180gal SPS dream build

[BlytheDyson]

Hello everyone! Finally decided it's time to start a build thread since I get to start my dream tank! We are getting ready to move into our new home, waiting for construction to finish up so what better time to plan an overdue upgrade! One of the best parts about moving in November, Black Friday deals! Below is what I have planned for the tank so far.

Tank and stand:
Neptunian Cube M-180 with starfire glass (71"x21.6"x21.6")
Internal overflow
Aluminum stand wrapped with PVC panels

Filtration:
Neptunian Cube 48"x17"x15" sump with built in ATO chamber
Reef octopus classic 150int protein skimmer
Mesh filter socks
Algae scrubber

Lighting:
61" Aquatic Life T5 hybrid
5 Radion XR-15 blues

160lbs of live rock in display with special grade sand

Frag tank:
50 gallon lowboy
Fiji cube overflow
40 gallon DIY sump
Mesh filter socks
RSK 300 protein skimmer
ATI Powermodule Dimmable 8 bulb T5 fixture

I plan on focusing mainly on SPS for the display tank with select LPS (acans, acanthophyllia, gonis, euphillia, pectinia) and possibly very very few zoas/muchrooms.

Thanks to those who choose to follow along! More to come once everything gets ordered!

 

[blaxsun]

I'm not sure if your lighting is fixed in stone, but I have a tank roughly the same dimensions and I'm using a pair of XR30 G5s and a single XR15 G5 in the center - so you might be fine with only four XR15 G5s - or you might want to go with three XR30 G5s.

 

[BlytheDyson]

I'm not sure if your lighting is fixed in stone, but I have a tank roughly the same dimensions and I'm using a pair of XR30 G5s and a single XR15 G5 in the center - so you might be fine with only four XR15 G5s. Or you might want to go with three XR30 G5s.

Not 100% set, I have been going back and forth for months on lighting and this combo seemed to be the one I kept going back to. After reading everything I decided on XR15s instead of the 30s due to spread. I may start out with the 4 XR15s and add a 5th once the colonies really fill in to prevent shadowing if needed. Thank you for the feedback! It's been hard to find people with a close footprint to base lighting off of.

 

[BlytheDyson]

Went and picked up the tank today! Currently working on building the stand.

 

[BlytheDyson]

Set up and ready to be filled!

 

[Sgchick]

Very nice!!! Following

 

[BlytheDyson]

Update got the aquascape in the tank and filled it up! Had one minor leak on the return line that just needed to be tightened. Today I put in the protein skimmer and adjusted the ATO. Sand got delayed by a week so I’ll add that in Wednesday and lights are on their way! It’s slowly coming together.

 

[Sgchick]

Love the scape!!! It's really coming together!!

 

[BlytheDyson]

Love the scape!!! It's really coming together!!

Thank you! It was a pain but totally worth it, made sure there were tons of hidey holes for the fish and lots of smaller rocks on top to make it easy to mount SPS frags

 

[BlytheDyson]

Got the sand in and the lights up this weekend! Also moved the clowns in from the frag tank

 

[Sgchick]

Looks awesome!!!