James180 A New Beginning.

Taxes are done.
Let the build begin.

Few items to take care of before I order the 6', 180 gallon reef ready aquarium...
1) Move both, the 75 and 45 into another room.
2) Pull up the 40 year old carpeting.
a) 105 year old house, let's hope it's nice hardwood under there...
3) fix up the flooring, stain or paint or something.
4) buy lumber and build the stand.

Each step of the way will be documented. For the most part...

I did buy the new skimmer, it's an Aqua Excel ae-ec20
I will be reusing the (3) 16" wifI SB Reef lights.
I will need to re-think sump. Petco $1/Gallon tank sale and build my own.
Existing sump under the 75 is ok but it can be better.

Stay tuned.
This will be a slow... I'm in no rush. but yeah, it begins!!

 

Awesome! Sounds like a great build under way. SB Reef lights are quality. Your reef will be happy! Will you be drilling your tank or will it be predrilled, or suction overflow?

 

Awesome! Sounds like a great build under way. SB Reef lights are quality. Your reef will be happy! Will you be drilling your tank or will it be predrilled, or suction overflow?

pre-drilled. I was contemplating drilling it but I'm not the handiest when it come to that. plus the pre-drilled comes with what I need. I would have to get bulk heads, overflows, etc... so for a little more I have a better sense of security knowing I'm not going to shatter the glass of a brand new (6 foot long) piece of glass......
in May I'll be running the SB lights for 2 years. No regrets, no issues.

 

Watching!

 

Awesome!! We don't mind being patient, and this is going to be a truly awesome build!

So glad to see another SB Reef Lights user here. I just got mine about a week ago, (yay for tax time!) It's an Ultra 22 and I've got it programmed according to SB's example, but at half the recommended percentages because this is the first LED over our little reef. It did pretty well under florescent lighting, but I'm loving the pops of color I can get now.

 

April 20, 2018

Walk into Exotic Pets and Fish.......
HI Joel, it's time.
HI James, that's good.
Clicking away on his computer...
James, bad news. I can't get you the 180. My supplier is out and the backup supplier doesn't have them on sale. Good news, for 5 more inches of water I can get you a 210 for only $190 more than the cost of the 180. Oh wait, I can take $100 off that. So it's only going to be an extra $90.
Hmmmmm....
What shall I do???
Yep. I did it. 210 will be delivered May 4.

Aqueon 210, dual overflow. 72.5" x 24.5" x 29.625"

We also chatted about him taking some of my bubble tips for store credit. This will probably be an even swap for sand and rock.

However, I only purchased the tank because the sale ended Friday.
When it gets delivered on May 4 it will sit empty for a bit. Need to clean up the basement and build a support wall. Also need to build the stand. Now that I know the tank size I can get started on the stand.

One step closer.

Yeaaa!!!

 

Congrats.

 

Oh no that's horrible

Looks like great dimensions!

Glad you'll get the rock and sand free, that stuff's expensive for a big tank!

 

Looking forward to seeing this one progress!

 

This... is going to be EPIC!!! So, so, so awesome!!!

Bahahaha... oh no, you had to get a bigger tank? Congratulations!!!

Isn't store credit the best? I just experienced that for the very first time today.

So, I just checked out your info and see that you currently have a 75 and a 45. Pics? Will the 75 sump the 210? Any thoughts on keeping the 45? Seems like it might make a great qt.

 

This... is going to be EPIC!!! So, so, so awesome!!!

Bahahaha... oh no, you had to get a bigger tank? Congratulations!!!

Isn't store credit the best? I just experienced that for the very first time today.

So, I just checked out your info and see that you currently have a 75 and a 45. Pics? Will the 75 sump the 210? Any thoughts on keeping the 45? Seems like it might make a great qt.

Yep. Oh darn.
The sump for the 75 will stay with the 75.
I'm going to grab a 40 breeder from petcos dollar a gallon sale.
I made the sump for the 75 out of a 30 and the return section isn't big enough for the new return pump.

The 45 will be given to my daughter and converted to fresh water.
The 75 may go to my other daughter but she and her husband live in the 3rd floor apartment. They're looking at houses but they already said it's too big for them right now. We'll see...

And it won't be too much rock. I'll be combining the rock from the 75 and 45. I want to get some base rock that I can stack the old rock on to of. I'll also have ceramic bio balls or whatever they're called in the sump so I don't have to fill the display with rock.

Lots of swimming room for the fish. And the 120 pounds ish if existing rock should provide enough hiding places. I'll add more dry rock as needed little bit at a time. Probably glue coral to it...

It'll be fun.

 

Oh no that's horrible

Looks like great dimensions!

Glad you'll get the rock and sand free, that stuff's expensive for a big tank!

Great dimensions indeed, except for the 30" one...
My arms aren't long enough to reach the bottom...
Let's hope I don't have to do much on the sand.

 

Welp...
The 210 was to be delivered today............
Nope. Distributor emailed pet store. Bottom panel has a crack.
And we wait another week.
(not like it's not going to sit in my basement for a month till I'm ready for it...)

 

Glad you're not to down about it. A similar situation recently happened to me... but it was with a 7.5g cube for a betta, lol. Not as exciting as 210 reef but I was still a little annoyed. At least it happened before the tanks got to us, and very good of the stores not to pass on flawed tanks. The little cube was chipped, not cracked, and was being shipped to me. So, I didn't like the wait, but was impressed with the retailers attention.

 

Glad you're not to down about it. A similar situation recently happened to me... but it was with a 7.5g cube for a betta, lol. Not as exciting as 210 reef but I was still a little annoyed. At least it happened before the tanks got to us, and very good of the stores not to pass on flawed tanks. The little cube was chipped, not cracked, and was being shipped to me. So, I didn't like the wait, but was impressed with the retailers attention.

Yes, I am quite happy that it didn't get past the distributor.
Imagine 210 gallons or sea water, sand, rock, coral, and fish crashing through the bottom one it gave way...

 

Nooooo! I don't want to imagine that...

 

Nooooo! I don't want to imagine that...

Nope. Me either.

But, next Friday I pick up the monster and get to store it in my basement till I finish other renovations.... and then build a stand. And a wall in the basement so it doesn't go crashing through the floor.

 

Nope. Me either.

But, next Friday I pick up the monster and get to store it in my basement till I finish other renovations.... and then build a stand. And a wall in the basement so it doesn't go crashing through the floor.

this gives me anxiety just reading it

 

Well... I'm in this for the long haul. Patience is key of course, but according to some friends, I am the most patient reefer ever, lol... because I didn't spend the grocery money on the light I wanted for months and months. Had to save those pennies.

 

Well... I'm in this for the long haul. Patience is key of course, but according to some friends, I am the most patient reefer ever, lol... because I didn't spend the grocery money on the light I wanted for months and months. Had to save those pennies.

Wait, we aren't suppose to spend all the money we get?

 

Wait, we aren't suppose to spend all the money we get?

We at least have to try.

 

Welp...
Last Friday the distributor found a crack.
Another tank sent today.
Waited all day.....
2nd tank....

 

Welp...
Last Friday the distributor found a crack.
Another tank sent today.
Waited all day.....
2nd tank....


View attachment 437376

Oh my gosh. Did that get sent to you?

 

I think I’d find another supplier.

 

Nooooooo!!! So frustrated for you.

 

That definitely was dropped, majors cracks!

 

The truck they put it in was over packed and not strapped down. Everything slid and and BAM crash...
I'll find out Monday what they're going to do...

 

Oh my gosh. Did that get sent to you?

Sent to the store I bought it from...

 

Nooooooo!!! So frustrated for you.

Indeed!!

 

That definitely was dropped, majors cracks!

Supposedly something on the truck that wasn't strapped down slid into it...

 

Supposedly something on the truck that wasn't strapped down slid into it...

I hope you get another one

 

Sent to the store I bought it from...

Still very very frustrating, but at least it wasn't sent to your house I guess. Try to find that silver lining? Lol.

 

FINALLY!!!
3rd times a charm I guess.
Got the message Friday. It arrived. In one piece.
Didn't have a truck till last night so it stayed at the store...
Picked it up at 4:48 and 64 minutes later we're figuring out how to get it to it's temporary resting place in the basement.
And all went well.
Tonight I'll take a pic and then build a wooden box around it so it doesn't get bumped...

Oh. And. It's bigger than I imagined...
And heavy!!! Oh my is it heavy!

But now that it's home, motivation to finish the other home projects so I can start this project.

YAY

 

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see the beast!

 

Great. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

 

There she is

 

So exciting!!!

Ummm, I'd like another pic with a dollar bill taped to the glass... so you can truly show off the beast.

 

Ohhh yeah. I can do that.
When I return home I shall.

So exciting!!!

Ummm, I'd like another pic with a dollar bill taped to the glass... so you can truly show off the beast.

 

Some comparisons... 210 gallon with my currently running 75...

 

Love it James! She's a monster

Dang... didn't know about your nems. That's impressive bud. Are they all moving to the new tank? Have you got a clown harem with them? I see two clowns and maybe a few chromis. Any big guys planned for the beast? I have a daughter who was born on Halloween, so I dream of an Achilles Tang someday.