My 180g Addiction!

[SchnitzelReef]

So i got this 180g Leemar tank a few weeks ago and ive been slowly getting all the parts together. i wanted to take my time and setup everything perfect, so i didnt have to keep changing parts in the future..

This is how the tank looked when i got it..whoever stained it did a horrible job

Me and the GF took all saturday and sanded this thing down and painted in semi-gloss black

Installed a Retrofit T5 2x54w for Actinics..i think im gunna run either 2xATI Blue+, or 1 blue+ and one ATI Purple +

3 Hamilton tech 250w MH with Radium Bulbs and i put 4" fans that rev up and down with the heat in the canopy

the beast all painted and put back together

All the equipment: Sump with refugium built by Advanced Acrylics, and Super Reef Octopus xp3000 skimmer

Black Acrylic ATO res built by AA, has clear window on front to see water level

2" Durso & 2" drain

DJ switch (found one with with 9 switches, instead of the common 8 switch)

BRS dual reactor

My 90g..my 180 will be replacing this one

my great dane on watch! lol

should have everything switched over by saturday..so stay tuned for more pics

o and i screwed up and glued a piece of pvc to my bulkhead and now the stupid nut wont fit over it.. so im gunna pick up a new one today!!

 

[Dub23]

tank looks way better in black....very nice set up :top:

 

[Cmartin]

wow nice, a skimmer with a built in iphone dock. what will they think of next? lol Nice setup

 

[toromp]

Good stuff man.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

wow nice, a skimmer with a built in iphone dock. what will they think of next? lol Nice setup

i was waiting for someone to say something about that..hahah its so the fish can listen to soothing music..nothing but the best for my fish! lol

 

[dom_michael]

Nice setup. How are you feeding the BRS reactor? I have one of those myself with a MJ1200 and it keeps getting clogged.

Let me know if decide to sell the 90G...i'm interested.

 

[rizon25]

Looking good! Keep us updated!

 

[kain]

Nice setup Nick. Oh, btw, that BM you sold me is working great. Thanks again.

 

[lowbudget]

dont you want the mh in the middle and not the back of the canopy since light will bleed out of the back of tank. then move one of your t5 in the back just some suggestion.

 

[xraymatt]

Looks great, Nick. I dig the placement of the dj switch.
Please keep us updated (with pics) as it progresses.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

dont you want the mh in the middle and not the back of the canopy since light will bleed out of the back of tank. then move one of your t5 in the back just some suggestion.

that is one thing im worried about..i was originally gunna put the MH in the middle and the 1 t5 in the front 1 in the back..however after i started thinking about i decided to put both in the front..see my bro in law has a 2x54w fixture and when he moves the fixture to the front of the tank it the corals and fish tend to "POP" alot more then when the fixture is positioned towards the back..i may put a piece of wood across the back to keep the light from the MH from "bleeding" out the back..im hoping this setup will work best...

does my T5 theory make sense? im assuming having both T5s in the front will give more color and more POP then having them seperated...(o and with those MH fixtures 2 t5s were the most i could fit)

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Nice setup. How are you feeding the BRS reactor? I have one of those myself with a MJ1200 and it keeps getting clogged.

Let me know if decide to sell the 90G...i'm interested.

90g is sold..i literally JUST bought a MJ1200 today from MD..im hoping i dont have any issues with it...which GFO are u using? and what carbon? im gunna order BRS GFO and carbon..hoping that they will work best with there reactor

 

[LesPaulPlayer73]

What is your plan with the 90 gallon once you move everything to the 180?

 

[LesPaulPlayer73]

Sorry just read your other posts......

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Looks great, Nick. I dig the placement of the dj switch.
Please keep us updated (with pics) as it progresses.

thanks man...i researched the crap out of this thing..and i went to Lowes and found that piece of metal with the holes drilled in it..piece of cake...only thing ill prolly do is paint it all black so it doesnt stand out..and FYI those DJ switches are on ebay for $32 shipped..my bro in law picked one up for his tank when i told him about it..makes ur tank look all high tech and shiz

@ Kain: im glad that BM is still working good for u!

PS: someone teach me how to quote multiple people so i dont have to make a seperate post for each person lol

 

[SchnitzelReef]

What is your plan with the 90 gallon once you move everything to the 180?

ya its sold

Sorry just read your other posts......

lol no worries

..and i figured out how to quote multiple posts lol

 

[LesPaulPlayer73]

Tropical fish store in rancho has brs gfo and carbon. I think its the same price as brs. Maybe someone can confirm this.

 

[Mnofstl007]

Sick setup so far gl

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Tropical fish store in rancho has brs gfo and carbon. I think its the same price as brs. Maybe someone can confirm this.

ya i think ur right

Sick setup so far gl

thanks bro..cant wait to see ur parents setup! what u guys end up doing for a sump? u gunna do a little build thread? i wanna see it

 

[lowbudget]

im more for getting the most out of my electricty more bang for the watt. you get stuff right your corals will pop no lighting effects. ask jose casas he will tell you

that is one thing im worried about..i was originally gunna put the MH in the middle and the 1 t5 in the front 1 in the back..however after i started thinking about i decided to put both in the front..see my bro in law has a 2x54w fixture and when he moves the fixture to the front of the tank it the corals and fish tend to "POP" alot more then when the fixture is positioned towards the back..i may put a piece of wood across the back to keep the light from the MH from "bleeding" out the back..im hoping this setup will work best...

does my T5 theory make sense? im assuming having both T5s in the front will give more color and more POP then having them seperated...(o and with those MH fixtures 2 t5s were the most i could fit)