got a 135 gallon oceanic tank yesterday

[matt boyer]

i got the tank for free . But its just the tank its not a drilled tank and the center brace has been removed. The glass looks to be 1/2 inch thick do ii need a center brace? If not what if any glass canopy could i use? I know everybody will probley be against it but could i get away with hang on the back filtration ? I have a 90 gallon now that seems to be fine with 2 emeporor 400s i thought maybe i would just add another and call it good . The tank will be a fowlr. thanks

 

[mie]

You need the center brace for support.

 

[matt boyer]

i guess i could just cut a piece of glass . do you realy think with 1/2 glass it will cause a problem not using one . it looks like it had like a 12 inch piece for a brace there. another thing should i use plexi or regular glass only asking because i have 3/8 inch plexi.

 

[locoyo386]

Hi there,
Originally Posted by matt boyer
http:///forum/post/2901589
i got the tank for free . But its just the tank its not a drilled tank and the center brace has been removed. The glass looks to be 1/2 inch thick do ii need a center brace?(yes you do need the center brace if you are going to fill it with water, otherwise it will bow outward and can actually break) If not what if any glass canopy could i use? I know everybody will probley be against it but could i get away with hang on the back filtration ? I have a 90 gallon now that seems to be fine with 2 emeporor 400s i thought maybe i would just add another and call it good . The tank will be a fowlr. thanks
As far as filtration, not sure and if I give you my opinion I might be banned from posting as they might think I am giving the wrong advice.

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by matt boyer
http:///forum/post/2901664
i guess i could just cut a piece of glass . do you realy think with 1/2 glass it will cause a problem not using one . it looks like it had like a 12 inch piece for a brace there. another thing should i use plexi or regular glass only asking because i have 3/8 inch plexi.
Either one will work, personally I would try to add one that was the same as the one that was taken out (dimension wise, glass or plexi is ok. In my opinion plexi is better)

 

[petjunkie]

My oceanic 135 has a center brace, I think it's probably needed. I wouldn't risk it anyways.

 

[matt boyer]

i wasnt sure about the 1/2" bowing i know the thinner glass will as my brothers 55 center brace broke and it bowed it didnt break though maybe i will do a wood canopy and weld 3/16 " aluminum with lips on each side to brace it and avoid the huge center brace it originally had i did this on a 55 for over 2 years and it worked fine.

 

[locoyo386]

Originally Posted by matt boyer
http:///forum/post/2901684
i wasnt sure about the 1/2" bowing i know the thinner glass will as my brothers 55 center brace broke and it bowed it didnt break though maybe i will do a wood canopy and weld 3/16 " aluminum with lips on each side to brace it and avoid the huge center brace it originally had i did this on a 55 for over 2 years and it worked fine.
How long is your 135 (if I am correct they are 72"x18"x24")? I believe the 55's are around 48" long. The 135 would be 2 feet longer, I would defenitely want to consider a center brace. The huge center brace is there for a purpose, but it's just my opinion.

 

[matt boyer]

yeah it measures 72.5x18.5 by 24 something

 

[matt boyer]

any thoughts on the hang on the back filters

 

[mie]

Hob filter's are not that powerful. Go with a nice canister filter, or step it up to a sump.

 

[jthomas0385]

I wouldn't go with a HOB filter, especially for a tank that size. Your best bet would be a wet/dry sump, if this is not possible I would also say a good canister filter.

 

[matt boyer]

3 emeporor 400's would flow pretty good i think thats 1200 gph wouldnt that be enuff. plus a aqua c remora pro ? Please dont take my comment the wrong way i'm just asking i'm not tiring to sound rude. I dont want to hassle with the sump yet i do have a 75 gallon i'm thinking of moving to the basement as a sump in the future but im buying my first house and dont want to cut holes in the floor right away. and im not sure about the weight if i put it all on one level. maybe i will just put jacks under the beams and go sump under the tank evenually anyway.

 

[locoyo386]

Hi there,
Well in my personal opinion, the 3-emperor will be fine. Look into a Rena XP4 canister filter, they are ok and might cost less than 3-emperors. They will cost about twice as one emperor, but you could do alot more with the canister filter though. I might even try the two emperor's you have in combination with a canister filter. Maybe you could find a rena that cost the same as an emperor.

 

[matt boyer]

the emperor costs less then 60 bucks locally and under 10 bucks for a 4 pack of filters i will try that first . I know some places sell the 400s for over 100 bucks so i always shop around. I went on oceanics website and got there tech number last nite . The guy i talked to said i wouldnt need a center brace on the tank but i think im gonna do it anyway.

 

[reefman22]

The thing with 3 emperors is that every month your going to be chaning 6 filter carteridges. and if one of the pumps goes out then 1/3 of all of your filtration is off. If i were in your situation I would take the 3x$50 price of the emperor and put $150 toward a single canister or wet/dry system so there is less maintinence monthly and less money overall to keep the tank up. plus if you put a canister or wet/dry under, you will have much more room on the back of the tank and it won't be so cluttered to put ur aqua c remora on there. I think that would be a great skimmer and a definate positive to have. But if you have the funds, i would ultimately splurge and do a wet/dry, and if you don't, i would still do a cansiter to lower the maintinence and overall monthly payment for 6 emperor cartridges. I know thats not what you want to hear because it sounds like you have your heart set on the emperors but in this hobby, cutting corners for price or skimping on quality doesnt tend to pay off very well in the long run. Just my $0.02
reefman

 

[matt boyer]

thanks for your idea . i know i probley should go with a different filter but i have 2 of the 400s already and i didnt have a pump go out in one of them i had one for 2 years and the other since 98 when i got my tank. If one pump go's its better then if i only had one in a sump right? Thats just my thinking and i do want to try and do a sump later but its to much now. I really need to sell some tanks i have way to many already but i want to combine some stuff in this 135. lol I have a 135 90 75 55 36 bowfront 27 hex 15 gallon and 2 10 gallons . 3 of those are my wifes though lol and some are empty in the basement it crazy.