[kacairns]

Well after shutting down the http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/tank-journals-16/180gallon-community-planted-tank-31750/ I've finally found some time to do the plumbing for the new return pump in the new sump. Bought some live rock a couple months back off Anthony (Seahorse_FanTASTIC new user name he should use =)) and some off Mike from Fantasy Aquatics and have had it sitting in the tank with power heads, heater and a small skimmer in about 60g of water for awhile now. Purchased a Jebao DC6000 off Frank (jiang604), a used Skimmz 251 skimmer from Peter (apexifd) for hardware aspect of things and currently have a LED fixture being built for the tank by Anthony's buddy that will be able to be controlled by my Neptune Apex controller and will have 4 channels for dimming, few weeks away on this one so tank progress will slowly get ready for it!

I used the largest sump I could fit under the tank, a 55g Hagen and added 2 baffles to it, first area holds skimmer, 2 return outlets with socks on the end and 2 heaters, middle section will hold some live rock, probably end up with some corals or something in there as well but we'll see as we go, and return area just has the pump, temperature probe, pH probe and salinity probe. Just a couple of teaser pics, was really restricted on space and as I'm tying a UV, 2 TFL reactors, one to run Purigen and other RowaPhos and 2 return lines into the pump I had some fun designing the plumbing so that I could still get into the sump to move things around, and access the power bar that is located at the back of the sump.

 

[target]

Looking good. Man, Anthony is single-handed responsible for at least 4 new SW setups. Can't wait to get mine going.

 

[greenfin]

Even in the middle of my new planted build I think, one day...one day...
How exciting for you! Keep us posted!

 

[Sidius]

I agree... I'm about to finally set up my 180g All male African cichlid tank but I REALLY wanna do a SW tank. Gonna try to convince the gf to let me use the 90g my Africans are currently in for a SW tank but it might be a tough sell lol

Can't wait to see how this turns out! I'll be watching your journal

 

[kacairns]

I agree... I'm about to finally set up my 180g All male African cichlid tank but I REALLY wanna do a SW tank. Gonna try to convince the gf to let me use the 90g my Africans are currently in for a SW tank but it might be a tough sell lol

Can't wait to see how this turns out! I'll be watching your journal

My choice was go African, or go Salt Water... after taking the family to see Anthony's tank.... salt water it was, no debate... I just had to lie about how much it will really cost!

 

[The Guy]

My choice was go African, or go Salt Water... after taking the family to see Anthony's tank.... salt water it was, no debate... I just had to lie about how much it will really cost!

Anthony said to me when I started up my salt water tank it's kind of like having a Heroine habit with the amount of money you go through. He's right!!! .

 

[target]

Anthony said to me when I started up my salt water tank it's kind of like having a Heroine habit with the amount of money you go through. He's right!!! .

He's told me a heroin habit would be cheaper. LOL

 

[scott tang]

He's told me a heroin habit would be cheaper. LOL

yes but for some one like me (15 no job) with no sorse of income i have alot of monny for my age from selling frags and such it pays for my hobby so win win lol invest in some zoas lol

 

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I do NOT encourage people to go into Saltwater as a general rule, but if you decide that's what you want to do, then I DO try to help find newbies some good deals on equipment, live rock, livestock, etc.

I also tell people, rather than spend your kid's university fund on setting up a sw tank, come over and get your saltwater fix visiting mine. It's what we do when it comes to puppies. Go visit a friend with a puppy, let the kids play with someone else's puppy, then leave. No vet bills, no poop to scoop, etc.

However, if you're bound and determined to go salt, then I don't mind providing info & finding some good deals to get started.


I think I will now switch my warning to "Heroin AND cocaine habits would be cheaper!"

 

[kacairns]

Lol, you guys are lucky, he held the needle in my arm and told me to take the plunge!

 

[kacairns]

Well first hiccup... I plumbed the UV with vinyl tubing, turned things on... seemed fine to start then noticed a small drip coming from the bottom side, take it apart and the plastic on the quartz housing is cracked inside the unit allowing water in the unit to get into the bulb area and leak out....

 

[kacairns]

Well, guess I'll be buying a new UV sterilizer.... replacement cost for the quartz housing is like $60 before shipping from the states... not even worth it might as well try and sell the old one for parts and put towards a new unit maybe a different brand. I've got a bulb I bought on boxing day that has 1 minute of use...

 

[greenfin]

Oh no!
I think the same thing happened to me with my TurboTwist. Water may have got in and conked it out. Instead of getting a new one I bought the LifeGard from J&L but have since been warned they are prone to leaks...Mine is fine now that I got the plumbing sorted out. Only have had it running 24hours! I'd research that product more before you rush out and get one. May not fit in your cabinet anyway.

 

[bonsai dave]

I recommend emperor aquatics uv sterilizers IF have the room underneath your stand. I messed around with 3 different types of uv and just got frustrated with them. I have run on on my 300 gallon pond and couldn't be happier. I'm about to run the 40 watt smart lite uv on my 210 wild discus tank.
SMART UV Sterilizers for Pond and Water Garden Applications

 

[JTang]

Another new SW setup! Great job on recruiting another member, Anthony! We should call you SW Godfather! Lol

My little advice is go slow when it comes to adding frags. Stick with $5 ones!!!

Well, that was my plan and obviously I failed like everyone else.... Trust me, in no time you will be going for some $30, $50 frags! Good luck!

 

[crimper]

Welcome to the bright side Kevin... it's about time and you won't regret it. I thought salt water is hard but I'm wrong, I spent more time trimming and dosing my high tech planted tank that my LPS tanks.

Cheers!

 

[kacairns]

I recommend emperor aquatics uv sterilizers IF have the room underneath your stand. I messed around with 3 different types of uv and just got frustrated with them. I have run on on my 300 gallon pond and couldn't be happier. I'm about to run the 40 watt smart lite uv on my 210 wild discus tank.
SMART UV Sterilizers for Pond and Water Garden Applications

Thanks, was looking at those the other night as well as the Odyssea ones, coralife at $160 at King Ed's just isn't worth it for the hassle it has caused and due to the way I plumbed it, the UV has to be able to have input/output facing upwards like this one. Downside though is these ones costs a arm and a leg, so still on the fence whether to go with the cheaper Odyssea UV and take the risk of being disappointed, or take the plunge and spend the extra

Another new SW setup! Great job on recruiting another member, Anthony! We should call you SW Godfather! Lol

My little advice is go slow when it comes to adding frags. Stick with $5 ones!!!

Well, that was my plan and obviously I failed like everyone else.... Trust me, in no time you will be going for some $30, $50 frags! Good luck!

My plan was to continually visit Anthony and keep asking him to make me food while I snag a frag or two each time.... darn don't think that is going to work now that I said it out loud!

Welcome to the bright side Kevin... it's about time and you won't regret it. I thought salt water is hard but I'm wrong, I spent more time trimming and dosing my high tech planted tank that my LPS tanks.

Cheers!

Yes, 180g planted was wearing me thin too! when you need to trim weekly and it takes 1-3 hours it gets annoying quickly! Salt water should be much easier and less time consuming I think for me

 

[Dietmar]

Which brand of UV sterilizer do you have?

 

[kacairns]

Which brand of UV sterilizer do you have?

I currently have a coralife turbo twist 6x, 18w. But housing is cracked and only a year and a half old or so...

Sent from my Z30 using Tapatalk

 

[kacairns]

My aluminum apparently arrived today and the build of my LED heat sink starts!

My LED fixture will have 3 rows of lights with row 1 and 3 having 5x10000k, 4x 455nm, 4x470nm and Row 2 having 3x 20000k, 4x 6500k for a total of 330w. Will be controllable with my Apex controller and will have 4 channels of control. Channel 1: 10000k, Channel 2: 455nm, Channel 3: 470nm, Channel 4: 20000k/6500k. The blue channels may actually end up being the same LED or at least look very similar but doesn't matter as I will be able to dim them separately to my liking.