Livewires 180 Gallon Reef Build

[LiVEWiRE]

I wanted to share with you all my current 180 gallon Reef Tank Build. I have been in the reef hobby for a long time and had a 150 with a 90 running for awhile but this will be my biggest completed with finished stand that I have done.I built the stand myself and must say that I am happy with the turn out although I had no plans to start with and I changed my design half way through and had to restart but it turned out well. I got the tank and a lot of other items at a great price but It took me a lot of scraping glass to get this tank clean and get the paint job off the back but it was worth it. This will be a 180 with about a 50 gallon sump. I still have a lot to do as I plan on setting up auto lighting when I pull the magnetic held doors off as well as having auto water changes and any other ideas. I may go with two skimmers instead of one as I have two on hand that will equal over the size I need but for now I am fine with the one as I will have a small load on the tank. I may also do some LED indicator panel so I know what’s going on by just looking at the tank. Although my Apex will do what I need from my phone I just think it would be cool to have a small panel on the right of the tank letting me know what’s happening.

 

I will also be installing maintenance mode switches as well as feeding and hopefully Auto water changes. I will be running at least 2 Radion Led's and maybe a 15 in the center as well as a 150 Gyre and 2-3 MP 10's for flow on the back of the rock work. Most of the rock was dead or dry and 80% of the sand was dry. I used a mix of Rock that came with it and some that I had on hand and for the sand I ordered 40 lbs of live Fiji pink and 120 lbs of seafloor special grade sand. My return pump is a Jebao 10000 DCT and as of now is running at 50%. I have always had great luck with their dc pumps and I will have a spare on hand just in case. I have a reef octopus super as well as an Icecap K2 skimmer but am still not 100% on if I will be using both or just selling booth and getting 1 that is large enough once I have Tangs and other large fish in the system. (Any input on running two skimmers would be great!)

 

I will be plumbing UV as well as Ozone to have them available as well as reactors for media. I most likely will run the UV after the bacteria flourish. I also have a chiller that if not needed I will be selling it as well as my frag tank system and 40 gallon setup. I have a lot of plans for the 180 setup but those are some that I look to start off with. I added some pictures so you all can see where I am in this build. Right now the system is in "Cycle Mode" but I do have 64oz of Live Nitrifying Bacteria on hand although I am in no hurry as we all know nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank. Please let me know what you think and any ideas or comments that you may have are always welcome.

 

[AlanM]

Cedar panelling for the stand?  Looks nice.  Did you stain or varnish them?

 

I don't know if MP10s will work on the glass thickness in a 180g tank, though.  You'd probably need MP40s.

[surf&turf]

Wow, nice!!! Where is this going?

[LiVEWiRE]

Thanks for the advice Alan. I was hoping to use the MP 10 but like you said the glass may not let me. I will try it out and see if it will as I just want a little flow back there a few times a day. I did use Cedar panel and it actually worked out well. I did not stain or varnish it it is in its natural state after being cut into panelling. None of the cedar is exposed to the sump area but I hear that it would do fine if it were. And the entire sump area has been painted. I even have an orange wall for all Apex items to be mounted. This will be going in the dinning room surf and I will be setting up just one QT tank in the back. I will just be happy not having to lug 5 gallon buckets of water anymore.

[YHSublime]

Thanks for the advice Alan. I was hoping to use the MP 10 but like you said the glass may not let me.

 

The glass will let you, but the slightest bump or movement will knock them off. You'll find yourself putting them back more often then it's worth. You will probably not get anywhere near enough flow in a 180 as well, I'm with Alan on the best up it to MP40's, or a larger powerhead, doesn't have to be Vortech.

 

I wouldn't run two skimmers. Do yourself a favor and get one that can handle the bioload of your tank when it is fully stocked.

[LiVEWiRE]

Thanks Sublime I will most likely sell the skimmers that I have and use that $ for a bigger one.My Gyre 150 came in yesterday so I will get it mounted this weekend. I was just going to use the MP 10's to make sure that there were no dead spots in the back of the tank and have them turn on for a few minutes maybe once an hour but if they are going to be falling off all the time I will just get some 40's. I have time as right now there is nothing in the tank but sand and rock and once the Gyre 150 is installed that should be good till I can get something to add. I did want to get the next size up Icecap K2 skimmer but it does not come out till March so I may have to change my plan a little.

[AlanM]

To just keep things stirred up in the back you could always use a couple of much cheaper WP10s, but then you'll have some cords in the tank back there...

[Apcoleman]

Looking good!  I really like the cedar stand. As mentioned above, you will probably have some trouble with the MP10 hanging on. I ran one on a 90gal oceanic and was pretty easy to move if it was bumped.  

[LiVEWiRE]

Thanks Apcoleman! I do like the look of cedar too. I thought about using some WP10's Alen but like you mentioned I am trying to keep the cords out of the system. I will hook up the Gyre 150 and see if Ieven have any dead spots. I made sure not to place the rock up against the back glass so that I have flow back there. There is a good amount of space back there so I may be just fine at least till I start adding sticks or things start growing. Once I get the lights mounted I will be moving some corals and selling my frag system so that will cover the cost of another light that is used and maybe a MP 40. I should not have an issue selling the skimmers to upgrade as well as they are both great skimmers. 

[LiVEWiRE]

Updates. Added some fish and a small amount of cleaners so far and my new skimmer has arrived. I am currently breaking it in and it is a monster. I have the IceCap 120 on my frag tank and love it so I wanted to add the 200 to this build and Coral Vue again came through for me. I need to clean up the wiring after it breaks in.

 

 

 

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[AlanM]

Looks like a nice compact design for the skimmer with the pump underneath like that.  Keep us informed for how well it works.

[surf&turf]

Lookin good Bud, I need to get over and see that beast.

[HgrReefs]

Looking great Todd!

 

 

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[LiVEWiRE]

Thanks everyone. Once I get it all together everyone is welcome to come check it out. Well it arrived after a long wait so let's take an adventure into the Brightwell Aquatics NeoZeo Method. I just started it today so it will be a time will tell style outcome. I placed some cleaners in there today also so now the task of daily additives. Once I have it down much better and know how much and what all I will be dosing I will add it to my dosed with my other dosing that I will be doing.

 

 

 

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[Hopeitlives]

What are you going to dose?

[surf&turf]

Updates?

[LiVEWiRE]

I have been busy busy lately with the system and have wanted to give some updates of what I have done to the system in the last few months. Here is my wireless controller for my Ecotech equipment. I would have placed it on the "Orange Board" but it fit in here pretty nicely.

Edited July 10, 2016 by LiVEWiRE

[LiVEWiRE]

Power Bar hidden under equipment cover.

[LiVEWiRE]

Slide cover that I built to access equipment, and water changer.

Edited July 10, 2016 by LiVEWiRE

[LiVEWiRE]

Inside I have a bunch of things that keep the system going.

[LiVEWiRE]

Battery backups, Radion drivers, UPS's that Batters backups are plugged into. I also have a 24 volt feed I use for my exhaust fan here. I will be using it for solenoid valves also in the future.

[LiVEWiRE]

Exhaust leaves from the stand and enters here also. It also keeps air moving in the area to cool the Radion drivers, battery backups, UPS's, and such and then gets exhausted to where the water storage is under my steps.

[LiVEWiRE]

I installed a 3/4" pipe with a tee that runs into my ATO water container that is a 5 gallon bucket at the moment but will be a 30 gallon container once it arrives. (I just ordered it last week). At the end I had to figure out a way to keep the barb fitting out of the way so I could slide the cover onto the top of the cabinet so I installed a Union. When I need to change water I simply loosen the union and turn the barb fitting upwards with the hose and start a siphon then I siphon the water right down the washing machine drain. Then I turn some valves and pump fresh saltwater into the tank. Then I loosen the union and turn the barb fitting down and tighten it back up. No more having to carry buckets. Its all hooked to my Apex so water changes are a breeze now.

[LiVEWiRE]

My dosing containers are located in that cabinet area as well and my GHL doser sits above.

[LiVEWiRE]

Beside that I built the bench where you can sit and just enjoy the beauty of the system. The front panel I made removable and under the bench you will find I keep all my supplies, spare pumps and other supplies.