Victoria Music's Custom 180 Rebuild

Victoria M · Nov 7, 2017

vertigo01 said:
Sorry to hear of your tanks plight.
I think you are doing the right thing by ditching the old and going with the new rock.

Thank you. It is heart wrenching though.

Victoria M · Nov 7, 2017

Any thoughts on placing the new LR in the 40B for observation?

cmcoker · Nov 7, 2017

Victoria M said:
Any thoughts on placing the new LR in the 40B for observation?

I would definitely put it where you can access it easily to deal with hitchhikers. I think even a Rubbermaid bin would be fine, so long as you have heat, flow, etc.

Victoria M · Nov 7, 2017

cmcoker said:
I would definitely put it where you can access it easily to deal with hitchhikers. I think even a Rubbermaid bin would be fine, so long as you have heat, flow, etc.

That is great. Thank you for the input. Last time I had a deadly pistol shrimp in the 180 it about killed me taking the tank apart. He was a houdini.

Victoria M · Nov 13, 2017

Than you for the likes and kind encouragement folks. I enjoy them very much.

Victoria M · Nov 29, 2017

I am excited to share that I invested in a upgraded BRS 5 stage filter. It has plenty of bells and whistles. AND It has a water shut off valve!

Victoria M · Nov 30, 2017

He is so much happier!

Victoria M · Dec 3, 2017

And fun times with plumbing coming soon!

Victoria M · Dec 3, 2017

Filter temporarily set up for now. I needed water for my temporary 40B

Victoria M · Dec 9, 2017

I decided to change the fishroom and roped my husband doing it for me. I would say we did it but I am just a helper and the idea gurl! He says I starting thinking and his back starts hurtin...lol! I am so excited for the next phase of my aquarium. I chose to have a counter height sump stand and work counter. I can store so much under it and I can roll my brute on wheels under it. And I can place my 10 gallon ATO under there too if I want. So many options now.

The occassional sump maintenance will be a challenge at that height, however I have step stools.

There is much to do yet. Look at that mess of ro tubes!

Victoria M · Dec 9, 2017

It appears I need to complete some maintenance on my panworld pump...le sigh. Is the black saltcreep a concern? It makes me think there is a problem?

Victoria M · Dec 9, 2017

Can you see him? He thinks we can not see him.

Victoria M · Dec 19, 2017

It is hard to see in the pictures but the wood has all been primed and painted white. It looks nice and crisp.

This is the view looking up the sump from the pump weir to the far end; the drain weir. It is very hard to go back into the sump to deepen the overflow teeth

It was done so beautifully before but now...it is what it is. Justin had to fix my goofed up area and finish it for me. It just about killed him leaving the teeth less than perfect. lol.

Look ma, I chipped a tooth! Making progress, but still much to do. I need to sand the grooves yet.

Victoria M · Dec 23, 2017

It is never easy and never goes as planned... that heater vent is in the way!

Victoria M · Dec 23, 2017

My youngest was was 5 and was into writing his name on everything. He helped my husband plumb my tank in 2010 and wrote his name on my drain line. I have to save it.

Victoria M · Dec 23, 2017

And he is helping again today, but I had to twist his arm. 12 year olds are fun...

Victoria M · Dec 23, 2017

And it always gets worse before it gets better.

Victoria M · Dec 23, 2017

The plumbing thru the crawl space is done. We left the fishroom plumbing for another day. We need to make a new crawl space access door, but we are done for today.

You can see in the top left corner of the picture where the pipes enter the fishroom. The plumbing will all be over head and down to the sump in a neat and clean fashion. The opening in the corner of the access door used to allow the plumbing to run from the tank to the sump without cutting thru rafters. But it was not neat and easy on the eye. They also got in my way.
Still much to do but I am super psyched about all we got done today. A huge thank you to my husband for getting in there with spiders and dirty stuff. He is just the bestest!