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View Full Version : Santa is coming with a 175 Bow Front. Help!


seminoleranch
11-29-2009, 06:05 AM
Husband :l24: and family all chipped it and bought me a used 175 gallon bow front tank for Christmas. The tank is a Oceanic, has two corner over flow box, per drilled with for drip line and return line in each box. The sump is a Aquapro 800c made by SeaHorse (??) complete with drip tray, drip filters (not sure that is what they are called) and more than a five gallon bucket of Bio balls. There was also a Protein Skimmer that fits in the sump but it missing the top lid to it and being how I am going f/w on the set up I have no plans to use it. All in all we have everything in hand OTHER THAN the lady it came from is still looking to see where she put the lights, no heater (size recommendation please) the PVC pipe or what ever was hooked to the drain line, and it looks like I maybe missing the Bulkhead fitting which I am assuming I maybe able to find at Lowes? My friend who sold it to me said it was once a show tank at a night club. When she bought it she never found time or room to set it up. I guess I got a good buy at 200.00?
Now my questions:
Where can I get the Bulkhead fittings?
Does everyone run a per filter sponge in their over flow box? I seen some with PVC pipe with just some holes drilled in it.
Do I need the J shape pipe hooked up to the drain line to prevent flooding in the sump? I have noted on the return lines some has already drilled a small hole to prevent back flow.
Should I place check values at any point? It is all done in soft line and I rather keep it that way if I could.
If lights can not be found can someone recommend what I can replace them with (shop lighting from Lowes?)
Now the fun part...I would love to see photos or hear ideas for decoration. As I said I am staying fw for now and I have a lot of live plants (Java fern, Amazon Sword, Water wistera) a few small clay pots and some drift wood in my 55 that currently running. I will be moving most of this but I am sure it is going to look lost in this tank. Stock will be 7 Mollies, 5 Platties, 1 Pearl gourami (maybe two if my daughter gives me back my other one lol) 1 pair of sword tails, one rubber lip, 2 Angels and a few Snails. I would like to add more Angels as the main focus fish of the tank, how many more Angels could I get? And is there any way to kind of hide the side view of the over flow boxes? They where built in the corner of the tank so when standing at the side your looking right in at them. So answers would be so much help and I am looking forward to ideas and photos on setting it up. Thanks ahead of time to anyone who answers.

seminoleranch
11-29-2009, 06:10 AM
Forgot to ask as well if the protein skimmer is any good not that the top is missing. I hooked it up and ran it but I never seen the water reach the top chamber??? Never have seen one in working order so was not sure if this was right or not. Also please forgive any miss used or incorrect terms I may have posted. I have never dealt with wet/dry sump or any such equipment before. Have done 3 days research and still learning.thumbs2:

AABatteries
11-29-2009, 07:35 AM
You won't need the protein skimmer for a FW tank.

You seem to be wanting to stock the tank very lightly. Are the two angels paired up, or not?

I would get two 250w or two 300w heaters.
You should be able to get bulkheads in the plumbing section of a hardware store.

Deleted User
11-29-2009, 11:24 AM
Congratulations on a VERY cool Christmas gift!!!

You might have fun fooling around w/ this site for stocking and filtration planning if you don't already know about it. It's really neat:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Crispy
11-29-2009, 12:26 PM
Wow! Major score there! Start reading up on wet/drys cuz you'll definitely want to run that. I recommend 2x 250w heaters for that tank. Take your time and get that bulkhead fitting. Sounds like a beautiful setup! thumbs2:

seminoleranch
11-29-2009, 02:07 PM
Thank you both. It did come with a nice wet/dry system so I am set there thumbs2: I did not think I needed the Protein Skimmer but I was wondering if was any good with out the lid on if because if so I would like to pass it on to some one who could use it.
AA, I guess I was not too clear on what I was asking about the stock. What I listed is what I currently have between my 55 and my daughters 40. All these will be going to the tank plus I want to add "more" Angel fish but just not sure how many more I could get away with adding. I dont know if these two are a pair or not. There was three but these two always stick together and left on poor little guy out so my daughter took him. I am also tossing around the idea of some Blue Rams once the tank has been running for many months. If I understand correctly they are very hard to keep if the water is not spot on.