New 180 for my softies

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 01:43 PM

Thought I'd give a couple of pics of my new softie tank. It will probably get set up late this year or early next year. Got the plans for my closed loop and return pumps set and ready to go. I hope to follow this thread thru til the end, but this is just the start!!
Dimensions are 4'x3'x2', Coast to coast overflow, drains will be 1.5"x2, closed loop drain is going to be 1.5". I'll return that thru 3-3/4" lines that will be split into ??? with loc-line in the back of the tank. The closed loop pump will probably be an Ampmaster 2700.
The main return will be a AM3K brought over the top along the center brace. I'll drop 6 different 3/4" returns down off the main 1.5" return. These will all have ball valves on them to better control the flow.
Skimmer will be a Barr Aquatic sk1220, external to the 75 gallon sump. Don't ask for pics of the sump, it's in my storage container outside.

**ghofmann** · 10-23-2005, 02:10 PM

Beautiful tank!!

Looks like it was made by IAP?
How much flow are those coast to coast overflows rated for?

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by ghofmann

Beautiful tank!!

Looks like it was made by IAP?
How much flow are those coast to coast overflows rated for?

It isn't an IAP tank.

It is custom made by my friend in Richland WA.
The overflows should put up with at least 3000 gph, at least I hope so

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 02:42 PM

Oh man that is a beautiful tank Charlie! A question, in the last picture the corner of the overflow appears to come out like a normal corner overflow; what is this about? Also, where is the closed loop hole drilled at?

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Reefland

Oh man that is a beautiful tank Charlie! A question, in the last picture the corner of the overflow appears to come out like a normal corner overflow; what is this about? Also, where is the closed loop hole drilled at?

I am not sure what you mean Scott??? Those are both corner overflows. I am going to drill the closed loop returns in the back of the tank. I am hoping that the main flow in the tank will come from the main return. The intake for the closed loop will also be drilled in the center of the the, about 8" off the bottom. I am toying with the idea of drilling 2 holes for the intakes to lessen the suction. I do have an RBTA that I am gonna transfer into here.

**ghofmann** · 10-23-2005, 02:56 PM

Well I must say your friend did one heck of job putting that bad boy together!
What are you planning for lighting?

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 03:00 PM

Oh yeah, I'm supposed to put lites on this thing!!!

I have a 4 ft PFO hood with 2 250w MH and actinic supplementation. Thjere will definitly be some dark spots, but I can deal with that. That will give some lower lite stuff a chance.

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 03:01 PM

Humm, I must be missing something. Looking at the pictures it appears that the overflow runs from end to end about 6-8" from the actual back of the tank. Is that not the case?

**ghofmann** · 10-23-2005, 03:07 PM

Scott I see what you are talking about the overflows in the corner are just like regular corner overflows but they are connected across the back of the tank by a chanel that that has teeth cut in it like a regular overflow so that you actualy get more surface skimming going on than with a regular overflow.

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 03:16 PM

Thanx Greg, I was watching the San Diego-- Eagles game

I see what you were saying Scott!!! Greg perfectly described what is goin on. It's called a coast to coast overflow. I am really excited about it!!! Talk about keep the top of the tank clean!

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 03:44 PM

Ok, so the actual surface skimming teeth that stretch across the length of the tank does not actually reach to teh bottom of the tank, it is only a "box" a couple of inches tall that drains into the corners. I am with ya there. I thought when I first looked at it that the back 6-8" of the tank was the entire overflow, from the bottom to the top.

**charlie** · 10-23-2005, 03:50 PM

Itr is actually going to create a 8" cave across 32" of the back. I might be able to create some interesting flow patterns with the boxes back there.

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 04:31 PM

I'll be looking forward to some 'progress reports'!

It is an incredible looking tank with excellent dimensions.

**ghofmann** · 10-23-2005, 04:53 PM

I'm with Scott I'll be watching this one too.

It'll give me lots of ideas for the inwall 120 I'm planning, as soon as I can ship my daughter off to collage and take over her room.

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by ghofmann

I'm with Scott I'll be watching this one too.

It'll give me lots of ideas for the inwall 120 I'm planning, as soon as I can ship my daughter off to collage and take over her room.

Couldn't you ship her to an apartment or something in the meantime so you can go ahead and get started?

**ghofmann** · 10-23-2005, 07:33 PM

I could but then I'd have to pay for that too! Plus she'd be at home every day for lunch and dinner and I wouldn't be able to save any money anyway.

**Reefland** · 10-23-2005, 08:14 PM

Guess you got a point there. At least you can do plenty of preparing for when the day does come. Don't know if it would be a proud day since she was taking a big step and going off to college or it because the wall will be coming down.

**charlie** · 10-24-2005, 07:49 AM

Thanx for the compliments!!!! I will try to update as things get done, but it will be a long process, as I stated before. I think some renovation has to get done in the basement before all this happens.
I will have plenty of time for planning, that's for sure!!!

***Papa Doug*** · 10-24-2005, 11:53 AM

Wow, nice tank Charlie.

Also look foward to following its progression.

**SeaMe** · 10-24-2005, 12:20 PM

Nice tank charlie!

You will like the coast to coast overflow it doesn't have the splash and noise problems that conventional overflows do.

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