lockrookies 180g custom build

[lockrookie]

we are getting closer to my spamof posts being done and to where im sitting now with this tank and will try not to babble again and let the pictures do the talking.then we all can follow the progress of teh future completion of the tankas im doing it and i have another thradtopost and fear imgetting carpel tunnel.. lol.

so here we go tank is on the stand thanks again to my father. and the fun continues.



rockwall in tank




filling the tank and praying the weight doesnt make it crash thrugh the floor



tank is filled a few minor leaks in plumbing fix it all set the sump in place and its a good to go i took water from my 90 and swapped it with water from the 180 to help "condition" the water. also i used prodibo startup so that i coudl safely move my stock over withn 24 hours did my rockscaping. added the corals i had left and hadnt sold prior and here it is where the tank is at this very moment.

[lockrookie]

so thats it thats all as i progress i will post as i go thank your for the kind compliments.. feel free to ask questions.. critisize.. even call me crazy.. i lovehow it functions and caint wait to get it completely done. and hope to get my new skimmer for it at the end of the month.

fyi there where alot of issues thoughout and mishaps this didnt go all as planned either but to get to this point is well earnedand i canat least enjoy as i tinker.

cheers
jeff

[lockrookie]

oops almost for got equipt and stock list

lighting:
aquamedic metal halides 3x150w 2x70w 72" fixture...will be adding suplimental lighting if needed after tank is running
...leds next year
diy dimable moonlights
coralife refuge light

powerheads
2x1050 koralia
2x750 koralia

return pump
quiet one 6000

skimmer
vertex in-180 (crapped out on me .. getting the bubble magus curve 9 to replace

ozonator
not sure the brand but i like it

controller
apex lite with pm1 module...will add a second 8 bar later
i was going to use the reef keeper light...but decided on the apex for this tank and will use the rkl on the 50g tank rkl is being used as light timer untill i can get the fuds for apex bar
..ph probe ordered from china didnt work .. have to get a new one
..orp probe
..temp probe

uv sterilizer
undecided if i will add one yet but i might

calcium reactor
its a coralife reactor but undecided if it will be running right away i may decide to dose instead

heater
300w name brand eludes me at this time.. jager?

float style auto top of yes i have to be careful with this so far so good

i think thats it i may have missed something. but you get the jist of it


stock in tank right now
1 hermit crab (trigger hasnt gotten to yet
i picaso trigger
yellow spot goby
strawbery conch
mated air pair clowns
yellow tang
regal tang couple snails that have survived the trigger
lownmower blenny
cleaner wrasse ( whome thought died in the 90 but fount in the overflow box was in there for 5 months.. lil bugger
and recently added copper band butterfly whmis eating mysis like a champ.

ok im really done now for today i need to get to work lol starting tomorow ill be filling in my 50g build

[TheFishTeen]

Awesome! I love your handiwork. You did an excellent job on the stand. You are quite talented!

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by TheFishTeen

Awesome! I love your handiwork. You did an excellent job on the stand. You are quite talented!

I've seen better but thank you all the same. I'm just having a blast not sure what I will do when I finish other than a frag tank and a pico for my niece. I have ideas... Hqnk you for the compliment I'm a carpenters son tools readily available.

[saltyjo]

Amazing rockwork you did with the foam/rock back. You have inspired me to maybe try this on my 150 gallon tall build.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by saltyjo

Amazing rockwork you did with the foam/rock back. You have inspired me to maybe try this on my 150 gallon tall build.

thank you. it is time consuming but it can be such a rewarding effect in the end. not everything worked out for me as planned but in some aspects better just take your time to plan it out and plan for weight.. foam floats.. if you have questions feel free to ask and i can help you to the best of my ability.

[lockrookie]

small update nothing great finally tuned my overfow and i hear nothing its silent no more running water.. less time in the can ..lol anyways been tinkering with a calcium reactor i got from jhammer and i think i may actually have it figured out and will be putting this thing online shortly. also my replacement display module came in and hopefully next month i can order the powerbar i need. if i have time i may start the hood too and get this thing completed. a little concerned with the lights i had a 70w bulb pop on me it was fairly new but it has me thinking of alternative options...no fun when you cant findthebulb locally..

anyways thats all for now trying t get a vid together of both tanks and updated pics

[REEF MANIA]

That's some build. You have a lot of patients and skills. Very nice job. I have a 180 as well.

[lockrookie]

lol i have no skills just very brave but thank you.. i grew up a carpenters son so woodworking is simular to glass work just easier to break the glass if you fudge up. the hardest part was finding ppl to help lift and stuff.. these 180's are heavy sob's. but trust me if i can do it from reading google and diving in anyone can.. just add patience and take your time.

if someone else can do it so can you.. your only limited by lack of trying. it may not work the first time but when you succeed its so self gratifying... i doubt id ever build for other ppl due to fear of screwing up someone elses tank (silicone irritates me) next project is a two tier waterfall frag tank but i need to finish this first.

[lockrookie]

quick vid of the 180 as it is today definately need more corals sooooon

click on pic for this vid this was done before livestock


and this one on youtube as it is today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WySQ...ature=youtu.be

[lockrookie]

tonight i plugged in the calcium reactor.. it has a bit of a leak i will tend to later just a drip really.. my calcium was at 320 before startup so in 24 hours i will check and see where its at.. i did it at the slowest rate to start for fear of overdose and will adjust as needed. hopefully it works and i can grow me some sps..

also in the news im putting together a skimmate resevoir tonight if i can find some silicone. this way i have additional gunk storage incase i go away (wishfull thinking) and i won thave to worry about an overflow issue.. eventually i will put a float switch on it to shut down the skimmer just incase of skimmer flu and it upchucks on me.

i was informed as well that the curve 9 may be here this week or early next week and i will start my review...im guessing since i didnt hear from aqua-digital it will be the unauthorised version.. so be it heres to hopeing im satisfied... i will most likely post some pics on my thread. but will make its own thread for questions comments anyone may have.. if i dont know the answers i will try to find out the answer iven if i have to contact BM themselves somehow. im hopefull that this skimmerwill perform. it is infact the first "new" skimmer ive purchased.. other than the seaclone 100 that suffered a very painful end.. still peeved about wasting money on that after 4 years.

anyways thats all for tonight will post picsof my skimmate collection cup . i have an idea for it that i hope works.. thanks for lookin

[lockrookie]

so ive always wanted to do this with skimmers puking and contaminating the tank or overflowing cause i forgot to empty the cup. but mostly if i go away for a weekend or 2 weeks i want to be able to not worry about an overfowing skimmer cup. so i made a glass box 8"x 9" by 12" high drilled a hole for a valve and a hole on thetp ofthe cube.. but i wanted a lid so after posting jancame through fro me andgot me a large pickle jar that was perfect.. cut the top off of it attached it to the top of my box and voila i have a skimmate overflow container.. now i will have skimmate on tap for all those future reefing bbq's in the future.

here it is just need to make a quick stand for it and its ready to go for when the new skimmer arrives..





i will be drilling into the cap for hookups and later a float switchto shut down skimmer in case of overflow or random skimmer issue.. butfor now it is what it is

thanks for looking

[lluv24]

All I can say is wow!!!!!!!! Very nice work!!!!!!!!!!!

[lockrookie]

thank you still a work in progress.. next step hood and leds.. just havent had much time recently to tackle these projects.

[lockrookie]

im really hoping my new BM curve 9 skimmer shows up tomorrow and that it performs like its rated.(think the worst he for the best) i will still post in my build thead and a seperate thread my review of this skimmer. all in all im just excited to be trying something out of my comfort zone.

as well new bulbs should be here shortly. im planning on re wireing the lights so that i can unplug them close to the fixture then move the balasts to a close by closet to help with some heat issues ive been having. with the ballasts under the stand and no fans under there it get quite warm during the day.

[lockrookie]

bulbs and skimmer hath arrived ..yeah!! my first impression of the skimmer is this i quote "HOLY BLEEP the box is huge.." and now i forsee some modifications to my sump. will post pics later .. off to do a photo shoot...

[lockrookie]

my new skimmer that i cant fit into my sump... i failed to take into concideration, when purchasing, a cross beam in the stand for entry of skimmer to the sump..oops ..lol ...ah well a little modificaation and we will be good to go

[lockrookie]

with a little butchering of thestand and alot of cursing the skimmeris in the sump. i had to put it together in the sump it was indeed a nightmare. but now that i have an incling im good to go. i should have given the skimmer a vineger bath but too late. one thing i will say is holeeee bubbles so much tht ive had to play with the water level height to below the recomended level once it settles ini should be good to go .. already skimming light green water. this weekend i will hook up the skimmate resavoir. and take another vid. for now here is a vid of the startup

click the pic for the vid thanks

[lockrookie]

skimmer is installed barely but we got there. took a bit to get it to settle down and running ..decentlly pleased. also hooked up my resevoir. i can sleep easier at night knowing it wont puke on the floor of the stand. i stillhave to pickup some float switches for backup. but over all pleased. nuff babbling here arethe pics

[lockrookie]

so in trying to get a pic of my toadstool everyone came out to play

[deebs]

Awesome tank! really like the fact everything is almost DIY! Props to sir

[dave.m]

Just a note on the float valves: Clean them religiously, at least once per month. It's not nice when they fail in the open position.

Dave.M

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by deebs

Awesome tank! really like the fact everything is almost DIY! Props to sir

thank you for the kind words.. diy leds are next on the list just have to scrounge up some cash.

Originally Posted by dave.m

Just a note on the float valves: Clean them religiously, at least once per month. It's not nice when they fail in the open position.

Dave.M

yeah i know this is my fear and i watch it very closely i also have a ball valve on valve lineand im slowly adjustng it now to guage use/flow on the float so that in hopes its more reliable ifthat makes any sense.

[dave.m]

Depends on which type you are talking about. I am referring to the Autotopoff.com magnetic-type float valves. They must be kept clean religiously.

If you are referring to the swing arm-type float valves these are only safe with freshwater. I have only ever seen them encrust and fail on saltwater applications.

Dave.M