Jeremy's 180 reef build

[AC0DX]

So we are upgrading from a 90 gallon to 180. I get the tank at the end of the month. Today was cleaning and starting the process of preparing it's home. We are going to put in our basement. The closet in our furnace/storage room is going to house the sump, qt tank and all the power. I plan on running the plug for the lights through the wall. The tank was originally set up for a closed loop and I have not decided if I want to go that route. The next steps are pull two 20 amp circuits with 6 GFIs at ~4ft, line the walls with shower paneling or something similar so that water is not an issue, put sheet rock on the ceiling, add doors to the closet to close it off from the storage room, and add a dehumidifier to the storage room. Well here are the pictures from day one. I will keep updating progress as we go.

 

[don_chuwish]

This will be fun to watch! Take your time, plan meticulously to make maintenance and future changes as easy as possible.

 

[AC0DX]

Okay I can use some help figuring out these holes. The shop where I am buying the tank from sent me these pictures. I know this tank was setup as a closed loop previously. Can someone(s) help me figure out what each hole was for? I am trying to figure out how I want to plumb this bad boy.

 

[AC0DX]

Alright I think I have the holes figured out. I believe the ones in the bottom are for a bean animal setup. The one on the back is for the closed loop. I think I am going to just use a bulkhead and close it off. The only outstanding question is do I close off the two drilled holes in the overflow?

 

[AC0DX]

So today I scored 3 oceanmaker 4ways for free. I know at least one works, I hope to fix the other two. I also picked up a 90 gallon sump from the lfs. All the pieces are coming together.

 

[AC0DX]

We got the two 20 amp circuits pulled, walls closed up, and sump set in place. It is coming together. I mounted boards all along the back and one side to mount my apex, control modules, and what ever else I need. I need to get longer screws so I can set the outlets back and put covers over them.

Question: -- I have my 90 gallon sump set. The 1st chamber is going to be skimmer and socks, 2nd is the fuge, 3rd ????, 4th return pump. What should be in the 3rd?

 

[AC0DX]

The tank came this weekend! It is nice to have it in the house. I have started mocking up my plumbing. I have decided to use my 3 Vipraspectras that are currently over my 90 reef and 40 breeder planted FW. I will be breaking the 90 down into the 180. I think I have the closed loop figured out. Turns out FedEx lost my closed loop pump so there is that.

 

[AC0DX]

The 180 is up and running. I am very pleased with how it all turned out.
The setup is as follows:
Tank - 180 Gallon
Sump - 90 Gallon
Closed Loop pump - Skimz Lepoard 75L powering Ocean Motions 4Way
Sump return pump - Coral Box DCA 12,000
Skimmer - Eshops S-200
Heaters - 1 300w and 1 400w
Apex Classic
Plumbing is 1 1/2" for sump setup as a Bean Animal Overflow, 1" for closed loop
Lights - 3 Vipraspectra 160w.
BRS dual reactor running bio pellets and GFO
BRS CO2 Scrubber

Current stock:
1 Yellow Tang
2 Mocha clowns
3 Yellow tail damsels
1 Sailfin Blennie
1 Cherub Angel
1 Coral Beauty
1 Urchin
1 RTB
2 Leather corals
1 colony of Zena
1 sad candy cane coral
1 small colony of GSP