Movin On Up " 180 build "

[noside]

After growing up owning multiple tanks in my early years then dropping out when high school and college hit, I've now been on an exponential spiral in my fish collection since purchasing my first house. Its funny how some thing I had not given thought about in close to 10 years has now been taking over my life!

Almost 2 years ago I set up my first 55 in the new house and now I'm getting close to 10x that amount.

I'm focusing this thread on the 180 as I'm particularly proud of the outcome so far. Also the other tanks are running this one is in the process of running and I do have a few questions that I could use some insight to.

I try to DIY what I can and save where I can but I don't like to have anything that I'm not proud to have on display.

Anyways, #PhotoThread

180 Marineland Corner Flow 6'x2'x2'

Marineland Modern Stand, DIY canopy out of a left over door frame.
"I usually would have just built my own stand but lets just say that the stand fell off of the back of a truck"

Lighting will consist of all Current USA Freshwater LED+ fixtures. 2 x 48" 1 x 36" 1 x 24"
" One 48" fixture is currently in use and will fill the final spot once the other tank is broken down"

Love those large frame doors with no center support.
Sump is a 55 gal DIY, 20 gal grow out on the side

This is what I need to finish filling + plumbing
Jebao DC 12000 return, Jager 300W, JBJ tru temp, 2x maxijet 1200 for UGF, 5 gal bio balls. More to come will update as we fill it.

It will basically be a blown up version of this with the kinks worked out. I've had this one running for a while now no problems supporting heavy bio load.

 

[noside]

The tank is replacing a 55 gal that I have had a JD, GT and a Royal Pleco that have been absolutely fine together for about 16 months up untill last week when I had to add the divider. My GT was beating my JD relentlessly if he came out of his tube for any thing.

I'm fairly certain that they are both males and this is where I have questions. I'm sure there is going to be aggression if I put them both alone together into the 180 so I want to add to the stock but I'm open to any and all suggestions. I was thinking female festae and or a female jag to possible mix them up but again I'm looking for anything along those lines.

What do you guys think?


and just because my severum was looking for a shot of him too.

not planning on adding this to the stock hes good where he is.

 

[xraycer]

That tank and stand looks sweet!

You're going to do ugf? That 55 sump should be enough to handle the bioload on its own. I would ditch the gravel and do sand substrate instead..........but that's just my preference of course. You should try adding the SD to the 180 as dither as that may take some of the aggression off the JD.

I'm glad you added the picture of the notatus, he's a beauty!

Definitely need to update once that tank is done

 

[noside]

I like sand as well. The problem for me is that my royal plec poos more then he breathes and I know I'll do nothing but look at it everyday and have to vac it. I'm considering it though I'm not dead set yet. I'm going to add a 2x jebao dc wave makers for water movement.

I have 10 3-5" sd I can add so that is an option.

Notatus is what he's called then? It was sold to me as a spotted severum I knew he wasn't your run of the mill severum looking at him.

 

[xraycer]

Notatus is what he's called then? It was sold to me as a spotted severum I knew he wasn't your run of the mill severum looking at him.

Spotted severum is the common name, notatus is the scientific name

 

[shookONES]

I would run that middle sump chamber with K1 or K3, save the ceramic rings for one of the outer chambers, and run filter socks. You're well on your way to a killer setup man

 

[xraycer]

and run filter socks.

Appears he's already using filter sock on that existing sump

 

[noside]

I would run that middle sump chamber with K1 or K3, save the ceramic rings for one of the outer chambers, and run filter socks. You're well on your way to a killer setup man

Appears he's already using filter sock on that existing sump

That's the plan, cpr 7 inch dual 1 inch inlet sock holder with either 200 or 300 micron well test out both see what clarity I can live with a long with change interval.

Going to try those marine pure cer media spheres in the bottom of the sock / 1st chamber.

I have a marineland 350 and fluval 406 loaded with solid state media I'm going to add to the main sump chamber. Probably over 2 gallons of matrix, substrate pro and then some.

As far as K1 I think they are more trouble then they are worth then using the larger media. I have a k1 setup in line with other solid state stuff and to me I can never see growth or deposits on my k1 as compared to like you see in my running refuge style sump. Again this is just IMO I know a lot of people have good results using only k1.

 

[BichirAddict]

That hanging canopy thing is awesome. I might have to make one like that for my 180
Can't wait to see more progress done.

 

[noside]

Got most of the plumbing done. Just waiting on the sock holder so I can cut and fit that. I ended up going with pea gravel instead of PFS. Its out of season locally and the landscaping supplies are on clearance so I got the gravel for about half of what I could have paid for PFS. Now I just have a ton of it to wash.


Waiting on a few odds and ends that should find there way here this week so I should be able to start filling Friday.

Still have plenty of room to work, kept everything tight without having anything rubbing.

I'm going to load the main chamber full of 1 Gal Marine Pure CerMedia speheres, and about 400 scrubbies or as many as I can fit, 5 gal bio balls on the surface. First chamber I'll dump all the assorted ceramics that I currently have running when I put fish in.
Changed the sump design up a little bit kind of like a reverse wet dry. We'll see if it works if not I have another 55 I can work on.

I use 100% RODI that I remineralize, not for any particular reason other then I have had nothing but success with it. With my setup it should take a bit over 24 hours to fill.

And a Fish,

Any tips on washing large amounts of gravel?
I usually just use a large pan and basically act like a gold miner and swirl it with a hose running untill it runs clean.