New 180 Build - Mini Coop's Dream Tank

[Mini Coop]

Next up - 125 lb of dry rock curing in a trash barrel with RODI water - I have a powerhead running in it and keep moving it around every couple of days to make sure it is clear of as much dust as possible.

 

[Mini Coop]

Sunday, we had the people who did our fence come reinforce our floor. This sucker isn't going anywhere!! My husband also drilled the holes through the tank and floor to run the PVC pipe for the drains and returns!!! ;Woot

3 Extra 2x10 beams across!!!

 

[Benson0219]

Your tank build is looking good so far! I like my 180... great size tank.

 

[Mini Coop]

Your tank build is looking good so far! I like my 180... great size tank.

Thank you so much! This is my first build on my own. My 120 was hodge-podged together by a friend who worked for a big box LFS. He didn't really teach me much in the process, and certainly not NEARLY enough about chemistry or anything else. I went through quite the ich disaster and lost almost everything. If it weren't for @revhtree and this forum, all of the members and @Humblefish @Diesel and @melypr1985 especially, I would have given up. I have done TONS and TONS of research before setting this new tank up and still feel like I don't even know the 1/2 of it! Trying to take one step at a time! A wise man once told me in this hobby - "you take it slow, and when you think you are taking it too slow, go slower"

 

[Benson0219]

Thank you so much! This is my first build on my own. My 120 was hodge-podged together by a friend who worked for a big box LFS. He didn't really teach me much in the process, and certainly not NEARLY enough about chemistry or anything else. I went through quite the ich disaster and lost almost everything. If it weren't for @revhtree and this forum, all of the members and @Humblefish @Diesel and @melypr1985 especially, I would have given up. I have done TONS and TONS of research before setting this new tank up and still feel like I don't even know the 1/2 of it! Trying to take one step at a time! A wise man once told me in this hobby - "you take it slow, and when you think you are taking it too slow, go slower"

I agree about the tons and tons of research... one thing is for sure "stuff" happens to even the best tanks in the world! The only choice is to keep on going and enjoy the process. Learning is an ongoing process for sure and reading and talking to reefers is always good.

 

[Mini Coop]

This is the most patient I have ever had to be!

So thankful for a very good friend who helped us run the electric! Return pump is on its own breaker. Electric run! 4 outlets for the QT area, 2 for the sump (APEX power bar will be there) and double outlet for the return pump.

 

[Mini Coop]

First plumbing done. We only did one drain today. Just thinking everything through and making cuts - so nerve wrecking!! Already re-thinking a couple of things!

One lesson we learned when we went to mount a light tonight - we left NO ROOM behind the tank for ANYTHING! The cords will fit, but that is about it. We are now a little off-center of the holes in the floor just to fit the mounts for the lights. GRRR. Thank goodness we only have 1" pipe and 3/4" pipe but made 2" holes. Lots to learn still in this process. As much research as I have done - and I have done a TON, some of it is trial and error.

But here is my one sad drain

 

[Dubs83]

Disregard lol

 

[Mini Coop]

Disregard lol

AHH - i saw your post and was just coming back to look at it to compare! put it back!! lol

 

[Dubs83]

AHH - i saw your post and was just coming back to look at it to compare! put it back!! lol

Stop it! I didn’t read the entire thread and now I’m embarrassed!! [emoji851]

 

[Dubs83]

What I was going to suggest is a return pump but it looks like you have already found one! We have a very similar set up going and I’m happy to help. Good job so far!!!

 

[ca1ore]

Very nice. 180 is almost the perfect tank size. Not too big, not too small and good front to back width. I ran one for 20 years continuously, before finally falling victim to upgradeitis. BTW, I run a PW200 and it's a really powerful pump, and should give you many years of reliable service.

 

[Mini Coop]

What I was going to suggest is a return pump but it looks like you have already found one! We have a very similar set up going and I’m happy to help. Good job so far!!!

Send me your build thread, I would love to follow too! And I was actually looking at the gph you were getting! I am curious how the pw200 will do for me! Nervous about getting that all to flow correctly and how it all balances out to not be too much drain vs return, etc.

 

[Mini Coop]

Very nice. 180 is almost the perfect tank size. Not too big, not too small and good front to back width. I ran one for 20 years continuously, before finally falling victim to upgradeitis. BTW, I run a PW200 and it's a really powerful pump, and should give you many years of reliable service.

Thank you so much! I am always wondering if I am doing the right thing or picking the right equipment, even after tons of research.

 

[Victoria M]

Nice progress Jena. It is so exciting to set up a new tank. Is your husband a hobbyist also or is he support staff? Lol. I am currently doing a 180 rebuild and have created a thread too. looking forward to watching your aquarium thread grow.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Making good progress, jena!

 

[Mini Coop]

Nice progress Jena. It is so exciting to set up a new tank. Is your husband a hobbyist also or is he support staff? Lol. I am currently doing a 180 rebuild and have created a thread too. looking forward to watching your aquarium thread grow.

Thank you so much! We are on Christmas break from school now, so hoping to have plumbing complete on Tuesday!!! EEEKKK!!!

My husband I would consider support staff! HAHA - never looked at it that way! He does a lot of the plumbing, hook-ups, basically the stuff I don't have the patience for! I do everything with QT, fish, and the maintenance of the tank itself. We got an APEX . . . I am pretty sure he will geek out with me on that!

Do you have a thread for your rebuild? I am really looking for some good aquascape ideas!

 

[Mini Coop]

Making good progress, jena!

So so so so so so so so SLOW!!!!
But progress!!!

 

[Flippers4pups]

So so so so so so so so SLOW!!!!
But progress!!!

Well worth it in the end!

 

[Fin]

So so so so so so so so SLOW!!!!
But progress!!!

Nothing wrong with slow. Gives you time to work out the details the first go around.