My 180 gal tank build

DolphinzFan · 02/08/2014, 08:16 PM

Well here is the start of my 180 gal tank build. Not much just acrylic but in less than 2 weeks it will be complete.

Plans are:

180 gal acrylic tank (72x24x24)
Custom Built stand and canopy (stain riverstone, or mahogany)
3 Ecotech Radion pro's
1 MP60 or 2 MP40's
Reef like aquascape

40B Refugium (already done)
45 gal sump (already done)

Will continue to update.

DolphinzFan · 02/09/2014, 11:45 AM

Tank stand

msadler13 · 02/09/2014, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DolphinzFan

Tank stand

Very nice!

Knishfish · 02/10/2014, 07:22 AM

I'm just now rebuilding after 13 years with a 180 gal. I was planning to go radeons until I started reading about ************. You'll find lots on RC about them.

For pumps, I was also headed the same way until I started reading about Jebao.

I also learned a lot reading about Bean Animal.

Good luck with it - all fun choices.

Pife · 02/10/2014, 09:13 AM

Looks good. You should put this in the large reef tank forum it might get more hits. Are you worried about that tub as your sump with it not being food grade. I would worry about it leaching PO4's over time.

DolphinzFan · 02/10/2014, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pife

Looks good. You should put this in the large reef tank forum it might get more hits. Are you worried about that tub as your sump with it not being food grade. I would worry about it leaching PO4's over time.

Thanks. I was not worried about it, until now. I have not had any issues as of yet.

Pife · 02/10/2014, 11:56 AM

We have had a couple of people in our local club give up those tubs for something food grade. They were getting leaching. With your acrylic skills you should just build a really nice sump.

DolphinzFan · 02/12/2014, 07:20 PM

Time for an update.

White paint on the inside of the canopy.

Blue Hawaii stain on doors, soon will be on the stand and canopy.

PaulF757 · 02/12/2014, 09:29 PM

Hey looking good so far. I too just finished building a 180G out of acrylic. First time doing acrylic but it turned out pretty good.

I'll be following this one for sure. All the best with the build

DolphinzFan · 02/14/2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulF757

Hey looking good so far. I too just finished building a 180G out of acrylic. First time doing acrylic but it turned out pretty good.

I'll be following this one for sure. All the best with the build

Thanks.

Here some more updates. Will be building the 180 acrylic today.

New lights Ecotech Radion G3

All staining is complete.

snorvich · 02/14/2014, 09:42 AM

Great thread. Love the cabinet and staining. VERY nice work. Wish I had the skills for such a project.

DolphinzFan · 02/16/2014, 10:58 AM

Another update. Stand and canopy complete with Radions mounted. Top and overflow will be complete today.

snorvich · 02/16/2014, 11:13 AM

Keep those pictures coming!!

DolphinzFan · 02/17/2014, 08:54 AM

Not a great picture, but the tank is done. Now the wait to let it set for 2-3 days.

Strobes · 02/17/2014, 06:50 PM

looks like a sweet setup. wish i knew what i was doing with acrylic. only doing one overflow? just curious

DolphinzFan · 02/19/2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strobes

looks like a sweet setup. wish i knew what i was doing with acrylic. only doing one overflow? just curious

Yes, just one overflow.

Got the tank all done and set for 48 hrs. Here is it all put together so far.

maddmaxx · 02/19/2014, 09:23 PM

whens the leak test?

and in your original post, it would be better to go with 2x mp40s then a single mp60...

DolphinzFan · 02/19/2014, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

whens the leak test?

and in your original post, it would be better to go with 2x mp40s then a single mp60...

Leak test is tomorrow or Friday. The overflow has already been tested and is fine.

As you see in the pic. the tank is set up as a peninsula so I really don't want one on each end. So to ensure there is no flow issue I have 2 Mag18's for the returns.

DolphinzFan · 02/22/2014, 12:18 PM

Another update. Tank is being filled and bringing water up to proper temps.

Reel North · 02/22/2014, 07:58 PM

Nice build!

PaulF757 · 02/22/2014, 08:20 PM

Looks awesome. I'm waiting to water test mine but i don't have the nerve to do it in the house, waiting for the temperature to warm up a bit so i can do it in the garage. It's going well below freezing up here in Toronto this week.

Keep up the good work.

DolphinzFan · 02/23/2014, 10:49 AM

Fish are in the tank and loving it.

MARINECRITTERS · 02/23/2014, 01:21 PM

Wow, awesome looking tank.

DolphinzFan · 02/26/2014, 06:44 PM

Here are couple of the new additions to the tank.

Blotched Anthias - One of 2.

Copperband Butterfly

Tank pic.

02/08/2014, 08:16 PM	#1
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	My 180 gal tank build Well here is the start of my 180 gal tank build. Not much just acrylic but in less than 2 weeks it will be complete. Plans are: 180 gal acrylic tank (72x24x24) Custom Built stand and canopy (stain riverstone, or mahogany) 3 Ecotech Radion pro's 1 MP60 or 2 MP40's Reef like aquascape 40B Refugium (already done) 45 gal sump (already done) Will continue to update. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller. Last edited by DolphinzFan; 02/08/2014 at 09:06 PM.

02/09/2014, 11:45 AM	#2
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Tank stand __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/12/2014, 07:20 PM	#8
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Time for an update. White paint on the inside of the canopy. Blue Hawaii stain on doors, soon will be on the stand and canopy. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/14/2014, 09:42 AM	#11
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Great thread. Love the cabinet and staining. VERY nice work. Wish I had the skills for such a project. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

02/16/2014, 10:58 AM	#12
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Another update. Stand and canopy complete with Radions mounted. Top and overflow will be complete today. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/10/2014, 07:22 AM	#4
Knishfish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 73	I'm just now rebuilding after 13 years with a 180 gal. I was planning to go radeons until I started reading about ************. You'll find lots on RC about them. For pumps, I was also headed the same way until I started reading about Jebao. I also learned a lot reading about Bean Animal. Good luck with it - all fun choices.

02/10/2014, 09:13 AM	#5
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	Looks good. You should put this in the large reef tank forum it might get more hits. Are you worried about that tub as your sump with it not being food grade. I would worry about it leaching PO4's over time.

02/10/2014, 11:56 AM	#7
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	We have had a couple of people in our local club give up those tubs for something food grade. They were getting leaching. With your acrylic skills you should just build a really nice sump.

02/12/2014, 09:29 PM	#9
PaulF757 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 45	Hey looking good so far. I too just finished building a 180G out of acrylic. First time doing acrylic but it turned out pretty good. I'll be following this one for sure. All the best with the build

02/16/2014, 11:13 AM	#13
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Keep those pictures coming!! __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

02/17/2014, 08:54 AM	#14
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Not a great picture, but the tank is done. Now the wait to let it set for 2-3 days. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/17/2014, 06:50 PM	#15
Strobes Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 94	looks like a sweet setup. wish i knew what i was doing with acrylic. only doing one overflow? just curious

02/19/2014, 09:23 PM	#17
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	whens the leak test? and in your original post, it would be better to go with 2x mp40s then a single mp60... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

02/22/2014, 12:18 PM	#19
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Another update. Tank is being filled and bringing water up to proper temps. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/22/2014, 07:58 PM	#20
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	Nice build!

02/22/2014, 08:20 PM	#21
PaulF757 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 45	Looks awesome. I'm waiting to water test mine but i don't have the nerve to do it in the house, waiting for the temperature to warm up a bit so i can do it in the garage. It's going well below freezing up here in Toronto this week. Keep up the good work.

02/23/2014, 10:49 AM	#22
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Fish are in the tank and loving it. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.

02/23/2014, 01:21 PM	#23
MARINECRITTERS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 1,525	Wow, awesome looking tank. __________________ MarineCritters, life in the sea is superb Current Tank Info: 91 Gallon Reef

02/26/2014, 06:44 PM	#24
DolphinzFan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gillespie, Illinois Posts: 147	Here are couple of the new additions to the tank. Blotched Anthias - One of 2. Copperband Butterfly Tank pic. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180 gal tank, 75 GL Sump, PSK150 Skimmer, Custom Stand,MP10, 3 - Ecotech Radions, Full Apex aquacontroller.