A slow 180

Albertan_Reef · Apr 10, 2018

Figured I may as well post my group here, instead of awkwardly watching others lol.

It’s a 180 gallon tank I got for 50% off at my LFS during there glass sale, I wanted to go with the 265 for the added height and length but they didn’t have any in stock.

Got it home and was amazed at how light it was, my dad and I were able to lift it into the house and onto the stand our selves with little effort compared to my last 180.

I got around 150 lbs of live , established rock from a good friend who owns an aquarium maintenance business. So I filled the tank half way to keep the rock live, and also seed the 30 lbs of dry rock I had kicking around.

I got a bit of a cycle out of it but nothing serious.

A week later my Reef Synergy overflow showed up, so I emptied the tank into brute cans to store the rock while I drill it. Cone to find out, the front, bottom and back of the tanks tempered, LFS wouldn’t take the tank back, so a peninsula tank is born. [emoji16]

While the tank was empty, my wife and I decided to move the tank to the basement for my future man cave, since that’s where I’ll be spending most my time any ways.

Currently the tank is 80% full of water, and has sand and rock in it. Waiting on some plumbing parts to show up so I can get the sump hooked up. I’m probably doing this a little backwards/rushed but that’s ok.

I plan on moving my clown fish and corals over once I get the sump plumbed and the tank scaped .

I still need a skimmer, and I’m debating on switching from SB reef lights back to T5 with reefbrite strips.

Also, has any one used Seachem Vibrant and had issues with precipitation? I’m on day 5 now and it’s starting to clear up... salinity is 1.025 which is what I was aiming for.

Here are some pictures to keep this thread going...

Albertan_Reef · Apr 10, 2018

Added some RGB LED lights to the stand to make it more visible while I’m workin down there. Had these left over from the headlights on my truck. Pretty sure there for the fog lights.

1WildBill · Apr 12, 2018

Looks good so far.

Albertan_Reef · Apr 13, 2018

Here’s an update on the equipment list of I’m choosing :
Vectra M1 return pump, running my manifold and returns
Rossmont mover mx2600 x4 on a hydor smart wave (already have the smart wave)
Hydor smart ATO (already own)
Reef octopus 202 skimmer
2x reactor (got used in a trade )
Sb reef light basic 16” x3
Retrofit t5 lights (2x blue plus , 2x atinic )
Aqua max calcium reactor
Apex system to control the lights, reactor and anything else I can think of.
Kessel h380 fuge light

This is my minimalist scape with some random power heads thrown in. Tank will be running today soon as the plumbing glue dries. Tanks full cycled as well!

Albertan_Reef · Apr 13, 2018

I will also be skirting the tank in and extending the cabinets to the walls left and right. Mini fridge will be under the right use cabinet, and the left side will hide the plumbing.

I have an unfinished bathroom, that I’m going to set up a 80 gallon frag tank, and QT system in. I have all the tanks, and equipment I need, I just need the time to do it haha.

Albertan_Reef · Apr 14, 2018

Transferred my nano over.

Albertan_Reef · Apr 26, 2018

And I wish I would’ve went bigger, I have 7 ( maybe 6, haven’t seen my orange spot goby) Fish and the tank already feels too small.

Currently , I have:
Golden rabbit fish
Fox face lo
2 clowns
2 anthias
Orange spot goby
Black shoulder tang

I’m scared to add more tangs, this black should is about 4 inches long and the tank seems to small. I wanted to get a naso, purple and a leutenant tang, but I guess we will see!

From here on out I’m going to be slowly replacing/adding to my filtration. I haven’t got a skimmer yet, I’m currently using myBM c3.5. But, with wanting an upgrade already, I think I’m going to go with over sized equipment rated for a 500 gallon tank.

Has any one had experience with simplicity skimmers?