New 180 build

[dguest98]

Hello all,

I want to start by saying thanks for all of the help I have recieved over the last couple of years on here.

I am now upgrading AGAIN to a 180!!

My first of what will be many questions is can I use all 4 drains as my overflow and then plump returns over the back. If so what would the flow rate be, I understand the normal setup gives about 1200 gph.

About my equipment:

180 AGA(I think) dual overflows 72x24x24
euroreef cs-8 skimmer
prime chiller
2 250 watt metal halides (prob need one more)
2 72 inch vho super actinics
1 iwaki 100 *(thinking for externally plumbed closed loop
1 gen x 40 for return
3/4 inch sea swirl
aquacontroller 3
39 gallon diy sump
My idea is to plumb through a wall in the living room to my utility/sump room.

I want to add a refugium and auto top off and water change systems

Any ideas, links, etc and I will get some pics together to start the thread.

Thanks

Dave

[dguest98]

Anyone? ok also I am going to be putting mostly softies and fish in here. Dont really feel I have the time to devote to hard corals yet.
Any advice on some hearty reef stuff?

[dguest98]

Shocked that not one person could muster up any advice. Should I go back down to the lowly plumbing section and leave all of you big bad large reef tanks guys alone.
Damn expected better

[Shnabbles]

Its a holiday people are busy.

[hobogato]

sounds pretty similar to the one i am building right now - nicely planned out. i have heard that the gen x pumps are pretty loud, but never had one myself. i am using a blueline 100 (same as your iwaki) and a blueline 70 to run the returns and the beckett skimmer i build. planning on some koralias for flow.

[dguest98]

thanks hobo, the noise is not much of an issue since it will be in the utility room. What is a koralias?

[hobogato]

np... koralia is a powerhead here is a link with some info.

[Underwood]

dguest98,
I am setting up a 180 gal too, there is a thread somewhere on the first 2-3 pages of this forum where someone used all of their drain and return holes for drains. In your case, I don't know that it would be a good idea to do that though because of the size of your sump - that's a ton of flow for a sump holding 30ish gallons of water.

If you do decide go that route, then just make sure to put drill a few air holes in the end of your return line to minimize the chance of a flood (from reverse siphon) should your power go out.

My advice would be to keep the overflows in their default configuration and use Vortechs, Tunzes, or Koralias, etc if you need more flow outside what your closed loop provides.

[dguest98]

yeah I was thinking of building a external closed loop system like melevs, because I am not sure about drilling this monster(scared).

well Im gonna get started as soon as I get home, I will put up pics.

Thanks guys