"160 Gallon Tall Build" (1 Viewer)

[BILLYO382]

Started adding latches to doors....hopefully will finish up tonight to ready inside canopy and stand for killz paint for tummorow.

 

[flexrac]

Personally, I wouldn't have the SM-161 on that list with your tank volume, sir. I would consider the SM-201, because the pump is better and it's truly going to keep up with your system.

I also like the SWC Xtreme 180. It's a great skimmer and will hang in there with your system.

I couldn't speak of the the others, as I've never owned them.

Good luck, and great build!

thanks for this advice, I may end up getting the sm-201...im now also considering bullet injection skimmer for how well they work. Idunno still thinking....lol

I have the sm-201 with the es-5000 pump, one thing i will tell you about it is be ready to put padding underneat it, it does not have any rubber footing, so it hums. the lower models with the es-2800 pump is said to be very loud, according to MOJO (who is mojo you ask) he is a dedicated reefer who has bought plenty of skimmers with his own money and reviewed them. you can find his postings on rc and nano reef.

 

[BILLYO382]

I have the sm-201 with the es-5000 pump, one thing i will tell you about it is be ready to put padding underneat it, it does not have any rubber footing, so it hums. the lower models with the es-2800 pump is said to be very loud, according to MOJO (who is mojo you ask) he is a dedicated reefer who has bought plenty of skimmers with his own money and reviewed them. you can find his postings on rc and nano reef.

Thanks, I went with the tried and true PM-Bullet Skimmer, model 3 to be exact.

 

[flipside]

I have the sm-201 with the es-5000 pump, one thing i will tell you about it is be ready to put padding underneat it, it does not have any rubber footing, so it hums. the lower models with the es-2800 pump is said to be very loud, according to MOJO (who is mojo you ask) he is a dedicated reefer who has bought plenty of skimmers with his own money and reviewed them. you can find his postings on rc and nano reef.

Thanks, I went with the tried and true PM-Bullet Skimmer, model 3 to be exact.

Good God man! You plan on putting a bunch of tangs in there?! That's a lot of skimmer! What pump are you using to drive it?

Felix, did you put that mouse pad material under yours? I never noticed any humming with my SK-201 w/ES5000... I may have had rubber thingies on it, but don't remember now...

 

[JasonF]

Wise choice IMO on the brown. That type of plywood is hard to get perfect plus the darker color will contrast better with your tank's inhabitants. Nice work!

 

[DonnieKim]

Nice work!
I love the door in the end of the stand too!

Donnie

 

[BILLYO382]

Wise choice IMO on the brown. That type of plywood is hard to get perfect plus the darker color will contrast better with your tank's inhabitants. Nice work!

Thanks, I think so as well. BTW Are those your monkey's in you sig picture there, to cool, my wife wanted me to retrofit the house and buy her a capricon monkey.

Nice work!
I love the door in the end of the stand too! Donnie

Me to, I would like to be able to ease my sump and equipment in this way as well as it provides me with extra access holes.

 

[emixa]

hey billy, your stand and canopy look outstanding. are you going to put a clear coat on it to keep the salt from ever messing up your hard work? I love the hardware and wood transition. man, makes me want to re-do mine.

 

[BILLYO382]

hey billy, your stand and canopy look outstanding. are you going to put a clear coat on it to keep the salt from ever messing up your hard work? I love the hardware and wood transition. man, makes me want to re-do mine.

Thanks, yes im going to clear coat everything. Im painting killz on inside of canopy and stand to help protect the wood there.

 

[JasonF]

Yes sir Billy. Those are S. American Squirrel Monkeys. Not my pets though. That photo was taken while I was on a dive trip. An old man was just sitting in the jungle with them and I gave him a few $ for a photo op. made his day!

 

[BILLYO382]

Yes sir Billy. Those are S. American Squirrel Monkeys. Not my pets though. That photo was taken while I was on a dive trip. An old man was just sitting in the jungle with them and I gave him a few $ for a photo op. made his day!

That is too cool.

 

[BILLYO382]

The Tank finally hit the top of the stand :lolspin: Its tall, lol....Im 6'5" and the top of the canopy towers over me 10"..lol. Next I have to finish up the inside of the stand with the killz and start positioning the sump and then do a vinegar bath to clear off the coraline in the tank. Anyone know how much vinegar I should use in the 160 gallon display? lmk thanks for looking.

 

[trb]

You are trying to clean the overflows? If you have a small submersible pump like for water changes or mixing salt, how about just filling the tank with like 3-4" of water, adding vinegar, plugging the holes in the overflow and use the pump in the tank with some tubing to fill up and reverse flow the overflow? That will clean the inside of the overflow and the water will run down the outside, cleaning the outside. Might need some scrubbing, but at least you won't be filling the whole thing up and the vinegar concentration would be greater, and less expensive. You could probably get away with just a few gallons of vinegar.

 

[JasonF]

That is a cool idea that I never thought of! Billy, I would do atleast 30% vinegar to water otherwise it will take forever

 

[trb]

The only other thing I just noticed, there are openings at the bottom of the overflow, right? That might prevent water from flowing over the top of the outside of the overflow, it would all leak out there. Maybe using some duct tape to seal those slots up would work.

 

[BILLYO382]

You are trying to clean the overflows? If you have a small submersible pump like for water changes or mixing salt, how about just filling the tank with like 3-4" of water, adding vinegar, plugging the holes in the overflow and use the pump in the tank with some tubing to fill up and reverse flow the overflow? That will clean the inside of the overflow and the water will run down the outside, cleaning the outside. Might need some scrubbing, but at least you won't be filling the whole thing up and the vinegar concentration would be greater, and less expensive. You could probably get away with just a few gallons of vinegar.

The only other thing I just noticed, there are openings at the bottom of the overflow, right? That might prevent water from flowing over the top of the outside of the overflow, it would all leak out there. Maybe using some duct tape to seal those slots up would work.

Thanks for that cool idea but I need to get some coraline off the glass in the tank as well. So unfortunately that idea not going to work in my case..thanks though

That is a cool idea that I never thought of! Billy, I would do atleast 30% vinegar to water otherwise it will take forever

Ok so thats about 48 gallons of vinegar...lol...wow . Oh well gotta do what I gotta do. Im open to more cost effective way of cleaning the tank if you know of any other chemicals to use...lol

 

[BILLYO382]

So here's another little update as of this morning. I scored a mag 24 over the weekend, and went through my garage to find all the extra plumbing and tank stuff I had laying around and got to work on the sump, refugium and plumbing...let the fun begin, lol.

 

[BILLYO382]

So for those who are looking and just not posting...lol I got the plumbing all done yesterday and will be doing a water test tonight on everything....(finger's crossed) 8O . Then I will be purchasing 60 gallons of vinergar $110 bucks worth...arghhhh unless someone else knows of a better chemical to use to clean coraline stains off of the tank.... I wish I knew a place that sold vinegar in bulk so I could save some money. Anyhow on a side note; my pm bullet 3 skimmer setup will be here today. Cant wait for all my equipment to come in and fill the sump area.. pic's below...thanks for looking...but no thanks for not participating and posting...lmao

 

[Ostentum]

I used 3 gallons in a 140 to clean it. I did let it sit for about a week, but it did the trick.

 

[BILLYO382]

I used 3 gallons in a 140 to clean it. I did let it sit for about a week, but it did the trick.

wow. that's great to know. did you have to use any elbow grease still or did it naturally dissolve on its own. thanks