Converting my 180g reef ready to a peninsula tank - Build Thread

Kactai · 01/13/2018, 10:12 AM

Hi All,

This build thread has been a long time coming. I purchased the 180g reef ready tank and stand about a year ago. We finally bought our house and completed all of the renos we needed so we got started on the tank back in November.

Over the year that the tank was in heated storage we planned and started to purchase our gear. Here is my equipment list.

Vectra M1 return Pump
AI Hydra 52 X2
AI hydra 26
Reef Octopus Classic 200 int
75 g glass sump
BRS dual media reactor & MJ1200 pump
Eflux 2100 gph wave pumps x3
Ink bird temperature controller
300W LED refugium grow light (amazon - unknown brand)
Jeager true temp 300W heater

Now to the super cool part. My wife and I decided to convert the reef ready tank to a peninsula tank. I could not find much info on anyone who had successfully converted one so I got as much info as I could and decided to go for it.

The plan was to cover the reef ready holes and drill the side of the tank that would be up against the wall. After placing the tank with a 4'' gap at the back it just didn't look right. The solution: Drill the bottom of the tank and build a custom internal overflow box. Luckily the marineland tank did not have a tempered bottom, so I did a lot of research regarding glass strength and drilling holes. I used the two holes already drilled and added two more, very well spaced apart in order to install a bean animal drain (which works silently like a charm I might add) 3 drains (full syphon, excess drain line and emergency) and 1 return line.

I had to buy a full 4x8 sheet of 1/4'' black acrylic to build the custom overflow. That was a bit pricey but I cut it to size and used a heat gun to bend the corners. Installed it with the ugliest silicone job known to man, installed my plumbing and the sump (oh yeah I cut and installed the sump baffles myself too) and it was ready for a water test that I had to risk in my basement (Canadian Weather). After three days full it was ready to be drained cleaned and filled with dry rock. Once the rock were in, I rinsed my sand and put that in. Then we filled it with saltwater. And now it's in cycle.

Things left to do are:

Build a hanging canopy and install lights
Install doors and trim on the back side of the stand and rim cover
build a controller and power bar panel for better chord management
Wait for the cycle and some then stock very very slowly.

I'll add pictures of the process when I get home from work. If anyone has any questions I'd love to hear from you. I've made some mistakes along the way and I'm willing to share to save others the aggravation.

Kactai · 01/13/2018, 10:16 AM

Oh and I did all of this with the assistance of my partner who has been learning along side me and keeping me on track! She’s the greatest

Mysticalknight · 01/13/2018, 05:57 PM

Sounds cool, could we see some pics?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JUNBUG361 · 01/13/2018, 08:11 PM

Interesting to see. Pictures?

Kactai · 01/14/2018, 09:31 AM

Here are a few. I get so wrapped up in the work I usually forget to take pics.

Kactai · 01/14/2018, 11:35 AM

A few more

Kactai · 02/26/2018, 06:43 PM

Built and hung this canopy and installed my Ai hydra 52 HD’s x 3

swimsree · 02/27/2018, 09:24 AM

Looking pretty good! What is your tank height?

Kactai · 02/27/2018, 12:00 PM

It's a standard 180g. 72'' x24'' x24''.

24''. It's a little bit deep. I can barely reach the sand bed. I'm gonna have to get one of those grabbers!

01/13/2018, 10:12 AM	#1
Kactai Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	Converting my 180g reef ready to a peninsula tank - Build Thread Hi All, This build thread has been a long time coming. I purchased the 180g reef ready tank and stand about a year ago. We finally bought our house and completed all of the renos we needed so we got started on the tank back in November. Over the year that the tank was in heated storage we planned and started to purchase our gear. Here is my equipment list. Vectra M1 return Pump AI Hydra 52 X2 AI hydra 26 Reef Octopus Classic 200 int 75 g glass sump BRS dual media reactor & MJ1200 pump Eflux 2100 gph wave pumps x3 Ink bird temperature controller 300W LED refugium grow light (amazon - unknown brand) Jeager true temp 300W heater Now to the super cool part. My wife and I decided to convert the reef ready tank to a peninsula tank. I could not find much info on anyone who had successfully converted one so I got as much info as I could and decided to go for it. The plan was to cover the reef ready holes and drill the side of the tank that would be up against the wall. After placing the tank with a 4'' gap at the back it just didn't look right. The solution: Drill the bottom of the tank and build a custom internal overflow box. Luckily the marineland tank did not have a tempered bottom, so I did a lot of research regarding glass strength and drilling holes. I used the two holes already drilled and added two more, very well spaced apart in order to install a bean animal drain (which works silently like a charm I might add) 3 drains (full syphon, excess drain line and emergency) and 1 return line. I had to buy a full 4x8 sheet of 1/4'' black acrylic to build the custom overflow. That was a bit pricey but I cut it to size and used a heat gun to bend the corners. Installed it with the ugliest silicone job known to man, installed my plumbing and the sump (oh yeah I cut and installed the sump baffles myself too) and it was ready for a water test that I had to risk in my basement (Canadian Weather). After three days full it was ready to be drained cleaned and filled with dry rock. Once the rock were in, I rinsed my sand and put that in. Then we filled it with saltwater. And now it's in cycle. Things left to do are: Build a hanging canopy and install lights Install doors and trim on the back side of the stand and rim cover build a controller and power bar panel for better chord management Wait for the cycle and some then stock very very slowly. I'll add pictures of the process when I get home from work. If anyone has any questions I'd love to hear from you. I've made some mistakes along the way and I'm willing to share to save others the aggravation.

01/13/2018, 10:16 AM	#2
Kactai Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	Oh and I did all of this with the assistance of my partner who has been learning along side me and keeping me on track! She’s the greatest Last edited by Kactai; 01/13/2018 at 10:16 AM. Reason: Typo

01/13/2018, 05:57 PM	#3
Mysticalknight Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Kissimmee, FL Posts: 166	Sounds cool, could we see some pics? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/13/2018, 08:11 PM	#4
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Interesting to see. Pictures?

02/27/2018, 09:24 AM	#8
swimsree Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6	Looking pretty good! What is your tank height?

02/27/2018, 12:00 PM	#9
Kactai Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	It's a standard 180g. 72'' x24'' x24''. 24''. It's a little bit deep. I can barely reach the sand bed. I'm gonna have to get one of those grabbers!