Vinman's 180 build

[Vinman]

I currently have a 90 gallon that is maxed out and seems to be more of a struggle trying to keep the coral from killing each other so two years ago I ordered a 180 to try to get a fresh start. So it sat in my garage taunting me week after week. I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me and thought about quitting before I even got started.

 

[Vinman]

Sorry my fat fingers hit post
Anyway like garage clutter it got buried for months. I ordered this tank to go in a specific place in my house but it required a construction project inside and I was definitely slacking.

Here stood a wet bar that needed to be tore out so that the
new 60×30×24 tank would have a home. This was going to require commitment because my wife had doubts
Well I slowly started working on plumbing in the garage.

so I worked out some issues I kind of figured out how I wanted the bones of this thing to be. So after slacking long enough I took out the sledgehammer and started the project inside didn't go as bad as I thought it helped that my wife is at work and I was on vacation

tearing down the wall did require some structural reinforcement of the bulkhead beam but once I got that taken care of I was clear to tear out the rest

next was time to build bulkhead and do drywall

Outlets were installed as well as moving light switches doorbells and thermostats

with plugs up high and down low I should have plenty of outlets. Next was capping water lines and shortening the drain which will be used for automated water changes.

So today was moving day. What a beast! Thank goodness my friend Chris who I owns The Fish Store (my lfs) let me borrow his hydraulic lift table and ramps.

Which leaves me where I am today. I know it's not complete but it's a solid start I thought I would share with you guys this tank is going to be built-in style tank with three viewing sides not quite a peninsula but nice nonetheless. Next I have to reinstall my plumbing and sumps and start configuring all my electronics controllers and gear.... more to come later

 

[reefiniteasy]

This is awesome! It’s going to look fantastic! I’m excited to see how it turns out. I’m not sure how you let the tank sit for two years.

 

[Vinman]

This is awesome! It’s going to look fantastic! I’m excited to see how it turns out. I’m not sure how you let the tank sit for two years.

3 kids a wife and UPS hours plus projects everywhere you look around my house as well as taking care of my 90 gallon tank already. DId I mention I brew beer dive fish an assortment of other things you can make a lot of excuses up not to build your fish tank LOL

 

[Vinman]

So today is the first day of my new tanks life . I added sand and started on my Aquascape I got a few pics and probably not the final look but at least there's water. I used 3/8 diameter acrylic rods to float my rock off the sand bed. I will post thanks specs and equipment soon. Still buying and buying and....

 

[Vinman]

Today I add first fish and cycling bacteria. I added 4 blue Chromis a little small but it's a start. I have had my rock in a brute can with salt water and pumps for at least 7 months so I'm hopping the cycling process will be shorter.

Tank specs:
60 × 30 × 24
Triton 34 sump
20g tall 2nd sump
2 sicce return pumps
Maxspec duo 600 skimmer
4 maxspec 230 gyre powerheads
Maxspec icv6
Tune 3155 ato
Caribsea select aragonite
Caribsea reef saver rock
Aqua forest reef salt

I have lots left to buy lights are next and I'm thinking t5 hybrids

 

[samson78945]

I am planning on putting my next tank where our wet bar is too. I am looking forward to watching this one! If you can post pics and explain how you are going to plumb off the existing lines for water changes, that would be great.

 

[Vinman]

So I'm not using the hot and cold only the drain. My rodi is in the garage so I plan on an awc in the future which will pump new mixed water from garage to tank then the tank to the drain with the old waste water

 

[Vinman]

Last night I started running the maxspec duo 600 protein skimmer. I synced it to the icv6 controller and now the gyres and skimmer is controlled and adjustable through my phone via the app.

I set up programs for the gyres as well as the skimmer

Also being a new tank I was able to program a custom reduced setting on the skimmer until bioload increases

Over all seems like I will enjoy the ease of adjusting the tanks needs for current and skimming.

 

[JDJP]

This is almost exactly what I was thinking fo the scape on a 7x3x2 peninsula I am picking up. Do you like how it turned out? Did you have to drill the rock?

 

[Vinman]

No drilling was not required I use the two part epoxy putty type stuff I believe it's from Coralife . I just used it on the bottom layer of Base Rock and stacked everything on that base. But you probably could drill a hole straight through can go up into the next layer of rock and glue it if you wanted more stability. I bought the acrylic rods on eBay I think they were like two bucks a piece 24 in by 3/8 inch

 

[Vinman]

The never ending cabinet build
This cabinet can be completely removed it's held on by magnets to my metal stand I still have a lot of work to do hopefully I'll be ready to paint one day

 

[Vinman]

The upper cabinet will have hydraulic holds. The front and both sides will lift up...I'm hoping

 

[gunguy05]

Following along as I'm also planning either a 150 or 180 now. Where / who built your tank?

 

[Vinman]

Reef star in 2018 but don't think he's making tanks anymore

 

[Vinman]

And The Woodworking continues weekend after weekend

 

[Vinman]

The sad part is when I'm all finished with woodworking I have to sand it and paint it still ... agonizing

 

[JDJP]

Nice I have a 90 cube from jason, was planning to have him build me another and he told me his back got messed up. What kind of coral are you putting in this tank?

 

[Vinman]

Thanks for replying
My current 90 is pretty much maxed out so I will take a select few from this tank but mostly start over with an SPS dominant a few of my favorite LPS's but I really want to concentrate on landscape and keeping everything in check I've been in the hobby over 20 years I hope this tank I get right with the way it looks and keeping my corals pruned

 

[Vinman]

Let there be light