KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build

[michika]

Top portion of the stand is on, fugly 70s fan is still unfortunately present.


Tank full of RO/DI. We held off on filling it completely full to account for the space sand, rock, and the salt would take up.


Then we put the salt in. Just a single bucket for now.


We also picked up a piece of live rock to seed the tank today. Nice piece that should make a nice island at some point.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by michika

You should have stayed in town yesterday, then I could have put you to work over here!

Okay stocking plan tentatively are;
Tangs - various, will post when I actually have them
Emperor angel
Male mandarin, which I have already. I would like to add a female, but they seem to be extra hard to find.
I want a schooling fish of sorts, I am researching glass eye cardinals right now
Pair of yellow headed jawfish
a few lipstick conches
my one yellow damsel, one of my first fish from when I first started.
Clown gobies - green, or yellow, not sure yet.

The plan is to do a bunch of low islands throughout the tank, and to eventually grow up SPS colonies, like stags, digis and birdnests. I would like to create a forest like look and have the SPS act as hiding spaces. I want to put a minimal amount of rock in the display, and plan to keep the bulk of the rock in the sump.

Since I have to wait for the SPS to grow in, I'll be adding fish in 3 or so waves. 1st wave will be a few more social fish, and my existing livestock. I want fish that will stay out and will socialize, and in turn they will bring out any shy fish I add in the future. 2nd wave will be some of the bottom dwellers; jawfish, and maybe a blenny. 3rd wave, once the SPS has grown in, or I add rock towers (if my SPS problem continues), will be the schooling fish, and those that have an intimate relationship with SPS, like clown gobies. I think all in all I want 5-6 larger fish (tangs, the angel, wrasses) , 5-10 medium fish (smaller wrasses, etc), and probably 10-15 small fish (cardinals, gobies).

We'll take it as it goes and make changes as need. I'll definitely consider any fish. I saw a lookdown at the store today, and thought it was quite cool.

Cool. Yes, I like my wrasses as well., I have two and will be getting a third in the next week or two, both the once i have like ground up pellets, flake and michika mash I am not liking my blue streak cardinal, mind you if there was more than one the behavior might be different. But he/she just hangs out in the back of the tank and hovers. Comes out when the lights are off, but i have noticed since i added the chromis it comes out more when the lights are on. I like the chromis, although they keep going in the overflow (bypassing the filter sock god knows how). The way my lights are as they swim across the tank they go from bright green to bluish green to bright blue. You could always go with chalk bass? I think they school, but i have no real experience with them. I like the jawfish though, except the one i had when spooked would jump straight up and out. You defn. need some sand shifting gobies
The lookdowns are quite cool...i was considering one, but have not decided. I wish i could have a Moorish idol, but i got one and promptly gave it to a friend with a 1000 gal reef. Stocking is hard, so many fish you could get on a whim in any lfs in the states ....your lucky to find up here

On a side Note: You should have waited till next weekend to do this then i could have helped

[michika]

By next weekend I'll be anxiously watching my test kits to see how all the rock I add later today is working out!

SG is 1.030, glad we left the extra space in the tank, waiting on more RO/DI to bring down the SG.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Only problem with a Lookdown is that it would outgrow that tank. They get about 14-16".

Looks great so far!

[michika]

That is why I passed on it, and the fact that my system is ready yet. The one I saw also had 6" streamers, easily making it way too big.

Something like that would be a much more appropriate choice in our next system, something considerably larger.

[Parker]

Wow, this is coming together fast, looks great!

[michika]

Thank you everyone for the positive comments! I should have one more post to make later tonight.

[Lance]

It's coming together nicely, Catherine. Gonna be a real nice set-up.

[sharuq1]

Lookin' great! Love the new fish you're getting too, especially the purple and sailfin tangs.

[michika]

Thank you everyone!

Tonight's final update for a few days;
- water; done, temp 79
- salt; done, SG 1.024
- sand; done
- rock; done
- temporary sump; done
- skimmer (temp. placement); done

Some more photos for you all;
Return plumbing


Our Foreman, constantly putting her nose where it doesn't belong!


Temporary sump & skimmer set up.


Starting to clear up!