Waterbox 180.5 Dream Reef Build

[reptireef]

Hey all, this is my first time joining/posting on a forum of any kind so I'm excited to share my progression. (unfortunately not too many 180.5 threads)
I started reefing about 8 months ago with a 29g Aqueon and canister, which was a freshwater setup prior. That lasted a couple weeks due to not even knowing what salinity was lol, just threw in some nasty petco LR ,some clowns and added a random amount of salt ;Facepalm;Facepalm(surprised it lasted that long, I'm embarrassed to say!). After that failed I did a couple months worth of proper research (Thanks R2R!) and invested in a NUVO 75INT and fell in love with the hobby and collecting/caring for coral & fish.

Anyways! I walked into an LFS 7-6 months ago and was blown away with their WB display tank and never thought I would have something that wild myself, but here we are!! Officially ran out of room in the 75g.

I'm a little late to this as it's on its last leg of the cycle (first WC tomorrow!), but better late than never?

Here's my current progress photos and specs, lots more to come..

Waterbox 180.5
Vectra M2
2x MP40's
3x Hydra 32hd
Clarisea SK-5000
Inkbird controller & Eheim 300W heater
Neptune Apex & Trident
Caribsea life rock, shapes, & arches
Caribsea Special Grade sand

 

[SPR1968]

Very nice and I love the mermaid!

 

[reptireef]

Installed the Clarisea sk-5000.

 

[reptireef]

All coral are moved in and old tank is torn down! Obligatory coral pics -

 

[Cunning_plan]

Installed the Clarisea sk-5000, so far not happy with it. Constantly rolling new filter even with the return pump at 45%, and even with the bypass hole open. Aside from that the motor is pretty loud. Wouldn’t mind as much if it wasn’t rolling every other minute.

Mind sharing how you modified the sump for this? I've been contemplating doing the same. As it stands I have to clean my filter socks multiple times a day to stop them overflowing. I've currently given up and am running sockless.

 

[reptireef]

Mind sharing how you modified the sump for this? I've been contemplating doing the same. As it stands I have to clean my filter socks multiple times a day to stop them overflowing. I've currently given up and am running sockless.

I took a blade to the black sock holder squares silicone to get them off but with the actual glass baffles it's nearly impossible, so I basically took an adjustable wrench and had it pull on the top of the glass baffle pieces until they broke one piece at a time. Very dangerous and sketchy route but all I could think of. Then get the remainder of the silicone off with a blade. I didnt want to drain the sump so I just shut off the tank and wet-vac'd all the glass shards after

 

[Cunning_plan]

I took a blade to the black sock holder squares silicone to get them off but with the actual glass baffles it's nearly impossible, so I basically took an adjustable wrench and had it pull on the top of the glass baffle pieces until they broke one piece at a time. Very dangerous and sketchy route but all I could think of. Then get the remainder of the silicone off with a blade. I didnt want to drain the sump so I just shut off the tank and wet-vac'd all the glass shards after

Well that's a pretty ballsy approach. Not convinced I have the guts for it but will take another look!

 

[reptireef]

Plumbed in my 25w Pentair UV and the tank is looking incredibly clear!

 

[reptireef]

Got the sump tidied up, would rather not have put the UV in front of everything but didn’t fit anywhere else

 

[tenurepro]

Hello - very nice setup... i am starting a new build with a reef 180.5! how did you connect your vectra to the flex tubing that came with the tank... thanks!

 

[Cunning_plan]

I took a blade to the black sock holder squares silicone to get them off but with the actual glass baffles it's nearly impossible, so I basically took an adjustable wrench and had it pull on the top of the glass baffle pieces until they broke one piece at a time. Very dangerous and sketchy route but all I could think of. Then get the remainder of the silicone off with a blade. I didnt want to drain the sump so I just shut off the tank and wet-vac'd all the glass shards after

That’s exactly what I ended up doing as well for the record.