Almost wet 180g Build

[WvAquatics]

Here we go again!
As an aquarist I think the planning and building of a new system is the Best part!

It's been a few years since my last post! I have had many plans for the new house 2 years ago moving in. 8'x4' monster in basement. Eh a lot of extra work. Then the idea of a 8' entry room divider peninsula.


Right here. Pretty much the whole couch and wall area. So I stewed for a few months and had a rock solid plan ready for the bosses approval! and got a quick NO! Tail between my legs I'm silent for a few months. I have been slowly watering the seed.

Meanwhile my surviving life from original build 2 maroon clownfish and pods.

Have been in this 42 gallon bownfront.

Yeah diatoms are going crazy I added about 40lbs of dry rock in preparations! We'll I finally got a sprout from the seed! Only 6 months later. I get this space!


Ignore the cluter 6 kids do that!.

With a lot of back and forth from 18" and 24" width. I decided of course 24". So the tank search journey began!

Today I have all 6 kids and the wife 4 hours from home picking up a 180gallon!

So the build begins! This is going to be a slow build. Probably 4months before the tank even touches water! More to come in a bit about to load the trailer up!

 

[WvAquatics]

So as the title says this will be a slow build. Time for a few questions.

First the boss lady wants the stand black! What was does everyone paint their stands? I am thinking about some mineral paint. Like this all in one paint here
https://www.allinonepaint.com/iron-gate-black-heirloom-traditions-all-in-one-paint.html Thoughts? Suggestions?

Second I have to build a canopy. This is probably the hardest part. I'm going to have to research how to make a canopy match the aqueon pine stands. This could be tough. Also trying to decide if I add a piece of wood on front and sides to hide bottom of the tank.

Third is the sump. This is going to be the most thought. As of now im torn. Do i use a 60 breeder for refugium with a 48" reefbreeders for a like. Thoughts are a display refugium. This will drain into another tank with skimmer and filter roller. Or do I get an aqueon 35 cube to drain into a sump. This would need a light.
For skimmer part was thinking like a small box sump like a icebox. Filter roller, skimmer, return. That's it. Or should I put all in one tank like a 125 and just baffle refugium to a higher level?

 

[Uncle99]

Excellent start on your project.

 

[WvAquatics]

The worm hole begins. So this tank has dual overflows but only 4 holes so now im struggling to figure out how to plumb it for the most silent operation. The tank came with the overflow piping but it's 2 durso and 2 returns. This isn't ideal sound and no fail safe in my opinion. I only plan to move about 260gph from the sump. So about 2 cycles per hour. Options

1- Plumb it with durso and 2 returns. With low flow will this be silent draining? I like returns on both sides but not a must have.
2- Plumb a hybrid bean animal. Left side main drain and partial drain. Right emergency and return. Will this work?
3- Run a Herbie on both sides. Main and emergency. Run return over the tank back. With hood you won't see the return but I'll know it's there.

So paint, canopy, and sump are first steps. That being said this aqueon stand is very cheaply made. Bottom shelf doesn't look like it will hold sump weight go figure. I hate that the stand doesn't cover the bottom trim also. Thinking about adding a 1x6 around the top to cover 2-3 inches of bottom of thank. We'll that's it for now. I'll post more as I start working on everything!

 

[WvAquatics]

Like I stated. Aqueon stands are junk. Literally staples holding insode shelf on. So I had some extra 1x2 I attached to the bottom to give it some support.

Started on canopy. Of course 2 boards short. So I'll get thoose tomorrow. Think I decided on tounge and groove pine for the canopy to mat h the wood board look of the stand.
Then I want to place a piece of plywood on top and then a 1/2" yoga mat under the tank. And then trim to hide the bottom of the tank on the stand!

 

[WvAquatics]

Spent the week building the canopy! Had most of the shell lying around.
I used 1x2 an 2x2 for the base frame. The goal is to make it look like the aqueon pine cabinet. So now came the planning.
After a few trips to lowes I found craft pine. .5x4 And .5x6 was the chosen skin. The boss wanted 10 inch max. So not happy about that. Then I decided to add 1.5x6 on top.
I didn't like the bottom 1x2 holding all that weight so I added 2x4 and more.5x6 added 4 inches yay! Just wish the door was bigger.

I figured with the paint the cracks will be hidden. I also left the top mainly open.


This should help with heat. I might put some more center support to help hold the lights. Actually like it. Now paint comes tomorrow. Need to sand the stand down a little and she will be all black!

 

[WvAquatics]

So while I'm building I'm planning. Here go go with equipment plans.

Lights- I have a reefbreeders 48" this will light the tank for a bit as of now. I have been looking at every light option possible. I'm kind of leaning towards 4 noopsyche kyv3. I want control and this is the cheapest option short of adding a 24" reefbreeder to the 48". So idk. Plan for fish only for 4 months minimum. I want to stock some fish get the tank maturing.

Skimmer-Curve7 Elite. She's cleaned up and ready!

Return- I have the current loop return pump. I am going to get her cleaned up and tested. If I can find and get everything g out of storage I'll be using that. If not I'm looking into getting a controllable pump around 1200 gallons max. I only plan to run 400-500 gallons per hour max. More like 250 is the goal.

Refugium Light- Noopsyche mini 60 watt is looking like the winner power control done. Refugium will be a show refuigum 10k macros crabs, Rock, some kind of mud.

Wavemakers- I have 2 of the reefbreeders biggest wave makers. I need to replace a wire but they will be more than enough for awhile!

 

[WvAquatics]

Well officially I hate this standard pine stand. 0 working space. Nothing will be able to go under and be removed. Nothing will fit height wise for what I was planning.
Option 1
2 20g longs. One that just drains and skims. One that's a refugium. Drill the sides and plumb into one external return. Not the extra volume I wanted...
Option2
throw a 60g breeder down there. Will never be removed and takes most of the stand. Will need exterior storage.
Option3
40g breeder much smaller refugium than planned and water volume but leaves room in stand.

options options

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:
So movement slowed. Luckily I had my paint already! Looks like my 6year relationship and mother of 3 children has decided to leave me! We built I life I cannot afford alone! So extra cash went to 0 over night! Enough of the sad.

Where we are at now. I have gotten most of the stand and canopy painted. Have a little white to finish but it's basically done. Upon doing some measuring the 60g breeder will fit perfectly in the stand and leave me one door for power managment!

So sump! I am planning a different type of setup for the sump! Most sumps are made to flow in one direction. I want to try to separate skimmer and refugium so that they both feed into the return section independently. So plan is to drain one side of the tank into filter socks. That then goes into the skimmer. Curve 7 elite fyi. This then will drop into return chamber. I'm thinking this take 20-24 inches of the 48 inches. The other drain will drain straight into the refugium. With nothing filtering pipe straight into refugium. This then will drop in the middle of the sump at the return section. Does anyone think this would work or see any issues with it?

Not that many are reading but this is Basically the only thing that helps me forget! I'll get some pictures of painted stand and canopy tonight after work.
Stand. Did black and white. I need to put the gloss coat on and the stand is done. Minus removing one center support to get 60g in. I think. 50/50 on just putting sump in basement. If I goto the basement then I will probably use a 150g Rubbermaid stock tank for sump. Honestly my preferred option bust more costly!

This was prior to the white painting insode of the canopy. I might mylar it or I can gloss it and the gloss should help reflect light.

 

[WvAquatics]

Next step Lights!
So as I said I have a 48" reefbreeders. I love the light but need another 24" so will need another or new options. I was really leaning on the noopsyche k3. Power and cheaper than most. Then I found these!

Atlas

Designed for simplicity, reliability, and easy installation, this industry-leading light features 720 LED chips along with both primary and secondary optics to optimize light output, spectral blending, and efficiency. The unique, science-based spectrum design incorporates the correct ratios of...

www.quanta-lights.com

So yeah 1k to light a 180gallon with 2 lights is very appealing. Watched all the videos I could and all the post on here about the atlas. I am one who likes a much whiter look than most with the 20k. So the 14k mh look is right up my ally! So I'm 90% going this route!

Thoughts?

 

[emireefs]

Hey really sorry about the recent update on your relationship. Hopefully things work out and if not maybe it's fate. I know things might not feel like it right now but pour your soul into this tank and all will be fine.

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:

Not a big update but ordered my sump baffles from marine biosystems. Plan is to build sump as stated above. Plan to pick up the breeder next weekend when I get the stand in place and can get sump in it's final resting place.

Pvc is definitely difficult decision. Furniture grade will look much nicer than plumbing pvc at almost 3 times the cost. Part of me wants to just throw plumbing pvc on and save 100$ The aquarist in me says slow down and buy the best over time and have a perfect system. So as of now furniture grade pvc it is.

I am waiting on my last white paint to finish painting and then moving stand into place. I'm not happy with refugium size. Only getting about 27 gallons for refugium. About 10% so smaller side but will be fine. My light plan might not reach 24" side to side. (Noopsyche mini) might need 2. I was thinking about having cheato tumble in first spot and baffle it and then do the display after with tbs live rock sand and decorative macros. More to come!

 

[emireefs]

Update:

Not a big update but ordered my sump baffles from marine biosystems. Plan is to build sump as stated above. Plan to pick up the breeder next weekend when I get the stand in place and can get sump in it's final resting place.

Pvc is definitely difficult decision. Furniture grade will look much nicer than plumbing pvc at almost 3 times the cost. Part of me wants to just throw plumbing pvc on and save 100$ The aquarist in me says slow down and buy the best over time and have a perfect system. So as of now furniture grade pvc it is.

I am waiting on my last white paint to finish painting and then moving stand into place. I'm not happy with refugium size. Only getting about 27 gallons for refugium. About 10% so smaller side but will be fine. My light plan might not reach 24" side to side. (Noopsyche mini) might need 2. I was thinking about having cheato tumble in first spot and baffle it and then do the display after with tbs live rock sand and decorative macros. More to come!

Not sure if you’ve seen but BRS online has really nice looking pvc ( colored) and I see them go on sale occasionally or when they have coupon codes. I can possible see if I have an unused code and send it your way if it looks like an option you want.

 

[WvAquatics]

Not sure if you’ve seen but BRS online has really nice looking pvc ( colored) and I see them go on sale occasionally or when they have coupon codes. I can possible see if I have an unused code and send it your way if it looks like an option you want.

Yea I think I'm going with furniture grade might as well right. Upon my research homedepot sells furniture grade also and it's just about the same price maybe a little cheaper than brs. I do think brs gate valves are the cheapest.

 

[WvAquatics]

UPDATE:
Itching to get wet!!! Ordered a marine biosystems baffle kit. Arrived very fast but...
Messaged marine biosystems. They were amazing! They didn't question or fight said we will send a new sock part tomorrow! Highly recommend them!!! Here's a link to there items!

Security Measure

www.ebay.com

So I been looking for a 60 breeder for a week now all my petcos are out. So I go into one and they had one on the shelf that wasn't on the website! So now have my sump pieces just waiting for replacement piece! Have the rest planned out.

ETA 3 weeks and I plan to be wet!

 

[WvAquatics]

Update:
Got my baffle replacement and glued all in yay
Baffles a little slanted but it's glued so no going back everything fits in it's spot. So I'm excited.
Fast forward 1 day I realized I didn't install the bubble trap after the skimmer. Used 2 height adjusting baffles. So I realized that I will have water dumping into the return section. With no bubble trap. So micro bubbles might be a problem. Smh. Excited and overlook something.
So my thoughts.
1-I put marine pure blocks under pump. Or put foam padding under return pump. This way water will travel up through sponge removing bubbles.
2-Or I attach pvc to inlet of the return pumps I have 2 I can use. Either pvc pipe from. One or connected to both with a u like overflows to force water into pipes and not just sucking in anything that comes close. Direct flow and hopefully it works.
3- I put a foam block on end of return. Forcing water through it to pop bubbles.

I am not sure which way to go. I will dry run the sump in a day or 2 when the e6000 dries fully and I don't smell the adhesive smell anymore. I'll see how bad my rushing hurt. But there's solutions to everything just need to find them

 

[WvAquatics]

Equipment test and clean! Its all been sitting in dust saw dust messy messy. So equipment!

Current use 1900gph return x2. Probably ony run one as a backup. Both pumps and controller works. CHECK
I found my reefbreeders ato sensor wonder if i can find the rest might be a hold over until i get a new one.
Fuge light idk 24x18 to cover more later.

Going to be pretty with rock and mud in there!!

 

[WvAquatics]

Missing my dry side magnet to my other rpm wave pump. So on a hunt for a replacement! Eventually all new of course but budget! Right now!


Did a 30% waterchange here today! Removed half of the rock! Its in a tote getting dried out! Upset about losing the pods and bacteria. I Recived 40 lbs base rock today to glue and mortar together next weekend! Going to have all the kids helping! Thean planning on recycling the rock in 180 amd leave clowns in bowfront a couple of weeks from die off. Have had rock rubble in hob for bacteria for a month. When i start movine rock over. I can hold cycle.

Pvc arrives this week. My gate valves came today! 45lbs special grade sand an and 10lbs of crushed coral. Think it should be all the sand needed to fill the 180!

 

[Northern Flicker]

Exciting : )

 

[WvAquatics]

So where am i now?
Well i have about 80lbs of rock half dieing off as we speak. Will start gluing and making structure this week. I then plan to get aquarium filled and running the tank a couple of weeks to cure the die off. Ill be addong ammonium bicarbanate to add ammonia to tue tank for cycling.

I am waiting for last can of white paint to finish painting everything.

Lastly behind the stand is a floor register. Im torn if i want the aquarium about 8 inches from the wall or i move the cent to the said to push it closer to the wall. Laening on leaving gap for back acess to the sump area. Not that 8" is a lot its someting. Tv will be moved away from the aquarium on tank move day when i have extra hands to removes the tv and move it. 1st coat of paint on back of the tank will be tonight. I also plan to paint back of refugium section in sump for beteer visual.


Oh and i have been researching more rock. I am on the fence with TBS premium rock. They have small batches around 8lbs for a good price. I would add this to the refugium only. So all hitchhikers will be in sump to start. This would ve added afyer cycle or towards the end.

More to come!