Costa's 156 gallon Build Log

[costa13]

Well I have been researching and preparing for this tank for many months now. I just picked up the tank today, that I had built by a local aqurium builder in Mississippi. I chose to go with a tank that was 60x24x24 = 156 gallons. There is 3x 1.5" holes drilled in the back. Two of the holes are for drains to the sump, on these I will be using exterior duroso standpipes. The 3rd hole is the intake of the CL. However the aquirium builder drilled the CL intake hole to high so I am going to have to use a 90 to drop it down a little. I am going to have the stand and canopy built by the cabinet maker who built the cabinets in our kitchen.
I plan on painting the back of the tank black. Also I am either going to SSB or BB on this tank. I am leaning towards SSB because I really like the look of sand. For the rock work I am planning on having two island type structures. The reason for doing this is better circulation, more room for the fish to swim and I am sick of rock walls.
So far here is my equipment list:
Lighting:
2x IceCap 250w MH HQI Ballast
2x Lumenarc Stealth HQI reflector
2x Phoneix 250w MH HQI Bulbs
Supplemented with either T5s or VHOs
Skimmer:
Octopus Recirc Needlewheel 150
Controller
Nepturn AquaController JR or II
Closed Loop:
OM 4-way
Sequence Dart
Return Pump:
Eheim 1262
Heater:
2x 250w heater
Reactors:
GEO Calcium Reactor 618
CO2 bottle and regulator
PhoBan Reactor
DIY Auto Top Off
Heres a pictures of the tank sitting in my garge.

The 2 drains

The CL intake as you can see I had to put the 90 on it

Also here is my sump design the I will be builling. I will be using a spare 20T that I have laying around for the fuge and build the sump out of acrylic.

 

[costa13]

Also forgot to mention I am upgrading from a 20 gallon tank, that I am treating for flatworms right now. Heres a picture of it.

 

[bocfuss]

Very Nice!! Keep us updated. Can't wait to see what happens next.

 

[costa13]

Originally Posted by BoCfuss
Very Nice!! Keep us updated. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Yea neither can I. This hobby takes so much patience. LOL

 

[costa13]

Update I ordered my stand and canopy from a local cabinet maker. It should be ready in about 2 months. He said maybe sooner he is not sure though. Also I have decided to go BB with starboard on the bottom. I like BB better because you do not have to worry about sandstorms and nitrates building up in your sand bed. I am excited to see how it looks.

 

[costa13]

110 views and 1 reply, now thats reasuring LOL.

 

[ifirefight]

Technically....Thats a 149.61 gallon tank. Not trying to be a di@k head or anything. :hilarious

 

[costa13]

Originally Posted by ifirefight
Technically....Thats a 149.61 gallon tank. Not trying to be a di@k head or anything. :hilarious
Now that you mention it your right. Oh well to bad I cannot change the title of this thread anyway. LOL

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by costa13
Now that you mention it your right. Oh well to bad I cannot change the title of this thread anyway. LOL
Well,at least it gives you a bump.,.

 

[costa13]

Originally Posted by ifirefight
Well,at least it gives you a bump.,.

That is always nice.

 

[costa13]

Today I sprainted the back of the tank a midnight blue. I really like how it turned out. The tank is still taped so don't think I spray painted the bracing blue. LOL Now I am just waiting for the stand and canopy to be complete.

 

[grubsnaek]

looks good keep em comin

 

[costa13]

I just back from my LFS and picked up about 60lbs of some nice LR. I will be cooking it until my tank is setup. Here are some pictures.

Also in the near future I will be picking up about another 60lbs to 80lbs. Don't know yet.

 

[triga22]

Very nice tank! I cant wait for it to be set up.

 

[wangotango]

looking good. i really like the color of your background, beats the traditional black.
-Justin

 

[stdreb27]

Cool, I wish I'd planned mine out in this detail.

 

[costa13]

Triga: Thanks, yea I can't wait either
WangoTango: I am really happy that I went with a midnight blue, it makes the tank look like it has more depth rather than black making it look narrow.
stdreb27: Thanks it seems like you spend more time planning it than you do building it. LOL

 

[costa13]

Here is a picture of all the rock I have collected for this tank so far. It is somewhere between 80-85lbs.

Also tomorrow I will begin building the refugium tank and the RO/DI topoff tank, out of acrylic, and hopefully next week build the sump. Here is an updated picture of the sump. As you can see I will be building a little stand for the refugium and have the RO/DI tank underneath it to save space.

 

[nigerian]

Can't wait to see more.

 

[costa13]

My first order of equipment came in a couple of days ago. It felt like Christmas all over again. :cheer: '' I still have to order more equipment though. Man this hobby really burns a hole in you pocket