The Upgrade Build... From 110 to 180

[Dj City]

I received the ReefBot!

This thing is seriously COOL.
It tests a multitude of parameters automatically. I will have it set up to test Alk, Calcium, Mag, Nitrate and Phos.
I have been testing it out and it has performed flawlessly.
Once I start the physical build and have the tank wet and online, I really look forward to using the ReefBot and knowing what's going on with the water without having to take time out of my day to test.

 

[Dj City]

Things have been rolling right along.

The rockwork has been cemented.
The sump has been modified. It now holds just a tad under 16 gallons of ATO water.
The frag tank is set up and the 1st test corals have been introduced today.
The Aquaclear 110 HOB DIY refugium for the frag tank is all set up with fresh chaeto and led fuge light.
Replacement aquarium stand is being delivered today along with the canopy.
I have all my equipment for this build in house and ready to go.
I have all the plumbing parts (I think).
The Reef Kinetics ReefBot has been working like a champ in testing.

Soon enough, the actual "BUILD" part of this build will start.

Pics to come...

 

[Dj City]

The ReefBot auto testing robot.

 

[Dj City]

New stand and canopy.

The gap in the center of the stand is where the center brace goes. It's removable so I can put the sump in.

 

[Dj City]

I am really trying to figure out how to mount my lights to the canopy.
I have 3 Oceanrevive T-247's and 2 Viparspectras.
I have no idea on how to get this done.

This is the underside of the canopy

This is how I need the lights to mount

This is the top (mounting side) of the light

The plan is...
T-247 then Viparspectra then T-247 then Viparspectra then the last T-247.
I'm going for blanket LED coverage.
Both the T-247's and the Viparspectras mount the same way with hanging wires that screw into the posts on the lights.

I might need some help figuring out how to get this done.

 

[Dj City]

I believe I have solved my mounting problem.
I am going to re-do pretty much the whole canopy. The 2 slats that go across the front of the canopy will be moved deeper inside the canopy and will serve as a shelf for the lights to rest on. I will build a lip for each slat so the lights fit securely and are not able to fall into the tank.
I will be making a new entry into the canopy that lifts the whole canopy for access to the tank AND a flap at the front of the canopy for feeding access to the tank.

This ought to be an interesting alteration.

 

[Dj City]

Well...
It's about that time. I have ALL fish out the 110 gallon.
I have ALL the coral that I'm keeping out the 110 gallon.
I removed the skimmer and deep cleaned it for use in the 180.

I think I have to get rid of my very large BTA. I have nowhere to put it as I prepare for the set up of the 180.
Looks like the same story for my mini maxi and my very large Kenya tree and leather.

Guess I will be hitting the for sale thread soon.

110 gallon for sale
110 gallon stand/cabinet for sale
E Shopps r 300 sump for sale
Plumbing included.
Sand included.
Live rock included.
Large carpet anemone included.
Large Kenya tree included.
Mini maxi anemone included.
Large BTA included.

Located in Maryland.
Local pick up only!

I will throw in usa orbit led light as well as marineland T5 fixture with fresh ATI bulbs.

How much should I charge for all this?

 

[Dondante]

I am really trying to figure out how to mount my lights to the canopy.
I have 3 Oceanrevive T-247's and 2 Viparspectras.
I have no idea on how to get this done.

This is the underside of the canopy

This is how I need the lights to mount

This is the top (mounting side) of the light

The plan is...
T-247 then Viparspectra then T-247 then Viparspectra then the last T-247.
I'm going for blanket LED coverage.
Both the T-247's and the Viparspectras mount the same way with hanging wires that screw into the posts on the lights.

I might need some help figuring out how to get this done.

My canopy was a mess. That's another story. I moved the lower front brace sideways and at the bottom and moved the top further back and also turned it sideways. I'm still plumbing. My cabinet doors aren't straight either.

 

[Dj City]

My plans for this reef came to an abrupt halt on April 15th.

Some idiot ran me off the road while I was riding my motorcycle.
I suffered a very broken leg, fractured ankle and 2 cracked ribs.
I now have a lot of metal in my right leg and won't be able to walk till about August.

Lack of mobility led to me not being able to care of the frag tank.
I lost all my corals.

My fish are fine though.

I'ts gonna be quite a while till I'm able to break the 110 gallon down and set up the 180.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Wow, that is terrible news. Be well and hoping for a smooth recovery.

 

[Dj City]

Well...

I'm still recovering from the broken leg.
I will be moving to a new house soon so the tank is still in limbo waiting for it's home.

I HOPE to get started on the 180 by mid December.
I will be starting with NO coral as ALL my corals have died. I was not able to take care of the frag tank when I broke my leg.
All I have left are my Lionfish, Large Maroon Clown, Two 3 stripe Damsels, a cinnamon clown and a small Scopas Tang.

I've got a looooooong road ahead of me.

 

[Dj City]

OK,
So I changed my mind on lighting and got a ReefBreeders Photon 50V2+
I am strongly considering adding either LumenBars OR T5's.
Edit:
I got 1 High Octane UV LumenBar to go with the Photon 50V2+

I also ordered the Neptune Trident.
Still have to get a DOS

Edit:
I got the Dos.
I am considering ordering a 2and Dos.

 

[Dj City]

I really want to get started on this build.
This is going to be the slowest start I've ever done. I am planning on at least a 4 month cycle period with no light besides ambient room light. I am trying to achieve a full cycle where nitrates bubble out in the form of nitrogen gas.

I'm not 100% sold on bare bottom.
I prefer thre look of sand but I want a lot of flow for SPS.
I have 4 Neptune Wav pumps, 1 Tunze streamline 3 and 2 gyre pumps.

Can I even use sand with all that flow?

 

[Dj City]

Starting to plan out my fish.

Get rid of my lionfish!

Tangs

Fox face
Springer damsel (blue sapphire damsel)
Yellow tail damsel
White goby (Bluespot)
Wrasses
Turbo snails
Trocus snails

 

[Dj City]

Considering this for if I want to add T5 lighting.

 

[Dj City]

Updated thoughts...

I want sand.
Either Tropic Eden special grade or CaribSea Special grade.

I want to know my actual water volume.
I think I will fill the tank and sump with no sand, no rock and no equipment.
I will measure total water volume and subtract as I add equipment, sand and rock.

 

[NatD]

Following. Hope your recovery is moving right along.

 

[Dj City]

Following. Hope your recovery is moving right along.

Thanks @NatD
Recovery is slow and painful but progress is being made.

Breaking your leg is an ultimate lesson in patience.
I've had a lot of time to think of what I want. Just lack the ability to put planning into action.

The build should start in February!

 

[merereef]

I tried EVERYTHING!
I have a Pentiar Aquatics smart 40W and I used the UV as a sand vac vacuuming the dinos directly through the UV.
It did pretty much nothing.

May i ask what brand sand you used? And were you running any gfo or disturb the system in anway before the dinos started to appear? I had this same issue trid nearly everything but dinos would not go... the ONLY thing that worked for me was the elegent corals method for dinos by cruz arias

 

[Dj City]

May i ask what brand sand you used? And were you running any gfo or disturb the system in anway before the dinos started to appear? I had this same issue trid nearly everything but dinos would not go... the ONLY thing that worked for me was the elegent corals method for dinos by cruz arias

I really don't remember what sand I started out with.
When I did a reboot of that tank, I used CaribSea special grade.

I've used gfo, no gfo, gac, no gac, uv, no uv, T5 lights, led lights, combo of both, less light, more light, blackouts, water changes, no water changes, feeding less, feeding more, chemicals, natural treatments, disturbing the sand, leaving it alone, etc, etc, etc.

Nothing worked for me.