Project 180 FOWLR...

[Erik]

Well, I've got the go ahead to build a 180ish gallon tank!
No, not for me unfortunately... My mother-in-law is retiring her 72gal bowfront tank and gave me the checkbook to build her a nice 180ish saltwater tank...

Some stipulations, she likes the footprint of the 180 (6 feet long and 2 feet wide), but it can't be too tall (180's are tall, I have a phonecall with Jason about getting a shorter tank with the footprint of a 180gal tank).
The sump has to be located in the basement, so we will be drilling through the floor and plumbing it to a remote sump
No canopy. She wants to be able to work in the tank without having to worry about the canopy.
She wants maintenance to be as simple as possible. They run an in-home community care home, so they don't have a lot of time, but ARE home almost all the time.

I have a pretty tight budget. She wants to keep things new if possible, but is not opposed to quality used gear.
I'm thinking I can probably find a used tank for a sump and baffle it myself. Maybe I can get showjyr to build me a fuge (if I don't baffle it myself). I'll be getting a pretty large pump to pump the water upstairs, probably an external reeflo. Tank will be mainly FOWLR, but may have some mushrooms, zoas, etc. so I'm thinking a simple 72" T-5 fixture will suffice.

So who's got some ideas for me?
Maybe we can make parts of the build process a meeting opportunity. They have a huge basement with lots of tools, so there are lots of workshop meeting possibilities... Maybe a sump building workshop? Stand building workshop? Plumbing basics? etc... I'm pretty excited and would like to share the experience with anyone that would like to learn. Their house is in Barre, so central Vermonters will have the easier commute this time around

[The Saltwater Kid]

You know you can count me in...especially since they are right here in my backyard practically. Not sure how much good I'll be at actually constructing anything but I'm certainly willing to help .

[ncastro1981]

Sounds like fun. I have access to acrilic, plexi and lexan on occasion so depending on the size of the baffles, i might be able to help. Let me know and maybe I can get up that way, barre's not that far from where i live. Cheap sump ideas: Large trash tub with cube-like baffles, in through the center and then out around internal cubes. Just a thought, and i have been wanting to build one like this. I was going to make one out of a 5 gal pail for my new frag tank... which i am designing as we speak. Or you could use a cheap used tank and build standard baffles, i would go with at least a 40 long.

[Erik]

Yeah, I'll probably be using an old used tank as a sump... 40 breeders make nice sumps. If I could find a 40 breeder and a 20gal tank as a fuge, that would be sweet. They also have a few tractor supply places around and we could always use one of those 100gal rubbermaid stock tanks. Nice thing about those stock tanks is that they come pre-drilled from an external return pump!

I love baffling sumps

[The Saltwater Kid]

This sounds like a totally cool project…and best of all you’ve got an open checkbook and it isn’t your money your spending…it doesn’t get any better then this J!!! Like I said, I’ll be more then willing to help out where I can. I’ve been thinking about sump and refugium sizes and if it were me personally I wouldn’t go with anything less then a 55 gallon refugium for that size of a tank for fear it just wouldn’t be big enough to do a proper job. A 40 gallon breeder would suffice for a sump…what about a frag/propagation tank (another 40 breeder would be good for that too), you could convince her to tie that into the system and promise to take care of it yourself J. I know you said she’s mostly going FOWLR with a few softies/polyp corals so what kind of fish is she thinking about, passive community, semi-aggressive or aggressive? I think we…along with her input of course could stock her tank with some nice fish .

[Erik]

It is VERY cool, however I don't necessarily have an "open" checkbook. I was given a budget and frankly, the tank and light for the setup is going to eat up well over half of it. So I need to be very frugal. Many of the components will be DIY. I couldn't afford to buy everything new, especially a sump.

Equipment is shaping up so far...
Tank - 180 AGA/Perfecto Reef Ready (dual overflow), black trim
Stand - Custom E-built. 2x4 construction. I think I'm going to build the stand into the wall, so it looks like it's jutting out directly from the wall, instead of a separate stand with the typical hardwood trim. I will work the baseboard around the tank and make it look like an extension of the wall and just drywall the underneath. Since the sump will be in the basement, moisture won't be an issue. I think it'll be cool to make it look like it's jutting out of the wall and painted the same wall color. What do you guys think?
Sump - Basement sump, plumbed through the floor. Size/Style to be determined. Probably just a skimmer compartment and bubble trap.
Fuge - Size/Style to be determined. Nothing fancy here. Probably a 40ish gallon tank drilled and plumbed into the sump.
Return Pump - Reeflo Uno Wahoo http://www.aquacave.com/reeflo-uno-waho ... p-537.html
Skimmer - Maybe my Tunze 9010 for the time being... Unless there is money for something bigger and Lewis still wants it.
Lights - TBD. Probably 72" T-5 fixture with mounting legs. She doesn't want a canopy.
Flow - 4 Korallia 4's.
Rock - Probably get some Marco's dry rock and use her current live-rock to seed it.
Sand - Caribsea (hopefully I can find some reef-safe bulk sand somewhere). God, some southdown would be SWEET, but no more.

As for stocking... It's mostly going to be a FOWLR. She has some softie corals that she likes. Fish will be passive community. She can't have aggressive fish, because she likes to clean her glass often and doesn't want to have to worry about getting bit/stung. Although I think a lionfish would be totally badass, it's probably not in the cards. I'm thinking a mixture of different tangs, a LARGE school of anthias, clowns, etc. I'm pretty open to species, but I do think she'd enjoy a school of anthias as they bring a ton of color and movement to a tank. She will also ALWAYS be home to feed them, which they require.

[Erik]

She will also need a new RODI and auto-topoff unit.
Possibly a brute salt-mixing station and another brute station with a float-valve for top-off water.

[Erik]

Also a Ranco temp controller. Probably two way. One for the heaters and another for a fan across the sump.

[ncastro1981]

those baldor motors are ok. We use them at my plant, and i have rebuilt of few. Very simple to work with. I like the idea of the animal supply tub for sump. If you go that route, have you thought about DSB/sump combo?

You must really love this family member, sounds like quite the project and a bit of work.

[The Saltwater Kid]

Two things stand out to me...#1 would it be feasible to hang the lights from the ceiling instead of mount with legs? It just looks cooler . #2 regarding the Hydor Koralia 4's...if possible I would get the controlled ones so she can have more of a wave effect going. Sounds like this will be fun!!!

[Erik]

Lights are kind've up in the air right now...
The Current Nova Extreme Pro has an 8x40w T-5 Fixture for $650ish that doesn't seem like a bad deal.

[The Saltwater Kid]

Current USA is a good brand too...pretty quality stuff!

[The Saltwater Kid]

I just saved her almost a hundred bucks, check it out...http://www.petmountain.com/product/light-fixtures/514050/72-inch-12-x-39-watt-1082-.html .

[Erik]

I just saved her almost a hundred bucks, check it out...http://www.petmountain.com/product/light-fixtures/514050/72-inch-12-x-39-watt-1082-.html .

Holy crap, $582 shipped!

[The Saltwater Kid]

Yup!!! These are the guys I bought my sunpod from...they have some good prices.

[Marie 180]

Hello to everyone interested in the Project 180 FOWLR...!! We very excited in the responses we have read in this forum, concerning this Project, that we have entrusted in Erik and now to VMA. I know that this is an enormous tast (180 gallons~ WOW). I still have a hard time picturing the tank in the sitting area. I will have to modify the layout of the furniture to accommodate the tank but I sure that I can manage that.

As Erik indicated, we run a Community Care Home for the elderly. The people viewing the aquarium will be mainly seated, thus the height requirements. Our residents enjoy the 72gal bowfront tank now that Erik created for us about four years ago. The bright soft corals and colorful fish is what we all enjoy. I can only imagine the comments on a 180 gallons.

This aquarium must be able to "run on its' own" HA HA , with minimal attention, again HA HA as we are running a 24/7 business and some days are not long enough to get anything accomplished.

We welcome The Vermont Marine Aquarists into our home in our quest for a new aquarium. We look forward to meeting you and thank you for assistance and input. ~Marie and Larry

[saltyvt]

Don't think the koralias can't be on wave maker, she should get two vortech MP40W's!! What size sump?? You can get rubbermade tubs for cheap for a sump. Are you looking to add a fuge too?? Hanging from a ceiling should be easy I have access to stainless steel wire and crimps for a hanger. Some eye bolts and wire should hold it. I

[Erik]

Don't think the koralias can't be on wave maker, she should get two vortech MP40W's!! What size sump?? You can get rubbermade tubs for cheap for a sump. Are you looking to add a fuge too?? Hanging from a ceiling should be easy I have access to stainless steel wire and crimps for a hanger. Some eye bolts and wire should hold it. I

I'm pretty sure they make controllable Koralias. The controller is a bit pricey though... Certainly not as pricey as MP40W's. 2 MP40W's would exhaust the budget pretty quick

[saltyvt]

Find the used, duh!!! I'll keep my eye open for some good deals on some of the forums

[The Saltwater Kid]

Welcome to the VMA Marie and Larry!!! You won't regret letting the VMA tackle this project for you . With our fearless leader Erik (I think he's related to you somehow right...lol) spearheading the job along with some trusty sidekicks I'm sure you'll end up with a gorgeous tank for all to enjoy and we promise that all you'll owe each one of us that helps is a coral for payment . Seriously guys, you're in good hands (just Like with the insurance company All State except without the hefty premiums )!!!

Justin