UPDATE on Transfer and Upgrade to the 180...are we done yet? ugh!

[jfolley67]

Well, truly things are coming along well. We are taking it in steps. We have a few plumbing things that need done. Durso's are missing in pics just because we need to pop a couple of airholes in the tops of them. Return line all done. Drains are done through the wall but have to just cut them down and fit them over the sump and add end pieces. We have water checked the bulkheads again for the last few days, they are dry. Skimmer parts all here but need to connect it all up today. That won't take long. Hoping for a run through the entire system today and check for leaks. Still needing to get some lockline from waynesworld to split the return at the tank and add on the penductors.
Tank is 1/2 full. Rock is almost all in there but some base rock. Most of this is live rock from my 90. We had 2 rubbermaids...one for rocks with corals attached and one for rock without. Took it all out and watched the fish freak out. Water got gross and murky but we were prepared with water change and cleaned and ready filter and skimmer so it actually cleared fairly quickly. Fish are freaking a little trying to find new places to go. Little maroon clown still happy because his red brain he literally lies on top of like a cloud is still there. Blue tang is like "WHAT THE HECK!!!"
Today will aquascape one side and then the other and then center. Hopefully no leaks and will move on to a short cycle. After much reading and deciding NOT to use my old sand, I think it might be wise to use the top layer of it for my refugium which is in the sump to continue to seed the system. Still need to purchase my tunze osmolator, a couple of titanium heaters and the auto feeder. Will put an order in this week for it all. Feel free to comment on anything or advice is ALWAYS appreciated. Can't wait until my house is back to normal!! Here are the pictures.....with some of the 90 pics as well....
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More to come in a moment......

[jfolley67]

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Ok everyone,,,,need some prayers for today that we get no leaks!!!! A special thanks to Jack for helping a bit last weekend and getting us really started in the "good" stuff and Angela of course for burring holes in my walls!! Of course thanks to Wayne for not killing me off last weekend when I was tired, stressed out and wanting to just about sell this thing off to the highest bidder!!! Oh yeah and my hubby for putting up with me and my fish HABIT!!

[crumbletop]

Marking the spot to drill the sump with my eyes closed :D

[jfolley67]

Hey, it works but I would highly recommend that others don't do this at home!!

[fishdoc11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10585670#post10585670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crumbletop
Marking the spot to drill the sump with my eyes closed :D

Isn't that kind of like throwing a dart at a map to figure out where you want to go:p

[crumbletop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10585891#post10585891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishdoc11
Isn't that kind of like throwing a dart at a map to figure out where you want to go:p

I got spun around first. This is at least a little safer for the bystanders than throwing darts :lol:

[Angela Short]

Don't do like I did and forget to put the black acrylic cover on the overflow till AFTER you had the sand in! Duugh...

Also the holes are already in the top of the dursos. They are the little valve things that Sean told us to do, remember? Only thing is they may not be able to pull enouph air since you are pushing a lot of water through the overflow then you would need to pull them out and add bigger valves or just keep drilling the hole bigger like I did till it regulates but the valve would be better if they are big enouph.

I know you are getting tired of the project by now but it will be well worth it in the end!!!

[CKreef]

iS THIS A GLASS CAGES TANK? Are you happy with the quality? Where did you get the stand?

[jfolley67]

yes, this is a glass cages tank and it is built like a "tank" with alot of glue, it seems very well made, some of the glue sloppy but I see nothing with the canopy on at all. I got the stand from someone who custom made it for their tank in Alabama and then he inwalled his tank and sold this one....It is a very nice made stand.

[jfolley67]

Hey Jack, we figured out the skimmer....too much pressure we were putting on it, you gotta let it bubble at the bottom cup under that big union looking piece and then let it bubble up with no huge pressure...almost done with getting water in tank and we will try to turn it all on tonight possibly, if not tomorrow night for sure.....no leaks at all so far, totally dry.....yahoo!

[jfolley67]

too tired to get pics tonight, but just thought I would share what we got done tonight....
when we sit on the couch we realized we could look up into the canopy...which was open in the back and white.....so we have painted the entire inside of the canopy black and then got some canvas black material that we put up in the open area that velcros to the back of the canopy. This looks great, and will take pics asap. Looking nice! We are working on learning more about the aquacontroller and how to program it, so if anyone has advice. We have the 8way plug in for it....
we are about 20 gallons from totally full now and would be there, but we took out about 10 gallons just trying to suction some detritus that came off my rocks that was lying on the bottom of the tank. So far not a leak in site...skimmer is running....but just recirculating in the sump for the moment. We won't be home tomorrow to do any testing of return and such but will do this Wednesday night.
Gonna aquascape this weekend.....oh yeah, and I sold my 90 gallon!!! I sold it on Craigs list to a very nice girl who may end up joining the club, I did tell her all about it! Yes Jack, it was the girl that was here this past weekend. Oh yeah, I have LOTS of test kits, but gotta get one for just ammonia. Have not used an ammonia test in so long, did not realize I did not have one....where is the cheapest place to get one?

[TitansFan]

Hi Julie I would be happy to help with your controller if you like. I am sure though with Jack having one himself as well will beat me to it. Everything looks great. I saw your posting on craigslist. Would you mind pm'ing me what you sold your tank for and your craigslist experience?

[NeveSSL]

This may help with some of the AC programming: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=10530757#post10530757

Did you guys get a Jr. or III or what? :)

Brandon

[crumbletop]

That's awesome there are no leaks! I can probably come over sometime after Wednesday to help with the last bit. If you don't already have the aquacontroller programmed, I can help with that.

RE seeing into the canopy, once the display is full up to the black rim, you won't see anything from the front.

How's the overflow cover coming along?

[jfolley67]

everything with overflow coming along...I went and also bought the bigger valves for the top of the caps and then realized when I got home I bought the ones without the threaded side....grrrrrrr, so gonna run back and get different. We decided to paint the inside of the canopy last night because it was not beautiful and now it is black so you won't ever see anything and the light will blend in...still drying but looks GREAT. I found these AWESOME caps for the ends of each drain in the overflow, will definitely post them but want to attach them first to make sure they would as well as I think they will. Will show you when you come. Skimmer working totally good and we have had it running per the directions for the last day....no issues with the sump.....not sure how high the water should be in the sump, we know we have to get the water in tank just past the teeth...but know water from the sump (it is kind of full) will come into the tank. Worried about the spray of the one return lockline spraying us to death, so will turn that pump way down but more I read the pump should be fine especially once we split it. Water has cleaned nicely. This weekend will take all rock out of it and aquascape. I purchased a bunch of epoxy for I will epoxy the bottom supporting tonga together only before starting each pillar area and putting it in the tank. Gotta get an ammonia kit this weekend to start testing that..
titanfan: thank you for the offer of helping with the controller, nice to have more than one for advice on these things, I will pm ya when we need you! Will Pm you about Craigslist sale..
NevessL: we have the aquacontroller 2.....works nicely in the 90 but looking forward to transferring it over to the 180 SOON. ALSO going to transfer over the tunze's and get the wavebox in soon so I can try out all the cool flow.

[crumbletop]

Keep in mind that the skimmer will probably go nuts for several days after using a bunch of epoxy. It is a standard thing that happens. Just keep an eye on it so that it doesn't overflow.

[NeveSSL]

Don't forget about the new Tunze controllers from Neptune Systems for the Aqua Controllers. Not sure if you've seen them yet or if you already have a Tunze controller or not, but I thought you may be interested!

http://www.neptunesys.com/modules.htm#AQUASURF

Brandon

[jfolley67]

Jack,
yes, I figured something like that might happen with the skimmer,so we have a 5 gallon jug at the bottom of the hose for it all to run into....and will watch carefully....
How about on Saturday afternoon? On Thursday we have an instructor meeting at like 7:15 I just found out so can't get home soon enough. Kids really want to go to family night on Friday at 6:15 but on Friday we do get home by 7:30 if you wanna come a little later?

Thanks for the info on the controller!! I do have the aquacontroller 2 so hoping that will work great for me.

Tank is full, just waiting to rev it up with some friends here......

[crumbletop]

I just called to check and Saturday afternoon should work. Maybe like 2-4pm?

Jack

[jfolley67]

PERFECT!! THANKS SOOOO MUCH.........I am sure we will talk before then....I just checked my kit for nitrite and nitrate and both are 0 still....gotta get that ammonia kit, but I think this is a good sign....with all that live rock in it!

[SRT80]

if your nitrites and nitrates are 0 shouldnt the ammonia be zero? I'm not sure, so someone correct me, but when a tank is cycling doesnt the nitrites and ammonia turn to nitrates or somethin' like that?

Steve

[jfolley67]

yes steve that is correct, first you get the spike of ammonia and then the others...if I remember correctly...been a while...but still will check carefully the next few days.....

[mikemartinez]

Last I remember it goes Ammonia - Nitrite - Nitrate....

[jfolley67]

Ok, tonight was a huge landmark moment for us. Tonight we had the entire system running for over an hour and tweaked the levels so things look really good. I am too worried about it to run overnight because we have not had it long enough setup so tomorrow I will restart it and let it run with glances thoughout the day.
I also got started with the aquascaping. The right side of the tank is done.....I have decided to do a tall mountain type thing in right side corner and gradually comes naturally down to the center of tank...then stops....then there will be open area and on far left side there will be a nice pillar of rocks that stands alone.....I wanted to leave sand space so this will I think look nice and natural. Tried to get some pics of my mess, I mean rocks..hehe.....but it was hard to see them well. Here are a few pics....sorry about the one picture sideways, forgot to flip it before uploading....we are nearing the end of our setup journey......ahhhhhhhh.....will start testing water each day now and hoping that maybe the fish will be transferred as early as next weekend. Want to have the new tank up and running without issue before putting all livestock and such in it...and of course make sure no issues with water.
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