180 gal reef

[-Rich87T]

Whoohoo, I finally remembered to post pics of the new tank.

Here's the short story. Had a 75 that was leaking slowly and was nicely stocked and after some bad advice from a LFS, basically killed most of the coral and left me with a few corals and all the fish. I visited an out of town LFS and he had a used 20gallon CPR w/ skimmer for very cheap and when combined with my refugium, I thought it would easily support a 210 gallon tank. I visited a store in WI that's near All Glass and purchased a new 180 gall All Glass with two 1" overflows and two 3/4" returns.

The sump is 'obviously' the aformentioned CPR with a RIO1700 on the skimmer and two CAP2200 on the returns. The refugium is feed by a tiny pump from a bucket of IO salt and gravity returns to the sump.

I built my own stand which will be finished in oak and everything is currently plumbed and functioning well. The drilled tank is a welcome change from the noisy overflows on the 75.

Now for some pics... Hopefully.

[-Rich87T]

75gal still in place, 180 gallon on it's 2x4 stand. The uprights for the stand are notched to rest on top of the base to distribute the weight to the base rather than relying on the screws and glue. If you think about it, without notches, there's nothing stopping the upper frame from sliding down the posts except screws and glue. The estimated weight is 3,000 to 4,000 lbs without live rock. That's more weight than I want on 18 wood screws and glue! 1/2" plywood sides were added to the base to prevent it from twisting.

[-Rich87T]

Another shot showing the overflows and returns.

[-Rich87T]

Tanks switched. We actually drained the 75 completely to 5 gal containers and lift and carried it to where it is in the picture. Then we slipped the new base and tank into place, filled it with water. The lights on the 180 are a temporary setup of 2x 36" power compacts and a 2x 48" power compacts. One is 180W and the latter is ~250W. The 75 has 2x flouresants (?sp).

[-Rich87T]

Prior to this he was a very good eater and happy as can be. Today the blue ribbon is unfortunitely hurting. He didn't take too well to the 75 gallon tank crash and he now hasn't eaten for a few weeks now since being in the 180 gal. Hopefully he'll snap out of it.

[-Rich87T]

Tanks switched. We actually drained the 75 completely to 5 gal containers and lift and carried it to where it is in the picture. Then we slipped the new base and tank into place, filled it with water. The lights on the 180 are a temporary setup of 2x 36" power compacts and a 2x 48" power compacts. One is 180W and the latter is ~250W. The 75 has 2x flouresants (?sp).

Sorry for the duplicate post, but I have a better pic.

[manderson0805]

Hope you have a good door stop, otherwise you'll have a leaking 180

Nice setup....you going to upgrade the lights? 180 gallons would take my wallet, and my wife would soon follow it out the door.

[-Rich87T]

Heh, good catch! That has been at the very top of my to-do list. Right now the door hits the base of the 75g. tank still. Once that tank gets moved, I'll have to get the door stop installed. I'm going to use a floor stop. Not the most pretty option, but it is the most reliable. Plus we rarely use that door except to let the dog out.
-Rich

[manderson0805]

I'd take a 12" long 4x4 and screw that thing 15 times into the floor....my luck, the thing would pop off the floor and my basement would see a nice tsunami

[Burt]

Rich, that is one beautiful eel. I would like to see more pictures whenever you get some.