Hop's downgrade to 300 gallons: A simple build thread

[Hop]

Oh... and to add since I still have not made my mind up between a softie/lps tank w/ a pair of clowns and an anemone or a sps tank...

When I set up the big tank, I had an idea that surrounded a finished picture in my head. Unfortunately it never came to light. With this tnak I have a similiar idea if I go the SPS route. The idea surrounds captivating rock structures that allow for a lot of swimming and hiding room. Rock placement is very important, leaning toward two mounds, more like pilliars. The one on the right, fairlly large and the one on the left smaller. There would be a large valley between the two structures and maybe a couple rocks, small mounds or a small arch/cave off center piled with zoos. Then each rock structure would be accented with some nice acros and moniporas that create a valley that draws you in, but colors that keep interest through the tank.

Oh well, hard to describe, but in my head it looks great!

[crvz]

Hop -

I just re-read this entire thread, and I couldnt find the dimensions of your new tank. Spill it.

[Hop]

It's basically a 180, but it's 25" deep, rather than 24" giving me a whole 8.7 more gallons so 72"X25"X24"... I have 30" of depth, front to back, to play with where the tank will be going. As much and as tempting as it was to go 30" in depth, I elected 25 so that I have some room to play behind the tank... If I want to slap some vortecs on the back wall someday, I'll have the room!

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Hop

It's basically a 180, but it's 25" deep, rather than 24" giving me a whole 8.7 more gallons so 72"X25"X24"... I have 30" of depth, front to back, to play with where the tank will be going. As much and as tempting as it was to go 30" in depth, I elected 25 so that I have some room to play behind the tank... If I want to slap some vortecs on the back wall someday, I'll have the room!

Ah, ok. The 190 was not dimensionally intuitive, but now it's clear. I had a similar thing going left to right (had about 6" to play with), but ultimately chose to leave myself the room. That's why I got stuck with a 150 instead of a 180.

[Hop]

That was one problem with the 370... I went as big as I could possibly go and it narrowed the entryway into the closet in the corner a little too much I had to error on the side of caution this time.

150 is always a nice sized tank!

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Hop

That was one problem with the 370... I went as big as I could possibly go and it narrowed the entryway into the closet in the corner a little too much I had to error on the side of caution this time.

150 is always a nice sized tank!

When it used to be a 58, it surely is a good size! But, in 2-3 years, maybe I'll be itching for a 370... I'd need a new house, though.

[Hop]

Sorry, 7.55 more gallons, I shouldn't crunch numbers in my head

Well after the kids move out I have a sketch of a 8'X8'X24" cube that I want to build That is my retirement dream in a nice patio home, growing old with the wife or mistress as I never see my wife

[Hop]

Well I anticipate that Thursday (tomorrow, or today depending on where you live) will be the day I get motivated on the wetroom. I have to get up early for some school stuff for the kids and then I'm moving into the wetroom with the music up!

I want to fix the DJ shelf and get the RO tank in and plumbed! I'll have to snag a bulk head from somewhere else, but that's OK! And then I need to finalize some things and I think I'm going to start plumbing the skimmer, returns and little tank.

I have some deciding to do on what to do for a q-tank as my old q-tank is a FW pllanted tank in my bedroom now. I also want to get my 100 gallon rubbermaid tank in that has been holding 250lbs of sand. I need to get the sand rinsed, cleaned of the big crud and rinsed somemore. I also want to start looking at the dry rock on my patio to start figuring the aquascape.

I'm not sure what else I can do right now other than prepare for the tank

I do need to finish tearing some support structure so I can get the 370 out of my office... But that's not as fun as construction!

[Hop]

Well I just found a link to a thread on RC that indicated that the vortec wireless controllers and available for pre-order. So this may change my plans very quickly. May have to start working OT so I can get a pair of them... Maybe santa will be nice this year

It looks as though right now they are only available to those that already have vortecs though, so it may be a while before they are out. The hidden costs right now, don't explain the cost of each pump though. Maybe someone can elaborate. You bought the pump for $344, had to pay $50 for a driver upgrade? Then the new driver replacement is $100? with a $50 rebate? Or am I off the mark... I'm guessing it's about $450 each when then come out...

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Hop

Oh... and to add since I still have not made my mind up between a softie/lps tank w/ a pair of clowns and an anemone or a sps tank...

When I set up the big tank, I had an idea that surrounded a finished picture in my head. Unfortunately it never came to light. With this tnak I have a similiar idea if I go the SPS route. The idea surrounds captivating rock structures that allow for a lot of swimming and hiding room. Rock placement is very important, leaning toward two mounds, more like pilliars. The one on the right, fairlly large and the one on the left smaller. There would be a large valley between the two structures and maybe a couple rocks, small mounds or a small arch/cave off center piled with zoos. Then each rock structure would be accented with some nice acros and moniporas that create a valley that draws you in, but colors that keep interest through the tank.

Oh well, hard to describe, but in my head it looks great!

I think you are describing exactally what I want to do with my 180, except my valley in the center will be slightly off center, and filled with Clams

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Hop

Well I just found a link to a thread on RC that indicated that the vortec wireless controllers and available for pre-order. So this may change my plans very quickly. May have to start working OT so I can get a pair of them... Maybe santa will be nice this year

It looks as though right now they are only available to those that already have vortecs though, so it may be a while before they are out. The hidden costs right now, don't explain the cost of each pump though. Maybe someone can elaborate. You bought the pump for $344, had to pay $50 for a driver upgrade? Then the new driver replacement is $100? with a $50 rebate? Or am I off the mark... I'm guessing it's about $450 each when then come out...

The Vortec pumps look really, really cool, and I know someone who has them and reallly likes them, but when I was looking for a pump I looked at all this going on, the problems with the bearings, and decided to go with the Tunze 6100's, there a proven name and you can angle them.

That outside bit on the vortecs gets hotter than you might expect BTW.

Whiskey

[Hop]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

I think you are describing exactally what I want to do with my 180, except my valley in the center will be slightly off center, and filled with Clams

Whiskey

I'm going to not comment as I will get in trouble

[Hop]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

The Vortec pumps look really, really cool, and I know someone who has them and reallly likes them, but when I was looking for a pump I looked at all this going on, the problems with the bearings, and decided to go with the Tunze 6100's, there a proven name and you can angle them.

That outside bit on the vortecs gets hotter than you might expect BTW.

Whiskey

Yeah a buddy of mine has some and he's had problems with one getting very hot! I've always bounced back and forth between the tunze and vertecs when planning the last build. On this one they just make sense for what I want to accomplish... But I'm so indecisive lately and it doesn't matter right now as Korilla 4s are going in it first

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Hop

I'm going to not comment as I will get in trouble

I have a feeling I know where this is going! PM it to me

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Hop

Yeah a buddy of mine has some and he's had problems with one getting very hot! I've always bounced back and forth between the tunze and vertecs when planning the last build. On this one they just make sense for what I want to accomplish... But I'm so indecisive lately and it doesn't matter right now as Korilla 4s are going in it first

Ya, I hear you,.. I figured if I was spending a grand I wanted something I knew I could rely on

Whiskey