My New 185g Build Thread

Lots of tangs Unfortunately the Lt Tang in my Avatar is no longer with me and I plan on getting another. I've currently got a Red Sea Sailfin. I'm still trying to decide on other tangs, but I think I can add multiple Zebrasoma genus in a tank that size if I add them all at the same time. If I decide to do so then I'll add a Purple. I'm also going to have a large school of green chromis and another of bartlets anthias (probably about 10-12 chromis and 5-7 bartlets). I've got a Japanese swallowtail angel and will be adding a reef-safe trigger. I'll also be adding a Flame Hawk. I've also got a couple Bangai's, a bi-color blenny and a Randall's goby.

Work on them slowly. Move up to a 120 first. Tell them you really need a 2' wide tank to appropriately aquascape your tank. Run through the forums and find a bunch more multi-syllable words they won't likely know and tell them you need a 120 for those too

Once you get your 120, start working on the 180.

 

Stand Pics!!

So here are some pics of the stand - in progress.

First, here is one of the two pieces of artwork that I'm basing the stand around. It is hand-carved from Bali.






Now here are some pics of the stand in progress. The artwork piece above is in the center. There will be a light up underneath the top overhang above the art to cast light on it when on. On either side, the openings will have cabinet doors covering them and shelving inside to hold my additives, test kits, etc.

The access to the main area under the stand will be via doors on either end.

You can see on top are my two lumenarcs and two of the reflectors for the T5s. This is where I have a little setback. I had hoped to have room for the four T5s, lumenarcs AND two 48" LED strips. There is no F@#$ing way. I'll be lucky to fit in the four T5s. The LED strips will have to go. Instead I'll have to put shorter strips on either end of the lumenarcs and probably one in between as well. Unfortunately I've already bought and opened the LEDs... anyone need two 48" LED strips?

None of the canopy is built yet, but basically it will be 14" tall with a "hump" where part of the lumenarcs protrude from the top. The interesting features of the canopy will be two feeding doors, one on each end, and in the front, two strips of the second piece of artwork that will be cut from it and inset into the front. There will also be short pieces cut and inserted into the forward part of each side.

 

I also forgot to mention that I've got all my equipement in except the actual tank and new Galaxy ballasts. The stand is still easily 3-4 weeks out from completion, though, so no hurry on anything else.

I'll be hooking up my new skimmer on the existing tank

 

Too cool. I really like the hand carved mantle piece..

 

nice tank you have in the making, but that stand is going be awesome.

 

I got my Super Reef 5000 on Wednesday and hooked it up yesterday on my 120. Since my sump is not changing it made sense to hook it up now.

 

Finally a little bit of news on my build thread. Not all of it good, however.

On the good side, I got my new pump from Reeflo and will be hooking it up this week on my existing 120.

Also, I went by World Wide Corals and got some live rock that they are going to be kind enough to store for me until my tank is ready to go. They got a new shipment in from Haiti and this stuff is amazing. The shape is every bit as good, if not better, than my Tonga Fusion that's in my tank now, but the big difference is that they got HUGE pieces. It's also more porous. Just amazing stuff. I got to cherry pick some of the first of their 1200 pound shipment. Very difficult to choose. I am also helping out a reefer in MI that wants some of this stuff for his new 90. We got a great group of rock for him too. This store is amazing and the crew there are top notch. This rock is just one example of the quality stuff they get.

Below are some pics. One of the bins holding the 1200 lbs, the other are of some choice pieces.











On the bad side, DSA called and said that the cold front that blew through Texas caused some bubbles in the silicon when it was curing so the tank has to be built again.

 

Great looking coral, too bad on the tank. At least DSA has pride in workmanship and didn't send the bad tank.

 

My thoughts exactly. Not their fault yet they stand behind their product.

 

rocketmandb

that sure is some interesting shaped rock you got there
should look excellent once it set up in your tank

Steve