Pyke's 180G Dual Rain Glass overflow tank

[pyke]

This is a our journal for our New 180 Reef Tank, it is primarily going to be a Soft/LPS tank slowy transitioning into some more sps as the tanks starts to get developed.

This entire hobby/obsession began with a 14G nano my wife found on Kijiji for 100 bucks, we got the tank home, set it up, and had our own little piece of the ocean in our home. A 29G Nano, and a 90G bent glass and we finally arrived at our 180.


In the Beginning.....

[pyke]

July 2010

This tank was started mid July 2010 with a Pink tail trigger fish, 3 - 4 Bar Damsels, one Blue Tang, 2 clowns and and almost all eco rock. (oh how times have changed).

The Equipment was straight forward 180 tank, two FX5's, two inline heaters, 72" coralife PC and a HOB Turbofloater Skimmer

Nothing to fancy we just wanted to get the tank up and Running

We had just put down the new flooring in our basement and didnt even have the baseboards on yet when the tank was moved in. It was our intension to start the tank of on soft coral and a few interesting fish (some how we ended up with the most common fish possible, Blue tang, Clowns and the most frustrating fish know to man the 4 bar Damsel)

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/In%20the%20Begining%20-%20July%202010/006.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/In%20the%20Begining%20-%20July%202010/004-1.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/In%20the%20Begining%20-%20July%202010/002.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/In%20the%20Begining%20-%20July%202010/004.jpg


The tank was running for about 2 month before our HOB skimmer decided to dump about 3-5 Gallons of water on the floor. As with any tank mishap you can find a positive in anything, my positive, Time for an UPGRADE.

[pyke]

The use of the two FX5 was severly limitting on our coral selections due to the very minimalist flows the offer. I think its about 600L/hr of flow. Not to mention that if one hose ever failed we would have 180G of water on our floor with in minutes.

As noted in the last post I see any issue as an oportunity for an upgrade so with the HOB Skimmer spilling water on my floow I figured a sump as in order. The only issue is the tank was bottom Drilled without an overflow.

So task #1 was getting the tank set up for overflows. The only problem with this is that the tank was already up and running and shutting it down to do the overflows was not an option. I had the overflows build out of rain glass to add some interest to the tank and glued them in place with ORCA underwater aquarium glue, It actually works quite well as long as you scrub the slime off the tank. It took me about 2 hours to install both overflows.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/005-1.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/009.jpg

Task #2 was getting the Sump set up. I put in a three cell sump with the skimmer chamber, Mud refugium and return chamber all in one tank. I actually left the fx5's running over the side of the tank during the entire sump and overflow install.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/017.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/016.jpg

I upgraded the Skimmer to a Bubble King Mini 200 with the sump upgrage and have yet to look back. It is an amazing Skimmer and fit perfectly into the sump.


We also added a Naso Tang and a few other goodies to the tank around the same time

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/001-1.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20Dual%20Overflow%20era/003.jpg


Once we had the overflows and had all the rock stacked up we really started to notice how poorly the tank was lit. Time for another upgrade!

[tang daddy]

The build is coming along nice, glad you realized that a sump is far more superior than filters... Good thing the tank was already predrilled, if it wasn't you wouldve had to tear the whole thing down, and underwater glue saved alot of draining and cure time!

[pyke]

Next up on the list of seriously lacking Items in our list was lighting. we had a 72" coralife fixture that I swear the light didnt reach the bottom of the tank before it was black.

We checked out all the options, install new bulbs, retrofit the casing, go to a second light. Then we just realized that we wouldnt be satisfied with anything but a new light. Along came the single most expensive purchase on the Tank, out new 72" Gieseman Infiniti 3x250W w/4 T5 Actinics.

So after sitting on our dinning room table for two weeks we finally decided to suck it up and install it. We went with wall brackets with a shelf for the ballasts above the tank, hiding behind the bulk head.

To say the least it Cleaned up the tank conciderably.

I think the actinics alone were brighter then the coralife!

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/004-1.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/006-1.jpg

And Finally Let there be light!

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/011-1.jpg

So one of the added bonuses of going to the new light is it gave us better access to the tank. Having the light on cables saved a tonne of time messing around with moving the tank mounted light when we had to get our hands into the tank.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/006.jpg


http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/003-1.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/004.jpg


So with the new light we of course had to get a few new additions!

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/002.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/b_pyke/The%20New%20Light%20Arrives/003.jpg

The tanks was running for approx 6 months at this time with only a few minor blips (kids turning valves, 6 hour power outages, etc.)

So far so good. Keeping the Fingers Crossed.


Not to mention everything seemed to be much happier under the new light.

[AquaticFinatic]

Looking good thanks for sharing with us. :biggrin:

[pyke]

Looking good thanks for sharing with us. :biggrin:


Thanks, We're getting there, I actually got my hands on a few new toys for the tank what should be getting installed in the next few months.

I like your signature, I would say the same but the tank is all my wife, Just the plumbing and mechanical goodies are mine! I blame her for my addiction!

Cheers!

[isaac1]

absolutly amazing tank

[pyke]

so last night one of the overflow boxes came loose, so I'm running on one overflow box. With that and a few nice chips and stratches it is now time for an upgrade! The only question is how to transfer 200+ lbs of rock and fish without killing everything off. Fun and games!

[jakejake]

how are you loking the bare bottom versus sand

[lastlight]

so last night one of the overflow boxes came loose, so I'm running on one overflow box. With that and a few nice chips and stratches it is now time for an upgrade! The only question is how to transfer 200+ lbs of rock and fish without killing everything off. Fun and games!

The ideal answer is the new tank you want to build is too large to fit in that spot so leave this tank running while you build the new one somewhere else =)

[Coralgurl]

I love this tank, your rocks and aquascaping is amazing! Very beautiful set up.

[pyke]

how are you loking the bare bottom versus sand

not sure yet, I like the look of sand but have always been concerned with the issues it can bring. the last tank was bare and we only really had issues when our town water quality dropped significantly. We're now on RODI so those issues should go away.

[pyke]

The ideal answer is the new tank you want to build is too large to fit in that spot so leave this tank running while you build the new one somewhere else =)

yeah unfortunetly we have to put it in the same spot. I was thinking of just getting a 120g mix tank and just putting the fish in there for the few days required for the transfer. I know the tank is going to cycle once we move the rock. I know the last time we moved the rock it actually cycled hard enough to kill ALL my snails.

[pyke]

I love this tank, your rocks and aquascaping is amazing! Very beautiful set up.

Thanks, I just wish it look like that today. I had to move a tonne of rock to pull the overflow out. Its a huge nightmare right now.

[lastlight]

Are you building a bigger tank? Or repairing the 180?

I suppose with the investment in your lighting you're referring to a repair? Good luck!

[pyke]

Are you building a bigger tank? Or repairing the 180?

I suppose with the investment in your lighting you're referring to a repair? Good luck!

we're actually looking to keep with the 72 but we're going to go a bit wider 30" and not as tall 20". The current tank is scratched in many places from falling rock and has two chips in the brace, so we're looking at a new tank and stand. Hopefully with the wider tank we can avoid stacking the rock so tall and it will give us more room for cleaning. Also I would like to get rid of the internal overflow design. It looks neat but in reality in consumes too much of the tank. Anything behind the overflow is lost for veiwing. If I could see both sides of the tank I would go with this design again but because we're up against a wall I like the external overflow design.

[Skimmerking]

we're actually looking to keep with the 72 but we're going to go a bit wider 30" and not as tall 20". The current tank is scratched in many places from falling rock and has two chips in the brace, so we're looking at a new tank and stand. Hopefully with the wider tank we can avoid stacking the rock so tall and it will give us more room for cleaning. Also I would like to get rid of the internal overflow design. It looks neat but in reality in consumes too much of the tank. Anything behind the overflow is lost for veiwing. If I could see both sides of the tank I would go with this design again but because we're up against a wall I like the external overflow design.
well if you have a way to manitoba you can buy my 240 gal with a top notch canopy and stand for cheaper then a new 180.

[pyke]

The tank is officially shut down, on to the new tank design and build.