Medium Size Tank Planning - 55 gal to 225 gal - Page 2

**JTMAC** · #11 (**permalink**) 03-27-2006, 06:04 PM

Just be very carefully with the LFS! Your just a sale to them until they prove they truly care for the hobby. too many of them have people working in SW when they shouldn't be. I was in A LFS that I go to on occasion the other day and the worker was selling a lion fish to someone who didn't even know what it was called and the salesman couldn't even give any info on it to this person. Needless to say he sold it to him and that was it. So make sure you do your research so you don't get took. And always listen to everyone here on RAG they know there stuff.

iain42 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-27-2006, 08:49 PM

I need to read up on what all the abreviations are : ) LFS I assume is local aquarium store.

I was planning on doing everything over the internet but I just found a local aquarium store that is run by people in the hobby operated in odd hourse when they have time. I plan on dropping by and talking to them this week. This would be very helpful especially with curing the live rock etc but that is down the road abit...

How difficult would it be for me to turn the 30 gallon tank into a combo unit like the reef devil? I like the all in one compact design of the reef devil which can go under the tank out of site. However, if I can turn the 30gallon into sump/skimmer without to much hassel and save some money that could be an option as well. More RTFMing for me.

I have been reading and searching this forum alot there is so much information here WOW...

Thanks

**DaveK** · #13 (**permalink**) 03-27-2006, 09:21 PM

Here is a thread on a lot of the terms we use here -
http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/for...ad.php?t=46747

**DaveK** · #14 (**permalink**) 03-27-2006, 09:35 PM

Quite a few people have turned tanks into sumps, it's not too difficult. If you do it, use a tank a bit larger so you have some room to work with.

A sump is easy to build. A skimmer is a lot more complex. I wouldn't try building a skimmer unless you are very good with building things and working in plastic.

klc317 · #15 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 07:01 AM

After having alot of success with our 75G reef, we have decided to upgrade to a 125 in the living room using the contents of our 75G that is currently in the office and obviously adding more stuff. Obviously now that I know alot more, I am spending alot more time planning the tank setup. I am planning on:

125G All-Glass reef ready aquarium

Custom 2x2 steel tube welded stand covered with pine and including doors on both ends in addition to the front doors for easier access underneath.

Painting the rear exterior glass black

A 72" Coralife Aqualight Pro fixture with metal halides and PCs

ASM skimmer (largest I can fit)

A custom made DIY sump, hopefully in the 30+ gallon range depending on what I can fit, larger the better. I should have room to include a nice refugium under a 6-foot long tank too.

Now for the suggestions from you...

I am still undecided about a closed loop system or a Tunze/Seio system for extra circulation, I have done alot of reading about both but could use some help on that. I wouldn't have a problem with either but I will need to plan ahead in case I need to have some holes drilled in the rear wall of the tank. If I were to add a closed loop system, what pump size would be sufficient for a tank this size and how many intake and exit holes would I need? Not looking to set the world on fire, but would like to achieve about a 15X minumum turnover, preferably more. I would be interested in some sort of wave-maker system (mainly for asthetic reasons) so that may be a variation on suggestions. That leads to the next question..

What would be the best return pump for this setup or would I be better of with two? Obviously all the flow doesn't need to be run through the sump but with two overflows to feed I want to keep it fed well.

Oh, as for what I plan to keep in the tank...I have tons of zoos, softies, a clam, several anemonies, leathers, hammers, a couple of large brains, mushrooms, and many various things in my current tank and all have been doing great with my MH/PC combo. I would like to venture into a few modest SPS in the future and that is my reason for the extra water flow questions but also to keep a healthy flow through a 6 foot long tank. Basicly I want to be able to keep all my LPS and softies and have the ability to add other things later so I want to get it all setup for the long haul now. Well, thats enough to keep you busy for now, time for bed. I'll think of some more questions by tomorrow...lol!! Thanks for the help!

**jlouv** · #16 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 10:20 AM

If I were building a new tank and had the option of having it drilled where ever I wanted....I'd skip the tunze/seio and do the closed loop every time!

I'd have the intake for the pump drilled about halfway up the back with at least 4 other outlets both on the back and rising up from the bottom, using loc-line to direct the flow...For a tank as long as the 125 is going to be, I'd have a closed loop system on each side of the tank....the flow rate is entirely dependant on which pump you choose....bigger pump would of course equal more flow so you could customize it by just picking the pumps you want....but with such a long tank, to get any flow you want, doing 2 CLS would be easier than trying to manage a single large pump...

Only one return pump should be used. You'll have a very hard time trying ot figure out how to run two pump together....For a return pump on dual drilled overflows, I wouldn't settle for anything less than a good quality external pump...this means you'll have to have the sump drilled, but you'll be pleased with the results...A friend of mine has a sequence pump that she has completely abused and it just keeps running...last time it slowed down, she took it apart and found snail shells some twist ties & even a plastic bag stuck in the impellor!!! and it was still working!! just a bit slower but still working...

iain42 · #17 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 01:50 PM

Thanks for the list of terms that helps alot.

I have been doing research on this site and others reading as much as I can. It seems the best thing I can do is take my time read and gather equipment. Then start the aquarium slowly one step at a time.

I would not attempt to build my own skimmer but I have been looking for good plans to turn a 30g aquarium into a sump with the skimmer in the sump without having to drill into either tank. I found some ok pics but nothing I would feel comfortable reverse engineering. Does any have any plans like I would need. The compact reef devil still looks like a great product just exploring my options.

Thanks again for all the advice hope I'm not asking to many ?'s

**JTMAC** · #18 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 03:52 PM

You can never ask too many questions here my friend. just do a lot of reading and research and you will do just fine. there is a lot of plans in the DIY threads also in the photo gallary. Good luck and have some fun with it.

**DaveK** · #19 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 04:14 PM

The first thing I'd recommend would be to upgrade to a larger tank. Since you have to buy the tank anyway, go with the 180 gal or 210 gal reef ready tank. The front area is about the same, but the additional 6 inches front to back will do wonders for the aquascapeing, and a larger water volume doesn't hurt either. All the other equipment stays more or less the same, so the additional cost is not very much. You'll also be able to fit a larger sump and/or refugium under the tank too.

There is no need to paint the back black. You'll get plenty of algae overgrowing it soon enough. Paint on glass tends to chip anyway. If you still want a black background, get a thin sheet of plywood and paint that. It will stay looking much better.

On the return pump - The two overflows being used in All Glass tanks are going to be limited to a flow rate of about 1200 gph total. You can easily get this with a single pump. Use a pump rated about 1500 gph to allow for pump head and water friction. I agree with jlouv here. Go with a top quality external pump.

On return loops - It is not necessary to drill holes in the tank to use a closed loop. You can plumb a closed loop over the top of the tank. You will see it but gray and black PVC pipe is available, so it will blend right it with a black background. I tend to feel the less holes in the tank, the less chances for leaks.

On closed loops verses Tunze Stream pumps - I disagree with jlouv on this one. If it's got to be one or the other, I'd go with Tunze Streams on their multicontroller. The pumps are difficult to hide and out of sight expensive, but the random flow they create can't easily be be done with closed loops. Of course there is no reason you can't use both closed loops and Tunze Stream pumps. I use both in my large reef. If you use the Tunze Stream pumps, you do not need any other form of wave making.

A note on Seio Super Flow pumps - These pumps can not be used on any sort of wave making system. They also suffer the same ongoing problems of other Seio and Rio (same company) pumps. I don't recommend them.

klc317 · #20 (**permalink**) 03-29-2006, 06:18 PM

Good info. We are considering a 180 or so reef instead of the 125, but of course we have plenty of time to decide. I wish I could find a tank with corner overflows instead of the bulky looking AGA twin overflows but that would have tobe custom made I would imagine. As for a return pump, I've read mixed reviews of using a MagDrive externally. What would be my best brand option there? Also, on the closed loop plumbed over the top as DaveK mentioned what would be used for the drain into the system? I assume I would still need one hole in the rear tank wall to feed the system with water. I also know how outragously expensive the Tunze systems are for a wavemaking system but I have heard nothing but good things about them except for the lack of hiding places for the pumps but of course you have to make a sacrifice somewhere to get the good flow/wavemaking action. More suggestions are welcome!