Thinking of drilling my new 75 gallon from lifestudent

[tpate77]

Hello
I have been tossing up the idea of a hang on the back or drill my tank. If I do drill my tank what would be the system to use. The top of my tank will be 60 inches off the floor. The sump that I have not purchased yet will be on the floor but 6 feet in another room. I guess my Q is what size overflow system do I need or what size hang on the back do I need. Any help would be great the tanks is a 75 gallon the sump size is still up in the air. Izhave room for as big of a sump as I want or can afford LOL

 

[rjrgroup]

Umm, the bigger the better. Check out LilRob's 20% off sale. That MRC sump needs a new home! Talk about over kill!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha
And drill baby drill...

 

[tpate77]

I need a lot of information here on size stuff for this system. What size return pump what size skimmer, powerheads an number of them. How do I know what size holes to drill in my DT tank for the overflow.

 

[rjrgroup]

Is your tank running? There are plenty of folks that could drill it provided it's ready. I have heard so may people complain about having a hang on over flow.
I think that sump is way tooooooo much for your system but it is an example of what you "could" do. On second thought, maybe it's not. I don't know, anybody else have an opinion?

 

[tpate77]

The tank is not running I am almost done with the stand. I painted the trim black and the back pacific blue. That is where I am now. The DT is a 75 gallon what do you thing my sump size. Still need help with all the specific on the equipment I need as for as size of return pumps and things like that.

 

[rjrgroup]

tpate77;629363 wrote: The tank is not running I am almost done with the stand. I painted the trim black and the back pacific blue. That is where I am now. The DT is a 75 gallon what do you thing my sump size. Still need help with all the specific on the equipment I need as for as size of return pumps and things like that.

Honestly, I would probably do a 40-55 gal and I would definitely drill. If you can, have it drilled for a center over flow and return. A 1"1/4 and 1" bulkhead should be more than sufficient. Do a nice slow flow with a mag 5-ish return pump and a 150+ gal rated skimmer. The easiest and simplest sump/fuge design would have a first compartment as a sump for heater, filter and any other peripherals. Next, a central refugium with a sand bed. Finally, a series of bubble panels 1" apart followed by a large enough area for return pump and auto-top-off. 3/4" line to the 1" return bulkhead. Anybody else have any other suggestions?

 

[pufferchris]

I think you you should go as big as you can on the sump the more water volume the better as for the return pump I would go with a mag9 due to the fact your sump will be 6feet away it will lose some gph going vertical and back to the dt also I would drill the tank coast to coast as for power heads what type of corals are you planning on keeping ?? On my 240 reef I run 4 hydora that kick 1300 gph and a reef flow snapper as a closed loop that kicks around 4000 gph

 

[rjrgroup]

PufferChris;629382 wrote: I think you you should go as big as you can on the sump the more water volume the better as for the return pump I would go with a mag9 due to the fact your sump will be 6feet away it will lose some gph going vertical and back to the dt also I would drill the tank coast to coast as for power heads what type of corals are you planning on keeping ?? On my 240 reef I run 4 hydora that kick 1300 gph and a reef flow snapper as a closed loop that kicks around 4000 gph

Now that's some flow!
What do you mean "drill for coast to coast"? I thought that was an entire back panel overflow. Oh, and yeah, you're probably right about the mag 9.5, I thought it was a 6 foot horizontal run...

 

[pufferchris]

Yes it is a friend of mine has a coast to coast in Tampa Awsome I believe Chris at fish scales can do it if I ever redo my tank I'll probably go for coast to coast

 

[tpate77]

Ok is there a kit I can get with the bulkheads and discharge nozzles for the return or what? I think I will go with the mag 9. I am only doing soft corals a that the beginning I don't want to have to get MH at this point in the game. Is there a good skimmer that is not overwhelmingly expensive. I like the koralia powerheads I think that is what want to use. Is there a reason no one uses pond pumps for return pumps in this hobby. You can get a bigger pump for less money just wondering.

 

[grouper therapy]

I think I would use the tank you have now for the sump and buy a reef ready 75. When all is said and done I don't think you will see a lot of difference in money.

 

[pufferchris]

I would go with the * Reef Octopus NWB-200 if you decide to go with a 75g sump 75g dt
Skimmers are always under rated and depending on what your planning on stocking it should work fine as far as pond pumps they don't last to long in saltwater you'd be better off just buying a mag or quiet one pump and not have to worry about it failing on you also the more dwell time in the sump the better don't count on your return pump for flow +1 to grouper therapy good idea

 

[rjrgroup]

grouper therapy;629400 wrote: I think I would use the tank you have now for the sump and buy a reef ready 75. When all is said and done I don't think you will see a lot of difference in money.

Perfect...

 

[tpate77]

I would love to go out an purchase a reef ready system but my budget does not have that kind of line item. I am having to piece this project together. Which I do not mind at all. I am a DIY type of person I feel the more I am hands on in building this system the better prepare for a problem I will be if something should go wrong. Which I hope does not happen. I do not want to be a cheap person I am just trying to get items a little bit along the way when a good deal come along

 

[grouper therapy]

tpate77;629448 wrote: I would love to go out an purchase a reef ready system but my budget does not have that kind of line item. I am having to piece this project together. Which I do not mind at all. I am a DIY type of person I feel the more I am hands on in building this system the better prepare for a problem I will be if something should go wrong. Which I hope does not happen. I do not want to be a cheap person I am just trying to get items a little bit along the way when a good deal come along

I completely understand, I build most of my own items as well but I think if you were to add the numbers for a used sump or the cost of acrylic and the cost of glass bits or the labor to have them drilled you might be surprised vs, a reefready 75. Have Chris @ fishscales price you a tank.