SL's 180 Gallon build...

[slenhart1018]

OK everybody, I just picked up my 180 gallon tank. It was used for freshwater and I am running it for saltwater. It came with the tank, stand, fluval fx5 filter, driftwood, angelfish, and a 55 gallon tank. Needless to say, the driftwood, angelfish and the fx5 with not be used in the build. The stand will do for now, until this spring, where I can get outside into the garage and build my own stand. The 55 I will be using as my sump/refuge. Will be buying some glass or acrylic from home depot/lowes soon here, and section off the 55, as soon as i get it cleaned. This build will be a slow build, since I will be on a budget. Although I do not plan on skimping very much. Just a slow process on getting the things I want or wanna build. As for the 180 gallon...its dirty...gotta be cleaned, will be working on that for a while. This tank has a pretty thick piece of glass across the middle. Pictures will show it, im not sure if this will pose a problem just yet...we will see. As I am new to this hobby, and I have never owned a fish tank or anything close to this size, any input from the advanced and experienced would be greatly appreciated!!!
Here are my ideas for the tank and equipment.

RO/DI system
Skimmer (not sure which kind yet)
Return pump (not sure which pump yet)
Lighting (thinking i will make my own LED fixtures)
Sand (a very fine sugar sand a couple inches deep)
Power heads (I really like the mp40's, but maybe some koralia's)
Bean animal overflow...I dont see a tempered sticker...
The stand I plan to build will be custom, although I am stuck on a couple color combos.
1. All black stand
2. Gunmetal grey and with flat/matte finish doors
3. Black stand with stainless steel doors
Im thinking a matching canopy as well.

My first couple purchases will be the RO/DI system, a refractometer, an ATO unless I choose to DIY.

This will be a learning experience for sure, and I plan to make as little mistakes as possible, as im sure everyone has said before...but they happen, i understand that. I plan for this to be a FOWLR tank for the mean time, but I see some very nice corals, and would love to upgrade to corals in the future, so I am looking to do as much as I can now to prepare.

Updates and pictures will come at a slow rate im guessing unless I get some deals on some things.

I am not looking to get this started tomorrow, as anxious as I am, I am taking my time, doing research, taking my time, doing research, and repeat. I know this will be a slow process as I have seen explained here several times.

Thanks for all that follow along and provide me with the much needed advice I will sure need. This is a big project for me, hopefully I can handle it..

 

[Curl58]

Good luck. Don't be afaird to ask questions along the way. That is the best way to learn.

 

[slenhart1018]

yea, I will be asking lots of questions. I am not sure how my overflow will work with that glass piece in the middle. I want to go with a coast to coast overflow and a bean animal overflow. Does anyone know the drill size I need to drill for the bulkheads? I am doing the 1 1/2" pipe for the overflow, I think it should be good enough. And I will use a 1" bulkhead, so I think I need a 2" hole saw? Anybody know the answer to this?

 

[reefermad619]

If your using 1.5" piping, why not use 1.5" bulkheads?

 

[slenhart1018]

If your using 1.5" piping, why not use 1.5" bulkheads?

lol...good idea

 

[Waddleboy]

yea, I will be asking lots of questions. I am not sure how my overflow will work with that glass piece in the middle. I want to go with a coast to coast overflow and a bean animal overflow. Does anyone know the drill size I need to drill for the bulkheads? I am doing the 1 1/2" pipe for the overflow, I think it should be good enough. And I will use a 1" bulkhead, so I think I need a 2" hole saw? Anybody know the answer to this?

Drilling holes depends on the bulk head you use roughly. But standard abs bulkheads for 1 1/2" bulkhead is a 2 3/8" bit or 60-62mm

 

[slenhart1018]

Thanks waddleboy, shortly after posting this I went to marinedepot.com and they listed the hole size. Another thing I want to clear up is, I plan to run 1 1/2" pvc for my drains and 1" pvc for my dual returns. Does that sound appropriate? Or should I be running 1 1/2" for my returns as well? thanks!!!