180 (355 gal total system) build

(In mafia voice)-"just when I think I'm out, it pulls me back in"
Just picked up a 180 drilled Friday night for a helluva deal, gonna start getting everything together...and if you've been over, cleaning out my mess of a cave to fit the system lol
Going to be total of 355gallons when all setup; 180 top tank + my current 100 + 75gal sump all plumbed together.
Had been contemplating takin down my 100gal reef lately....but looks like we won't me moving like we want so I'm gonna do up a nice little system in my man cave plus while we are going to stay here and build on, my wife really wants my "big ol fish tank" outta the living room. Been wanting something bigger and negotiated the 180 down to a price I couldn't refuse so had to get it.
Won't be all set up for a while so probly be a while before I can post up pics of the final result, but never having a build thread, I figured I'd start one.

 

Tank is still in my truck until I can clear out the space, but got my stand mostly built yesterday, woulda been all done minus the tops but had a slight mishap with a snapped drill bit that gashed open the full length of my thumb which proceeded to pour blood like a faucet, awesome! Probly needed a few stitches but two boxes of gauze and tape did ok, wife ended my building for the evening after that. Will finish up tonight. Here's how it looks so far-



Kinda tall but I have to fit the 100 underneath and if we do move sometime I can reuse it for an in wall setup. Nice n sturdy!
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This is my current 100 that will go on the bottom section, or may put the sump down there and put the 100 next to 180 in a L configuration haven't decided quite yet

 

Sure did.
But.....
This won't happen for quite a while-short story
Long story:
Everthings on hold now...been having electrical issues in the garage over the winter and have spent last few days going thru the previous owners seriously screwed up diy wiring from the 70's trying to find the problem somewhere, even had an electrician take a look and he was stumped at this point Im gonna have to clear everything outta there (HUGE job) and tear out all the drywall and replace everything. Estimate from electrician to figure and fix was enormous. We've had sooooo many problems here and our house is a prime example of first time home buyers getting majorly screwed over. Live and learn (a lot) I guess.... Wont happen again
But hey at least the stand is all finished! Although tank is still in the back of my truck with nowhere to go... doh!
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Made a little progress today, wife helped me get the tank carried in, she's got muscles lol. Got the ugly baby blue paint off the back, looks like the previous owners really liked to scrape the glass as its got plenty of light scratches which wont be as obvious once filled. Bulkheads ordered and getting kinda excited! Debating wether I want to do a reef or fowlr with some big fish I've always wanted...hmmmm



Now just gotta get the two little ones in there for the mandatory kids in big tank pic lol
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Why yes it is, guy I got it from got it there. Seems he's the man in the aquarium game around here
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Is there something I should know about this particular tank????
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I know its not the prettiest tank but I like it. I don't see any issues with it yet. Have it filled halfway and doesnt leak as of the halfway point, looks like Maybee a small chip under the square piece adhered around the right overflow. No cracking tho. PVC will be replaced and painted black.
Not painting the back as I want to see on both sides for maximum viewing pleasure wether I'm playing pool or sitting on the couch on the other side.
Anybody else with large drilled tank have any tips or advice with plumbing, pumps, etc??
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Frags on there could be cool for sure. I painted some of my eggcrate a yr ago a haven't had any flakage so I thought it might be ok. Also thought about some aragocrete formations on them but could be a little heavy.

 

Yeah I thought about making a coast to coast myself but I really like having just the pipes in terms of space. Box would definitely look better tho.
In terms of progress: I have everything I need to get this running in my spare stuff piles. Probly just gonna go t5's as I have a few old fixtures laying around, LEDs just cost too much for what id need and the old school halides I run now are just killing my electric bill so really don't want more of that. Plumbing is cut n ready to install, returns sitting and ready. Gonna keep the 100 in the house for the kids so it will be the180 & 75fuge/sump & possibly a 29frag tank for now.
Gonna start getting water in over the next week or two, going to take half from my 100 via wc's and do the rest new so hopefully that with some of my live aragocrete will cut the cycle down a lot, if not bypass it like did with my other tanks.
Gonna keep the stand rugged looking, its in my garage after all (and I don't mind the unfinished look). That way if/when we move I can skin it and stain or paint to match the decor of the new house
First fish on my wish list (not first in of course) Achilles Tang wanted one of those forever!
(Sorry for the long post lol)

 

Well it's getting there. Going minimaliatic on the rockwork, going to add a little more but will ultimately be a macro tank. So no Achilles tang (guess 180 is on the small end for em) definatly getting a radiata lion, which was originally on the list anyways, my gsps, and maybee an angler and some other larger fish.
now just looking for macro frags if anybody has some they could clip and trade for frags or $. Ordered some off eBay but want to have enough on hand when its ready for the livestock
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