blange3's 180 upgrade

[blange3]

An external overflow would not have been acceptable to the interior decorator police.

I can appreciate that. For me the line was drawn when I asked for a 6 foot long tank.

The six foot wide was easy because there was a 7 foot wall open. But the room is a little narrow and she kept asking "Can it go a little closer to the wall?" In fact, when we set it up after the carpet came I said "OK we can go another half inch closer," and now I can't fully close the gate valves on the overflows if I need to. No big deal, I can trim the handles down a bit.

 

[Brian]

How 'bout some pictures?? I would to see the work in progress!

 

[JRWOHLER]

I second that request.

 

[blange3]

Patience!

I'll get some this weekend.

Between church stuff and my mother-in-law in and out of the hospital it's been tough to get any time to work on the tank.

There really isn't too much to look at, but by Sunday I hope to have a lighted tank with sand and half the rock.

Besides, there are so many really good tank threads in process who wants to see my low tech tank until the corals are moved in!

 

[JRWOHLER]

Sorry to push hope your mother-in-law is doing well.

 

[blange3]

Sorry to push hope your mother-in-law is doing well.

No problem James! Thanks for your concern. She was readmitted today and never should have been sent home last week; but that's a different story for a different day. :

Besides, I didn't feel you guys were pushing, just enthusiastic about some life returning to this thread! ;D

 

[jimroth]

So: After reading the popular RC thread by Beananimal on silent overflows, this is what I have settled on.

One overflow has a 1" elbow and strainer turned downward so the intake is well below the water level. The return line has a ball valve to control flow. I let this line start a siphon and then adjust it so it can't quite keep up with the return pump.

The other overflow has a 1" elbow and strainer turned upward to raise the waterlevel to an acceptable height. The first overflow is adjusted so that a very small amount of water needs to go through the second overflow, which it does with a slight sound.

Beananimal on the RC thread insists that you need a third overflow for safety with this method, but I didn't want to drill another hole, so I added an autotopoff.com float switch to shut the return pump down if the level goes too high. And just in case I have two water alarms on the carpet behind the tank.

I now appreciate why folks prefer gate valves for fine adjustments, but the tank came with the returns already plumbed with gate valves. When the tank is well established and I run out of things to do, maybe I'll replace the valves. ;D

Bill, my setup is a siphon and a backup drain like yours, and only has two drains. It works fine, although I applaud your floatswitch idea.

 

[blange3]

Bill, my setup is a siphon and a backup drain like yours, and only has two drains. It works fine, although I applaud your floatswitch idea.

Thanks Jim, its called plausible deniability.

"Gee honey, I did everything I could to keep water off the new carpet. Look I even had this high tech float switch thingy!"

 

[paintman27]

YAWN ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ YAWN zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ;D

 

[blange3]

Might be putting everyone else to sleep, but I'm having a good time.

Sand is in. Half the rockwork is in and arranged. The rest will come from the 75 when I feel the new tank is ready for the transfer.

Lighting was finished Wednesday. By Thursday neighbors were reporting UFO sightings due to the glow coming from the front window.

Moved the new fish in on Saturday. They are doing well; the Blue Throat Trigger is a bit shy

Bought my two TBD tangs of Sunday from AO and they are doing well in QT. They've been with Will since the anniversary sale so MAYBE I might move them faster than a month. They will move at the same time the 75 migrates so they enter the new tank as the same time as the Purple Tang from the old tank moves.

I have a hammer in a nano that I will move to the 180 this week just to say how corals will fare.

Lots of little projects that I can work on in between Christmas preparation. Dressing up the return plumbing, setting up auto-topoff, getting my carbon filtration going.

So let the "this thread is useless without pictures" comments begin. ;D

 

[Brian]

Couldn't resist! ;D

 

[Baxreefs]

TBD Tangs in QT!!!????

If you're not going to post pics, you have to at least tell us what you got!

 

[blange3]

Couldn't resist! ;D

I knew I was setting someone up!

How ya doin' Brian?

 

[Brian]

I'm doing well, Bill...thanks for asking! I haven't seen you in forever! We need to get together!

 

[JRWOHLER]

TBD Tangs in QT!!!????

If you're not going to post pics, you have to at least tell us what you got!

I second this comment....I do have the added bonus of being very familiar with all AO's tangs pre sale. But at least tell us which ones.

 

[blange3]

TBD Tangs in QT!!!????

If you're not going to post pics, you have to at least tell us what you got!

Oh! Did I leave that out?

I thought the AO regulars might have some fun guessing. But they'll probably just call Will and ask him. :

I got a Gold Rim and a Tomini.

The pictures aren't of my actual TBD Tangs

 

[paintman27]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ??? ;D

 

[blange3]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ??? ;D

I can see it right in front of me! How's your tank doing Stan?

I'm working up some courage to make the final move. I've had four fish in it since the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I have some time off next week, so it may happen soon!

 

[paintman27]

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f164/so-what-do-you-get-a-b-b-tank-owner-for-x-mas-110048.html ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[blange3]

OK Stan, I finally did it

Ready to start.

He's waiting for his new friends to arrive!

Here we go!

When the dust settles, the corals start opening and the tangs stop duelling I'll look for the tripod and the camera manual and try to get some good shots.

Now I need a drink! That was way too much stress for one day!