LostAnime's 180gal re-build thread : Saltwater Aquarium Photos

by **lostanime** » 26 Nov 2009, 19:02

I'm bouncing off the walls over the new tank! Some of those guys are scaring me re: building one with glass panels... the piece of mind of a professionally built tank far outweighs the cost in my mind. Whether or not I can afford a professionally built one is another question... but if I can't make the #s work with all the gear... a pond will be VERY fun too. Heck, I might even have to host a frag meet so the gang can get a good laugh out of how redneck I'll probably set it all up :)

by **Shock** » 26 Nov 2009, 22:47

Ya, a tank that size, i can imagine. I know they built a nice smalll acrylic frag tank. but a LARGE glass tank... that's another story. A pond... thats on my house agenda next spring. I would looove to have a pond! But a big @#$ salty tank, even better. And you know if you had a frag meet, id be there! Ill help talk you into it. BUT, if youre a big outdoor family like mine, a pond would also be nice. We have fires on the patio often, and i cannot wait till I have a pond again to listen to that and the fire. Put a few drinks in your hand, sitting next to the fire, and the glow and sound of the pond in the background... whats better?!

Also I might have a little favor from you. if you still have that ball of chaeto that is the size of like 3 basketballs, I may be requesting some for the new tank. I have a good amount now. But since my tank is overrun with bubble algae, im scared the chaeto is also. and I dont think my uncle Jamie (James Ford on RRC) has enough to spare.

by **lostanime** » 27 Nov 2009, 22:20

I don't have nearly as much chaeto after overhauling everything but if you need some to get you started, your more then welcome to a bit!

I've only met your uncle once so far (when we were moving VADiver69's new tank...) seemed like a VERY nice guy!

My patience ran out with Joe replacing the bottom trim on that 40, so I took him up today on his offer to drill a new 40 for me that doesn't have center braces for $60 so I can move on with projects. I also grabbed a banded shark egg from him and started the 24g nano up to hold it until I can get the old 40 running (hopefully this weekend, need to build a stand, run plumbing, etc)... and then I'm going to let it hatch and hang in the 40 until early next year when we get the larger water accommodations rocking. I love the outdoors, but if we don't do a bigger tank... the pond I have in mind will probably be a 600 gallon indoor (saltwater) with the 180 plumbed to it :-D

by **Shock** » 28 Nov 2009, 21:51

When you say pond.... what do you mean? lol like instead of a side view like a tank.. a top down like a traditional pond? lol

by **lostanime** » 29 Nov 2009, 13:09

Traditional top-down pond... considering double lining with pond liners, using 4x6s to build up the walls, running a 2"-3" ABS pipe as a overflow in the middle (with teeth cut into the top of it)

Also leaning towards using a 4'x8' thin sheet of plexiglass on one side so the pond will be "in wall" too (don't want babies/toddlers getting to it, the other bay of garage will be locked off)... the plexiglass will just be there to keep toys and babies out of the tank, wont actually handle water weight and will probably install in such a way where it can be easily removed from the other side as necessary. Regardless of whether we go with a big tank or a pond for the sharks/rays, the "back room" of the garage that they will be recessed into is going to be centered around laziness. Using 100+gallon bins for the sumps/refugiums and to hold skimmers etc so I'll never have to reach into a stand for a collection cup again.

by **Lumpydogs** » 29 Nov 2009, 16:33

LostAnime, sounds like a sweet setup. I can't wait to see the pictures.

p.s. Don't be shy about posting up construction pics as well

by **Shock** » 29 Nov 2009, 19:44

Im excited anime... Either tank or pond, sounds like good project! I think either before or after someone needs to have a frag swap! Beer, Food, and talking about your future project, what better way to start the planning.

I've never seen a saltwater pong setup, im going to have to do some searching for that one!

by **lostanime** » 30 Nov 2009, 14:58

Sounds like a plan :)

Here's a teaser shot of that newly hatched bamboo shark chilling in one corner of the 40b.

Since I had to set up the tank VERY quickly (due to egg hatching month+ earlier then planned)... I did a shoddy job and it shows. The back has a nice thick coat of black paint but it's textured and runny in spots (not visible/noticable from the front so I'm not redoing it)... also, the plumbing was more of a eyeball/cut/try to see how to run this into existing setup ASAP so it's sloppy, not efficient, and the drain sounds like a toilet flushing. It's sitting on an old beat up 75gal stand I had in the garage waiting to take to the dump. I'll get everything cleaned up when I can put a little more time into it.

by **Shock** » 30 Nov 2009, 20:40

oh wow... im digging the shark...... ALOT!

by **lostanime** » 05 Dec 2009, 14:55

Shock wrote:Im excited anime... Either tank or pond, sounds like good project! I think either before or after someone needs to have a frag swap! Beer, Food, and talking about your future project, what better way to start the planning.

I've never seen a saltwater pong setup, im going to have to do some searching for that one!

I need to at least get some insulated doors up in the garage and maybe start building up the sheetrock and insulation for walls in front of concrete walls. I just went down there to start cleaning up (it's a disaster)... and it's only 3 degrees warmer then it is outside right now :shock:

... a good 20+ degree drop from the house temperatures!

I definitely want to throw a frag swap or something together and banter some ideas around with all y'all long-timers that will certainly have alot more perspectives to contribute then just what I'm thinking about :-D