KrazyKuch's & Michika's 180Gal Tank Build - Page 8

Pan · #71 05-09-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

So true!

There should be lots more progress in the next month. Tomorrow is a big day for building, or at least this weekend is. I'm STILL waiting on my bulkhead shipment, I think tomorrow I will just purchase locally. Where would I go for bulkheads in town?

Emco has the white pvc threaded bulkheads...

michika · #72 05-09-2008, 12:23 PM

I think its neoprene foam. It came from Rona.

Well I'm over by Emco so I may head over there at lunch, if not, to Elite I will go.

BC564 · #73 05-09-2008, 03:30 PM

I'm tagging along for this build....very interesting.
Hope Sunday works and I can see the progress in person.

michika · #74 05-10-2008, 02:24 AM

There may actually be water in it on Sunday!

Emco Waterworks is the place to go to get bulkheads, its on 44th st and 90th ave (I think). Glen is the man to speak to if you are wondering. I unfortunately went to the wrong location, and will be waiting until Monday for my bulkheads, unless another store in town carries them. Everyone seems to be out lately.

Pan · #75 05-10-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

There may actually be water in it on Sunday!

Emco Waterworks is the place to go to get bulkheads, its on 44th st and 90th ave (I think). Glen is the man to speak to if you are wondering. I unfortunately went to the wrong location, and will be waiting until Monday for my bulkheads, unless another store in town carries them. Everyone seems to be out lately.

Told Ya

michika · #76 05-11-2008, 03:26 PM

Alright the first part of this weekend's photo montage!

1st we moved the RO/DI to a better place, from under the kitchen sink into the utility room. This allows us to fill a larger container with RO/DI rather then the 3g storage container we had before.

Then out came the Acetone, and as per Bow Valley we cleaned up all the extra silicone that was in places it shouldn't be.

The tank clean up

Then into the dreaded crawl space to reinforce the floor

Again, through the magic of photography its suddenly done!

The inaugural bucket of the water test

The second bucket of the water test, which by the way went very well.

Boomboy · #77 05-11-2008, 05:04 PM

but what about the third bucket... what happens next. its coming along nicely, its that time in between putting water into it and getting your first fish into that really sucks to wait for.

michika · #78 05-11-2008, 07:18 PM

Lol @ 3rd bucket!

Well there is salt in the tank now and its almost all mixed in. Next up is the sand, Caribsea's Agronite, and something else by Caribesea, but its much finer, Oolite perhaps? Both came to me super cheap, thanks buy/sell forum, and in bags!

Pan · #79 05-11-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

Lol @ 3rd bucket!

Well there is salt in the tank now and its almost all mixed in. Next up is the sand, Caribsea's Agronite, and something else by Caribesea, but its much finer, Oolite perhaps? Both came to me super cheap, thanks buy/sell forum, and in bags!

Hurry up..it's raining and there is nothing on the television...and i don't want to do my water change right now.

Side note..if i had cable there might be something on tv.

Looks great so far catherine, so what are your stocking plans...besides the ones you have already got...the ones in your little one are going into the new tank right? Every had a Marine Betta? was lookinga t one the other day, pretty neat looking, guess i should look it up.

michika · #80 05-11-2008, 07:40 PM

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.