MonkE and Neoh's 180 Reef Build

[monkE]

When me and Ryan decided to go splits on a house it was immediately clear that we would go splits on a large tank. We've both been aqua nuts forever and Reefers for the past couple years so we've collected plenty of gear. We purchased a tank off another Canreef member and started the planning. I had a 125 gallon tank running and he had a 75 gallon, so we also had a full supply of LR and livestock.

Step 1: Plan

We wanted to make the tank easy to work on as well as be functional. We'd put in the biggest skimmer we've got as well as a fuge for some algae control and pod farm. Also we needed to be 100% sure that there would be no leaks because the tank would be on very nice hardwood floor and our secuirty deposit on this house is huge. We figured that we'd set the whole tank up in the garage and then when it was planned and tested, we'd dissassemble it and move it on upstairs.
Leak test:
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140415_213410_zpscd46fdf4.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140415_213410_zpscd46fdf4.jpg.html)

Step 2: Get it upstairs

After a couple cases of beer and a few tanks full of water we got the returns and overflows sorted out. Time to move the tank upstairs... grrr... should have thought of this earlier...
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140608_131119_zps21c79626.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140608_131119_zps21c79626.jpg.html)

Step3: Setup

2 more cases of beer and a long weekend later....
First get the stand in place and start the plumbing on the sump
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10260002_10152639708419881_1521986540493746868_n_z ps0f92e383.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10260002_10152639708419881_1521986540493746868_n_z ps0f92e383.jpg.html)
Had some LED light strips lying around... perfect :)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10173696_10152639708514881_436341203713829714_n_zp s7ea21dd4.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10173696_10152639708514881_436341203713829714_n_zp s7ea21dd4.jpg.html)
Got the skimmer and fuge set up and started with the reefkeeper wiring
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10171839_10152639708554881_211378653736264322_n_zp s32044eb4.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10171839_10152639708554881_211378653736264322_n_zp s32044eb4.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10157154_10152639708474881_682778967396858357_n_zp se77259da.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10157154_10152639708474881_682778967396858357_n_zp se77259da.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10157107_10152639708779881_5070225564937797853_n_z pse630037a.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10157107_10152639708779881_5070225564937797853_n_z pse630037a.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10155257_10152639708839881_1910871582606499366_n_z psbfd0ab2e.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10155257_10152639708839881_1910871582606499366_n_z psbfd0ab2e.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10274228_10152639708679881_7536996907269261389_n_z psf1e6c130.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10274228_10152639708679881_7536996907269261389_n_z psf1e6c130.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10271599_10152639708639881_8512954995464937391_n_z psf3aea023.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10271599_10152639708639881_8512954995464937391_n_z psf3aea023.jpg.html)

[monkE]

Time for the real fun!


Lamp posts from Home Depot make a great light hanger for a decent price - we're running a 4 foot vertex illumina fixture and it's suprisingly heavyhttp://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10154161_10152639709134881_5906427756304629584_n_z ps9354456d.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10154161_10152639709134881_5906427756304629584_n_z ps9354456d.jpg.html)

we wanted to limit the amount of LR in the tank to provide a lot of swiming room for the fish - we're going for a few larger tangs that will grow into the tank.
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/1424324_10152639709359881_800763220731046761_n_zps 5f42c920.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/1424324_10152639709359881_800763220731046761_n_zps 5f42c920.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10257686_10152639709169881_9141949575471847746_n_z psb6b394ce.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10257686_10152639709169881_9141949575471847746_n_z psb6b394ce.jpg.html)

YAY for water!!! I wish i took pictures of all the RO/DI buckets we had going downstairs... there's a video that i'm going to have to figure out how to put onto here
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10154347_10152639709444881_1144269090318179560_n_z pscca9ab0b.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10154347_10152639709444881_1144269090318179560_n_z pscca9ab0b.jpg.html)

[monkE]

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/n9zig5hGaJQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[monkE]

http://youtu.be/n9zig5hGaJQ

[corpusse]

Congrats on the tank and the house. Long way to go for the RO.

Did the 2 of you get the tank up the stairs okay? Or were additional people needed? The reason I ask is I just picked up a 180 myself while it was HEAVY i was able to manage it okay but my friend had some trouble. It's now sitting in my garage as I try and convince 2 more people to help bring it up the stairs into the house and then down the stairs to the basement.

[monkE]

We had both of our tanks running downstairs so it was just a matter of transporting the liverock and the tank water upstairs, the new tank filled up quick!

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10301304_10152642517704881_1917791527366587493_n_z psc5d4fa61.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10301304_10152642517704881_1917791527366587493_n_z psc5d4fa61.jpg.html)
the fuge
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/10277775_1015263970895
9881_647412714878566598_n_zps5ab62609.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/10277775_10152639708959881_647412714878566598_n_zp s5ab62609.jpg.html)

FTS
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125802_zps405a0660.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125802_zps405a0660.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125741_zpscbc3af5d.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125741_zpscbc3af5d.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125728_zps049aec74.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125728_zps049aec74.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125720_zps6b1f15b8.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125720_zps6b1f15b8.jpg.html)

Loraine saying Hi!
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125631_zps06351e71.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125631_zps06351e71.jpg.html)

SOOOO many frags have been purchased in the past couple months
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125621_zps2232f141.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125621_zps2232f141.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125615_zps3d593ffc.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125615_zps3d593ffc.jpg.html)


http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125556_zpsbeb0bdaa.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125556_zpsbeb0bdaa.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125547_zps0d6ccc2f.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125547_zps0d6ccc2f.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125542_zps9a81e9ab.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125542_zps9a81e9ab.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125527_zps38265bc7.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125527_zps38265bc7.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125517_zps975a9302.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125517_zps975a9302.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125512_zpsd8d8527a.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125512_zpsd8d8527a.jpg.html)
Merlin hanging out with the monti... it's not bleached, but my phone doesn't get the colours right
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125430_zpsc15ead79.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125430_zpsc15ead79.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125418_zpsf0eac0e7.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125418_zpsf0eac0e7.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125411_zps659f44c0.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125411_zps659f44c0.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125401_zps2ce3a752.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125401_zps2ce3a752.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125355_zps0bce96e0.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125355_zps0bce96e0.jpg.html)

We closed the sump in to prevent any salt creep on the wall - but it quickly got quite warm in there with the fuge light running so we added a couple of these fans - temp operated, 120 volt AC plug, they work quite well
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125105_zps2d55decf.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125105_zps2d55decf.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125059_zpsa17fd2c8.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125059_zpsa17fd2c8.jpg.html)

I'm a bit of a tech nut so i set up a computer next to the tank for the Vertex control and the MyReef software so you don't have to use the small controller when you want to check or change something
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_125042_zps7ef7d4dc.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_125042_zps7ef7d4dc.jpg.html)

shot of the skimmer
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124946_zpsf667c017.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124946_zpsf667c017.jpg.html)

fuge
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124936_zps28c2c4b3.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124936_zps28c2c4b3.jpg.html)

36 gallon ATO drum
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124925_zps3aa1bdb5.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124925_zps3aa1bdb5.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124918_zpsd0e558fb.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124918_zpsd0e558fb.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124840_zps7d4e6b94.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124840_zps7d4e6b94.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124821_zpse8992f6d.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124821_zpse8992f6d.jpg.html)

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/20140608_124811_zps526c7b82.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/20140608_124811_zps526c7b82.jpg.html)

[matt_C]

Nice, i really like those stairs!. Tank looks good.

[monkE]

Congrats on the tank and the house. Long way to go for the RO.

Did the 2 of you get the tank up the stairs okay? Or were additional people needed? The reason I ask is I just picked up a 180 myself while it was HEAVY i was able to manage it okay but my friend had some trouble. It's now sitting in my garage as I try and convince 2 more people to help bring it up the stairs into the house and then down the stairs to the basement.

Thanks!

well we did it just the two of us... but i wouldn't say we were OK! lol Ryan you want to field this one ;)

I would definitely recommend more people although in our situation it wouldn't have mattered as our back patio stairs are quite narrow and there would not have been room for any extra bodies.

[monkE]

Nice, i really like those stairs!. Tank looks good.
thanks Matt!

[neoh]

Nobody would help. We grew impatient.

Half way up the stairs, my arms gave out.
Then we swapped sides and went up and left it at the top of the stairs until we could regain our strength, then attempted it again.

Never under any circumstances do I recommend two people moving a 180g tank on their own. Worst idea ever.

[albert_dao]

Never under any circumstances do I recommend two people moving a 180g tank on their own. Worst idea ever.

0____0

[Tn23]

Tank looks great, love the computer setup next to it. Looks super advanced!

[corpusse]

Nobody would help. We grew impatient.

Half way up the stairs, my arms gave out.
Then we swapped sides and went up and left it at the top of the stairs until we could regain our strength, then attempted it again.

Never under any circumstances do I recommend two people moving a 180g tank on their own. Worst idea ever.

I'll make sure my friends never read this thread.

One more question I'm pretty sure I know the answer but just want to confirm. You have no foam or plywood under your tank between the stand correct?

[Aquattro]

You had me at lamp posts!! :)

Got any close up shots? I need some light mounting ideas, and that looks cool.

And I'm looking forward to moving my 180 out with 2 people. I remember it coming in lol

[monkE]

I'll make sure my friends never read this thread.

One more question I'm pretty sure I know the answer but just want to confirm. You have no foam or plywood under your tank between the stand correct?
there is foam between the stand and the floor, but not between the stand and tank
You had me at lamp posts!! :)

Got any close up shots? I need some light mounting ideas, and that looks cool.

And I'm looking forward to moving my 180 out with 2 people. I remember it coming in lol
i'll see if i can get a shot from the back of the tank

here's the home depot link to the posts
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/aluminum-pole-black-finish-with-cross-bar/935138

[neoh]

I'll make sure my friends never read this thread.

One more question I'm pretty sure I know the answer but just want to confirm. You have no foam or plywood under your tank between the stand correct?

We have a camping mattress underneath the stand, and we used poly on the inside and a yoga mat underneath the sump.

[neoh]

I've had a NET module for the reefkeeper for about 6 months now, and still haven't booked it up. Still trying to figure it out. Probably picking up a router that allows wireless bridging so I can hook it up directly to it then bounce to the router in the other room wirelessly.

Though we did hook up remote access to the ReefPC, which is connected to the reefkeeper via MyReef 2.0 and the Vertex Illumina's software - so we know what the lights are doing, and can control everything from our phones.

But to top it off, we also added security cameras to the sump, side of the tank and in front of the tank, so when we get a text message regarding something going wrong in temperature, pH, or the float switch in the skimmer or sump - we can turn anything, or everything off remotely - and we can see it!

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140626_223429_zps28f60e44.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140626_223508_zpsacd5c317.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140626_223448_zps270d9be9.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/fishcam_zps840f8713.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/fishcam2_zpsd5d3ad61.jpg

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/fishcam3_zps2ed70869.jpg

[neoh]

the cameras are also infared and weatherproof. So we can see it in the dark, too!

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/fishcam4_zps1cc72be1.jpg

[FishyFishy!]

Thats awesome! I'm going to do that too with my new build. It'll be awesome to view the tank when i'm at work. The best is that you can hopefully catch potential disasters before they happen.

Looking great!

[Skimmerking]

looks great man

[monkE]

Loving the remote cam setup that Ryan hooked up for us.

Here's a couple tank shots from today


fts
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171640_zps0l8yrfu8.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171640_zps0l8yrfu8.jpg.html)
middle secton - the green monti fell on the lobos and got burnt pretty bad as you can see - should recover ok
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171652_zpsgeyvhcpr.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171652_zpsgeyvhcpr.jpg.html)
newly rescaped right side
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171707_zps4p5l9jjg.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171707_zps4p5l9jjg.jpg.html)
giant toadstool
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171724_zpskhf1x9al.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171724_zpskhf1x9al.jpg.html)
left side
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171739_zpsguoputab.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171739_zpsguoputab.jpg.html)
rock flower closeup - love these guys
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171810_zps77estdza.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171810_zps77estdza.jpg.html)
duncan colony
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171823_zpsd1ottvab.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171823_zpsd1ottvab.jpg.html)
ausie duncans dwarfing the button polyps
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171831_zpscp64wogl.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171831_zpscp64wogl.jpg.html)
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171841_zpsvwgl5wzt.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171841_zpsvwgl5wzt.jpg.html)
happy torch
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171859_zpsxplr2wew.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171859_zpsxplr2wew.jpg.html)

cloves and small acan garden

http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171917_zpsufkzhxva.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171917_zpsufkzhxva.jpg.html)
another fts
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae146/monkeflow/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171937_zpsk5xzoahs.jpg (http://s966.photobucket.com/user/monkeflow/media/180%20Gallon%20Reef%20Journal/20140701_171937_zpsk5xzoahs.jpg.html)

[Cankers]

Looks great! I'm looking forward to the day I start my upgrade :)

[Ryanerickson]

Tank looks great wish my system was that automated great work guys. By the way your anemones are borneman anemones not rock flowers watch out they can reproduce fast but pretty cool looking.

[neoh]

The kids.
http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140720_204832_zps7ce63a7b.jpg

[neoh]

FTS

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140721_122633_zps2a40c4e9.jpg

[neoh]

Right side..

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140720_204838_zpsfd2be139.jpg

Paly garden

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140720_204855_zps8d2139d7.jpg

Zoo mountain

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140720_205130_zpsac3d7595.jpg

[neoh]

man I need a better camera... haha

[monkE]

Love it

[daplatapus]

Lookin' good guys :)

[neoh]

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/20140817_205726_zps82e696ff.jpg

We added "the monster" last week. It's a XXL long tentacle anemone. Our tomato clown has chosen to take host, but for some reason it's only during certain parts of the day. We may take it out and start a new tank for our two false perculas to attempt to host.

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t370/neoh11/Screenshot_2014-08-18-16-44-10_zps1d1ba7e3.png

The anemone is bloody massive! It took two hands around the bag to take it home from the LFS. It's about 20x20" - we're still looking for a good spot for it where it could stretch out, because that's only about 50% of it. It decided to stay in the corner.

[neoh]

started using Reef Crystals for salt and dosing Aquavitro fuel. I've seen good health, but very slow growth out of all of the corals. Not to mention the gonipora never opens, and I believe it might be from a iron deficiency. Hopefully fuel will give it a boost.

Anyone else dose fuel with positive results?

I took a before photo. Going to use the bottle and take weekly photos to see if there is any change in polyp extension and overall coral health.