Upgrading to 180 gal reef. Project 2007.

BreefMe · 01/04/2007, 03:57 PM

Well, I have been doing SW for about a year. I have done a lot of reading and have set up 2 tanks for my sons. They are doing great (sons and tanks, haha).

I decided to acquire a 180 gal tank. I have not picked up the tank yet, and I do not know the overall placement of the drains and potential returns yet. I know it has 2 back corner drains as an overflow set up, but I haven't had a chance to examine it closely, yet.

I do know that I definitely want to go Closed Loop.

A good sump is also unavoidable (BTW, these things terrify the heck out of me - my wife will throw a s**t fit at me if it ever overflows - she's getting to that age when she may start barking like a dog soon). The other tanks have been small enough that we have gotten by with Emporor Filters on one and a Canister filter on the other. Both of the other tanks also have skimmers. Believe it or not they are Oddysea and I have gotten them to work great. However, for the larger tank, I will not mess around.

I just bought a RO DI, I can't avoid it now. I had been buying the replacement water from the grocery store before that and it seemed to be working just fine. With the new tank and the old ones, too, the refill water demands will be too great.

This is going to be quite a project for me. I plan on doing as much of this stuff on my own as I can, in terms of the builds. I haven't decided where the tank will go yet. May go where I am replacing the 55 gal cichlid tank or if I can convince my wife to let me modify the livingroom wall, I did think of a cool way of making this an in-the-wall unit (it wouild also have it's own access room - not big, but big enough).

I know I already have to build a light canopy.

The dimensions of the tank are 72 X 24 X 25.

Any initial suggestions for lighting power. Yes, I will have soft coral. I am thinking (3) 250W MH with at least 2 double row actinics or something along those lines. I figure I need around 900 total Watts.

I am going to have all kinds of questions because even though I have learned a lot, I surely do not, nor will I ever, know it all.

BTW, this forum is an unbelieveable source of knowledge.

GlobaLPimP · 01/04/2007, 04:03 PM

Sounds great - good luck and post lots of pics

ChunksInClemson · 01/04/2007, 04:03 PM

You say you want soft coral; are you also doing SPS and clams?

papagimp · 01/04/2007, 04:06 PM

Sounds like a fun project. Best of luck to ya! Even though the wife may bark at ya for having a sump, it'll be worth it. If you wanna see a really cool thread pertaining to a built in the wall unit check this out, may give you some ideas:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=665314

BreefMe · 01/04/2007, 04:10 PM

^ I will have lots of pics.

Corals - mostly Zoanthids, polyps, and the like. Possibly some anemones, but not absolutely sure there.

Definitely will have a couple of blue tracnadia clams (sp?), and also some red scallops.

I just know at this point, that I am pumped, but I also know enough to be very patient. Instant reef is directly proportional to instant grief.

I have a lot of thinking to do initially and a lot of decisions to make.

papagimp · 01/04/2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BreefMe
Instant reef is directly proportional to instant grief.

What a brilliant thing to say, I wish more newbies took this view. I know I sure didn't, lol. And my bank account still shows it.

BreefMe · 01/04/2007, 04:22 PM

^ Thanks for the link papagimp. I started reading it, but will have to resume when I have more time. I will definitely read it, but for me, it is time to trek home. I may post later.

I read the one that the chiropracter did the other day when he built his "man"- room. That was also very good.

BreefMe · 01/05/2007, 10:41 AM

Any suggestions on lighting for my 180gal?

01/04/2007, 03:57 PM	#1
BreefMe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Central NJ Posts: 194	Upgrading to 180 gal reef. Project 2007. Well, I have been doing SW for about a year. I have done a lot of reading and have set up 2 tanks for my sons. They are doing great (sons and tanks, haha). I decided to acquire a 180 gal tank. I have not picked up the tank yet, and I do not know the overall placement of the drains and potential returns yet. I know it has 2 back corner drains as an overflow set up, but I haven't had a chance to examine it closely, yet. I do know that I definitely want to go Closed Loop. A good sump is also unavoidable (BTW, these things terrify the heck out of me - my wife will throw a s**t fit at me if it ever overflows - she's getting to that age when she may start barking like a dog soon). The other tanks have been small enough that we have gotten by with Emporor Filters on one and a Canister filter on the other. Both of the other tanks also have skimmers. Believe it or not they are Oddysea and I have gotten them to work great. However, for the larger tank, I will not mess around. I just bought a RO DI, I can't avoid it now. I had been buying the replacement water from the grocery store before that and it seemed to be working just fine. With the new tank and the old ones, too, the refill water demands will be too great. This is going to be quite a project for me. I plan on doing as much of this stuff on my own as I can, in terms of the builds. I haven't decided where the tank will go yet. May go where I am replacing the 55 gal cichlid tank or if I can convince my wife to let me modify the livingroom wall, I did think of a cool way of making this an in-the-wall unit (it wouild also have it's own access room - not big, but big enough). I know I already have to build a light canopy. The dimensions of the tank are 72 X 24 X 25. Any initial suggestions for lighting power. Yes, I will have soft coral. I am thinking (3) 250W MH with at least 2 double row actinics or something along those lines. I figure I need around 900 total Watts. I am going to have all kinds of questions because even though I have learned a lot, I surely do not, nor will I ever, know it all. BTW, this forum is an unbelieveable source of knowledge.

01/04/2007, 04:03 PM	#2
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	Sounds great - good luck and post lots of pics __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

01/04/2007, 04:03 PM	#3
ChunksInClemson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 824	You say you want soft coral; are you also doing SPS and clams? __________________ Me to my brother-"Dude, you don't need to spend 75 dollars on a shirt! My brother to me-"Man, you just spent 100 dollars on some rocks" Me and him- "Laughs" Current Tank Info: 29g, a pair of true percs so far. Tank is newer!

01/04/2007, 04:06 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Sounds like a fun project. Best of luck to ya! Even though the wife may bark at ya for having a sump, it'll be worth it. If you wanna see a really cool thread pertaining to a built in the wall unit check this out, may give you some ideas: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=665314 __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

01/04/2007, 04:10 PM	#5
BreefMe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Central NJ Posts: 194	^ I will have lots of pics. Corals - mostly Zoanthids, polyps, and the like. Possibly some anemones, but not absolutely sure there. Definitely will have a couple of blue tracnadia clams (sp?), and also some red scallops. I just know at this point, that I am pumped, but I also know enough to be very patient. Instant reef is directly proportional to instant grief. I have a lot of thinking to do initially and a lot of decisions to make.

01/04/2007, 04:22 PM	#7
BreefMe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Central NJ Posts: 194	^ Thanks for the link papagimp. I started reading it, but will have to resume when I have more time. I will definitely read it, but for me, it is time to trek home. I may post later. I read the one that the chiropracter did the other day when he built his "man"- room. That was also very good.

01/05/2007, 10:41 AM	#8
BreefMe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Central NJ Posts: 194	Any suggestions on lighting for my 180gal?