Parrothead's 180-gal reef tank build:

[Doodaa]

the dsb in the fuge is a very good idea

No DSB in the DT?

[Parrothead]

No DSB in the DT?

Of course I'm gonna have a DSB in the display tank, probably 4 inches or so

[Steve McKay]

Of course I'm gonna have a DSB in the display tank, probably 4 inches or so

Good Master.

[julesjt]

Of course I'm gonna have a DSB in the display tank, probably 4 inches or so

How about this fixture

AquaticLife LLC | Live It Today! Premium Marine Aquarium Products

[julesjt]

AquaticLife T5 HO 4-Lamp Light Fixtures w/ Lunar LEDs

8 lamps across

Might be good one to use for a couple years til the LED or Plasmas are ready

[julesjt]

AquaticLife T5 HO 4-Lamp Light Fixtures w/ Lunar LEDs

8 lamps across

Might be good one to use for a couple years til the LED or Plasmas are ready

Forget it! 8 total bulbs so it must only be 4 across. If that is the case, WTF that is not enough light.

[Parrothead]

Forget it! 8 total bulbs so it must only be 4 across. If that is the case, WTF that is not enough light.

You beat me to it, the nova extreme pro offers 6 across on each side with individual reflectors, it's a good fixture especially if you plan on upgrading in a couple of years when the plasma and led's come down in price etc.. You are wanting to get a light soon, I know this, if I where you, I would look at the nova extreme pro, and the 8 bulb 60" fixture that is at the top of this page or the page back, do a side by side, and go from there Bro, I'm still in the planning stages of my 180 system, I'm gonna build my own sump etc. and besides, I'm moving this summer, for alot of reasons, but one is to a house on a slab of concrete so I can have the 180, you are further along than I and you have(want) make a choice, I'd go with one of the two fixtures we've narrowed it down to. Best I can do at the moment

[julesjt]

You beat me to it, the nova extreme pro offers 6 across on each side with individual reflectors, it's a good fixture especially if you plan on upgrading in a couple of years when the plasma and led's come down in price etc.. You are wanting to get a light soon, I know this, if I where you, I would look at the nova extreme pro, and the 8 bulb 60" fixture that is at the top of this page or the page back, do a side by side, and go from there Bro, I'm still in the planning stages of my 180 system, I'm gonna build my own sump etc. and besides, I'm moving this summer, for alot of reasons, but one is to a house on a slab of concrete so I can have the 180, you are further along than I and you have(want) make a choice, I'd go with one of the two fixtures we've narrowed it down to. Best I can do at the moment

Actually I am building my sump two because I dont want to spend 500 bucks on a pre-made. I am thinking of going with the model F from that site and doing the return in the middle and the two sides one being skimmer and the other refugium. Not sure yet, still thinking about which model to go with.

I am going to use a 40g long and get my local guy to cut the baffles in need in glass. I dont want plexy or acrylic since silicone doesnt stick to it. My old sump kind of fell apart because of this plus I used 1/8".

I know my old sump was done completely wrong but I would feel safer knowing the silicone is sticking to both the wall and baffles.

[Steve McKay]

ActuallyI am thinking of going with the model F from that site and doing the return in the middle and the two sides one being skimmer and the other refugium.

If you put the return in the middle,how is the fuge going to get circulation. The skimmer goes where the sump inlet is so it can process the water,then you have the fuge,then you have the return at the very end so it can draw the water across the fuge to it.

[Parrothead]

Jules and the rest of ya'all,

I got to give my kid some computer time for homework, I'll be back on in a couple of hours

[julesjt]

If you put the return in the middle,how is the fuge going to get circulation. The skimmer goes where the sump inlet is so it can process the water,then you have the fuge,then you have the return at the very end so it can draw the water across the fuge to it.

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums

This is not set in stone, I am just looking into the different designs he has. This is the model he suggested I buy if he was going to build and ship me one. However too expensive so I am going to build my own and section it out.

[Parrothead]

Nice choice on the sump design, read through the article, it makes sense, the fuge gets about 25% of the flow, which I think would be easy to plumb in since you are working with two overflows, drain one straight to the skimmer compartment and then plumb the other to feed the fuge. I like it

[julesjt]

Nice choice on the sump design, read through the article, it makes sense, the fuge gets about 25% of the flow, which I think would be easy to plumb in since you are working with two overflows, drain one straight to the skimmer compartment and then plumb the other to feed the fuge. I like it

Yeah it looks cool just worried about bubbles since it is only one section away. As for plumbing, it does seem simple, looks like you T off the right overflow with a ball valve and control the flow to the right side and the rest still goes to the left joining the other overflow.

See I am taking my time and taking a breath to look at all the options

I am getting my 40 gallon long this weekend and start building. I will get pictures when I get started. the demension of the 40 long look to be nice, 55 gallon is too high and will make it impossible to take my skimmer out if I ever wanted to change skimmers.

[Parrothead]

If you use the bubble tower shown in the pics and with the 3 baffles before the return pump you shouldn't have to many issues with bubbles, and thats exact of the right side overflow, t-it and throw a ball valve on it for the fuge side, also that return area will work nicely for heaters and probes and such

I'm building my own stand but will probably still check the height to make sure my skimmer will be easily accessible as well, thanks for the reminder

[julesjt]

If you use the bubble tower shown in the pics and with the 3 baffles before the return pump you shouldn't have to many issues with bubbles, and thats exact of the right side overflow, t-it and throw a ball valve on it for the fuge side, also that return area will work nicely for heaters and probes and such

I'm building my own stand but will probably still check the height to make sure my skimmer will be easily accessible as well, thanks for the reminder

Is the bubble tower the baffle with the teeth? And the teeth suppose to help with bubbles?

[Parrothead]

Is the bubble tower the baffle with the teeth? And the teeth suppose to help with bubbles?

The bubble tower is the tower in the corner where both your drains go to in the skimmer section, the bafffles are set up over under over, this gives the bubbles a chance to rise to the surface before hitting the return pump. If you set it up like melvees shows you shouldn't have any bubble issues, the guys a genius at this kinda thing

[julesjt]

The bubble tower is the tower in the corner where both your drains go to in the skimmer section, the bafffles are set up over under over, this gives the bubbles a chance to rise to the surface before hitting the return pump. If you set it up like melvees shows you shouldn't have any bubble issues, the guys a genius at this kinda thing

Right, but the right side doesnt show the bubble tower, it only shows that teeth baffle. Since the right will get some overflow isnt there risk of bubbles from the fuge over to the middle return?

[Parrothead]

Right, but the right side doesnt show the bubble tower, it only shows that teeth baffle. Since the right will get some overflow isnt there risk of bubbles from the fuge over to the middle return?

Not enough to really worry about, remember on the right you are gonna have the ball valve, and have way less flow going into the fuge than on the left in the skimmer compartment, also once you get the cheato in the fuge it will also trap quite a few air bubbles, if you wanted to you could also do the over/under/over on the fuge side if that would make you more comfortable

[twisted]

no worries...it just needs to be scrubbed and started over...itll be ready

[twisted]

oops...i thought i was somewhere else