fewskillz' 180 gallon adventure!

[Needreefunds]

Maybe I can sneak some Vortechs onto the wedding registry...

 

Oh, and bonus, I'm saving $60 by not buying the MJ magnet mounts. My buddy at the LFS showed me how he made some mounts from the magnets of large Koralias. I just happen to have a Koralia junkyard! That savings paid for one of my new tangs.

Outstanding wedding gift IMO.

[fewskillz]

I did a 30 gallon WC last night with a batch of NSW, I got another 40 gallons of NSW from the university at lunch and I have a 30ish gallons batch of Instant Ocean water mixing/heating at home in the Brute. So tonight will be a 70 gallon WC. I'll probably mix up another batch of saltwater Thursday. It takes me two evenings of making RO water to fill the Brute and it usually mixes/heats enough during one work day.

 

I wish I had a backup system in place where I could trust the system to make RO water during the day while we're at work or overnight while we sleep, but I just can't do it with decent peace of mind.

[fewskillz]

Pichers!!!!! omgomgomg

 

We'll bookend the set with a FTS.

 

You can see the Naso between the left rock structure and the center one

 

The new Cherub

 

The new sailfin

 

My male clown hanging out by their frogspawn. This frogspawn was from My Fosi last summer. Its gone from 4 to 6 or 7 heads, I can't tell if theres another one on the backside or not. I know its huge though.

 

From the left end

 

FTS

[animalmaster6]

Looking good!

 

I love that Naso.

[fewskillz]

Thanks AM. I do too. He's eating really well. The sailfin could stand to eat a little more, but he's coming around slowly.

 

Presents!

 

Two maxi-mods and a MJ1200 (I already have one) for the 180, a hydor flo for the NC12 and Kent Pro Scraper since shipping was already free.

 

The maxi-mods are great. I'm only running one for now. Letting the corals get used to that before firing up #2. Then if I think I want more I'll upgrade from the 1600 gph impellers to the 2100s! They're a little loud, but I only hear them when standing right next to the tank and listen for them. I'll definitely be able to switch to a smaller return pump once both powerheads are installed.

[d9hp]

I love new stuff.

 

The new fish look great...can you get another picture of the naso?

 

Hopefully the only issue was the stray voltage.

 

What have been your experiences using NSW?

 

The updates look great.

[fewskillz]

Its filtered NSW. Its from UNC-Wilmington's Aquaculture facility. It goes through some sand filters and gets hit with some ozone. It's good stuff. Occasionally the phosphates creep up but I've been using it for years with no real issues. Its a great luxury when money is tight or for filling up large tanks for the first time.

 

I'll try to take more pictures now that the fish are settling in.

[Needreefunds]

 

nice shots buddeh.

[fewskillz]

Thanks Richie. This is the happiest I've ever been with this tank and I still have improvements to make. It might just be a nice setup one day!

[srkdaz]

i can't view any pics in this thread...something wrong with my browser?

[jeremai]

They're a little loud

told you, lol. but still, for the amount of flow they put out, and the fact that you can replace the pump cheaply if it goes bad, they're a great deal.

 

nice tank, btw. I think I want a cherub angel. so freaking cute!

[fewskillz]

told you, lol. but still, for the amount of flow they put out, and the fact that you can replace the pump cheaply if it goes bad, they're a great deal.

 

nice tank, btw. I think I want a cherub angel. so freaking cute!

You did say it. They don't bother me at all though, if you step back 2 feet from the tank you don't hear them. That was more of a PSA for anyone else considering them.

 

Thanks! Definitely get one, they're my favorite non-tang. This one was at my LFS for more than a week, so I couldn't pass him up more than once. Prettiest one I've seen in person.

[fewskillz]

New camera! Got a great deal on a little P&S, it does okay to have been on clearance for $55.

 

A few came out acceptable enough to share from my first session, I didn't use my tripod or turn off the pumps. I was mostly just exploring the menus and playing with settings in between work projects, I will read the manual whenever I have a little spare time.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lawnman]

That frogspawn has really grown. Tank looks great love the tangs.

[fewskillz]

 

Look what I filled up last night! (we moved recently, for those that didn't know) It only took 3 trips to the beach and back. I figured with the storm surge we'll experience tonight the local waters will be pretty polluted for awhile, or worse; the aquaculture facility could get damaged. They usually close for a few days, if not weeks, after a storm, so I filled up last night. I'm still not done with the plumbing, but I've got plenty of time on my hands tonight and tomorrow. It was already 80 some degrees too!

[Rocket]

Well. We've been following each others tank. Mine has come to a disastrous end. I'll still be following yours. Look for my new AP 24 Thread soon. (need time to actually build a nice thread)

[Unhandleable]

The beach water doesn't smell bad by you?

[fewskillz]

The beach water doesn't smell bad by you?

Our beaches are beautiful! This is filtered water from UNC-Wilmington's Aquaculture facility, it's very clean. I use it in all of my tanks except my nano. I've used it in reefs before with good results, there are some beautiful tanks in town that use the UNCW water exclusively.

[Woogalie]

Fewskillz, your tank pwnz!!

 

[fewskillz]

Thank you. I'm ready to get it back up and running. Should have most of it done this week, then vacation this weekend, and I'll move the fish back in next week when I get home.

 

I've got some fresh bags of Oolite sand to replace the aging, ugly, dirty sand. Can't wait to see some coralline-free sand in this beast, it should look so much better. I've also got some aquascape ideas I'm looking forward to trying.

[Rocket]

Oolitic sand is nice and natural looking, but I could not stop it blowing on my rocks even setting my vortech at the lowest speed. I hope you research this sand carefully.

 

I for one will never use it again. Except maybe in a pico low flow setting.

[fewskillz]

I'm planning to mix it a little with some of my old stuff to help weigh it down. I went with the smaller particles so that the coralline won't grow on it as fast.

[fewskillz]

COMING SOON TO A 180 NEAR YOU: 3X 175 WATT METAL HALIDES!!!!

 

A local guy switched from four 175s over his 500 gallon to LED arrays. He sold off the four halides for a whopping $200. I got lucky in seeing the ad before anyone else local did. I was going to sell the 4th one but my dream tank is an 8' 240, so I'll hold onto it in case that ever happens. Worse case when it comes time to sell it'd be easier to sell two pairs of halides than it would be to sell 3.

 

So I'll be building a hood this weekend to house my new lights!

[fewskillz]

Canopy built! Just needs painted now.

This weekend I set out to design and build a simple canopy. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to make the front of the canopy open up. I'm not a very good carpenter and I don't have very many tools. I also don't have the money for nice cabinet doors. I have the tendency to over think things so I enlisted my Dad's help. As always, Dad came up with a simple solution for opening the front panel. No hinges involved. I came up with an awesome low-budget, low-tech sliding light rack to provide even more access to the tank.

 

Material list:

(1) 6' 1x2

(1) 8' 1x2

(2) 8' 1x3s

(3) 10' 1x4s

(1) 6' 1x12

(1) 8' 1x12

(4) L brackets

assorted wood screws for the wood and some sheet metal screws to hang the lights.

 

I had the L brackets and the wood screws. I spent $50 on the wood itself and sheet metal screws.

 

The Dimensions of the tank are 72 1/2 x 24 1/2.

 

First we cut the two side 1x12s to 23 3/4 and the trim 1x4's to 24 1/2. We cut the 6' 1x2 down to 71". We set the 1x12 on the tank rim leaving 3/4" room for the front 1x12. We measured the height we wanted the 1x4 trim to hang down and screwed them in sticking out flush with the front of the tank beginning to form the pocket for the front 1x12 to slip into. We installed the 1x2 brace with L brackets at the back, leaving a little room for power cords to run below.

 

 

Next we installed a 74" 1x4 onto the front of the tank, screwing into the ends of the side 1x4s that are already installed. This completes the pocket for the front 1x12. We cut the 8' 1x2 down to 72 1/2 and installed it, with L brackets, on top of the 1x12s at the rear. This acts as a support brace to tie the two ends together and as a back stop for the sliding light rack. The light rack was built from the two 1x3's. Cut to 72 1/2, turned vertical for strength, and braced with some scrap 1x4 in the middle 4" apart to hold my 175 watt metal halide retros. We cut some 6" pieces of scrap 1x2 to act as guides for the slide. Those were installed on the bottom, about 1/8" from each end, but aren't in this picture. You can see them in a later picture.

 

 

Next we cut the front 1x12, 72 1/2", and slid it into it's pocket. A little snug on the right end, but a quick zap with some sandpaper cleaned that right up.

 

 

The upper side trim was next. Two more 1x4s both 24 1/2". Here you can see the guides on the light rack.

 

 

The last carpentry step was to install the upper front trim on the removable 1x12. Then we installed the lights on the rack.

 

The finished product opened up, ready for access to the tank, with the light rack in it's normal position.

 

The light slides pretty easily. I'm very happy with my low-budget light rack.

 

Finished.

 

The front 1x12 lifts right out. It's very light and manageable. I may install one cabinet door in the front for quick feedings, but I want to live with it for a little while before I decide. It also probably needs a latch of some sort just to hold the removable part in tight. There's a slight gap where the light escapes.

 

Lights on.

 

 

 

 

The return piping is all mocked up ready for glue. The drains will be quick, I just need a few more PVC fittings. I'm hoping to wrap that up tonight. Tomorrow night I'll paint the canopy, inside will be Kilz white, the outside will be black to match the stand.

[fewskillz]

Last night I glued the pipes inside the overflows, leak tested the bulkheads overnight, and mocked up the plumbing below the tank. Good to go to glue the rest of it for tonight and leak test tomorrow night. We'll be up and running by the weekend!

 

I also swapped the lamp on the right for the spare, it was looking more yellow than the other 2. Looks better now.