Bandit's 150g build

[banditpowdercoat]

Now, I am just wondering what to do. Do I go closed loop again, with a OM-4. Or vortech's? I REALLLLY like the no powerhead look. I think I want a blue background, then the overflow is made from smoked glass. Remove overflow?? Allways wanted a Coast to Coast overflow.. Hmmm I'm in this far, I dunno.......
Just so many possibilities.

[Myka]

I'm trying to figure out the same as you for flow. Although I would only want a 2-way, or a VorTech, or a Wavebox. I'm leaning towards doing the 2-way plus either a VorTech or Wavebox. Decisions, decisions. I'm doing a Herbie though overflow though.

[banditpowdercoat]

Ya, If I keep the Overflow box, then it's Herbie. Thing is, It center overflow, Smoked glass. I want a blue background I think. Don't know how the Smoked glass will look against the blue??? But if I take it out, what about the holes allready drilled??? Grrr Remind me WHY I do this??

[Myka]

I understand why people like the natural look of the blue background, but I prefer black as I find it really turns the tank into a centre piece and makes the colors pop. I considered the same thing with my tank, but my fw tank has a black background, and the overflow in my tank is also black (corner though), so I figured oh what the h, just paint it black and be done with it. So, the answer is simple...keep the overflow, do a Herbie, and paint the back black! Just like me!!!

Although I don't think it would look bad if you kept the black overflow and painted the back of the tank blue. I think it would look just fine.

[Rbacchiega]

+1 to black backgrounds. I have blue on my 90 and I'm not a huge fan of it. Black is the way to go IMO

[fishytime]

Are you religious about keeping the back glass clean?....If not then it really doesnt matter much which color you go with.... Ive done both and liked the black background better....for as long as I could see it, anyway.

[banditpowdercoat]

Religious, Me, Nope. Ya I think I'll go black agaiin. This tank will be a pain to clean the back

[Skimmerking]

Hey Dan great job so far. I have had many tanks with Light blue and black too.

Black backs I find that the dark color darkens the tank a bit. that is what I have seen from my 120 that i took down.

The light blue I found that it brighten the tank alot. but you see the algae growing on the back more until its covered. unless you have your rocks away from the back of the tank so you can clean the back of the tank...

I have done Black with a black stand too on my 65 gal and Myka's right it does pop and draws the view s to the tank, when you have super bright lighting lighting the tank

[banditpowdercoat]

Time for an update. Drilled the tank today. 7 holes. Just had enough life in my diamond hole saw to do it too.

Here, Taking the overflow out. Built out of 3/8" glass to boot, dang sturdy. But not what I was wanting. Oh, and I drilled it in my living room without making a mess. To prove it can be done. Painted it too LOL That's a 52" projection TV for tank size comparison



Went through alot of Olfa blades.



The Silly Putty ring to hold the water. FYI, I used 3 "eggs" to get enough SP for the dam. To mark the hole, I aligned the hole saw where I wanted it, and turned it a little by hand to scratch the circle mark. Then, when I put the hole saw in the drill, I could see where I wanted to be. To start drilling, hold the drill at a slight angle, and hold the saw steady with your fingertips. Slow speed, and ease into the glass. Slowly straigtening out the drill. Med-slow speed, let the weight of the drill do the work, dont push. Took me 15 min I guess, with the last hole closer to 20 because the saw was about wore out. 1/2" glass. That saw has cut through about 5.5" of glass total so far



Here's the 3 COast to Coast overflow holes in the back.





More pics later. Back has first coat of Marine Gloss black on it. Hope to get another coat on tonight before bed.
Forgot to take pics of the bottom holes, but they look the same, only more of them LOL. Was to busy waiting for gthe Dewalt battery to charge up between holes HAHAHA

[JDigital]

Nice, you drill the same way I do, except I put duct tape (or heavy duty packing tape) on the other side of the glass, so its supported when you cut through to avoid "pops" around the exit point...

Nice looking tank.. I agree to go with black.. I'm going with it as well..