jthao's 180g tank build journey - Page 5

jthao · 06/01/2008, 11:53 PM

thanks jeff.
Nothing really changed on my tank. I added in some more fish. these are my fish I've had for a long time, they're not fish I just got from the store. I also added in chaeto that I got from ed and steve. thanks guys.
Anyways, I was debating on which fish to let go and which fish to keep, but I ended up keeping most of them. I'm letting go of 1 purple tang. as of right now I have:
2 purple tangs (1 med. 1 large)
3 yellow tangs (all about same size med.)
vlamingii tang (5 inch)
foxface (4 inch)
6 chromises

Don't worry tang police....... I know what I'm doing. they all get along great, so great that they actually school. The big purple leads sometimes and the vlamingii lead sometimes. but mostly the purple.
I'm gonna add another 10 tangs. haha j/k....

here's a pic of the tangs living in harmony:

jthao · 06/01/2008, 11:55 PM

I'm currently working on the cover for the stand, and the canopy. I need to replace those 150w mh with the 250w and 400w. my corals seem to be doing ok for now but I know that I need to get those other lights on asap. let me know what you guys think. thanks

jthao · 06/03/2008, 12:51 AM

wow no comments huh?? tuff crowd.

ludnix · 06/03/2008, 01:01 AM

Really neat! I love it when yellow tangs swim together, I always thought they look better in groups.

jthao · 06/03/2008, 05:37 PM

yeah, I like it too when fishes school, especially when it's the same kind....... that's why I like chromises cuss they're the cheapest fish that will school, kinda.

anyways, can you guys that are actually reading this help me out on something??
I have 2 6101s and a vortech as of right now. Is this enough flow for a 180g..... trying to make it 80% sps?? the vortech is the mp40.
also I'm thinking about buying another powerhead, should I get rid of the vortech and get two more 6101s (4x6101) or get another vortech, and upgrade mines right now to a mp40w( 2x6101 & 2xmp40w)

Lighting: I'm gonna run 2x250 on the sides and 1x400 in the middle. Which bulb combinations should I get? brand and Kelvin? I have pfo hqi ballasts and DE pendents.

spleen93 · 06/04/2008, 02:02 AM

I think 2 6101s and 2 MP40w would be awesome for flow.

thor32766 · 06/04/2008, 07:04 AM

sweet tank and love the fish. I think they look awesome together. if they are getting along why get rid of one? anyways looks great!

Jim_S · 06/04/2008, 09:55 AM

Yeah, thats plenty of flow IMO.

Got any progress on finishing the stand?

jthao · 06/04/2008, 04:30 PM

thanks for the input guys. so I'm probably gonna stick with the 6101s and maybe get a mp40w later to add onto my mp40.

the stand is coming along pretty good, the canopy needs to be stained. just last finishing touches. I will post pics but when both are done. sssshhhhhhh, it's a surprise..... hehe.

Jim: you see how many people are going crazy over the group buy in the mars forum?? hahahaha, I didn't think it was that big a deal. I just find it sooooooo funny that people can get so worked up about a colony of zoas. If I wasn't in the hobby, I'd think reefers are in a cult!!!! and live a really really wierd lifestyle!!! hahaha

pony_killer · 06/04/2008, 05:54 PM

great job bro...how do you like those lights?

jthao · 06/10/2008, 04:20 PM

slow, slow, progress. I haven't put up the 250w pendents. I'm just finishing up the canopy. hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have another pic of the finished product.

jthao · 06/20/2008, 03:26 PM

I've been busy with my new hobby: photography. I bought a new Nikon D80 and have been fiddling with it. here's a picture of all my bigger fishes swimming together:

here's a picture of my new colony of tubs blues, it was part of a group buy that I ended up having to buy half the colony, so here it is, oh yeah, please give me your opinion of if these are real tubs blues?:

and here's a picture of a flower, non reef related, that I took in my front yard. I just wanted to show this one, cuss I though it came out pretty nice.

these were all taken with a Nikon D80, 18-55 nikkor vr af lens. shot in manual mode with different shutter/aperture speeds for each one.

comment please. thanks.

PaulieWalnuts · 06/20/2008, 03:37 PM

i love the school i only have a 75 so cannot add a bunch of them, but some day would love to have a tank like that wish those fish.

maroun.c · 06/21/2008, 11:45 AM

Nice fish collection I'm hoping to be able to keep 3-4 tangs in my 150G (5 ft) and was considering a variety of tangs (Poweder blue, hyppo, Yellow, kole and maybe an achiles if Iever see one here. but now that i see 2-3 yellows together in a 180 I could be heading to get more yellows instead of the achiles whichy I will never find anyway.
As for schooling this is the best chooling instance I ever saw in my life, the whole tank was in symetry.

Quote:

I added a 250 W MH to my 2 150 W today and I just tried it for 5 min and the whole fixture was like 5 times hotter than the 150s after running for hours...
waiting for pics of yruo stand and canopy when ready.

hulley · 06/21/2008, 02:01 PM

Those blue zoas look sweet! Purple and yellow tangs are my favorites, I love mine. Tank is looking great!

jthao · 06/21/2008, 04:18 PM

thanks for the compliments guys.
marounc: what size tank is that picture of?? wow!!!!! it looks like it must be at least a 600g tank. NICE!!!!!!
I'm almost done with the stand and canopy, I've just been lazy...... and I've been sick too so haven't even done anything to it. but pictures will be added soon, especially now that I've got a dslr camera.

jthao · 07/25/2008, 01:40 AM

so here's a quick update: what's new....
lighting: 2x full lumenarc w/20K xm SE on Pfo hqi ballast
harlequin tusk is gone... killed my cleaners, I think?? anyways, I just didn't wanna take the chance.
added a couple more tangs: blue, lavender, blochii
added in tomato clown w/ RBTA
bought a pair of onyx clowns
added in some sps, red digi, red cap, and I forgot the others......
finished staining the canopy...... FINALLY!!!!!!!YEAH!!!!!!
that's about it, man this thread is moving along s l o w l y .........

jthao · 07/25/2008, 01:58 AM

so here's the stand, without the canopy or doors on it yet.

jthao · 07/25/2008, 02:05 AM

so how this works is the actual support (stand) is the 2x4s that are grey. this "stand" is actually just a cover piece. this can slide in and out for easier maintenance.

The canopy is on it now, I'll update pics tomorrow if I get the time. I've also added the lumenarcs and 1x140w VHO actinic, the other one don't work.

I've also ordered the upgrade for the MP40. It's basically gonna be a MP40w Gen2. I have the wwd upgrade/magnet upgrade coming. I'll just flash it with someones gen2 for the firmwire.

Also got another 6101 coming. I currently have 2x6101 and a 6100 and MP40. I wanna eventually run 4xtunzes and 1 vortech. the tunzes going back and forth, and the vortech kinda throwing things off in the middle.

I'm gonna add sand to the refugium as soon as I do a water change and suck the water outta there. Also gonna finish the stand and canopy pieces and throw the doors on. Then mount everything up (acIII, temp controller, etc...) It look all ghettoed out right now.

oh yeah... btw, the avatar is my female onyx clown.

jthao · 07/25/2008, 02:22 AM

Just an idea of how slow I move, I started this thread in Feb, and it's now almost Aug, and I only have 5 pages.
Well, I didn't have a lot of people following along anyways, so I kinda just stop updating after a while. But it's my fault cuss I didn't update that much with a lot of pics. I know I like to see pics as well when I go on a build thread.

MPeer · 07/25/2008, 02:26 AM

JThao - I'm sure if you post more often, people will come! What else would they do at 1:30 am in the morning right?

This hobby is an addiction.

spleen93 · 07/25/2008, 03:33 AM

lol ... agreed. But some nice progress to date!

aastretch64 · 07/25/2008, 07:32 AM

If I could ask a personal question...where does a full time student with no job and no money get money FROM??? Especially for a huge tank like that!

Yeah, I guess I'm a little jealous!

Alex

jeff209 · 07/25/2008, 10:45 AM

he sells crack. lol

Jim_S · 07/25/2008, 03:12 PM

Looking good bro!!!

When are you going to mount the doors?

How are those lumenarcs working out? You got them from Jeremy right?

06/01/2008, 11:53 PM	#101
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	thanks jeff. Nothing really changed on my tank. I added in some more fish. these are my fish I've had for a long time, they're not fish I just got from the store. I also added in chaeto that I got from ed and steve. thanks guys. Anyways, I was debating on which fish to let go and which fish to keep, but I ended up keeping most of them. I'm letting go of 1 purple tang. as of right now I have: 2 purple tangs (1 med. 1 large) 3 yellow tangs (all about same size med.) vlamingii tang (5 inch) foxface (4 inch) 6 chromises Don't worry tang police....... I know what I'm doing. they all get along great, so great that they actually school. The big purple leads sometimes and the vlamingii lead sometimes. but mostly the purple. I'm gonna add another 10 tangs. haha j/k.... here's a pic of the tangs living in harmony: __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/01/2008, 11:55 PM	#102
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	I'm currently working on the cover for the stand, and the canopy. I need to replace those 150w mh with the 250w and 400w. my corals seem to be doing ok for now but I know that I need to get those other lights on asap. let me know what you guys think. thanks __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/03/2008, 12:51 AM	#103
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	wow no comments huh?? tuff crowd. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/03/2008, 01:01 AM	#104
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	Really neat! I love it when yellow tangs swim together, I always thought they look better in groups. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

06/03/2008, 05:37 PM	#105
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	yeah, I like it too when fishes school, especially when it's the same kind....... that's why I like chromises cuss they're the cheapest fish that will school, kinda. anyways, can you guys that are actually reading this help me out on something?? I have 2 6101s and a vortech as of right now. Is this enough flow for a 180g..... trying to make it 80% sps?? the vortech is the mp40. also I'm thinking about buying another powerhead, should I get rid of the vortech and get two more 6101s (4x6101) or get another vortech, and upgrade mines right now to a mp40w( 2x6101 & 2xmp40w) Lighting: I'm gonna run 2x250 on the sides and 1x400 in the middle. Which bulb combinations should I get? brand and Kelvin? I have pfo hqi ballasts and DE pendents. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/04/2008, 02:02 AM	#106
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	I think 2 6101s and 2 MP40w would be awesome for flow. __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

06/04/2008, 07:04 AM	#107
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	sweet tank and love the fish. I think they look awesome together. if they are getting along why get rid of one? anyways looks great! __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

06/04/2008, 09:55 AM	#108
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,333	Yeah, thats plenty of flow IMO. Got any progress on finishing the stand? __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.

06/04/2008, 04:30 PM	#109
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	thanks for the input guys. so I'm probably gonna stick with the 6101s and maybe get a mp40w later to add onto my mp40. the stand is coming along pretty good, the canopy needs to be stained. just last finishing touches. I will post pics but when both are done. sssshhhhhhh, it's a surprise..... hehe. Jim: you see how many people are going crazy over the group buy in the mars forum?? hahahaha, I didn't think it was that big a deal. I just find it sooooooo funny that people can get so worked up about a colony of zoas. If I wasn't in the hobby, I'd think reefers are in a cult!!!! and live a really really wierd lifestyle!!! hahaha __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/04/2008, 05:54 PM	#110
pony_killer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 322	great job bro...how do you like those lights?

06/10/2008, 04:20 PM	#111
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	slow, slow, progress. I haven't put up the 250w pendents. I'm just finishing up the canopy. hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have another pic of the finished product. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/20/2008, 03:26 PM	#112
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	I've been busy with my new hobby: photography. I bought a new Nikon D80 and have been fiddling with it. here's a picture of all my bigger fishes swimming together: here's a picture of my new colony of tubs blues, it was part of a group buy that I ended up having to buy half the colony, so here it is, oh yeah, please give me your opinion of if these are real tubs blues?: and here's a picture of a flower, non reef related, that I took in my front yard. I just wanted to show this one, cuss I though it came out pretty nice. these were all taken with a Nikon D80, 18-55 nikkor vr af lens. shot in manual mode with different shutter/aperture speeds for each one. comment please. thanks. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

06/20/2008, 03:37 PM	#113
PaulieWalnuts Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: charlotte, nc Posts: 1,381	i love the school i only have a 75 so cannot add a bunch of them, but some day would love to have a tank like that wish those fish.

06/21/2008, 02:01 PM	#115
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Those blue zoas look sweet! Purple and yellow tangs are my favorites, I love mine. Tank is looking great!

06/21/2008, 04:18 PM	#116
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	thanks for the compliments guys. marounc: what size tank is that picture of?? wow!!!!! it looks like it must be at least a 600g tank. NICE!!!!!! I'm almost done with the stand and canopy, I've just been lazy...... and I've been sick too so haven't even done anything to it. but pictures will be added soon, especially now that I've got a dslr camera. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

07/25/2008, 01:40 AM	#117
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	so here's a quick update: what's new.... lighting: 2x full lumenarc w/20K xm SE on Pfo hqi ballast harlequin tusk is gone... killed my cleaners, I think?? anyways, I just didn't wanna take the chance. added a couple more tangs: blue, lavender, blochii added in tomato clown w/ RBTA bought a pair of onyx clowns added in some sps, red digi, red cap, and I forgot the others...... finished staining the canopy...... FINALLY!!!!!!!YEAH!!!!!! that's about it, man this thread is moving along s l o w l y ......... __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

07/25/2008, 01:58 AM	#118
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	so here's the stand, without the canopy or doors on it yet. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

07/25/2008, 02:05 AM	#119
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	so how this works is the actual support (stand) is the 2x4s that are grey. this "stand" is actually just a cover piece. this can slide in and out for easier maintenance. The canopy is on it now, I'll update pics tomorrow if I get the time. I've also added the lumenarcs and 1x140w VHO actinic, the other one don't work. I've also ordered the upgrade for the MP40. It's basically gonna be a MP40w Gen2. I have the wwd upgrade/magnet upgrade coming. I'll just flash it with someones gen2 for the firmwire. Also got another 6101 coming. I currently have 2x6101 and a 6100 and MP40. I wanna eventually run 4xtunzes and 1 vortech. the tunzes going back and forth, and the vortech kinda throwing things off in the middle. I'm gonna add sand to the refugium as soon as I do a water change and suck the water outta there. Also gonna finish the stand and canopy pieces and throw the doors on. Then mount everything up (acIII, temp controller, etc...) It look all ghettoed out right now. oh yeah... btw, the avatar is my female onyx clown. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

07/25/2008, 02:22 AM	#120
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	Just an idea of how slow I move, I started this thread in Feb, and it's now almost Aug, and I only have 5 pages. Well, I didn't have a lot of people following along anyways, so I kinda just stop updating after a while. But it's my fault cuss I didn't update that much with a lot of pics. I know I like to see pics as well when I go on a build thread. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

07/25/2008, 02:26 AM	#121
MPeer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bay Area CA Posts: 584	JThao - I'm sure if you post more often, people will come! What else would they do at 1:30 am in the morning right? This hobby is an addiction.

07/25/2008, 03:33 AM	#122
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	lol ... agreed. But some nice progress to date! __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet

07/25/2008, 07:32 AM	#123
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	If I could ask a personal question...where does a full time student with no job and no money get money FROM??? Especially for a huge tank like that! Yeah, I guess I'm a little jealous! Alex

07/25/2008, 10:45 AM	#124
jeff209 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Stockton CA Posts: 1,816	he sells crack. lol __________________ "that fish needs at least a180 gallon to be happy" "so me buying it from a lfs that has it in a 20 won't help" -Jeff Current Tank Info: 120 in the works

07/25/2008, 03:12 PM	#125
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,333	Looking good bro!!! When are you going to mount the doors? How are those lumenarcs working out? You got them from Jeremy right? __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.