Our first SW tank - 180 gal build

[Coralgurl]

That looks fantastic! Love the sump in the basement too. Fish list?

Btw, we just got a ball python, I do not love it....

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

That looks fantastic! Love the sump in the basement too. Fish list?

Btw, we just got a ball python, I do not love it....

WHAT? How could you not love a BP? What kind is he? He'll grow on you, there are beautiful and lazy animals. Like *most* snakes the bigger they get the better they get, and the funner they are to handle (exception would be an anaconda or Burmese python).

Fish list is very open..

So far I want a pair of clowns (have one true perc)
A Cobberband Butterfly (I hope I can keep one successfully)
A Purple Tang
A Yellow Tang
A Sailfin Tang (Can I even keep all these tangs together in one 180?)
and I'd love a clam - Maxima most likely - but I'm not sure I can keep one successfully as I am slowly going LED and dose prodibio. It's my understanding that clams need nitrates and right now mine are at zero.

Also I really love mandarins but I don't think I will have a healthy pod base if I have a CBB and mandarin in the same tank.

I'd love a miniature sea turtle but apparently you can't get them.

I also really like Flame Angels but I'm not sure how that would work in a reef set up. I don't want to be limited on what corals I can choose.

[Coralgurl]

Good start to fish list. I had a flame angel, he left the corals alone but I didn't have it long! Would love another one! Sea turtle - that'd be so cool! Can't remember if it was in this forum regarding a discussion on mini dolphins, penguins etc...

I have a clam and this is the one thing that's making me nervous about the transfer....mines happy and growing, I would give your tank more time and then go for it!

[reefgirl189]

Just thought I would clear something up for those of you thinking ABS to PVC is a good idea. Although it will work fine for a drain line it's better to choose one type and stick with it. You generally do not want to match ABS to PVS because it would not pass a plumbing inspection. Also you shouldn't be mixing and matching PVC and ABS for pressurized lines under any circumstances.

For a fish tank that's not going to be sold with your house - no biggie

For DIY renos - not a great idea.

[unclesalty]

Very nice looking tank and sump you have! I like the black backgrounds myself but I have to admit that blue one of yours looks awesome! I see you have done your skimmer research also!

[reef684]

Originally Posted by reefgirl189

Weird how resiliant they are... I'm quite surprised acually. Maybe we will stick with only zoas now that I know I'll have a hard time killing them

looks great. a lot of work that pays off

[reefgirl189]

Originally Posted by unclesalty

Very nice looking tank and sump you have! I like the black backgrounds myself but I have to admit that blue one of yours looks awesome! I see you have done your skimmer research also!

Funny that you mention... we were [thisclose] to going with a black background for this tank but I ended up changing my mind at the last minute. I haven't regretted it in the slightest. The colour palette we'd chosen for our house is on the darker side and I felt that black background may have been a bit too dark. The blue brings out the color of the corals and fish almost as well as the black would.

As for the skimmer.... this is by far my favorite piece of equipment I'd purchased for this tank. I bought it gently used from another canreefer and luckily for me the gentleman who owned it before me (and the gentleman before him) took excellent care of it. It was pretty much brand new and I saved myself hundreds off of the retail price tag. I do not regret this purchase at all. There's a very good reason why these skimmers rarely show up for sale in canreef's classified section. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time I guess. It is a bit oversized for this 180 gal but at least I don't have to worry about adding too much livestock in the long run. It is kind of laughable that all it's skimming for ATM is one lonely clownfish and a few shrimp, , but at least my mind is at ease. We all know that means the world in reefkeeping!

[unclesalty]

Originally Posted by reefgirl189

Funny that you mention... we were [thisclose] to going with a black background for this tank but I ended up changing my mind at the last minute. I haven't regretted it in the slightest. The colour palette we'd chosen for our house is on the darker side and I felt that black background may have been a bit too dark. The blue brings out the color of the corals and fish almost as well as the black would.

As for the skimmer.... this is by far my favorite piece of equipment I'd purchased for this tank. I bought it gently used from another canreefer and luckily for me the gentleman who owned it before me (and the gentleman before him) took excellent care of it. It was pretty much brand new and I saved myself hundreds off of the retail price tag. I do not regret this purchase at all. There's a very good reason why these skimmers rarely show up for sale in canreef's classified section. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time I guess. It is a bit oversized for this 180 gal but at least I don't have to worry about adding too much livestock in the long run. It is kind of laughable that all it's skimming for ATM is one lonely clownfish and a few shrimp, , but at least my mind is at ease. We all know that means the world in reefkeeping!

I have to agree with you on the Super Marine being my favourite piece of equipment also although my Radions are close! Mine is the 200 model and presently doing an awesome job on my 120g before it gets put on my 180g. I was told by a few people that I wouldn't notice much of a difference over my Alpha cone but its a huge difference so it was money very well spent.