acperge's 180 build

[acperge]

Here's some background... I started a 45g cube just over a year ago, and decided I wanted something bigger, so upgraded to a 75g display... Well, something went haywire and that system completely crashed about a month ago, and I decided since I had to virtually start completely over, I would just do what I REALLY wanted to do... Go big or go home!

I picked up a glass 180, which I will NEVER move out of my basement again (That beast is HEAVY!), and started adding pieces... I decided I wanted to flush mount this tank to the wall, so I had a fellow reefer, tazzy695, come over and help me drill for an overlow.. Luckily no shatter!

I've custom built just about everything going into this, becuase:
A) I'm a DIY guy, it just feels better.
B) It saves quite a bit of cash, which I plan to use on fish and corals...

I'm gonna be taking some pics tonight to add to here.. I just finished the overlow, plumbing and sump, and currently running a freshwater test on it..

Let me hear your guys' suggestions and feedback, I'm all about input on this one...

Tony

[Mike]

What type of corals are you planning on if this is a reef tank? That is one of the most important questions I think. Figure out the pivotal species and then build a system around the species requirements.

[ReeferRob]

That's right, go big or go home! Can't wait to see some pics, I love DIY projects!!
What are your plans for the tank fish list wise and coral?

[tazzy695]

I have a feeling this tank is going to be a jaw dropper and let me tell ya it is HEAVY to move

cant wait to see pics

[acperge]

Here's a few pics... Emptied the well water and filled it with RO.. Added the salt and mixing it for a few days... I am ordering the rocks from BRS next week, so hopefully I can get some aquascaping done in a bit... TRYING to go slow... Much more difficult than it sounds!

Sump so far... Still need to add the fuge light, some sand and box out the return pump
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF0401.jpg
Overflow pipe from tank to sump.. Please excuse my mess..
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF0400.jpg
Pic of the custom built overflow from top of tank..
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF0399.jpg
Full tank shot.. Trying to keep the water moving with random powerheads until I get a wavemaker plan together..
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF0398.jpg
Inside shot of overflow and freshly drilled hole, compliments of Tazzy! THANKS AGAIN!
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF0397.jpg

I have some black and white hawaiian sand I got from a fellow reefer, and I plan to put that in on Tuesday after the salt has mixed and aerated enough...

As far as fish list, I dont' really have one yet... I know the staples:
Pair of Clowns, preferably Picasso, or something else a little different... Maybe maroons... and a couple nems for hosting..
Selection of tangs; I LOVE the look of tangs... I had 4 different types in my 75 before the crash.. A Yellow, Blue Hippo, Kole, and Powder Brown..
Nothing too exotic to start with... Probably a Fairy Wrasse, some smaller, colorful fish like that... I DEFINATELY want a blue spotted jawfish... Things of that variety... Colorful and social mostly..

As far as corals, I've never had much more than some frogspawn, hammer, a some zoa's.. I would really like to get some varieties of SPS and LPS mixed in throughout... I really like Acan's, Favia, Brains, stags, monti's... Things like that.. I plan to order a calcium reactor and CO2 system when I get the money saved..

For lights, I'm going with t5 and MH mixed... I will be using 3 250w HQI MH and a total of 8 36" T5HO bulbs in a retro, custom canopy.. I want to build the canopy to the ceiling so the tank is floor to ceiling..

My protien skimmer is a Euro-Reef CS180.. I figure that will get me by for a while until I get that thing loaded with livestock, and then I'll have to do an upgrade...

Let me hear your suggestions on the lights... So far I have a 4 bulb CF fixture over it, that I got with the tank just to light it while I work on it, but definately know I need more lights.. Especially for my clam I'm babying the other tank until I can give her the home she deserves.. Could use suggestions of bulb combos for T5, and if there are better options than MH/T5 mix...

Thanks in advance for the feedback!
Tony

[Sir Patrick]

I like what I see so far!! Keep us posted!

[acperge]

So, I figured I should probably do an update on here.... It's been a LONG time and not much has changed with the tank.. My daughter, Isabella, was born in April, which has kept me away from the tank for a good long while, but the itch is back, and needs to be scratched!

I've added a few fish, but not many corals. Well, until today! I decided to stop up at Reef Paradise, haven't been there much since Mike left, and found an amazing powder blue tang.. Man he's gorgeous. So I couldn't resist! Also picked up a few corals today. Never really kept corals before, so this should make a for a fun experience.

I've also updated the sump and a few other items, which I will get into later. Currently the livestock list is as follows:

Fish:
1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang
2 Blue Greem Chromis
1 Clown (Was a pair, but male died)
1 Coral Beauty Angel

Inverts:
6-8 GBTA's (Big one keeps splitting!)
1 Blood Shrimp

Corals:
Nuclear Greens
Hammer
Kenya Tree
Xenia
Birdsnest (2 I picked up today, one's green and the other's a purpleish color and very branchy)
Orange Monti

My EuroReef skimmer took a crap, so I bought a Coralife Super Skimmer to get me by for a while, and I'm planning to build my own. In the time I didn't have one going, I've managed to get quite the algea build up... After only a few days with the skimmer back on , it's clearing up, so that's a plus! I'm thinking on a building a recirc style one... I like the idea of building my own stuff... I guess worse case, I'll end up buying a commerical skimmer...

Here's a bunch of pictures.. I apologize for the quality, I'm terrible and pictures and I used my iphone for most of them! I'll work on it I promise!

The new guy getting ready to square off with the yellow:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0264.jpg
The new Powder Blue:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0262.jpg
Birdsnest:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0260.jpg
Orange Monti:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0259.jpg
Green Birdsnest:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0258.jpg
Powder Blue again:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0257.jpg
PB and Yellow again:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0256.jpg
The gang:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0241.jpg
Baby GBTAs:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0235.jpg
Fishes:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0066.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/IMG_0065.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/029.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/028.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/027.jpg

Some FTS:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/036.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/035.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/034.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/033.jpg

I'd love some feedback, so don't be afraid to share!
Tony

[Sir Patrick]

Thanks for the update! Nice rock work!

[schminksbro]

Nice to see that Powder Blue in his new home! BEAUTIFUL fish!

[acperge]

I moved my frags to their "final" placement today... I snapped a few more pics.. SO here they are! I know how much everyone loves pics!

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2848.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2846.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2826.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2830.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2832.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2833.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2834.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2835.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2837.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2839.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2840.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2841.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2844.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i248/acperge/Aquarium/DSCF2845.jpg

Let me know what ya think!
Tony

[MizTanks]

Sweeeet looking tank!! Love the Tangs and the rock work :)

[acperge]

Sweeeet looking tank!! Love the Tangs and the rock work :)

Thanks! For some reason I've always been drawn to the tangs. And now I've gone and bought one of the most difficult to keep. But I like the challenge!

[acperge]

Nice to see that Powder Blue in his new home! BEAUTIFUL fish!

I'm officially in love with it! At first I was worried about him bullying the other tangs, but after just one day everyone fell in line and are all getting along "swimmingly!"