pickupman66
5000 Club Member
OK. so big changes this month in my reef life. Since October 2013 my 180 has been in a downhill slide and I just didnt have the time or motivation to throw a bunch of money and time at it to get it back where it was. I think I had red bugs. Maybe. I have no clue. BUT all my sps died. Every single one. So sad.. they went up in a massive RTN on each one. one at a time.
Anyways. the Wife and I decided that it was time for it to go, yet we still wanted saltwater in our lives as we loved our fish. we looked at some cubes but unfortunately time didnt permit that route. So here is what we wanted.
1. Simple. Self contained. none of this garage sump business.
2. I wanted depth. front to back. not left to right.
3. Rimless. I wanted to be able to look into it from the top.
4. inexpensive. Use as much of what we had and buy the basics.
MInd you, I SOLD my whole system about 5 days after it was posted. YIKES. I had basically 2 weeks TOTAL to put this thing together. Glad for #4.
SO, Here it is....
Equipment listing
Stand before adding the top. bottom is framed like the top.
The stand was built specifically to house the Massive sump (for this size system). without the top, it measures 30x36. adding the top surface, it is 39x33. Nice lip around the entire top. the Frame is all 2x4. the sump compartment is topped with a 1/4" sanded plyboard. The top of the stand is 1x6 pine. I routed the edge and made it look all cabinet like. Go me!.
Game plan is to skin the sides with magnetic panels to make it easy to open it all up. only non removable panel is where the electronics are mounted.
Looks nice in its new home.
To get the rimless effect.. you gotta hang your lights. I managed to convince the boss to let me hang them from the ceiling. so, TO go along with the DM132 I had, I bought two cheap chinese fixtures off a friend. I was going to get a single more Reef Radiance, but this was a sweetheart of a deal for the pair. YAY> sunburned corals.
testing my aluminum frame in the garage.
All told the rig weighs 26lbs. not too bad I guess. I bought 100lb rated cable which was the lightest weight Depot had. found the ceiling joists and away we hung.
Yes, I know. not centered. I needed the boss to help with tank placement. she wasnt home.
I ordered the tank straight from SCA as opposed to amazon. it shipped LTL. ordered it Wednesday, it arrived the following tuesday. Granted I had to drive 100 miles to get it from the terminal because Roadrunner screwed up, but I got it. (guy was coming the NEXT DAY to get my 180. Talk about cutting it close. he had to move his schedule up 3 days.
Unpacking the tank.
The tank came with all the bulkheads, standpipe and durso even. its mostly quiet, but I may have to replace it with a Hofer gurgle buster. I was impressed with the packing, not so much with the 1/2" return and the locklines that didnt thread well. they were a tiny bit too small for the standpipe. BARELY made it. Yes, it came with bioballs too.. Want them?
Anyways. the Wife and I decided that it was time for it to go, yet we still wanted saltwater in our lives as we loved our fish. we looked at some cubes but unfortunately time didnt permit that route. So here is what we wanted.
1. Simple. Self contained. none of this garage sump business.
2. I wanted depth. front to back. not left to right.
3. Rimless. I wanted to be able to look into it from the top.
4. inexpensive. Use as much of what we had and buy the basics.
MInd you, I SOLD my whole system about 5 days after it was posted. YIKES. I had basically 2 weeks TOTAL to put this thing together. Glad for #4.
SO, Here it is....
Equipment listing
- Tank: SCAquariums 66 gallon tank. 3 sided Starfire glass. 32x24x20 Reef ready
- Sump: 40 Breeder Custom- with integrated Fuge
- Skimmer: SCA-302 Sc Aquariums. (bubble magus knockoff I guess).
- Return: Jebao DC6000
- Circulation: 2x Jebao WP40 with dual controller- Synced wave.
- Lighting: 1x Reef Radiance DM-132 - 2x Chinese blue/white LED(55 led total) Everything is Bridgeluxe
- Everything controlled by my Reefkeeper.
- Stand: Custom built by ME 39 wide x 33 deep x 36 tall
Stand before adding the top. bottom is framed like the top.
The stand was built specifically to house the Massive sump (for this size system). without the top, it measures 30x36. adding the top surface, it is 39x33. Nice lip around the entire top. the Frame is all 2x4. the sump compartment is topped with a 1/4" sanded plyboard. The top of the stand is 1x6 pine. I routed the edge and made it look all cabinet like. Go me!.
Game plan is to skin the sides with magnetic panels to make it easy to open it all up. only non removable panel is where the electronics are mounted.
Looks nice in its new home.
To get the rimless effect.. you gotta hang your lights. I managed to convince the boss to let me hang them from the ceiling. so, TO go along with the DM132 I had, I bought two cheap chinese fixtures off a friend. I was going to get a single more Reef Radiance, but this was a sweetheart of a deal for the pair. YAY> sunburned corals.
testing my aluminum frame in the garage.
All told the rig weighs 26lbs. not too bad I guess. I bought 100lb rated cable which was the lightest weight Depot had. found the ceiling joists and away we hung.
Yes, I know. not centered. I needed the boss to help with tank placement. she wasnt home.
I ordered the tank straight from SCA as opposed to amazon. it shipped LTL. ordered it Wednesday, it arrived the following tuesday. Granted I had to drive 100 miles to get it from the terminal because Roadrunner screwed up, but I got it. (guy was coming the NEXT DAY to get my 180. Talk about cutting it close. he had to move his schedule up 3 days.
Unpacking the tank.
The tank came with all the bulkheads, standpipe and durso even. its mostly quiet, but I may have to replace it with a Hofer gurgle buster. I was impressed with the packing, not so much with the 1/2" return and the locklines that didnt thread well. they were a tiny bit too small for the standpipe. BARELY made it. Yes, it came with bioballs too.. Want them?
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