180 old school/ new school mashup

[metone914]

Finally started my build. Tank is a 180 Aqueon mega flow or Marineland? Was bought second hand. Stand is custom 72.5 x 24.5 x 34 extruded aluminum from Framing Technology. Lights are a Hamilton technology Cebu sun. 3x250w metal halide with 2 t5 actinics. Sump is a trigger systems platinum with integrated Theiling rollermat. Skimmer is an aquac 180. I have been accumulating equipment since 2019 and have just gotten around to putting it together. I am so stoked to finally have a fish room for equipment. I finished the plumbing today and am finally filling storage tanks. They are 105gallon norwesco tanks that are fed by way of a BRS 6stage deluxe plus rodi unit. Still a ways to go with hooking up apex and dos’s and auto top off.checking for leaks. Still have to scape and cycle. Learning how to use apex etc. I hope you enjoy the ride. I know I have. -Craig

 

[QuickrdenU]

Basements were meant for this hobby. Looks great!

 

[BurgerFish]

Looks promising.

 

[metone914]

Basements were meant for this hobby. Looks great!

Definitely! Thanks.
Still lots to do but, starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Best of luck with all the plumbing for the tank!!

 

[metone914]

Best of luck with all the plumbing for the tank!!

Thanks! It’s been about 20 years since my last tank. A 55 gallon with under gravel filter and crushed coral. This will/has been an adventure.

 

[Sean Clark]

What did you use for the black grommet around the pipe where you penetrated the floor?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

If you are handy with electrical, I’d put a Switch upstairs so you can shut the Return Pump(s) off. If you use a Spring Wound, SPDT Switch. You can wire it so when it times out, it will turn the Pump(s) back on. The other way is an Air Switch, and poke a hole in the Tubing, enlarge it till you get the right off time. It’s a bit tricky, so allow extra tubing, and do it near either end. Also any Receptacles near the tank, I’d cover with Plastic Water Resistant Covers.

 

[metone914]

What did you use for the black grommet around the pipe where you penetrated the floor?

Bulk reef supply. I thinks it’s called a uniseal. Mine are 1.25. I think I drilled a 2.25 hole and these fit nice and tight.

 

[metone914]

If you are handy with electrical, I’d put a Switch upstairs so you can shut the Return Pump(s) off. If you use a Spring Wound, SPDT Switch. You can wire it so when it times out, it will turn the Pump(s) back on. The other way is an Air Switch, and poke a hole in the Tubing, enlarge it till you get the right off time. It’s a bit tricky, so allow extra tubing, and do it near either end. Also any Receptacles near the tank, I’d cover with Plastic Water Resistant Covers.

I am pretty comfortable with electric. Hvac by trade. Do a lot of control wiring. Basic line voltage. Are you suggesting an emergency kill switch? Can you elaborate?

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Same here on HVAC, Retired after 43 years. Did a lot of Control Cabinet work. A shop and I, had UL Certificates. The Switch is so you don’t have to run downstairs to turn the pump off and on. Three-way Intermatic Spring Wound Timer would auto turn the pump back on after a feeding, etc. in case you forget. The SPDT can be wired, “backwards.” I believe I got mine from ZORO. They are Fry Proof, from our Rural Utility. LOL.

 

[metone914]

Same here on HVAC, Retired after 43 years. Did a lot of Control Cabinet work. A shop and I, had UL Certificates. The Switch is so you don’t have to run downstairs to turn the pump off and on. Three-way Intermatic Spring Wound Timer would auto turn the pump back on after a feeding, etc. in case you forget. The SPDT can be wired, “backwards.” I believe I got mine from ZORO. They are Fry Proof, from our Rural Utility. LOL.

Ahh ok gotcha. I was planning on using the apex for “feed mode”. I haven’t hooked it up yet but, I hear that is an option. Having a redundant way to kill pumps is definitely a plus. Good idea I will look into it. 23 years in for me on the job. Jealous of your retirement . I have a ways to go!

 

[metone914]

Update. Hooked up some more equipment. Ran more 1/4” tubing. Got apex connected.(still figuring out how to use it). Filled tank with rodi for leak check. One of my return line bulkheads has a slow leak. All of the other plumbing is good. Will work on fixing bulkhead Monday. Hopefully I dont need to order a new fitting.

 

[metone914]

UPDATE;
It has been awhile now since last update. I fixed bulkhead leak and aquascaped with dry rock. Tank has been running now for 1 month. I dosed microbacter 7 and tossed a shrimp in sump for cycle. Waited two weeks (tested daily) and added two ocelleris clowns and two cleaner shrimp. They are doing great. Eating growing molting. I started running lights and had a diatom breakout in display. Week after adding clowns I added 10 red and ten blue hermit crabs. They plowed through the diatoms in about 2-3 days. Last night I stopped by LFS. I was looking to add another fish. They had a Tomini tang just the right size I was looking for so I added him after 1 hour drop acclimation. After he was introduced he dove to bottom and hid in rockwork. I put some nori on a veg clip and let him be overnight. This morning he was was cautiously exploring and by this afternoon he had stopped by the cleaning station to get a rundown and had made friends with the clowns. So far so good. Maybe add a Zoa next weekend as my first coral.
ps. I also had been dosing copepods from algae barn. And phytoplankton.