Velocity's 180 Gallon Build; New Tank Upgrade Thread

[VelocityTech]

This will be my.. second build thread on #Reef2Reef. I will.. as best, explain-kind of where i'm at.

*New updates coming

 

[VelocityTech]

Updates coming

 

[VelocityTech]

Wanted to post another quick update. Ended up with this small guy.. Tiger Pistol Shrimp ( Thanks to the guys on the board on helping me identify it! ).

Hes been mostly keeping to himself so far! WE shall see how his interaction on the tank changes, as fish load, and coral load increases!!

 

[VelocityTech]

Update, Figured i would share my current, RO DI setup.

Please Excuse the mess.

PURE Water 6 stage with UV, and i added on the dual stage DI resin. Turns my 130TDS water into a steady 0. When i flush creep, it only rises to 3.

I use multiple TEMP storage solutions ( alot of times TEMP for me turns into AWHILE ). 40 Gallon Can, 30 gallon Tote, and a 20 gallon tote. 40 and 20 hold fresh, 30 gallon used for mixing. ( i do 30 gallon water changes. ).

I will soon have the limit switches, and selenoids wired up, hopefully being able to do an automatic water change with an press of an Apex Button.

 

[VelocityTech]

Placed my order for a few bulbs. Going to be trying a few different combo's.

ordered:
4 ATI Blue Plus T5 Bulbs..
2 ATI Coral Plus
2 Coralife actinic
2 Coralife 10k Full Spec
2 Wave BlueReef Blue spec.

Pretty Sure i'm not going to be needing all 16 bulbs.. we will see. Don't want to throw too much light at the tank.

I do not believe, I will need to use all 16 bulbs 8 per side ( Think of it as; 8 - 72" Bulbs ).

 

[joseserrano]

I believe you meant 12 bulb. I had that same fixture on my 180, it grew lots of acros for me.

 

[VelocityTech]

It is indeed a 16 bulb, (it is two 36" 8 bulb fixtures put together ) has 4 electronic ballasts, 4 bulbs each. I am actually installing LED drivers and LED's along with the timer, from an old fixture. Fish seem to get extremely finicky when lights click off

 

[joseserrano]

It is indeed a 16 bulb, (it is two 36" 8 bulb fixtures put together ) has 4 electronic ballasts, 4 bulbs each. I am actually installing LED drivers and LED's along with the timer, from an old fixture. Fish seem to get extremely finicky when lights click off

oh, my mistake, it looked like the aquaticlife 12 bulb 6 foot fixture they use to make.

 

[VelocityTech]

oh, my mistake, it looked like the aquaticlife 12 bulb 6 foot fixture they use to make.

Hey no worries!! I am just glad you are following!

Thanks! I will post updates, when i finish rebuilding the light fixture into the canopy, and adding the LED lunar lights. Also putting together a Algae Scrubber, few other's DIY thing's.

 

[VelocityTech]

Update. Spent past few days working on the Custom Canopy. Here's Where i am currently, and here are a few build photo's. Kids chimed in on the project.


And the Build photos:






Picked up Lunar Lighting LED. To blend the lights ON/OFF







For the Light Controller/Timer Placement; Center.
It will control on off times, as well as nighttime and Morning Lunar Lighting. The Fans have a built in Temperature controller. I am debating on using an External Controller with display, on the FANs. Or integrating them into the Apex.

 

[VelocityTech]

Update: Added a new guy to the Tank. Received him from a friend. Ofcourse, the kids jumped to naming Him/Her to Dory! I recommended Flow (Dory's Reflection is named Flow in the movie)

 

[VelocityTech]

Another update. Phase 2 of Canopy is finished. Installed a 3 pole timer I acquired from an old fixture. Mounted it center. Still deciding how i want to separate the lighting. The hood itself is now installed on the tank, However I do still need to finish installing the upper front doors, hardware, and finish up the lunar lighting. Once i decide how i will integrate that into the apex, i will be moving forward!

As it sits right now:

Testing the timer:


Just finished installing the timer. I sued break away lines for removing the light for maintenance. I also used a rail system, to slide the fixture forward or backward, or to remove.

Will need a cover over that. Eh.. Works for now.

had to replace the wiring on the lights completely, and install a new ballast. Also, 4 fans were toasted.

New bulbs!

 

[merfish101]

Nice build. That's a lot of bulbs to have to replace every 10 months to a year. I'm working on my 180 stand and canopy now. Good luck with Flow. I'm following.

 

[Jose102173]

nice build. will be following, presently have a 120. I will be upgrading to a 180 the next couple months as well

 

[VelocityTech]

Update. Been cycling the tank grtting ridnof algae.

Placed an order for a replacement skimmer, yesterday I lost my cleaner Goby.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Looking good!

 

[VelocityTech]

Thank you!

 

[VelocityTech]

New skimmer update. I installed a Reef octopus 250. With a bubble blaster 3000! Outputs from 800L (Factory) to 1400L of air. And almost double water flow!

Huge difference!!

Had to lift my skimmer 3"!

Phosphate remover must be working, as I have dead algae everywhere. Wish it Would come off easy! ITS EVERYWHERE lol

 

[VelocityTech]

ALOT has changed. We've decided to move on.. and purchased a new house. So......


Yes the tank got moved. If I had.the time I would of upgraded to a 300.. however, thing's didn't go so well!

Anyways. I have moved the tank, re aquascaped.. and currently setting up a small fish room the floor below the tank, with refugium, sump , etc.

Will post photos and details of the re setup soon!!

Heres a current photo!

 

[VelocityTech]

Update coming