FishN00b83
New member
it's a custom ghost overflow...60" long. I couldn't stand the giant overflow towers anymore and the internal overflows take up to much room for me. this was the only option. I wanted as much space as possible this time around.
My 125 to 180 build thread
- Thread starter FishN00b83
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it's a custom ghost overflow...60" long. I couldn't stand the giant overflow towers anymore and the internal overflows take up to much room for me. this was the only option. I wanted as much space as possible this time around.
FishN00b83
New member
tank is on the stand and the bulkheads are back in. i do have a little overhang on the right side front corner, but I can't seem to shift the tank at all. the rubberized coating really makes it impossible to shift it around AT ALL. is this little overhang an issue?
FishN00b83
New member
I called a buddy over and we got the tank more on the stand. the corners are now supported. I did realize that the middle of the tank is not supported by the stand (front or back). here is a picture. I have 8 plastic shims I could use, I just want to make sure that's a good idea before I do it. do the make iron stand.s like this on purpose? here's a picture of the middle.
don_chuwish
Member
Definitely shim the gaps, or even use some half inch styrofoam insulation all the way around to get every surface supported without any 'hot' spots of pressure.
I'm also concerned that the tank bottom trim has cross members at 1/3 and 2/3 but your stand doesn't. Probably not a big deal but just feels... off.
I'm also concerned that the tank bottom trim has cross members at 1/3 and 2/3 but your stand doesn't. Probably not a big deal but just feels... off.
FishN00b83
New member
yeah I have 3 shims in the front and 3 in the back, I figured it wouldn't hurt. I put them in just enough so they're touching, I didn't jam them in there. I didn't want to create more pressure points. I did read on multiple threads that iron stands do not touch the trim all the way around most of the time, and it's not that big of a concern.
as for the bracing 6 foot tanks have two braces, my 125 had the same thing. if you have two on the top, you'll have two on the bottom. I'm not concerned at all that the stand has just one.
FishN00b83
New member
LowHangingFruit
New member
If you don't mind me asking...how much did you pay for the overflow?
FishN00b83
New member
400+ shipping. It was expensive, but to me it's worth it. Coming from a megaflow tank, I wanted the maximum amount of space to aquascape/swim room for the fish. It was really the only option for me. Seeing how it looks in the tank now, I couldn't imagine having anything else in there. It's literally non existent.
LowHangingFruit
New member
It does look really good!
Does the inside box have any kind of bracing inside to stop it from bowing under the pressure of the water?
FishN00b83
New member
yeah it has 3 braces on the inside and 3 on the outside box.
FishN00b83
New member
I decided today that I'm going to build a new sump. it's going to be a simple 2 chamber for the skimmer and return. in the return section I plan on having a ATS along with the GFO and carbon reactors. I think I'm going with a 40 long so I can make the ATS as long as possible.
FishN00b83
New member
drains are almost done...next are the return lines
looks great but you need to remove those shims before you fill up the tank. those kind of point pressure sources will crack the bottom glass.
as you have found in your research, glass tanks only need corner support and no metal (steel or iron) stands are perfectly straight. so gaps in the middle are fine, the bottom glass is designed to support the full weight of the tank. as long as the corners are well supported you should be good. contrary to popular internet misinformation, gaps between tank and stand in the middle are fine (even a big long gap, its normal with metal tube stands). even the manufacturers will tell you this.
styrofoam will not help (all it does is compress more at the corners and not as much at the middle where the bow of the stand is, so the middle is just as unsupported as it is without the styrofoam). Aqueon tanks are designed to sit directly on the stand with nothing in between (I have an aqueon 150g on a tube steel stand, my stand is the same) long gap lol). I believe styro actually voids the aqueon warranty, as the tanks are not meant to have anything between the tank rim and stand.
seeing those shims like that was scaring me, don't wan't to see 180g of water on the floor.
otherwise, awesome build! please keep up the good work!
as you have found in your research, glass tanks only need corner support and no metal (steel or iron) stands are perfectly straight. so gaps in the middle are fine, the bottom glass is designed to support the full weight of the tank. as long as the corners are well supported you should be good. contrary to popular internet misinformation, gaps between tank and stand in the middle are fine (even a big long gap, its normal with metal tube stands). even the manufacturers will tell you this.
styrofoam will not help (all it does is compress more at the corners and not as much at the middle where the bow of the stand is, so the middle is just as unsupported as it is without the styrofoam). Aqueon tanks are designed to sit directly on the stand with nothing in between (I have an aqueon 150g on a tube steel stand, my stand is the same) long gap lol). I believe styro actually voids the aqueon warranty, as the tanks are not meant to have anything between the tank rim and stand.
seeing those shims like that was scaring me, don't wan't to see 180g of water on the floor.
otherwise, awesome build! please keep up the good work!
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FishN00b83
New member
FishN00b83
New member
so I cleaned up the tank today because I'm getting ready to fill it Friday and I noticed a chip in the front glass and it's going to drive me crazy. does anyone know if you can use a glass repair kit on the inside glass? if so could it actually help?
I would say it's prob a 1/16 round...any chance of fixing it?
I would say it's prob a 1/16 round...any chance of fixing it?
don_chuwish
Member
Looks just like a rock chip you'd get filled by the quick fix guys on a windshield. Is there actually glass missing out of it?
FishN00b83
New member
yeah glass is missing and it's on the inside of the tank. do you think if I bought the rain x repair kit it would be safe to use/work? I have two of them in the front glass and they are going to drive me BAT SH!T crazy
FishN00b83
New member
yeah it was new and when they drilled it I guess they didn't cover the other side. I went down there tonight and I spoke with the owner...he was not happy about it, and he said he'd call me tomorrow to talk about it more. so the build is on hold until I talk to him. he was not happy about it, which kind of made me nervous but I'll just wait until tomorrow and see what happens.
FishN00b83
New member
So the LFS has someone coming down this weekend to look at the tank. I told the owner I am looking to get a replacement and he said at least I'm being honest about it. He wants to make sure its not silicone or anything before he drills an other tank (which is understandable). He said if they do indeed replace it he will be able to do it during the week.
The lease is up at my old place the following weekend so this is cutting it WAY close for me. hopefully this happens sooner than later.
The lease is up at my old place the following weekend so this is cutting it WAY close for me. hopefully this happens sooner than later.
