Lairds 180

[Laird]

Well got it almost all the way done and pushed into place, and filled it with fresh water for a leak test.

Couple small leaks that were easy fixes but the big problem was the barricuda. It was just way to loud. Talked to reeflo and made a few changes to keep the noise level down but was never able to get it to something I could stand. So took it out and replaced it with a dart gold.

Called my friends at Aquatic Dreamer and they rushed over to help and also install my ATO.

My sound pads were too think so they cut them in half

And now have the dead silent dart up and running

They also installed my ATO. Its hard wired from my RO unit and also installed two safety switches. One inside the sump, and one below my pump.

 

[Laird]

Oh, and picked up my custom built rock from vida rock. Its Amazing!

My tank will be about 60% synthetic vida rock, 25% tonga, and 15% fiji.

 

[cdrewferd]

Why do you have the valves on the 2 herbie drains? I'm trying to figure out how to plumb my dual overflows.

 

[Laird]

Why do you have the valves on the 2 herbie drains? I'm trying to figure out how to plumb my dual overflows.

It makes it so you can tune your herbie drains to be syphoning the exact amount of water that is coming up from your return pump. If you get them identical then you have zero air coming through your herbies which mikes your drains completely silent. When I ran my fresh water test it was pretty easy to get the drains and return the same since I have a gate valve on my return line and a gate valve on both drains. My gate vales on my drains are both around 20-30% closed.

 

[cdrewferd]

Ahh, I see. Thanks for the explination.

Great looking progress by the way. Can't wait to see what you do with the rock and corals.

 

[strange33w]

coming along nicely

 

[revhtree]

Getting close! Great job!

 

[dallasfishman]

i needed ideas for my 180 and i think i looked in the right spot

 

[Laird]

So have my live sand, and new rock in there cycling. I put in my new custom rock. Not put together like the final product will be but just to give an idea of the overall feel that its going to be I just tossed it all in there. I'm actually going to be taking a piece or two out because I don't like how crowded it already is. Plus I'm going to be bringing a few big pieces over from my current tank.

I'm going to rearrange things a bit, and not make the tall spots so tall. I also have a big tonga branch coming from my current tank that will feel in the gap on the right side a bit. As you can see its going to leave lots of swim space for my fish while still giving me a lot of nice spots to put my SPS colonies.

Top Down

Then like I said i'm bringing a few big pieces from my 90 gallon over.
This big branch thats right in the front.

This branching piece. Its in the shape of hand with 5 fingers.

Then this shelf piece that the majority of those colonies are grown on.

 

[Laird]

And to give a littler size perspective on that last picture the Chalice is over a foot long.

 

[Troylee]

Build is looking great... The corals in the 90 look awesome!!!

 

[Laird]

Thanks Lee.

Some more closes ups of the new rock. I just love this rock. Most people probably think, oh gee plain new rock, big deal.... But I just see so much potential in this rock. I'm super excicted. I'm going to make the tops a little more staggered then they currently are to accommodate bigger SPS colonies.

 

[Troylee]

I think that rock is killer personally!! Would look good in my clown tank...:xd:

 

[cdrewferd]

Love the rock work.


Drew

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[revsgirl]

Love it!

 

[Laird]

Update.


Still waiting on lighting. Doing a another DIY build but waiting on some LEDs to come back in stock before I order. Everything else is ready to go.


I can't wait to get it going. For the past 6months to a year i've been pulling out frags and colonies for people to hold because my tank was overgrown. I'm excited to get everything back in. I'll have over 30 different chalices frags alone coming back in once the the new tank is proven.


Altered my Herbie drains a little bit. Put 45 elbows on my emergency drains and brought them up higher and now the overflow and tank is silent. Its unbelievable that that much water can be moving through the system and it be silent but it is.

The return coming over the back is done. I have good circulation throughout the whole tank and get good surface agitation just from the return pump.

 

[Erock732]

looking good i envy your plumbing and will be modeling my build after your on my 90g good luck and keep posting pics.

 

[Clearwater]

Nice job on the whole build. Great job

 

[Bry]

Great build and build thread. I really like that Rock. Can't wait to see this tank progress!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Great build!!! I see that rock as an open canvas!!!:bigsmile: