Got a tank!!

[carlosd_s14]

Hi all

new to tanks in general but have done a LOT of research lol..just picked up a drilled tank(75g) with a stand and sump, all for 200 bucks.

the sump and skimmer seem to be way to little so i think I'm going to make my own. Ive been looking around and haven't been able to find a clear answer as to whether or not i should include a refugium.. my stand is pretty roomy so i can fit a decent sized sump... was hoping u guys could help shine some light on the subject.

thanks and hoping to have a sweet tank in the near future

heres a pic after painting the stand and cleaning and painting the tank

Edit: o and allso how do i know what size return pump to use.....thanks
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="tank.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[rdnelson]

Welcome to ARC. Nice tank and stand. You did a great job on the paint. I am pretty new so I can't answer all your questions but I would say if you can, a refugium is a great addition. Helps keep the parameters in line and the macroalgea will use up the nutrients preventing the microalgea. Post lots of pics and ask lots of questions. The people on this site are fantastic and love to help.

 

[carlosd_s14]

thanks!! yeah im think im going to do one.

lol the funiest thing i had just gotten through looking at your theared about your tank before i saw this.

saawweeett tank btw....hoping to get there eventually

 

[rdnelson]

LOL Thanks. It has been a lot of fun. Take it slow. I think that is the biggest downfall people run up against. The get in a hurry and things go bad quick. Baby steps pay off big time in this hobby. Plus, it is much cheaper that way. LOL

 

[stoney1118]

Welcome to ARC! And to the hobby! Sounds like you're off to a good start, on a 75gal tank I would go with a mag 7, it's submersible so you just drop it in the sump! Super easy. You can also install a gate valve or ball valve to help regulate the flow. Your overflow may not be able to handle a mag 7. I would all recommend a fuge, it will help regulate nitrates and cultivate pods.

 

[jbdreefs]

I picked up a full (4x8) sheet of quarter inch acrylic from Calsak and used it to make a custom sump. It was a little more than buying a used aquarium and adding baffles, but less than buying a prefabbed one. It was also fun to design and build it. Before building the sump, determine what Skimmer you want first. They vary is footprint (size) and operating depth requirements. This was one mistake I made but was able to make some small mods to accommodate.

I can help if you go this route.

Edit:

stoney1118;718862 wrote: Welcome to ARC! And to the hobby! Sounds like you're off to a good start, on a 75gal tank I would go with a mag 7, it's submersible so you just drop it in the sump! Super easy. You can also install a gate valve or ball valve to help regulate the flow. Your overflow may not be able to handle a mag 7. I would all recommend a fuge, it will help regulate nitrates and cultivate pods.

+1

I agree. The rule of thumb I was taught was that the return should be about 10 times the volume of the tank.

 

[carlosd_s14]

thanks for all the input!! ill be keeping everything updated...might be a bit slow (money) but ill get their.

I'm starting to look for a skimmer now... i found a good deal on a 30 g tank i think i might get as a sump.

 

[tbrennan]

Go with a mag 5.

 

[chefrepo]

Welcome to the ARC and the madness that is reefing.

Check out Petco for a tank to build your sump out of. They are having their $1 a gallon tank sale. Get the biggest one that will fit. A larger sump means more water volume which will translate into more stability. As stated above figure out what skimmer you want so that you can build it to accommodate it.

Since you are building your own sump go ahead and put in an area for a refugium. It really wont come into use right now but on down the road it will be very beneficial.

For the return pump go with a mag 5. It will give you good circulation and give time for the water to work through the skimmer, refugium etc. Anything more than that the water will just zip past and through IMO.

You may have already seen this site but just in case you have not check out

 

[rdnelson]

chefrepo;718926 wrote: You may have already seen this site but just in case you have not check out http://www.melevsreef.com/">http://www.melevsreef.com/</a> Dude is the king of sumps and can give you some really good design ideas.[/QUOTE]

And, he will be speaking at the January meeting. :-)

 

[carlosd_s14]

chefrepo;718926 wrote: Welcome to the ARC and the madness that is reefing.

Check out Petco for a tank to build your sump out of. They are having their $1 a gallon tank sale. Get the biggest one that will fit. A larger sump means more water volume which will translate into more stability. As stated above figure out what skimmer you want so that you can build it to accommodate it.

Since you are building your own sump go ahead and put in an area for a refugium. It really wont come into use right now but on down the road it will be very beneficial.

For the return pump go with a mag 5. It will give you good circulation and give time for the water to work through the skimmer, refugium etc. Anything more than that the water will just zip past and through IMO.

You may have already seen this site but just in case you have not check out http://www.melevsreef.com/">http://www.melevsreef.com/</a> Dude is the king of sumps and can give you some really good design ideas.[/QUOTE]

30 bucks at petco sounds good to me lol...ill check that site out thanks

im picking up a reef octopus 110 on sunday from a fellow member...this should be good skimmer for my setup right?

 

[chefrepo]

Excellent skimmer.

 

[wbrown]

Mag 7 and manifold it with tees and ball valves x 3 or 4. you can feed the skimmer with it, feed a GFO reactor off it, and adjust your DT flow with it. Leave room to add another tee or cap one off for expansion later.

 

[carlosd_s14]

wbrown;718963 wrote: Mag 7 and manifold it with tees and ball valves x 3 or 4. you can feed the skimmer with it, feed a GFO reactor off it, and adjust your DT flow with it. Leave room to add another tee or cap one off for expansion later.

that sounds like a good idea!... i just went through the stuff i got with the tank and found that the person that owned the tank before me was using a rio 2100 return pump...looked it up and its rated at 690 gph sounds like it should be good for my setup?

 

[wbrown]

perfect! Mag 7 is ~700 GPH.
Ball valves are fairly bulletproof, however pumps are not. Be sure to come off the pump with a Union somewhere close.
I still have a length of tubing between the pump and union, just to make manipulating it in the sump a bit easier.
Look carefully for fittings with thinner wall sections, or go up one pipe size to reduce the restriction created by unions and ball valves. These items are choke-points in plumbing.

 

[gnashty]

I will say while budgeting your cabinet space remember all of the eletrical needs you will have and plan for that as well. And any reactors you may add on at a later date. A roomy under cabinet....no such thing..lol

 

[crobattt]

looks very good! Really well made!

 

[carlosd_s14]

OK picked up the skimmer yesterday....just got a few questions about it:/... i don't know where the thin clear line/hose should go, i know its to get air into the elbow before the pump but does this need a regulator or does it just go anywhere above the skimmers water level?

the outlet on the cup can be plugged off right? my guess is this is so u can rout a hose to a separate container to collect more gunk?..

on the outlet for the skimmer all i have to do is reroute it back into my sump right?

from what i understand u can put this skimmer in or out of your sump right (id rather keep it out for more room)?

PS: its a reef octopus recirculating 110 heres a pic...and thanks to all
<fieldset class="gc-fieldset">
<legend> Attached files </legend>

>

class="gc-images" title="skimmer.jpg[/IMG] style="max-width:300px" /></a> </fieldset>

 

[wbrown]

Just above the water level. You may want an external collection point, these make a good bit of gunk, route to a milk jug or something.
Will work outside sump, but they seem to work better in. I have the same skimmer, just a older model.
Soak that sucka in white vinegar and bleach for 12 hours or so, it will clean right up.

 

[carlosd_s14]

wbrown;719598 wrote: Just above the water level. You may want an external collection point, these make a good bit of gunk, route to a milk jug or something.
Will work outside sump, but they seem to work better in. I have the same skimmer, just a older model.
Soak that sucka in white vinegar and bleach for 12 hours or so, it will clean right up.

thanks!! thats helps a lot, u just cleared my head lol

how come itll work better inside?