Bob's 180g Build Thread
Oh god...what have I done? Anyway, I took the plunge and got myself a big tank. I'll pick it up in a week and start the building process. Its not reef ready. The glass is 5/8 thick. I hope to drill the tank without destroying it. I have the MH lighting already. 2 10k 250 watts and 2 20k 175w. I think a 55g tank will fit in the stand for a sump as well as a 5 gallon bucket for a DSB. I wonder if my current skimmer, which is rated at 120g I think will handle the 180 with the DSB or if I'll need to find a new one. I think you can use the play sand as a base and add some live sand to it. If not, please correct me. For LR, I'll slowly move the rock from the current tank over. Also with the tank is A lot of dead "live rock" which I'll rinse, boil and use some of. I'll be asking for a lot of advice and suggestions. This will need to go as smooth and "cheap" as possible. Wish me luck. Bob

How are you planning on spacing the 4-MH over the tank? I am assuming this is a 6 foot tank that has two braces across the top. Congrats, I am sure it will be great. I have a 55 gallon sump under my 125 and could fit a 5 gallon bucket if needed. Be careful with the stand you buy/build, the 55 seems really tall and makes it hard to work in the sump. The news told me that our economy isn't that great :roll: and I have heard a few LFS say the large tanks aren't selling right now, well we sure are doing our part as a club to keep things rolling, a 90, a 125, and a 180.

If you use play sand better make sure it is Silicate free!! You are better off getting a larger skimmer or running a Remote deep sand bed. DSB in the display never work properly due to being stirred up all the time. Also don't even try to drill the bottom of the tank as it is tempered and will shatter!!!! Good luck with the set up, 180's are really nice!!

Thanks, The tank is 8 ft long so the lights should fit. The Sand bed will be remote. With luck I'll be able to get the top of the bucket higher then the top of the sump and let gravity help me some. Drill the back not the bottem...check. Bob

8' long 180??

so the question is... where do you find silicate free sand? I think 60$ for a 50 lb bag is a LITTLE expensive.

Do some research online and I'm sure you can find the right stuff. Now if all that research and time is worth the extra 10-$15 savings, is another story. @ $60 for a 50lb bag most stores are only making about $5-10 profit. BTW, most Play sands should say whether or not they are silicate free. HD carries play sand

The news told me that our economy isn't that great and I have heard a few LFS say the large tanks aren't selling right now, well we sure are doing our part as a club to keep things rolling, a 90, a 125, and a 180 LOL well we know where our Clubers economic stimulus checks are going

sorry for the stolen thread but thought you might want the info. HD had three different play sands, each had a warning that it contained silicate (since it can cause cancer). I have found good sand a few places with a HUGE difference of shipping charges. Dr. F&S sells 150 lbs and only $13 for shipping! Premium Aquatics would charge $128 for shipping 150 lbs, more then the sand!

Look for dolomite sand. It's a limestone based sand and was used before aragonite.

Ace hardware has 50 lb bags of dolomite sand for 7 bucks.

Very cool and congrats on your new endevour. I agree with not using play sand as they have very little controls on the silicates and other impuraties. I've seen threads where people have used 'play sand' but then they stopped posting... wonder why. It's worth it IMHO to get the stuff from people who stake their names on it. As for shipping, I too refuse to pay more for shipping than the product, especially when local businesses sell the same thing. I think Dolomite sand is good, again just check to see how they can guarantee lack of or minimizing impurities. After having a tank steady for two years and moving it, I decided to replace all but about 10% of my sand with 'live sand'. I don't know how 'live' it was but it was only a few dollars more than dry sand but the bonus was I didn't have to rinse it. I eliminated the hair algea outbreak and didn't lose a single critter. As for the skimmer, a 120g for a 180g.... again IMHO, as long as you are skimming your doing fine. It really depends on your bioloading and feeding. Skimmers can be expensive so if I were you I'd use my current skimmer and see how it works and then decide if I needed to upgrade to something that says it can do 180g worth. Tanks are sometimes refrerenced from the outside demensions so you have the wall thickness fudge factor, then you add sand, rock, and coral and you probably have about 15-30% of the water volume displaced by those items. 30% of 180 brings you back down to 120g anyway. YMMV (Your mileage may vary) ;) Make sure you take pictures and share. :D

http://chicoreefclub.org/viewtopic.php?t=148 is this the one bob?