Custom 160 Build Thread - Finally!!

george are you planning on using a filter sock on the input side i take it behind your skimmer, if so may I give you just a bit of advise ..... switch the skimmer and the sock positioning trust me you will be hating life reaching all the way to the back every other day to change the sock if your not using them then your good to go and its looking good
 
Nope not planning on using the filter socks. I know myself well enough to know that I Just wont clean them as often as I need to so Im going to go without them for as long as I can.

Good point though, reaching back there could get annoying. I cant however switch the compartments because of how the holes are cut. The water level in that first compartment would be too low for the skimmer to operate.

I guess just one more reason to never use socks...lol
 
Alright.. so you've got the tank... the sump... the skimmer.... What exactly are you waiting for?! Let's start plumbing and stocking!
 
lol...im waiting on three things.....

1) the seemingly endless unpacking of boxes in my house
2) some of the plumbing parts. Actually though, Im ordering them today from Savko. I want to plumb the the top quarter of the plumbing with black PVC. That way you cant see any of it in the ext. overflow.
3) the stand and carpentry work to be finished....Im still working on the columns that hide the external overflow when viewed from the side and we have to fix one slight mistake on the canopy. hopefully done next week.
 
Depending on how much extra black PVC is, you could always just shoot it up w/Krylon Fusion.
 
Depending on how much extra black PVC is, you could always just shoot it up w/Krylon Fusion.

Black PVC is significantly more expensive than white PVC but it's still not expensive.

A 5ft 1.5" pipe is about $5 whereas a 5ft white pipe is like $1.50. So yeah, its way more but I'm still only looking at a grand total of $10-15 for the black PVC. After buying the Fusion and spending the time painting it all....i think its well worth it. Especially since overtime the fusion seems to flake off.
 
If I don't get a call within the next couple weeks to help you put this mammoth together I'm going to take it personal!
 
Ordered some plumbing parts today so those should be here by the end of the week. That means Ill be cutting some pipe this weekend or next and then inviting people over to help me lay it all out....lol.

I think the woodwork will probably be getting done done if not this week, next for sure. Fingers crossed.
 
Hey Strout, thanks. I think I responded to you in a PM that I screwed up the canopy design pretty good and its probably one of the first things ill "re-do" after the tank has been up a long while.

The entire top opens upward but the "front panel" does not. I actually dont have the top or the "roof", if you will, put on yet since I am waiting to wire all the lights to it eventually.

On another note, Im happy to say that I finally got something done on the tank this past friday!!!! Ill try and post some pics tomorrow but basically I finally did the drilling through my wall so that my water changes should be a snap. Also, my ATO container is outside and so it doesn't take up any room in my stand.

I basically ran three different tubes all 3/4" ID.....one for WC out, one for WC in, and one for ATO. I also ran a 1/4" RO/DI tube for filling up the containers outside and not having to keep my balcony door open while doing it.

Im pretty excited because this means that I finally get to start plumbing the thank. Or better said, you all get to start helping me plumb the tank ;)

I already have all the plumbing parts purchased so I just gotta get to doing it. Looks like X-mas weekend is going to be a busy one!
 
Great Job- Jorge please when you do your plumbing DON'T use the violet pvc primer cause it looks really bad when th job is done. The clear pvc glue primer is the only way to go to make it look right!:cool:
 
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