180 gallon build

[AlexF762]

I bought a 180 gallon planet aquarium RR with a cherry costal stand. With a 36' crystal trigger system sump. I have started the plumbing with a herbie overflow system. I am moving everything over from my current 90 gallon tank. I will have 3 kessils, a BRS GFO reactor, reef octopus 1000 int skimmer apex unit, smart ATO, gyre generator 130 (i won at the Lmar swap!) and a jabao pump, and a danner 18 pump. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/08/9010e9b1f0ebedc7d00c83454d53f04a.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/08/0780816d30b9a0a96aad7c22aa887425.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/08/457f10394d705796afc6e111ad7d2f65.jpg


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[SABOB]

Niiiice😎


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[alton]

Very nice, the transfer should go very smooth. And you will definitely enjoy all the extra room

[AlexF762]

I hope so! I will be doing the move tomorrow morning. I will try to take progress pictures.


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[AlexF762]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/10/ff130801a594b3b31f92d10cb5485185.jpg corals packed up
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/10/d069474d5e3a1310d390ddfe3824eeff.jpg coral stripped from rock and set in the trashcan http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/10/6c64e6aca5bc0f6ecd45553cae0ac775.jpg anyone need fireworms??? Lol
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/10/a4834186025ad0bfcb64c862f72020af.jpg nudibranch and odd worm
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/16/01/10/e81e6bccf698cff7d8f684c355e8c4a4.jpg one single worm not sure what it is


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[Zack]

Dude that plumbing is clean! Let's see some shots when everything gets acclimated

[AlexF762]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160112/1016dd9d20d41d46ee44b2b0947bc7e1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160112/0d4f0276733f4d7b061e63f5e6498dc3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160112/ab0d264df4a5b16d44c19309c8f78cde.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160112/c0e55599337f8becd675d8f3e6f03d94.jpg


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[Cammed_02]

Looks killer! I have always liked the 180 footprint.

[Justin]

I have a Planet Aquarium and I really like the workmanship of the tank. Not to mention my fish love the lateral space to swim around in my tank vs. a 100 gal 3 ft tall tank. Plumbing looks good.

You planning on running any corals in it?

[AlexF762]

Yes they're good tanks. Nice thick glass on them.
Yes I have quite a few in there already from
My previous tank. Making a trip to Houston next week to get some more!


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[AlexF762]

A few update pics! Note: there is a filter to try to cut out some of the blues since I used my iPhone.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/73f1213618cecab03971596f37c00afb.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/7003ec43fc2dfd9e00544b079b939975.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/d83040bd1b745f5ef078e153e96f7ee9.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/1a5cd57642a465de86f08e41e16646a4.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/6d4cb7555d7a60a94e508d74888c35a7.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/392e1ded6eca366362f7e33b3a36dc5f.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/cb92c60ea7d2cae77651c34defbe6b93.jpg


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[AlexF762]

Wish I could get better pics doesn't do the acros/ acans justice!


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[alton]

Looks nice!

[AlexF762]

Well, it's been awhile and there's been a lot of changes, so i figured it was time for an update.
I added2 36" t-5 fixtures to my kessil lighting and I really noticed a difference in growth and some minor color improvements.
But not enough. With kessils at 100% and t-5 on I was still only pushing about 300-310 par. I went between hydra 52's and radion G3 pro and couldn't make up my mind. A week later radion G4 pros came out. I ordered 3, a reef link, 3 RMS slides and a 70.5" mounting bar. I fabricated angle iron mounts that were drilled into my canopy and bolted to the mounting bar. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160929/d2aec121a4f85a747dca0c2c78adbcb1.jpg I really like the way it turned out. At 45% intensity i was at about 315 par on the same rock. Literally within a couple hours I noticed better PE. And My GSP was much more "full" looking. I've had it for almost two weeks and now peak par is at 56% & 390 par on the same rock ( a little over 2/3 up in the tank) I have a few real light change sensitive acros and everything is great and I can already notice some color changes. Over all very happy with the new lights. I'll take some update pictures and put them up.


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[alton]

I am jealous over the new Radion lights, nice improvement

[FarmerTy]

Yes! I'm glad you made the decision to switch away from kessils. I was never really a fan of them and for the money, their cost to par/light distribution is awful. The G4s should treat you well regarding both par and light distribution with their new fancy optics as you already know with the same par values at only 45% power.

Those acros are going to explode with growth and coloration in no time! Did you happen to keep the T5 supplements? I'm a big fan of merging LED and T5 lighting.

Tank looks great by the way. I like the horseshoe cave setup on the left.

[Justin]

Nice man. I'm a big fan of LED's in reef tanks. You can't beat the power savings and the ability to customize dimness in your lights. The only downside is that you don't really get any of the ambient effect or that deep into the blue spectrum that most corals love. I have found that with just LED's, my acros would grow fairly well but my bases would bleach a bit due to lack of light hitting them. You don't really see this effect with T5's or Halides due to the nature of the bulbs spreading light in all directions and also allowing some of it to bounce off the sand. I am a firm believer in mixing T5's with LEDS to get the best bang for your buck. My coral growth and color was exponential once I got my T5's in line.
On my own system, I run 3 Rapid LED Onyx fixtures as well as 3 60" T5 bulbs to get that deep blue that my LED's can never really target that well. Since my T5's are the accent or punch for the midday look, I don't really need to switch them out but once a year since they are only on for 4 hrs a day.

[FarmerTy]

Great explanation Justin! T5s are great for eliminating shadowing you get from LEDs, more apparent as your acro colonies get bigger and for supplementing certain wavelengths to your liking.

[AlexF762]

I did keep the t-5 fixtures, but don't plan on using them unless I really need to. I like the look of the radions by themselves mounted. And the spread of these lights are way better than kessils or pretty much any led ive seen in person. I do really like the idea of mixing led with t5 though. If I need to I will.


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[FarmerTy]

I did keep the t-5 fixtures, but don't plan on using them unless I really need to. I like the look of the radions by themselves mounted. And the spread of these lights are way better than kessils or pretty much any led ive seen in person. I do really like the idea of mixing led with t5 though. If I need to I will.


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Yeah, mounted as is, it looks sharp. A set of T5s around it would look cumbersome.

[Justin]

How are those Triggers doing? They look really cool in the first pic!

[Zack]

Dang that's sick man. Would you mind if I nominated this tank for our Tank of the Quarter?

[AlexF762]

How are those Triggers doing? They look really cool in the first pic!

Great! They eat like pigs. Some of my favorite fish. Haven't bothered any corals or inverts. Maybe a snail/ hermit here and there but I'm not even sure they've done that. Here's a video of them courting. https://vimeo.com/184938517


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[AlexF762]

Dang that's sick man. Would you mind if I nominated this tank for our Tank of the Quarter?

Sure thing!


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[Justin]

so nice man. for some reason I've been drawn to them lately

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[AlexF762]

Thanks! They're my go- to triggers for reefs


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[klwheat]

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful setup! Good to hear about the new Radions - that's what I'm planning to go with for my new build as well.
BTW, what kind of triggers do you have? I'd love a reef safe one!

[AlexF762]

Thanks for sharing. Beautiful setup! Good to hear about the new Radions - that's what I'm planning to go with for my new build as well.
BTW, what kind of triggers do you have? I'd love a reef safe one!

Thanks!
These are blue throats. I've also seen success with nigers and some pink tails.


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[AlexF762]

A year ago https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170113/fea07f2f1bc11ee1afe9d8049a29ee76.png
&
Today https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170113/7720c74c5a5734b59f9fe6ee8ccc4728.jpg
My tank turned one year old! Lots of changes and additions and one tank move in the year.


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[FarmerTy]

Awesome! That's some great progress! The tank looks great and glad you got rid of the kessils!

[klwheat]

Looks amazing! Can't wait for my 180 to be ready!


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[SABOB]

Wow,want a difference a year makes....beautiful tank


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[AlexF762]

Thanks everyone!
& yes the kessils had to go they kept acros "alive" and that's about it. The G4 pros I'm very happy with


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[Zack]

Congrats on the one year mark man!