jschlem
Community Member
Starting my build thread and documenting this tank. More picture to come with more progress.
I have been into aquariums since I was a small boy and always had one in my life until I joined to Army in 2004. I even worked at a LFS for several years and was constantly building new tanks for new animals. I got out of the army 1.5 years ago and had been keeping a 34RSM successfully for the past 4 years and with my last move I set up a drilled 93 cube. Starting working part time at a LFS again mostly for the discounts and helping people setup and maintain their tanks.
A few months ago I got the green light from my wife to set up a larger tank.(Never thought this would happen because she is still in the army and we move every 3 years). So started to look around for a good deal on a used setup. I decided on a 180-220 gallon based on the standard dimensions 72x24x?. I figured I should at least double my current tank size or why bother upgrading. With that figured out it was just about waiting for the right deal and starting looking for and buying equipment. The first thing I was able to buy was a 120L for the sump. The sump was rough and must have been 25+ years old. It had been resealed recently and I was able to leak test for a month in the garage as well. I was then able to find a 180 on Facebook that was indeed 25 years old. But get this, it has never had water in it, and was only stored inside. The silicone was perfect and the tank itself was the best 25 year old tank I have ever seen.(small chip on the corner from where it had been moved to 3 different states in the 25 years). Leak tested that in the garage for a month as well.
Next was to build the stand/ light rack. I had no clue about welding so I talked to the local welding instructor at the Advanced Welding Institute he said to get get him the parts cut and he would do it in his spare time since I was not in a hurry. He did an excellent job with the welds but messed up on a few of the gussets. The ones on the bottom side were to far in to fit the sump under the tank and the ones for the back top were put under the tank in the corners(messed up when he was rotating the stand around). I had him cut/grind out the gussets on the bottom so I could fit in the sump and since this tank was going to be drilled and have a center Synergy Shadow overflow the top gussets where not a huge concern. For what I paid I was more then happy. Had it powder coated locally and turned out fantastic.
Some of the equipment has come from Matt at Green Mountain Coral. Who I am very appreciative of his help and support. The reefing community is very small in Vermont and he is able to take care of most everyones needs without having to drive 3+ hours to Albany or Boston. I picked up the Lifereef skimmer and CA reactor from @Ditto who hooked me up with a great deal and I wish lived closer because he seemed like a good guy to be friends with. Thanks again Ditto. @TaylorPilot and exotic marine systems was very helpful with the baffles. I knew I wanted to try a Triton style sump and he had been sketching some. I had him send me custom baffles, I think the first set for a Triton sump. Plumbing and some parts were picked up from BRS.
Current Status: Waiting on the tank getting drilled. Then painting the back black, siliconing the ABS in the bottom. Plumbing is going to take the most time I think. Sump is mostly done just need to drill and mount bulkheads.
Details
Tank: All Glass Aquarium180(72x24x24) with Synergy Shadow Overflow and single 1.5” Return.
Sump: Homemade from a 120L 72" x 18" x 22”. Triton setup with panels from Exotic Marine Systems. 34x18x15 fuge. 22dx18 skimmer section. 7” return section. 9” ATO section.
Stands: Custom Steal Powder Coated Black 72" x 25" x 39" Tank Stand.
Plumbing: All Schedule 80 Grey 1.5” Return and 1.5" Bean Animal Overflow.
Lighting: Aquatic Life 61" Hybrid T5 and 3 x Radion XR30 G4 Pro w/ diffusers. 150watt UFO Refugium light.
Pumps: 2 x Ecotech MP40QD 1 MP60QD. Vectra L1 for return.
Heaters: 1 x Eheim Jager 300W, 1 x Cobalt Neotherm 200W
Skimmer: Lifereef 30”vs3 run on mag 18. May use leftover vectra M1.
Controller: Reefkeeper lite for temp controller at this time and Ecotech Live. Planed but not Purchased (Apex Controller plus extra EB832 Energy Bar).
ATO: Tunze 5017.
Reactors: BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual w/ MJ1200. Lifereef 30” calcium reactor.
Doser: None Planned possible kalk to keep PH up.
Rock and Sand: 80lbs Reef Saver Shelf, 100 lbs liverock from 93 gallon, 1 x Marinepure 8" x 8" x 4" plate, plus .5 cubic foot(2”cubes) ceramic biomedia for sump. Barebottom with .5” black ABS sheet.
I have been into aquariums since I was a small boy and always had one in my life until I joined to Army in 2004. I even worked at a LFS for several years and was constantly building new tanks for new animals. I got out of the army 1.5 years ago and had been keeping a 34RSM successfully for the past 4 years and with my last move I set up a drilled 93 cube. Starting working part time at a LFS again mostly for the discounts and helping people setup and maintain their tanks.
A few months ago I got the green light from my wife to set up a larger tank.(Never thought this would happen because she is still in the army and we move every 3 years). So started to look around for a good deal on a used setup. I decided on a 180-220 gallon based on the standard dimensions 72x24x?. I figured I should at least double my current tank size or why bother upgrading. With that figured out it was just about waiting for the right deal and starting looking for and buying equipment. The first thing I was able to buy was a 120L for the sump. The sump was rough and must have been 25+ years old. It had been resealed recently and I was able to leak test for a month in the garage as well. I was then able to find a 180 on Facebook that was indeed 25 years old. But get this, it has never had water in it, and was only stored inside. The silicone was perfect and the tank itself was the best 25 year old tank I have ever seen.(small chip on the corner from where it had been moved to 3 different states in the 25 years). Leak tested that in the garage for a month as well.
Next was to build the stand/ light rack. I had no clue about welding so I talked to the local welding instructor at the Advanced Welding Institute he said to get get him the parts cut and he would do it in his spare time since I was not in a hurry. He did an excellent job with the welds but messed up on a few of the gussets. The ones on the bottom side were to far in to fit the sump under the tank and the ones for the back top were put under the tank in the corners(messed up when he was rotating the stand around). I had him cut/grind out the gussets on the bottom so I could fit in the sump and since this tank was going to be drilled and have a center Synergy Shadow overflow the top gussets where not a huge concern. For what I paid I was more then happy. Had it powder coated locally and turned out fantastic.
Some of the equipment has come from Matt at Green Mountain Coral. Who I am very appreciative of his help and support. The reefing community is very small in Vermont and he is able to take care of most everyones needs without having to drive 3+ hours to Albany or Boston. I picked up the Lifereef skimmer and CA reactor from @Ditto who hooked me up with a great deal and I wish lived closer because he seemed like a good guy to be friends with. Thanks again Ditto. @TaylorPilot and exotic marine systems was very helpful with the baffles. I knew I wanted to try a Triton style sump and he had been sketching some. I had him send me custom baffles, I think the first set for a Triton sump. Plumbing and some parts were picked up from BRS.
Current Status: Waiting on the tank getting drilled. Then painting the back black, siliconing the ABS in the bottom. Plumbing is going to take the most time I think. Sump is mostly done just need to drill and mount bulkheads.
Details
Tank: All Glass Aquarium180(72x24x24) with Synergy Shadow Overflow and single 1.5” Return.
Sump: Homemade from a 120L 72" x 18" x 22”. Triton setup with panels from Exotic Marine Systems. 34x18x15 fuge. 22dx18 skimmer section. 7” return section. 9” ATO section.
Stands: Custom Steal Powder Coated Black 72" x 25" x 39" Tank Stand.
Plumbing: All Schedule 80 Grey 1.5” Return and 1.5" Bean Animal Overflow.
Lighting: Aquatic Life 61" Hybrid T5 and 3 x Radion XR30 G4 Pro w/ diffusers. 150watt UFO Refugium light.
Pumps: 2 x Ecotech MP40QD 1 MP60QD. Vectra L1 for return.
Heaters: 1 x Eheim Jager 300W, 1 x Cobalt Neotherm 200W
Skimmer: Lifereef 30”vs3 run on mag 18. May use leftover vectra M1.
Controller: Reefkeeper lite for temp controller at this time and Ecotech Live. Planed but not Purchased (Apex Controller plus extra EB832 Energy Bar).
ATO: Tunze 5017.
Reactors: BRS GFO & Carbon Reactor - Dual w/ MJ1200. Lifereef 30” calcium reactor.
Doser: None Planned possible kalk to keep PH up.
Rock and Sand: 80lbs Reef Saver Shelf, 100 lbs liverock from 93 gallon, 1 x Marinepure 8" x 8" x 4" plate, plus .5 cubic foot(2”cubes) ceramic biomedia for sump. Barebottom with .5” black ABS sheet.
