My New 185g Build Thread

Congrats on your new project!!

 

So with the exception of cleaning up the wiring under the tank and programming my Neptune Apex, I've got the tank wired!

Pics:

Here is the full tank from the back. What I've got going here are two 250W metal halides in Lumenarc reflectors with Radium bulbs. They are being run off of the Galaxy dimmable ballasts so if I want to move up to 400W I'll be able to. I've got two 60" t5s running the length of the tank - one in front and one in back. Additionally I've got a total of four 24" t5s run off of fixtures at each end of the tank. The only thing I'm missing is a suite of 6 Stunner LEDs that I'll be putting in shortly. I've got a total of four 6" EcoPlus fans for cooling. See note on those at the bottom.




Here is a shot looking up into the canopy.




Here is an interesting shot looking at one of the 24" fixtures and half of the 60" t5. Why is it interesting? The 60" is a Giesemann blue and the end bulbs are UV super actinics that came with the fixtures. The pic shows the difference in brightness between the two but it doesn't do it justice. In person you can see a HUGE difference.




This is a closeup of the end fixture. The fixture is a CoralVue with two LEDs in it as well. As notes on this, I FAR prefer the end caps on this fixture to the end caps on my 60" which is from Sunlight Supply. The Sunlight Supply end caps are the type where you insert the bulb and twist. The CoralVue are the type that you put in, turn sideways then push into place. On the former, you can be juuuuuusssst off and the bulbs don't light correctly. Not so with the CoralVue end caps. You know they're in when you put them in. One last thing is that the CoralVue fixtures have an interesting plastic mounting bracket. It worked very well and seemed secure, but I don't like the idea of trusting plastic with an electrical fixture sitting over the tank. I ended up adding a backup with two cable ties.




One last thing is that I've got my new live rock in a big tub in the garage. Aquascaping starts Friday.




Now to the EcoPlus fans. I got these because I wanted a powerful, sealed fan. When I got them and plugged them in they were LOUD. When I say loud, I mean LOUD. You know that annoying Staples commercial? Yeah, that loud. I had to get a dimmer from Home Depot to turn them down so they operate at a decent sound level.

 

WOW! Thats a lot of lighting. This is going to be a sweet build. What are your plans for the rock scape?

 

You're going to have to wait until Friday. Aquascaping begins then!

 

Looking good! Can't wait to see the end result.

 

So the aquascaping started today!

First step was cutting the PVC plate so it was no longer square. I'll probably be cutting more off prior to the final install.




Next I took scraps from the plate to create standoffs/feet. They were secured with PVC cement.




Here we cut a hole for a 3/4" bulkhead and put a stand pipe in. The piece we want to support is up against it.




Then we drilled through the rock (and later the pipe) with a masonry bit.




Finally we screwed the rock to the pipe with nylon rod.




One of the pieces we are going to have as a self-standing piece so we needed to flatten the bottom. We used a hand grinder with a masonry cutting blade.




Here are the dogs watching everything...

 

Looking good. Cain't wait to see the finished scape.

 

More more more!
Looking good, keep it coming

 

woohoooo! this is getting exciting! You now getting to the good part!!!

keep it going!

 

Hey Rocket... someone asked about a sand and glue.... someone replied to google "faux sandbed".... googling that gives you this thread on RC...

Idea for Faux sand bed. Envirotex Lite high gloss finish. - Reef Central Online Community

Some interesting stuff. You have your stuff set, but maybe you can get some tips????