Author Topic: 180 Gallon Starphire tank Upgrade + Fish Room (Read 42317 times)

slandis3 · « **Reply #75 on:** July 03, 2011, 17:54:18 »

Quote from: Wall_Tank on July 03, 2011, 14:43:04

Tank is in place. A big thanks to Dave & Mike.......and Mike's buddy that came over to help too. It went smoother that I think any of us expected.....I think only one minor pinched finger.

Thanks again guys, and let me know if I can help you guys down the road.

Well my thumb will make a full recovery lol. It was probably the easiest tank move I have ever done. I will need some help once I get ready to build my first LED fixture so I am sure I will be giving you a call.

Now.........

Seano Hermano · « **Reply #76 on:** July 11, 2011, 01:19:24 »

...this sounds like it's going to be really cool. I like the aquascape.

Can we get some updated pictures of the build?

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #77 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:34:48 »

Quote from: Seano Hermano on July 11, 2011, 01:19:24

...this sounds like it's going to be really cool. I like the aquascape.

Can we get some updated pictures of the build?

Being a little lazy with the camera......Camera is upstairs, and my tank is downstairs. I'll post an update this evening.

micki · « **Reply #78 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:36:49 »

Quote from: Wall_Tank on July 11, 2011, 08:34:48

Being a little lazy with the camera......Camera is upstairs, and my tank is downstairs. I'll post an update this evening.

I know the feeling! I'm terrible with that

slandis3 · « **Reply #79 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:38:04 »

How did the plumbing come out yesterday?

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #80 on:** July 11, 2011, 08:49:12 »

Quote from: slandis3 on July 11, 2011, 08:38:04

How did the plumbing come out yesterday?

Skinning the tank stand with Oak Plywood took a little longer than expected, plus I re-leveled the tank. It was 3/32 out of level end to end, so now it's about 1/32 out of level. I got the sump drilled for the 2" bulkhead, and put a 1" bulk head in for a drain for water changes. I also got my sump baffles cut out. I just didn't get to the plumbing.

Normally when I drill my tanks, I just clamp a piece of wood to the underneath side of the glass and drill away. This time I decided to drill the glass half way from each side..... (mental note).......drill from the inside 1st. I drilled from the outside first......sticking my head in the 75 gallon tank was fun to line up the second cut.

But it all worked out.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #81 on:** July 12, 2011, 07:28:35 »

Here is an updated picture. I had the camera back down stairs and ready to snap some photos........

And the lights went out

Maybe I'll snap some better ones tonight.

micki · « **Reply #82 on:** July 12, 2011, 07:35:20 »

LOL Now, THAT is too funny!!!

Not that your lights went out, but I sat here waiting for the picture to upload and finally scrolled down!

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #83 on:** July 12, 2011, 20:32:11 »

Well power is back on, everything is fine. Here are the updated photos.

Again, stand is leveled and skinned. The skinning technique is the same that Lazy used in his build. Corner trim and doors will come later.

I still have about 40 lbs of rock to add to this, it's in a small tank cycling right now.

I've been using acrylic baffles in my sumps for a while now.....I've never had any problems. But then the baffles are just to direct water, they are not holding a different level of water. One thing that has always given me trouble was keeping the bubble trap clean. So this time I made the center baffle removable. I didn't get a good shot of just the sump, but it will be a very simple design. Mechanical filter area, DSB and Macro take up the most volume, then a bubble trap and finally return pump. I'll be using an external skimmer.

micki · « **Reply #84 on:** July 12, 2011, 20:34:28 »

Wow, looks great!

slandis3 · « **Reply #85 on:** July 12, 2011, 20:36:58 »

Quote from: micki on July 12, 2011, 20:34:28

Wow, looks great!

+1

I lile the removable baffle.

Dshu · « **Reply #86 on:** July 12, 2011, 22:30:37 »

Looks great. Obviously a well moved tank

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #87 on:** July 16, 2011, 15:41:11 »

Plumbing 95% done, I did pretty well with fittings, I need to get a couple of reducers. Everything is ran in spaflex. That should keep any vibration coming from the pump low. The pipes that go nowhere right now are for my frag tank when it's moved. CA Reactor feed and Carbon Reactor. Gate valves on the supply lines to the tank to control water to the tank. The one gate valve on the return line is to push water through my external Skimmer.....(currently on backorder).

I'm installing the back braces, and will start filling the tank soon.

FancyDirty · « **Reply #88 on:** July 16, 2011, 21:12:28 »

looks great

micki · « **Reply #89 on:** July 17, 2011, 10:16:08 »

Very exciting!!!

slandis3 · « **Reply #90 on:** July 17, 2011, 11:01:10 »

Very nice looking, I like the drain idea built into the sump.

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #91 on:** August 05, 2011, 21:30:40 »

Still waiting for my external skimmer to arrive. Supposedly Coralvue just received their container with a fresh batch of Octopus skimmers, and they are on the way.

I've been working on the stand and Q'tine tanks. I made a splash guard and dual sock holder. I'm probably going to raise the socks a little more, getting a little bubbling out the top.

Reefpete · « **Reply #92 on:** August 05, 2011, 23:34:40 »

Looks great Paul! Hope to see it in person someday soon!

HUNGER · « **Reply #93 on:** August 06, 2011, 10:47:49 »

looks great if u left the socks there u dont need a skimmer

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #94 on:** August 06, 2011, 10:54:22 »

Quote from: HUNGER on August 06, 2011, 10:47:49

looks great if u left the socks there u dont need a skimmer

Quote from: HUNGER on August 06, 2011, 10:47:49

looks great if u left the socks there u dont need a skimmer

Actually, if I just left the socks out, I get bubbles everywhere, I would fine 2" of foam on the surface of the water, I could just scoop out the foam...........too much work, I'll put in a skimmer.

It was actually millions of micro bubbles......made the display tank look cloudy.

lazylivin · « **Reply #95 on:** August 06, 2011, 18:56:45 »

Quote from: Wall_Tank on April 18, 2011, 20:17:12

Temp tank inspired by LazyLivin, just not planning on it taking a year.

Sump looks good Paul, but are you sure?

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #96 on:** August 06, 2011, 22:36:26 »

Quote from: Lazylivin on August 06, 2011, 18:56:45

Sump looks good Paul, but are you sure?

LOL......I'm dreading the quarantine process that I want to do going into the new display

lazylivin · « **Reply #97 on:** August 07, 2011, 00:56:59 »

I hear ya, with so much time invested you don't want to get anything unwanted in the tank.

HUNGER · « **Reply #98 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:23:41 »

Quote from: Wall_Tank on August 06, 2011, 22:36:26

LOL......I'm dreading the quarantine process that I want to do going into the new display

but it will be worth it in the long run

Wall_Tank · « **Reply #99 on:** August 14, 2011, 16:28:27 »

Fixed the sock holder, I raised it a little to keep from getting too much back flow out the top of the filter, I also had to build a bubble trap into it, I was getting the whole sump full of foam.

I have started to pull some things out and put them in Q'tine. I am Q'ting mainly to keep unwanted algae and aptasia out of the new display. Although I want to make sure there was nothing nasty that I was unaware of. Everything had a Peroxide scrub before going into Qtine. I tried to keep the solution off of the LPS polyps.

A picture of my Quarentine Tanks......2 40 gallon breeders.

I have the rock work the way I want it now, also have my sand in. Here is a tank shot, if you look closely, I have a school of Green Chromis in the tank. Next is building the hood and getting lights in the display.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: 180 Gallon Starphire tank Upgrade + Fish Room (Read 42317 times)

FancyDirty