Meredith's 180 In-wall happy place

domination2580 · Feb 18, 2017

It's looking great Meredith! Keep it going!

melypr1985 · Feb 19, 2017

I pretty much have the dinos kicked. There are still a couple small holdouts, but I think I'll have it gone after the water change I have planned for tomorrow. Here's a video... I suggest hitting mute before pressing play or else you'll be subjected to disney Jr in the background. lol

Cristy17 · Feb 20, 2017

Beautiful!!!

melypr1985 · Feb 25, 2017

I had a big day today! Took the day off last minute to spend it with the hubs and get some work done on the house. He cleaned out the garage (still is at this moment) and I cleaned out the rest of the fish room. We went to HD and purchased the lower cabinets and a prefab countertop for it, painted same, and got it installed in the fish room. I still need the uppers, but those will have to wait a bit.

The best news here is that now that I have the counter I can start getting new fish!!!!! YAY!!

Quick updated FTS even though nothing has changed just yet.

Still not the awesome space some people have, but it's pretty awesome for me and will serve it's purposes. I'm still adding to it though. Uppers and electrical cabinet, ect.

cameronh · Feb 26, 2017

Nice, looking good.

Cristy17 · Feb 26, 2017

Looking really nice! I really like the Ro water set up..may have to copy but on a much smaller scale! I will only have a 75 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. Also, just an idea. I don't know if you will be adding a sink to your counter or fish room, but I have noticed when I clean the tank equipment, the ultility sink I use kills by back because it is so deep. I am thinking about installing a large wide sink tub kitchen sink. Just a though. I have noticed BRS uses one and it seems to work well. I amreally enjoying the build!!

melypr1985 · Feb 26, 2017

Cristy17 said:
Looking really nice! I really like the Ro water set up..may have to copy but on a much smaller scale! I will only have a 75 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. Also, just an idea. I don't know if you will be adding a sink to your counter or fish room, but I have noticed when I clean the tank equipment, the ultility sink I use kills by back because it is so deep. I am thinking about installing a large wide sink tub kitchen sink. Just a though. I have noticed BRS uses one and it seems to work well. I amreally enjoying the build!!

Thanks! I had thought of a sink, but the hubs vetoed that idea right away. He said I have a window right there and a sink just across the hall I can use.

Maritimer · Feb 26, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Right! I figure it's just "growing pains"... you know... growing from a 75 into a 180. lol Then there's Karma, ah well.

If there's Karma, you should be able to dump tapwater into an empty glass box, and have a successful reef tank by doing only that.

~Bruce

jsker · Feb 26, 2017

melypr1985 said:
I had a big day today! Took the day off last minute to spend it with the hubs and get some work done on the house. He cleaned out the garage (still is at this moment) and I cleaned out the rest of the fish room. We went to HD and purchased the lower cabinets and a prefab countertop for it, painted same, and got it installed in the fish room. I still need the uppers, but those will have to wait a bit.

The best news here is that now that I have the counter I can start getting new fish!!!!! YAY!!

Quick updated FTS even though nothing has changed just yet.

Still not the awesome space some people have, but it's pretty awesome for me and will serve it's purposes. I'm still adding to it though. Uppers and electrical cabinet, ect.

Very cool. That counter is perfect for a frag tank.

melypr1985 · Feb 26, 2017

jsker said:
Very cool. That counter is perfect for a frag tank.

I already have one of those! The QT tanks and whatnot will go here. It will also be useful for fragging and below is lots of storage. I'll have uppers for more storage as well.

J-West · Feb 27, 2017

Cristy17 said:
Looks great Meredith! I was at LFS in SPB and one of the guys gave me a couple 2"x 2" pieces of yellow tinted plastic film to hold over the camera lens to tone down the blue but still keep the vibrant colors. Worked like a charm if you are looking to tone down the blue. I have had great success just using my iPhone and the yellow film.

What kind of yellow film is it ? What is it called ?

J-West · Feb 27, 2017

melypr1985 said:
My biggest problem was that I wasn't sure how many watts I needed for a heater on this big of a tank. I've never had larger than a 90 before this.

I know I'm a little late to the party. But this is a GREAT thread ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Learned a few things too. You have a beautiful tank. So I'm curious... how did you go from a 90 gallon to a 75 ?

melypr1985 · Feb 27, 2017

J-West said:
I know I'm a little late to the party. But this is a GREAT thread ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Learned a few things too. You have a beautiful tank. So I'm curious... how did you go from a 90 gallon to a 75 ?

The 90 was more than a few years ago. We kept moving from apartment to apartment every year or two, so we didn't set up a tank again until we bought our house. That time I started with a 40 gallon, upgraded to a 75 and now to the 180.

revhtree · Feb 27, 2017

Looks great!!! A tank room is so awesome to have!

melypr1985 · Feb 27, 2017

revhtree said:
Looks great!!! A tank room is so awesome to have!

Thank you! I'm really enjoying it myself. It's slowly coming together.

cameronh · Feb 27, 2017

I'm pretty jealous of your setup lol.
Looking good meredith!
The counter space is awesome.

melypr1985 · Feb 27, 2017

cameronh said:
I'm pretty jealous of your setup lol.
Looking good meredith!
The counter space is awesome.

Thanks! I'm ready for some fish now. Just have to decide what to get first. Maybe a small group of wrasses: Black leopard, lubbocks and a Scotts?

CarrieB · Feb 27, 2017

Enjoy the shopping!

melypr1985 · Feb 27, 2017

CarrieB said:
Enjoy the shopping!

Indeed! That's the hardest part though. so many options! I'm going to have a hard time picking.

cameronh · Feb 27, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Thanks! I'm ready for some fish now. Just have to decide what to get first. Maybe a small group of wrasses: Black leopard, lubbocks and a Scotts?

Sounds good! I think in big tanks it's cool to have a bunch of small fish instead of having large fish....especially fish that school together and some that stick to themselves.
Makes the tank look alot more active and larger.
Sample picture?