lockrookie's 180g (build #3)

[lockrookie]

i have heard that as well and that is a deciding factor in all this as well but yet in my current tank i have regular glass and it and have managed to scratch it as well so im hoping that if im extra careful and not use cheap scrapers i will be abletokeep it scratch free for at leasst a year lol

[Nano]

yea I have regular glass on my cichlid tank, and the sand alone, has cause some scratches, so I guess it depends on the amount of abuse too! I know you can buy those plastic scrappers for acrylic, I'm sure they would work for star fire, I'm just not sure how well

[lockrookie]

most scrached happen from substrate getting sandwiched in the scraper thats how mine happened anyways but since ive used magfloat i havent had an issue.. nothings perfect forever.

[lockrookie]

so i have been doing some drawing and yes it looks simular to the tank i currently have we love our stand and wish to keep it the same if possible





any thoughts and ideas let em shoot

[-=James=-]

I have mine setup exactly the same as your drawing. 2 cross braces on both sides of the overflow is enough.

Im guessing youre doing a bean overflow. I would put the 2 standpipes higher to have the top caps near the water surface. You'll need to put an airline on one of the standpipes.

If I was to do it over, I would build an external or coast to coast overflow instead of the center internal overflow to get more tank space to play with.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by -=James=-

I have mine setup exactly the same as your drawing. 2 cross braces on both sides of the overflow is enough.

Im guessing youre doing a bean overflow. I would put the 2 standpipes higher to have the top caps near the water surface. You'll need to put an airline on one of the standpipes.

If I was to do it over, I would build an external or coast to coast overflow instead of the center internal overflow to get more tank space to play with.

thank you that eases my mind a bit i still may try to make a sort of euro brace if i break it on irst try i stil lhave the option of two center braces lol.

yes i think thats wat its called i didnt do exact drawing still getting used to the program but the pipes will be higher when i did my 50 i just drilled a hole in the top and it was eno ough worked really well. the other pipe i just let as a tube.

i would love to do an external overflow, if i had the room and space to do one, instead this tank will be up against the wall with maybe 2" away if im lucky for room for wireing.. ir i may have to put a hinged mirror over a huge hole i may inflict into the guest bedroom wall. but hopefully it doesnt come to that.

even so the overflow will have its purpose as i will build a diy rockscape that covers it and hides all the tanks plumbing for the return pump/ future closed loop so that its not seen in the tank at all.i may still have to use powerheads regretfully but if the closed loop works as my mind envisions. it shouldnt be many. an xamplel of this is on my 50g build. i love how it worked.

[lockrookie]

so its like late and my mind is still working overtime since i cant start dismantling until i either find room in house or spring arrives... i have compiled a ton of ideas stolen from numerouse websites as to how im going to hide powerheads. i will leave that for a surprise later on tho. i just hope it works as my mind envisions. just because i think ofsomething doesnt mean im right lol.

ive been thinking of stocklist i know i should be thinking bigger tank must have more fish. but i thin id be better off having less and relaxed fish over over stuffed and shy.


currently in my 90 is as follows:
regal tang
humma humma trigger (thus far is behaving like a champ)
mated pair o clowns
cleaner wrasse (who now thinks i need cleaning when im working in the tank)
manderin goby
orange spotted goby sand sifter
lawnmower blenny
yellow tang
coral banded shrimp

so my thoughts of additions to this tank would be as follows;
either orange shoulder or powder blue tang
fox face rabbit fish
(after tank has been running at least a year)possibly coral banded
maybe 3 royal grammas.

any other ideas are welcome. reasearch keeps my mind from wandering to other crazy ideas.

[msjboy]

Take a look at the new super sized res sea max tanks construction which is on their site...some innovative features which include hiding the edges of the sand a bit...this allows deeper sand without the deeper sand look.
I am also not sure what kinda glass they use but it is supposedly even better tham starfire too.

Msjboy

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by msjboy

Take a look at the new super sized res sea max tanks construction which is on their site...some innovative features which include hiding the edges of the sand a bit...this allows deeper sand without the deeper sand look.
I am also not sure what kinda glass they use but it is supposedly even better tham starfire too.

Msjboy

sorry for the late reply i dont get notified atm of comments and missed it

i did look at the tanks and do try to hide the sand bed a bit with moulding. in fact i like to hide everything if i can..

[lockrookie]

so i picked up this week from pats pets (thanks pat) 2 33g tanks. i will be tearing them apart and making a 50g sump out of 2 possibly a third i already own. the sump will measure 36 x 18 x 18 and built simular to my 50g;s sump just wider. and a bigger skimmer chamber



the skimmer chamber will be 12 x12 with a floss chamber 6 x12 where the water comes in. my built in refugium on opposite side. i thought about making the sump bigger but to reduce wieght i figured this is still workable as long as i dont have alot of flow back with power outages. definately worth a test before set up. lol





another idea i had was to have a carbon bag chamber tomake it easy to replace carbon still undecided which route ill go or if its worth it.







i hope to be able to run a line from my rodi for auto top off as well this will be tricky since it on the opposite side of the house in the basement with finished ceilings. but hey everyone loves a challenge. but would make this system run better if i can.



any ideas or suggestions is welcomed