I've recently had an urge to upgrade from my 55g tank. I bought a 72g bowfront but after I started to set it up I realized I wanted something much bigger.

I found a cryptic message on craigslist for an aquarium. Originally, the owner said it was a 240g but after measuring it came to the conclusion that it is a 180. She gave me a really good price, one that my wife thought was so good she okay'd the upgrade.

Here's the tank as I found it at her location. It had been sitting for about 3 years. On inspection it looked to be in serviceable condition so I came back with some very generous club members and moved it (thanks George, Jeff and Hanin!).

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0498.jpg

Included is some equipment that I'm not sure even works: 2x175w magnetic ballasts, 250w magnetic ballasts and VHO ballasts (4 bulbs). Some old skimmers. A denitrator (I had never see or heard of one before) and various odds and ends.

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0502.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0568.jpg

Unfortunately, the overflow is missing some teeth on both sides.

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0570.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0571.jpg

After some cleaning, I was pretty happy with the purchase. It only has one small scratch in the glass and so far, no leaks on the bottom.
http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0572.jpg

I'm trying to decide whether I want to set it up on a stand in-room or if I want to put it in-wall.

The place where the tank will go has an unfinished section and I intend to put the sump, RO and salt water, QT and Frag tank.

I feel what you are going through. I am beginning my 180 build. I have pages full of notes, questions, some answers. Hopefully finish framing room this weekend, start making some rock.

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/IMG_0572.jpg

Loren are you trying some new air infused powerhead by using that leaf blower?:shades:

Great find...that tank is going to be awesome!

You are in for a lot of work and a whole bunch of fun! Woohoo!

Mark, that's for my skimmer!

Bud, hopefully not too much work. I'm hoping to get it setup and going, then slowly do the mods I want (nice lights, super sump/fuge, etc).

Built my two standpipes using the directions from the Durso site (http://www.dursostandpipes.com/BuildYourOwn/tabid/54/Default.aspx).

Lessons from that one, don't try to dryfit the pieces. Lets just say that the elbow/tee joint does not need any glue now. Even the piece that goes into the mail adapter on the bottom end is a bit too tight so probably not coming out even thought it was designed to.

I haven't drilled the top caps yet. I'll wait till I have the pump plumbed.
http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/Standpipes/IMG_0724.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/180/Standpipes/IMG_0725.jpg

looks good loren

Great job so far. man there is alot of build threads going on now. LOL. I hope everything goes well for you.

Good stuff! Fixing the overflow teeth is an EASY fix! SHould be a fun project.

looks nice, so far, loren

How do I fix the teeth? I was thinking to cut them out and put in some gutter guard.

Good stuff! Fixing the overflow teeth is an EASY fix! SHould be a fun project.

go to the jewelry store and get it a "grill" lol

Great start, Loren. Looking forward to more updates!

I almost gave up on it after seeing how big it is compared to what I currently have, but am now pretty excited...we (Hanin, Mike Wyzo and my neighbor) got it moved downstairs last weekend to it's final location last weekend. I'm getting some rubbermade totes for the sump, return and fuge areas today and going to plumb it tonight.

It's in a great spot with a big closet that I'll use as a fish room as well as being on a wall next to the unfinished part of the basement in case I need more space.

Next step is filling it...that will be fun with my lame 25g/day RODI unit. Someone want to rent me theirs for a week? :-)

I'll have it cycle while I'm getting the lights worked out. I have a mish-mash of ballasts. I have 2x175w magnetic, 1x175w electronic, 1x250 MH and 1x250 electronic. I have a couple of workhorse ballasts for VHO. So I'm thinking:

VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO
VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO
-175w--250w--250w--175w-
VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO
VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO--VHO

If I can't fit in both 4xVHO, I'll just go with 2. I have 24" of canopy depth to work with so hopefully it will fit. The MHs will be under spider reflectors. The VHOs will just be under some aluminum flashing from HD.

The only big purchases left to get it going is sand and maybe a few more pieces of rock. I've got 1 40# bag of dry sand and will buy 2 more. I'll some sand from my 55 to get the cycle going as well as some live rock.

That sounds good. You could even skip one of the MH, if you wanted to. Especially if you buy some better reflectors. :)

That's the same foot print of my tank. I will be running 3 400w mhs with one 5 foot VHO on either side (front and back). The VHOs barely fit because of the large lumenarcs.


P.S. Petsmart online has cheap dry sand with free shipping! And SWC has live rock for $3/pound. ;)

You should cut out the mangled teeth with a dremel. Just make it nice and neat and dont worry about having any teeth or gutter guard you really dont need it. So you just have a nice sheet of water going over the overflow.

That's kind of my plan, except to replace it with a piece of gutter guard. I'll still get a lot of flow, just no fish.

Right now, my flame hawk (actually the one I got from you) is stuck in the overflow in my 55 and I can't get him out...it's really iritating.

You should cut out the mangled teeth with a dremel. Just make it nice and neat and dont worry about having any teeth or gutter guard you really dont need it. So you just have a nice sheet of water going over the overflow.

That's kind of my plan, except to replace it with a piece of gutter guard. I'll still get a lot of flow, just no fish.

Right now, my flame hawk (actually the one I got from you) is stuck in the overflow in my 55 and I can't get him out...it's really iritating.
If that's your concern, do what Chris said except leave 2 teeth still on (well, as tall as you want the opening) on either side of the overflow, leaving a 1/4" gap or so, and cut out a top for it. Three benefits: no fish or inverts will get in there, no light will go into the overflow which means less algae growth in there, and no fish can actually JUMP in there! :)

nice find.

that's a LOT of lighting. VHOs produce quite a bit of heat. i'd suggest at least 4 fans? two push, two draw or maybe all 4 push towards the middle and have 1 extra exhaust fan at the back of the canopy?

IMO, you're gonna need at least a 1/4 hp chiller to keep the system cool.

I have four 4 foot VHOs over my 75 gallon tank with a closed canopy. No chiller.

I have three 400 watt halides along with two 5 foot VHOs over my 210 gallon tank that is built in the wall. No chiller.


:)

I have four 4 foot VHOs over my 75 gallon tank with a closed canopy. No chiller.

I have three 400 watt halides along with two 5 foot VHOs over my 210 gallon tank that is built in the wall. No chiller.


:)

how many fans? :tongue:

The 180 is finally up and going. I still need to get the lights wired on the right side and the actinics.

Also some pics of my two new fish...a blond naso and a orange spot rabbit.

A few more...

Looking good, Loren. That naso is gorgeous!

wow, loren good work!

great job loren.....that was fast too.

Yeah looking really good. I thought I was fast in setting my tank up but yours took the cake.

Lol, only 2.5 months.

It actually wasn't to bad after I finally got the huevos to start.

I still have tons of work to do. Lighting is not complete and I want to put in a better sump which will require cutting my wall and running some new plumbing. The pump needs to be moved as it's kind of loud.

Very nice! Now I am itching to get started on my build although I am sure it will take me a lot longer!
Bob

Beautiful...nice job, Loren..

Lol, only 2.5 months.

It actually wasn't to bad after I finally got the huevos to start.

I still have tons of work to do. Lighting is not complete and I want to put in a better sump which will require cutting my wall and running some new plumbing. The pump needs to be moved as it's kind of loud.

I think you have done extremely well for 2 1/2 months. I started my 180 about the same time, have worked my @ZZ off, just finishing my cycle. Hopefully I will be putting a few critters in this week.

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/7557/49541ig1.jpg

I bought these (cold cathode tubes) of of ebay. Each tube is 12" long. Both plug into a single inverter. Connected to the inverter I have a 12v adapter that can be tuned down to different voltages. Right now I have it on the lowest to keep the light dim but am curious on how I can automate something

Cost with shipping < $10.
12v adapter $6 from Frys.
Fish not bumping into rocks at night, priceless :-)

Now I'm wondering if I can use white and blue for my pico. They put out almost no heat...kind of nice lights. Probably don't have the PAR to be effective on their own (Pico is about 8" deep).

Looking great Loren...can't wait to see it in person!

Happy as a Clam :-)

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/0.jpg

Also happy...

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/6.jpg

Fugglithoa Gargantuas - these things are about 1.5" across not including the skirts

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/1.jpg

Fugglithoa Gargantuas
http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/2.jpg

Purple Heart Eaters and Blue Tubs...and some algae

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/3.jpg

Red Micros

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/050108/5.jpg

The clam looks happy in his new home. Nice Micros too.

Joe

Nice clams!

We love the new clam Joe. All of the frags are doing well they just need to grow out. That yellow/green acro is really nice looking.

Thiago...I added 4 more chromis since yours look so nice.

We love the new clam Joe. All of the frags are doing well they just need to grow out. That yellow/green acro is really nice looking.

Thiago...I added 4 more chromis since yours look so nice.
Nice! :) I know people have been saying lately that chromis are overplayed now, but I love them. I've had 11 in the tank and plan to add another 15 or so. :D

Looks great!

nice job man.

looks great, very nice build and getting me all excited since i have a 180 sitting in storage waiting for me to finish the house building to get started putting it together :)

My shiny new skimmer from MRC. Thanks Tim, Margi and Danny!

Margi said it should be skimming in 48 hours...here's some pictures of before and after about 16 hours.


http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2885.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2886.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_28862.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2887.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2888.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2889.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2891.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2893.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2894.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ldkaplan/.Pictures/Skimmer/IMG_2895.jpg

Looks good we need to hook up an air meter to that bad boy.:)

It seems they could have put some sort of taper from the body to the neck

Joe

Very nice. How about a shot of the whole sump set up?

I had a pump issue so the other half is in disarray. Hopefully I'll have it back together this week.

Very nice. How about a shot of the whole sump set up?

Seems like a good skimmer!