Help me build my 180 gal reef

[TriggerCorals]

Greetings all. I'm glad I found this forum, it's been great info and everyone seems extremely helpful so we can all be successful. I am in the middle of building a new house, and my wife has given me the gift of a new 180 gallon reef tank build! I have wanted one for a long time. I have more than two decades experience with fresh water and planted tanks. I am very familiar with the requirements for water chemistry, lighting, and non-standard equipment for planted aquaria, but as of yet, haven't had the challenge of a live reef. I have wanted a salt water reef for years, and have watched enough videos and read enough books to have at least a minor in marine biology at this point. [emoji6] This will be a long process, we don't close on the house until April, and won't start the reef build until then. So, I have plenty of time to plan, build, and equip the tank how I want. I'd love you all to join in on the process with me, and give experiences and advice when needed. Now, some background on the tank.

It will be 72 x 24 x 24, rimless. I am looking seriously at customaquariums.com, unless a tank manufacturer wants to donate one to this thread which I'm sure will get a million shares. [emoji6] Let me know your tank and experience, I'm not set in stone, yet.

I have chosen them because of their manufacturing process and lifetime guarantee. (And price for my custom wants)

I will be using Triton method for maintenance, and building my sump, at least in part, since I will have it plumbed into my basement. This will allow me a ton more options for equipment, almost too many.

I am building my own stand, so I can match our woodwork in the new house.

As of right now, my wanted stock is: (no particular order)
Niger Trigger (Odonus niger)
Hippo Tang/ Pacific Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Black Ocellaris x 2
One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)
Blue fin Watchman Goby
Banggai Cardinals x 6
Neon Blue Goby

Shrimp (help me choose) banded coral and peppermint??
Hermit crabs
Emerald crabs
Triadacna clam (undecided which one)
Nassarius snails
Cerith snails
Tiger stripped sea star

Refugium with chaeto and ??

So, come along for the ride. Help me decide on stock, equipment, and design. I think it'll be fun for us all!

 

[TriggerCorals]

I completely neglected the most important part, the corals!

For now, I'm planning on mostly soft and LPS corals. I'm pretty confident with my ability to care for the fish and inverts, but being new to salt water I want to hold off on SPS and some sensitive LPS. Here is a list of what I'm thinking, let me know your thoughts or suggestions.

Green star polyps
Pulsing Xenia
Frogspawn
Hammer coral
Torch coral
Duncanopsammia axifuga
Ring of fire polyp

Any others I should definitely look into?

 

[Mini Coop]

following - love getting ideas from others! I am building my 180 too!

 

[Zack K]

Welcome to R2R! Glad you could join us in the madness. l always love when the wife(s) allow new builds on here. l too am looking in the 180 gallon range and have been in contact with these guys...
https://cdaquarium.com/products/crystal-reef-eurobraced-aquariums?variant=35549285316
Crystal Dynamic. l like how you can customize the tank to your wants and the price isn’t bad either.

Your livestock list looks good BUT l think the tank is going to look empty IMO. A group of Chromis is always a good choice[emoji6]. I’m not much for the coral banded due to the fact that they have a tenancy to grab fish and l ban peppermint shrimp because some have a select taste for certain kinds of LPS (Euphyillia and Acans in particular)

Corals. You will end up becoming a stick guy eventually. GSP and Xenia are considered “evasive” and almost have to go on their own rock away from the main structure.

Cheers to the journey together!

-Zack. Who is a high schooler with a big future

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Cleaner shrimp and blood shrimp haven't caused any issues whatsoever in my tank. Fun to watch at feeding time when they're chasing the food too. Xenia and gsp look beautiful in the tank but unless you want them growing on everything and taking over your tank, keep them each on their own separate rock that doesn't touch any other rocks or glass. The spread very quickly. Good luck with your build.

 

[TriggerCorals]

following - love getting ideas from others! I am building my 180 too!

Thanks for following. Good luck on your build as well. Hopefully we'll both learn some things on the way to help each other.

 

[TriggerCorals]

Welcome to R2R! Glad you could join us in the madness. l always love when the wife(s) allow new builds on here. l too am looking in the 180 gallon range and have been in contact with these guys...
https://cdaquarium.com/products/crystal-reef-eurobraced-aquariums?variant=35549285316
Crystal Dynamic. l like how you can customize the tank to your wants and the price isn’t bad either.

Your livestock list looks good BUT l think the tank is going to look empty IMO. A group of Chromis is always a good choice[emoji6]. I’m not much for the coral banded due to the fact that they have a tenancy to grab fish and l ban peppermint shrimp because some have a select taste for certain kinds of LPS (Euphyillia and Acans in particular)

Corals. You will end up becoming a stick guy eventually. GSP and Xenia are considered “evasive” and almost have to go on their own rock away from the main structure.

Cheers to the journey together!

-Zack. Who is a high schooler with a big future

Thanks, I'll check CD out for the tank. The livestock listed is just the beginning, and ones I'm definitely getting. I'm always looking for more.

And yes, the Xenia is going on a rock island and will be split and traded or sold. Since my sump will be in the basement, I plan on eventually having a frag tank plumbed in as well.

 

[TriggerCorals]

Cleaner shrimp and blood shrimp haven't caused any issues whatsoever in my tank. Fun to watch at feeding time when they're chasing the food too. Xenia and gsp look beautiful in the tank but unless you want them growing on everything and taking over your tank, keep them each on their own separate rock that doesn't touch any other rocks or glass. The spread very quickly. Good luck with your build.

Thanks.

 

[Reef man 89]

Can't wait to see some pictures of this build! IMO I think the 180 footprint is perfect.

 

[TriggerCorals]

Can't wait to see some pictures of this build! IMO I think the 180 footprint is perfect.

I think so too. I'll post some pics as soon as I start getting equipment in.

 

[TriggerCorals]

Let's talk @Triton method. What are your experiences, any advice on salt for new tank running triton? I was thinking RedSea salt.

 

[Zack K]

I like the Red Sea salt. I’m not familiar with triton enough to comment on it, but I think I know someone who can help.... @randyBRS
@Ryanbrs

-Zack

 

[randyBRS]

Let's talk @Triton method. What are your experiences, any advice on salt for new tank running triton? I was thinking RedSea salt.

I like the Red Sea salt. I’m not familiar with triton enough to comment on it, but I think I know someone who can help.... -Zack

Hey guys,

We did a little video on the entire Triton Method that's pretty all-inclusive on everything you may need to get it up and running. Check it out HERE.

As for salt mix, Triton recommends really any high quality natural or synthetic salt mix, in which case for us and the BRS160 we opted for Red Sea blue bucket which many of us here in the office have had success with. Since the Triton changeover about 3-4 months ago, we haven't mixed a new batch of saltwater for the BRS160 yet!

-Randy

 

[TriggerCorals]

Hey guys,

We did a little video on the entire Triton Method that's pretty all-inclusive on everything you may need to get it up and running. Check it out HERE.

As for salt mix, Triton recommends really any high quality natural or synthetic salt mix, in which case for us and the BRS160 we opted for Red Sea blue bucket which many of us here in the office have had success with. Since the Triton changeover about 3-4 months ago, we haven't mixed a new batch of saltwater for the BRS160 yet!

-Randy

Thanks Randy! I appreciate the advice and quick response for this novice reefer. Your BRS 160 series is what inspired me to skip the smaller tanks and jump right in to a 180 gal reef. I’m sure I’ll be asking you all a ton of questions about equipment and upkeep as I get into my build and stocking.

 

[TriggerCorals]

Well, no equipment for Christmas yet, but I got this happening this week!

 

[TriggerCorals]

It's been a crazy and busy few weeks here. We got new floors installed in the old house, put it on the market, and sold it with a full price offer in a week! We have inspection and closing to go through. On the new house front, we have windows and garage doors. We were able to walk through and get some pics and measurements for new tank placement. I have a civil engineer coming to advise on tank support, since I'll be pushing about 1800 pounds or so with new tank and stand.

New basement office will also have sump, refugium, and quarantine and coral tanks.

Tank will be on wall to right of windows in family room. Visible from kitchen and breakfast area also.

 

[Lone Reef Keeper]

I love that you’re getting to add a 180 tank to your newly built home as my wife and I will be starting the build process this summer with me throwing a fish room behind the study and the tank (180 gallons) in there like how the #BRS160 is set up. I too have been planning to go about using the Triton method and know that the wife is going to lose her mind when I start buying gear. I’m shopping around right now for my tank and have also found that I like CustomAquariums.com for a tank that’s 48” by 30” by 30” but don’t care so much for their sump or stand/canopy options. Their overflow system and returns however is very top notch and ahead of the game in my view.

From looking over your livestock list though, it does look like you will have some very expensive snack potential for some of your trigger. That’s not to say that he will eat your shrimp or other invertebrates but it is a good chance.

 

[TriggerCorals]

OK, so I had to settle for starting with a 75 gallon and my old 29 gal long freshwater tank I converted to DIY sump. Life happens. Sorry I didn't keep the build thread going. Now, it's finally time for a 180. I've had my 75 going for the last 18 mos. and have been working out the kinks of saltwater life.

I will be getting a 180 (used) with stand and canopy in about two weeks. Not the new, custom tank i dreamed about, but couldn't pass up the price from local club member. Will be less than 25% cost of just the custom tank alone! Follow along and help me build this one out.

I am currently running Triton method and will continue with 180. I also have a 20 gal quarantine/ observation tank and hope to add one or two 10 gallon dedicated quarantine tanks for corals and inverts.

Here's what I have on my 75:
2- AI Hydra 32 HD
Hydor Seltz D 1000 gph DC return pump
2- Sicce voyager 2 Stream pump 800 gph
Ink bird wifi heater controller
BRS 300W titanium heater element
Reef breeders prism ATO
Red Sea RSK 300 protein skimmer
Kessil H80 tuna flora refugium light
BRS mini reactor w/ sicce syncra pump
Neptune Apex EL controller w/ pH, temp, and salinity probes

I've already purchased a Trigger systems triton 44 sump and will get a new apex set up for the 180.

What should I consider for the other equipment?

Your feedback is appreciated.