180g build!

[reef-rc]

Nice! Stand and sump looks ideal. Looks like things are moving along.

I see you decided to remove the sump rim once the tank was resealed. That makes me nervous just because I just do not have confidence if I had to resealed it myself.

 

[Clayton Jessup]

This build looks amazing I am following this one my dream is to get to a 180g dream one day

 

[Jamesholt]

I have the same AGA tank, following, maybe I can get some motivation to bring mine in off the front porch..

 

[jmt1030]

Nice! Stand and sump looks ideal. Looks like things are moving along.

I see you decided to remove the sump rim once the tank was resealed. That makes me nervous just because I just do not have confidence if I had to resealed it myself.

Yeah, I realized that the actual wooden rim wasn't doing anything at all. It was purely aesthetics and not something I liked anyway so we got rid of it. I also figured all the glass baffles would be enough to keep the tank from bowing because the sump will only be about half way full while running normally. Once I get it all running I'll see if it bows too much then I'll add some more bracing.

 

[jmt1030]

Went to town tonight washing and cleaning the tank with vinegar to get it read to paint the back and side wall.

Don't think I posted pictures of the holes drilled. Return and overflow done!

 

[Icemam457]

your sump looks good. love the clean lines

 

[jmt1030]

Getting the tank ready to paint!

Probably not necessary, but covered the holes so no paint would get inside.

Also, got a little something in the mail.

 

[jmt1030]

First coat done.

Second coat done.

I'll probably go over a couple of spots again today, but I got it almost fully covered.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

can you take a pic of the paint you used? or what brand is it?

 

[jmt1030]

can you take a pic of the paint you used? or what brand is it?

Good ol' Rust-Oleum. I used the flat black, but it doesn't really matter.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...ack-Protective-Enamel-Paint-7776502/100186061

 

[jmt1030]

So I started mocking up the aquascape but it looks like I'm definitely going to need more rocks. My plan is a peninsula style aquascape with minimal amount of rock, but this is definitely too little. The tank will look empty

 

[jmt1030]

Got some more rocks from a local guy that sells dry rock. Should be more than enough to finish the scape.

Tank goes on the stand tonight!

 

[jmt1030]

Tank is on the stand! Only took 4 of us to do it. Plumbing going in today. Also going to work on the water changing station this weekend.

 

[reef-rc]

nice!

when looking at other reefers' build, makes me want to finish my 210 build (it's currently a 10 yrs work-in-progress due to varying factors )

 

[jmt1030]

edit

 

[jmt1030]

What a weekend...I'm dead tired!

Plumbing is about 95% complete on the tank!



Return pump with check valve


Return line


Return line splits off into the drain for water changes and the return lines to the tank


Lots of pipes!


Overflow and two return lines




Water changing station time!


Mockup


Bulkhead in the Brute tank


As far as we got for the weekend


We also decided to hang the lights for now using wall brackets so that I can begin cycling the tank while we finish everything around it. I just realized how terrible the iPhone quality pictures are....sorry about that!

 

[reef-rc]

heck of a lot of planning and work for sure. Looks awesome! I especially like the waste water change directly feed to the drain (no more buckets it looks like for you ). btw - what is that small pipe feeding into the skimmer area? if that fresh saltwater pipe?

Curious what you have for DC return pump + skimmer? What the light - hybrid (LED + T5)?

 

[jmt1030]

heck of a lot of planning and work for sure. Looks awesome! I especially like the waste water change directly feed to the drain (no more buckets it looks like for you ). btw - what is that small pipe feeding into the skimmer area? if that fresh saltwater pipe?

Curious what you have for DC return pump + skimmer? What the light - hybrid (LED + T5)?

The small pipe is going to be connected to the water changing station in the garage so new saltwater will go directly from the water changing station into the tank. NO MORE BUCKETS!

Return pump is a Jebao DCT12000, skimmer is Bubble Magus Curve 7.

Lights are 8x80 60" ATI Sunpower.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Following! Doing a 180 build (very slowly) myself, right now! I wish I had done a standard and used a ghost overflow. Got too good of a deal on the reef ready one, though.

 

[jmt1030]

Rinsed the sand with RO/DI and in the tank it went!

I was hesitant to go with Reef Flakes mostly because of the price, but I'm glad I did. I'm loving the texture of it and it looks really nice. I was also worried that I didn't buy enough (I bought 90lbs worth) but I'm glad I didn't buy more.

​

It's really messy now mostly because it's too hard to get my hand in with the light in the way. I'll have someone come by and help me move the light out of the way so I can level it out. Rocks should be going in on Thursday! And I've already scheduled the delivery of water for Saturday.