original substrate ALL caribsea)
Existing 100 lb of live rock
(I still have dryrock left over did not put it all in there)
100 lb live sand (I transferred about 50lb from existing tank so I have 50 I did not put in)
 
Ohh and please do not think this is live and up to date video... hahaha... I have had plenty of time to just sit and wait, watch the tank cycle, check levels, ghost feed (up until the day I added CUC. Sit and wait more... and tinker tinker tinker... Apex is running good...

I should have started playing with the stevesled stuff 6+ months ago... Instead of just now getting around to tinkering with it and figuring out how the wiring goes... (I am doing that now) so I have been sitting with just one light on the tank for a while..... But the sump has had a light for a long time... Guess I wanted to have some sort of light plus the cheato wanted it too.

Some days I do not even record... I was going to record a lapse to show how the rock starts to change and how the deterus starts growing... but I figured that would be a LONG session.. plus at that time I did not even have a light over it...

I can say that the turkey baster was my friend for quite a while... hahaha... Sand and other stuff.

I have now BTW... moved all the contents of my 120 into the tank minus some LS that I did not want to rock the boat on and spike/shock the tank with another cycle.

But that video is still a ways off... Unless I cut out some of the other ones I have... I still have to hang the lights in my video... That seemed so long ago, but watching that video tonight seems like yesterday.

I think Ill work on u/l those and adding a few others tonight or tomorrow.

You know it is funny... I did not really see this 180+ thread for a while after I joined... too much stuff up top and other places.
 
OK I was thinking.. So I uploaded some more videos to youtube for you to look at.

Here is hanging up the mounts for the lights:

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4pceix4iKmw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>

Here is the the skimmer in action.

BTW this is day two of break-in

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I3bVCaJCnOQ" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>


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OK so moving forward a bit.

Here is the addition of some items from ipsf.

As a reminder these vids are in HD and look very nice full screen.
I made this one smaller because I just realized that not everyone has the same resolution I have. hahaha Sorry about that.

Are the larger size video's ok? or make them small like this?

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N4PoQElBAcU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe>
 
SO....

After letting it sit for quite a while and cycle.. And I ended up moving some rock and sand to the NEW DT. Of course I waited to make sure no mini cycles would start and even still ghost fed and did anther shrimp to see how well it took the ammonia... It is doing nicely... I am keeping an eye on all my test kits and all my levels have peaked and come back down. I forced a peak with ammonia a while ago, on purpose, and it took care of it quick...

I did prob about 50 lbs or so. I can see the stratification layers against the glass. Neat to look at.

As you can see in one of the pictures above I placed some FX5 filter media in the sump to keep items from going into the next chamber.

My 10yo and I decided to sit downstairs and look at the tank and determine what I needed to do next.

I looked and the NEW filter I put in the previous day was clogged.

So we came up with this:

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GpBPuaX6_xs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>

All it is is plastic light grid and a few rubber bands. I am using rubber bands until I can make sure that it is good to go. Then I'll make it more permanent.

What do you think of the quick made grate?

I think I will be getting ready to move things...
 
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I just realized I missed posting a few pictures.. OOPS...

Here are a few pictures for those that have not seen the video's yet.

Sump before addition of LR and screen to prevent mixing.
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Pre-hanging lights:
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Putting on hangers for PanoramaPro Modules:
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1 light hung and hangers ready for the rest:
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Temp Wiring:
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ATO scheduling:
atopump.png


Purposeful inhabitant:
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A few friends came over to help:
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Checking my ATO programming:
atozoom.png


It turns on after the switch. Then stays on 2 minutes after going into good state.
 
Why yes there are....

After getting some MACRO algae I got a few free corals. My first actually. So I did a dip and put them in. Hoping that my lights were going to be ok (LED I set them up for coral but had not put any in yet.) I got some CUC with it too, so you will see them in here too.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/75D7wuBhJwc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is a 12h timelapse too.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qmctshsWa-Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Anemone a few minutes after being placed in the tank.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xeQL2vZgXd4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here he is before it went to sleep for the night:

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QPf0EZEfwf8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is a video of another CUC I got. The other CUC was from the old 120. I moved some of them down a bit at a time.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2GCNHwfhW6A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
OK so.. I have emptied all the livestock and LR and CUC from the OLD 120.

Getting ready to move the 120 downstairs.

I was thinking of setting it up beside the new 180 and just run a line through the wall.. BUT... Hummm....

Make it a remote sump/grow out... but IDK yet...

If so it will be bear bottom. I do NOT think I'll make it a QT... hahaha.. I already have a 10g for a qt.

Thoughts/Opinions?

It is a ML120 non drilled.
 
So that is basically it.. That is now up to date on the entire build.


Only thing I have not talked about is the addition of GFO and Carbon. (not really picture interested there).

I have recently (last three weeks) got into coarls and zoas. So this week I got a two part doser for Calc Alk and MG (on the side not really dosing just supplementing there)

I have some new videos of inhabitants and all. But I am going to have to edit it down some. I forgot and let camera run for like 24hours. hahaha.
 
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