My Twin 180 project

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1941.jpg

[JazzMan]

I like it. Whats the setup going to be like? One with SPS and one softie? One fish only???

[Scuba Dog]

Two glasscages low fe 180s. Will be set up as a barebottom system. One sps and one fowlr. Both tanks will operate out of a common large sump. Each tank will have an OM 4 way closed loop.

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks Jazzman. Actually each tank will be preped for sps, so down the road I could have the option to have both tanks sps. But at the moment my wife is fond of the Fish only species.

[Tigger240]

i think your two 180's are in the foreground of that pic, gc runs eurobracing on the bottom and top of the tanks are you going to run starboard to cover it up? or does it not look that bad?

[Scuba Dog]

Tigger yes the tanks are in the foreground, me to move. Yes i plan on using starboard on the bottom. Just need to make an order. I alos need to find some stick on tank covering, would hate to spray paint the backs in the middle of my living room.

[enemec1]

where is the tv going?

[Scuba Dog]

enemec1


Up top in the enclosed frame. There is a vapor barrer within the framing with some fans blowing back down behind the stand, that way no moisture can build up.

[Hop]

Nice! I like the twist on the normalcy of setting up tanks. This should be one to subscribe to:thumbsup:

[enemec1]

sweeeeeeet

[TrooperVinny]

Hey Scuba, I used a vinyl sheet as a backing to my tank. I went to a local sign shop and he sold me some. It's the same material they use for lettering vehicles so it can stand getting wet. All you do is spray the vinyl with windex, set it down carefully and sqeegee out the air bubbles. If you ever need to remove it, just scrape it off with a razor. It looks great. Here is a pic of what it looks like: http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3325377

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks guys, been planing and saving a long time for this project. Thanks for the tip vinny, I will definitly look into that this week.

[Scuba Dog]

I also had six new 20 amp circuts installed. along the back wall of the tank. That way I should have to worry about equipment triping out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/118_1890.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

Here is a shot of the MRC4 recirculation skimmer, it will be under the stand on the right hand side, you will also be able to see the ventalation outlet of the pacific coast 1/2 horse chiller.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1940.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

Here is a shot of some of the pumps Ill be using along with the OM 4way units.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1937.jpg

[alien9168]

Looks like a really great project :) I cant wait to see how it turns out! :)

[drummereef]

This is going to be sweet! Can't wait for the updates!

[JustOneMoreTank]

PanWorlds, MDM Sequence, OceansMotions 4 Ways... I like your equipment choices! :D :D :D

[Scuba Dog]

JustOneMoreTank


Thanks, I learned from my first salt tank not to skimp on equipment anymore.

[220gallon]

Looks like a ton of work but it should be awsome when you get it all done. Keep the pics coming.

[JustOneMoreTank]

Agreed. Good equipment from the beginning is the way to go. Otherwise you will have to upgrade to what you should have got from the start a year (sometimes less) later.
You are not worried about nutrient levels since the tanks will be combined through the sump? Usually FO tanks have more feeding and higher nutrient levels in the water... and the SPS dont like that much. The BB will help of course. Or do you have some kind of "trick" or "surprise" for us all coming up soon to solve this? :D

[Scuba Dog]

JustOneMoreTank

Yes I have thought of that, actually I would rather have both tanks loaded in millies and torts but my wife loves the fish only species. Im banking on a large sump, somewhere around 100 gallon capacity, high flow, and a MRC4 recirc skimmer. Plus a built in fuge. I even have a euro reef and a asm skimmer lying around for extra filtration power if necessary, and I have a phosphate reactor.

Ill stick around with small fish, chromis, clowns, gobies. and just a couple tangs. The FOWL will have a juvie koran angel, a striped puffer thats about four inches in lenth that I have had about three years now.....in short ill keep the bio load down.

[JustOneMoreTank]

Cool. Sounds like you have given it some thought so you will not wreck the SPS colonies. :) Cant wait to see it all in action! :D

[Scuba Dog]

There will not be any progress for a week or so, giting ready to drive down to planet Houston for Macna.

[Scuba Dog]

Moday Ill have like all 25 oak doors instaled, and possible the tanks placed on the stand if I can round up some help from my friends.

will post the blue prints of how the tanks were drilled.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/75%20project/BulkheadLayout.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[Scuba Dog]

Finally got the doors installed, and got those heavy tanks in place!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1966.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

shot of the plasma.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1967.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

The built in staorage closet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1969.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

And the side view, it opens to the sump area, and to a side view of the tank.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1968.jpg

[rsxs1212]

simply amazing!!.. you have a very nice entertainment center thats for sure!!... i thought the 75 gallon with my 19" hdtv over it on the wall was nice :) lol its nothing compared to this but its in my room so its good enough for me.. but man when i get a house (im only 14 hehe) id love to have something like that

[Scuba Dog]

rsxs1212

Thanks! Not bad 14 and have a 75 salt tank, and a HDTV, at that age I would have been lucky to get a black and with with a 20gallon. I have been saving and working on this project for well over a year.

[rsxs1212]

nice.. yeah i worked all summer for my tank and built it all up myself and my tv i got for my birthday.. im very pleased with both... i just decided this summer i wanted to upgrade from my 50 and it was only 30 in width, mainly a cube.. i wanted a 48" tank.. a 125 which is 60" in width i believe would have just fit in my room but the extra cost for lighting and such was to much for me..so i went with the 75.. ended up 1600 for the whole thing.. not to bad and i have learned alot.. i also didnt take any money out of my bank acount because i have enough saved up for the car in my avatar picture... also by doing work.. anyway i love building things and seeing the result.. just one reason im in this hobby :)

[Scuba Dog]

rsxs1212

Cool! good luck with the tank.

The next step is having a custom built sump, all I have to do is draw up some plans and my reef club budy will make it happen. In the mean time Ill start some of the basic plumbing, such as the closed loops, chiller and the overflows.

[subREEFed]

wow, looks really good can't wait to see ir with water. i plan on doing something like this when i get a house of my own

[Red Sea Purple Tang]

DUDE! That thing is just sick!

[Scuba Dog]

I started some of the plumbing today. I have a total of 18 bulkhead fittings, some 1", 1.5"and 2". I have a question, just how snug do the bulkheads need to be? Is hand tight enough, or should I purchase a strap wrench? I sure don't want any leaks, but I dont want to crack the glass ither!

[Scuba Dog]

Sorry it has been a whyle since I last posted some progress.

this pic is the front view of the 180 tank 1(tank two is a mirror image) It shows the om 4way closed loop plumbing and three durso stand pipes( 1 1.5", and two 2"drains) one 1.5"return from a sequence 750 series pump. Each closed loop will be supplied from a sequence dart.

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1982.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[Scuba Dog]

This pic is the plumbing coming off the four discharge pots of the om 4 way. Im coming off a 2"suction, 1.5"discharge feeding the OM way and four 1"discharge lines feeding the tank.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1987.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

This pic is a mess, I am still in the proces of plumbing six drain lines. Tow of which are 1.5" and four 1" drains for redundancy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1990.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

This is the center point under the stand where the two tanks butt up together. Just a shot of the ball valves of the return line and threee drains.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/119_1992.jpg

[craftytony]

that is so sweet....

[jzdad]

WOW...... thats like watching 3 tvs ( 2 with no commercials) That is going out and beyond. How long have you been planning this set up? AWESOME.........This is going to really be fun to follow. GOOD LUCK with everything:eek2: :D :rolleyes:

[EnderG60]

Man talk about an ADD persons dream...OOH big TV, OOOH reef tank...OOOH fishies...OOH TV!

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks everyone! I will be working on plumbing in my spare time over the next few weeks. Hopefully by christmass it will be complete and have some fish enjoying the space.

jzdad I have been planing and saving for this project well over a year and a half.

The project started with breaking down my 75 reef and relocating live stock in some smaller tanks I have and other friends tanks. Then pulling the living room carpet and installing a marble floor, the next stage was having six 20 amp dedicated circuts. Then the stand construction. And now the plumbing. Hopefully soon Ill be ordering about 90lbs of marshall rock! To supliment the other live rock I have allready in the holding tanks.

[matthew112687]

Looks great, I cant wait to see it stocked. Keep those pictures coming!!!

[gigiba]

clean setup !!!!

more pictures please:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[jzdad]

WoW !!!!!only a year and a half, It seems more like several years to plan something like that. So keep up the good work . And when Christmas gets here you have your tanks running and have your list ready for gifts ( To finish stocking the twins) from family , friends and relatives so it will be a christmas to remember. And a Happy New Year!!!!!!!

[Scuba Dog]

Finally got both closed loops up and running, Leak Free~!

Here is a shot of one of the Om closed loops and some various plumbing, you will see some of the open ended drains as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/120_2008.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

Here is a shot of one of the tanks functing Om 4way closed loop. the tank is only partically filled for the leak check.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/120_2007.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

here is a sjot of the other tanks leak check of the closed loop.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Project%20from%20heck/120_2010.jpg

[IBASSFSH]

You have done an awesome job so far!! I am very impressed with what you have done. I cannot wait to see pics of the tanks with corals/fish in it.:beer: :beer:

[xtrstangx]

Thats awesome!

I can't imagine all the work you've put into it after setting up just one 180g.

I think you may get the first 'Tanks of the Month'.

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks agen for all the kind words. Still have a bunch to do, but its been fun. Hopefully youl be able to see the tank in person someday Ibassfsh. xtrstangx thanks for the compliment!

[Tigger240]

you know whats funny - i thought this was sooo cool but wasnt planning on having another tank. and i ended up with the most random thing this week, a second 180. if i do a build thread, you will end up seeing some similarities. ones a shark/small ray tank, other is mixed soft coral / fish tank. thanks for the build up its provided some good ideas.

[Scuba Dog]

Tigger240

Thanks! If your going to use a stand make sure you have as much room as possible behind and under the stand for plumbing and equipment.

[Tigger240]

r u going to run tunze and cl or just cl?

[Scuba Dog]

Tigger240


For the first few years Ill likly just run the om units, then if I start having some dead spots in flow I might add a tunze stream.

[Tigger240]

cool keep us updated with pics and stuff, my first stand used 2x4 construction and left me with 17" on the inside(24 - (3.5"x2)). i made it with little knoweldge about the hobby and tank sizes, and was rather disheartened when a 40 gal breeder wouldnt fit on the inside. oh well.

[Scuba Dog]

Ill keep you updated on progress. Actually progress will be slow since I will be working some significant over time, and finishing up the aviary project I have been working on for quite some time. Next order of business to to purchass two 4x8 sheets of acrylic, some HDPE plastic, and six 20 amp power strips. Then I can finish up the plumbing and order some marshall island live rock.

[Lunchbucket]

looks freaking awesome!! i love the stand/canopy/show piece combo! who did the carpentry work for you? you do it yourself?

how hard is it to view the TV from teh ground?

i keep telling my wife that i want a 200gal tank for a reef and she gets a 200gal tank for fish. she isn't super fond of corals and the angels that we want can't be in my SPS reef :D i wanted to do a common sump so i only have one skimmer, one sump, one ca rx, etc

Lunchbucket

[Scuba Dog]

Lunchbucket

Thanks man, I wish that I had the skills to have done the cabnet stand my self, I hired the job done, since I wanted furnuture quality work.

It's not to hard to see the tv, our couch and love seat recline back, so its comfortable to watch.

Having a common sump will help, like you mentioned one of each just supersized. I will have a spare return pump since thats the most critical piece of equipment IMO.

My wife also loves the fish only species so thats why I went with the two 180 approach, actually it was cheaper to go with two 180s than one monster tank. My goal is to create the illusion thats it's all one large 12 foot tank. Both tanks will be set up for sps, so say sometime down the road I could have two sps tanks in the furture. Thanks agen for the kind words!

[Lunchbucket]

Scuba - exactly. supersize the equipment and get one of each. will allow you to have one skimmer but a big mother hummer. less money then buying 2 skimmers.

i can't wait to get a house and do that to mine :(

Lunchbucket

[Lunchbucket]

umm...any updates? it's been a few days :D

Lunchbucket

[master_wise]

There nothing more beautiful when setting up a tank, then when you finaaly get to the point you can sit back and truely appreciate your hard work... And in your case that will be amazing... I can't wait to see it once you get the fish and corals in it.... Great work...

[Scuba Dog]

Lunchbucket

No new progress, been working overtime at the plant, need the extra dough to get some more equipment, about all I have done is consider what size sump I want to have built, Im leaning on a 125 to 150 gallon sump at the moment. Over the next few days ill finish up the large parrot cage I built, then Ill get started back up on the tank. Tomorrow Ill oreder some HDPE plastic for the substrate and six 20 amp power strips.

Once I have the sump built Ill finish up the return and drain plumbing, tie in the chiller and skimmer, then order a large chunk of live rock.

master_wise, thanks for the kind words...Im ready for this project to wind down, lol then catch up on the honey do's....

[Lunchbucket]

sounds like fun. i almost miss setting up a tank because it is always fun putting everything together IMO.

well anyhow keep us updated

Lunchbucket

[Tigger240]

lol ....honey do's... dang man and my tank is a honey doo for my girl... what a pita.. hahaa

as far as the steel stand idea, i came across an interesting idea the past couple of days.. everyone builds there wooden stands to support the tank on the very outside edge of the wood stand right?? well since my tanks have the 1" black trim around the outside then why the heck support the tank on the outside? use the inside edge and then you can have a nice 2.5" lip around the tank to put test kits on, food, ect. then you have a 22" clear inside, and i only have to rebuild the two side walls, lengthen them.

as far as using that on your set up well my idea only works for certain situations.. steel for the rest. thanks for the suggestion, i wonder how prices compare.. i never priced a steelie.

[Scuba Dog]

The only steel prices I am familar with is small stuff like 1/2 square tubing. 1/4" round bar, and 1" angle iron.

I built a 5 x 2.5 x 7 parrot aviary for around $450.00 including powder coating. using the small stuff mostly 16 gage mild steel. my mig welder will only weld up to 5/16ths. I did think about welding a steel stand, but chickend out since I have only been tinkering around with welding for a few months.

[cokemanmark]

that is a nice setup

[Tigger240]

Hey scuba dog i figured id help you out and brush off all these darn cobwebs all over this thread - now you gotta bring it to life and post some pics man!! hope everything is going good for you.. i know its taken you a year to get to this point ~ it looks great soo far!

[huge1day]

Very cool setup! Can't wait to see it with everything in it! One thing I did the second time I used OM is to put a value to drain the line when I need to take the OM offline and work on it. Here is a picture of what I did. With a 2" line you can hold ALOT of water that will go all over the floor if you have to undo both unions.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q59/huge1day/P1010067.jpg

This has helped me already because the OM was not moving and making a clicking noise so I had to take it apart and hardly any water made it to the floor. I had almost 2 gallons of water in the line that I drained before I took it apart.

[rsxs1212]

hey i almost forgot about this thread lol

[Lunchbucket]

me too...but where are the updates

Lunchbucket

[Scuba Dog]

LOL Im sorry guys, too man irons in the fire. But I did finish the large parrot cage that I have been working on since may lol! Welded it out of mild carbon steel.

As far as progress on the twin 180 project,I know have in my possion six 20 amp power strips, that I need to wire in a power coard to. I bought a nice portable table saw so sump construction should begin soon.

But I did come acrost a problem, the 2" 90 pvc fitting on the suction side of the Om way and pump started a small leak, after its been leak free for a month now. Im debating on pulling the 90 and regluing or maybe gluing a patch to it.

Progress should be faster now that Im done with the parrot cage build, the sump is the only real hold up now. I also should be done with working overtime for the rest of the year and thus can concentrate on the tanks.

[Lunchbucket]

well hop to it and get us some updates :D

glad everything is going well. we'll wait for more pics

Lunchbucket

[jerryc]

Roy next time I'm in South end of the state I'm going to stop and see your new setup for myself

[Lunchbucket]

any update??

Lunchbucket

[rsxs1212]

yeah its been over a month but then again it is Christmas season :)

[Scuba Dog]

It has been a long time since I last posted.

Well i do have salt water recirculating through the tanks. And live rock is curing whyle the new system is cycling. Ill likly order 50 to 70 lbs of some tonga branch rock to add to the aqua scape.

When I get my home pc back up and running ill post some new photos!

So far everything works great, the chiller runs like a dream, the big becket was quite a bit of work with all the plumbing. overall the project was a massive plumbing experience. All that remains is to install some cooling fans, a top off tank, and hang the lights...

[Hop]

Finally. I was tapping on the monitor to make sure my computer was still working:) A 90+ day gap in posts usually mean bad things happened. Glad to hear your still moving forward and things are going well:D

[Brandan]

Very, very nice setup.

[Scuba Dog]

LOL I know, I know, well alot happened in those 90 plus days..lol.

Had a custom sump built, 84x22x16 out of 3/8ths acrylic. And a few other projects along the way. Hopefully Ill be able to post a few pics within the next few days.

[RobNJ]

C'mon scuba, update it already!

[purebullet417]

any updates???

[Scuba Dog]

Im sorry, havent taken any pics of the tank yet. Hopefully Ill post some tonight.

The system is on line, just need to add some more halides, at the moment its a patchwork or different style bulbs. So the pics may look a bit funny. I am fighting some algaee blooms in one tank, nothing a good water change can't fix.

[purebullet417]

defently take some pics i always wanted to set this exact same system up

[Scuba Dog]

http://www.razorbackreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=325

[Scuba Dog]

The sump dimensions are 7x22x16.

[Michael Mota]

wheres the updated pics?

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/080507180teaser001.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/080507180teaser016.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/080507180teaser022.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/080507180teaser008.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/080507180teaser009.jpg

[Scuba Dog]

Sorry it took so long to post some pics. I have added some more equipment, a tunze stream 6100 on a single controler for the acro tank to boost the turnover rate to around 50x. A geo kalk reactor, a litermeter 3, and a midwest aquqatic sulfur denitrator, plus some more PFO 250DE mini pendants.

[Lunchbucket]

OMG ALL THOSE CABINETS COME OFF???!!! Who made those...that is sweet!!

Lunchbucket

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks lunchbucket!

They can come off with little help of a drill driver. They are all opened up to show the equipment I have packed to the gills. I designed the stand and got a local cabnet maker to build it for me.

[Scuba Dog]

I recently installed an aquacontroler3! I don't know how i went so long without one! Last week was the 1st vacation that we have taken that something did not go wrong with the tank. The iphone app really gave me some peace of mind...

[jerryc]

Looking fantastic Scuba...Good to see it has all come together

[chriscobb]

Love the cabinets....

[New Jer-Z]

Can you say amazing wow!

[IBASSFSH]

Lets see some current shots!!

[Zack33]

okay deffinently need ALOT more shots of this...sorry THESE amzing tanks:)

Zack

[bjlorey]

WOW!!!!! nice setup

[Reeftanks6]

Great setups

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks yall...Ill have a day off tomorrow and will snap some pics...

[Bax]

Dog!

You Wait 1 1/2 years to post and you come back without pics!

Dog! That's just wrong!

I have always loved this thread though so please post some!