Mariner 180 build

[tobster]

Going to try and document this build since I did not on my last one.
Tank was delivered last week. We got it sit on the stand yesterday. It took 3 of us and some Amazon suction cups.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Special times ahead️

 

[oakcityreefer]

Nice tank and you got the best color!

 

[Fish Fan]

Very nice looking setup; following!

 

[kevgib67]

Congratulations, nice system!

 

[CoralB]

Nice !

 

[tobster]

**Update **
Went under the crawl space and put a couple of floor jacks to help support the weight. This guy was also in the crawl space.

After that was done I filled up the tank and Installed a wave maker. One of the Tunze 6105 Orcas.
Tunze 3 ATO
SICCE SDC 9 return pump
Bubble Magnus 9+ I’m letting it run and just overflow in hopes of breaking it in good.

I was going to use Ehiem heaters but they are way too long to fit in the sump so I order some of the BRS heaters.

Ordered some TBS live sand. Be a few weeks until it gets here.

Once I get the heaters I plan to start putting some of my live rock from the other tank into the sump and kick start the cycle.

 

[Fish Fan]

Fish tank looks great, but let's not gloss over this beautiful animal

I have been keeping aquaria off and on since I was a kid around 1978 or so, but I also had a whole reptile phase some years back where I kept and bred a lot of American Colubrids. What snake is this? It's not a black rat snake, I'm thinking this is a black Racer?? Where (about) do you live? I'd actually love to see one of these patrolling (for rodents) around my house, very welcome animal as far as I'm concerned, though these are not native to where I live.

Great pics too

 

[tobster]

Fish tank looks great, but let's not gloss over this beautiful animal

I have been keeping aquaria off and on since I was a kid around 1978 or so, but I also had a whole reptile phase some years back where I kept and bred a lot of American Colubrids. What snake is this? It's not a black rat snake, I'm thinking this is a black Racer?? Where (about) do you live? I'd actually love to see one of these patrolling (for rodents) around my house, very welcome animal as far as I'm concerned, though these are not native to where I live.

Great pics too

I believe it is a racer. He’s about 5 feet long and yes I just leave him alone so he can watch for mice and rats.
I’m in Knoxville TN area.

Thanks

 

[Fish Fan]

I believe it is a racer. He’s about 5 feet long and yes I just leave him alone so he can watch for mice and rats.
I’m in Knoxville TN area.

Thanks

That's fantastic! Yes, Racers are native to the lower parts of the US, but not where I live here in cold New York.

Good luck with your build and your snake friend

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[cwerner]

Looking forward to this build for inspiration. I have an M100 in my garage waiting to be assembled currently.

 

[tobster]

Not much new this week.
Slowly been adding some live rock from my other tank to help kick start this one.
I tried my hand at building an nsa structure for some SPS. Hopefully it will work out.

TBS sand is supposed to be here Wednesday.

Still researching what lights to use.

If all goes well I’d like to start adding fish in the next few weeks.

 

[Fish Fan]

You can add the TBS sand and even fish while you're still finalizing your lighting plans. You don't need lights until you add some photosynthetic organisms

 

[tobster]

I plan on adding some Anthias and Chromis. I’d like to let them get established before bringing the other fish over.
Plan is to add them and then figure the lights and then begin tracking the no3 and po4. Once that levels out somewhat I’ll add a few test pieces.

 

[tobster]

Been awhile since I updated… I have the TBS sand in the tank now, for about 2 weeks. I’ve been moving over live rock from my DT and working on the scape as well.

I also bought some fish- McCoskers wrasse, 3 Chromis and 5 Ignitus anthias a few weeks ago.

Decided to go with Reefbreeders meridian 63 because it covers the tank well. I have been acclimating it for a week now. Will eventually need to add some light bars when the SPS are moved over to this tank.

Also got some clean up crew into the tank.