New direction. Need some advice please.

[aquiman]

Hi all. I've had my 90g FOLR tank for a year now and I'm still learning and taking my lumps along the way. I have a sump for this drilled tank and a skimmer in the sump with a UV sterilizer as well. A friend of mine just gave me his 55g corner tank with a fluval 305. I'm familiar and comfortable with my current equipment and setup for the 90g and would like to replicate it for the 55, but the bottom of this 55 is tempered glass so it can't be drilled. I'm wondering if it makes sense to go with one of those overflows you can add and building my own acrylic sump or staying with the fluval and saving some time and money. Since its a corner tank, the space under the tank is pretty limited so a sump can't be too big. I'd like to start a reef tank with some reef safe fish and LR but know nothing about what's involved with setting up a reef tank other than good LED lighting and some additional tests. I'm not a big fan of hang on the back stuff, but realize my options may be limited. Based on what I'd like to put in this tank, do you guys feel to be successful I need to go a certain way with equipment or can I be just as successful with the fluval and perhaps a HOB skimmer? Advice appreciated to set me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquiman http:///t/396139/new-direction-need-some-advice-please#post_3528773
Hi all. I've had my 90g FOLR tank for a year now and I'm still learning and taking my lumps along the way. I have a sump for this drilled tank and a skimmer in the sump with a UV sterilizer as well. A friend of mine just gave me his 55g corner tank with a fluval 305. I'm familiar and comfortable with my current equipment and setup for the 90g and would like to replicate it for the 55, but the bottom of this 55 is tempered glass so it can't be drilled. I'm wondering if it makes sense to go with one of those overflows you can add and building my own acrylic sump or staying with the fluval and saving some time and money. Since its a corner tank, the space under the tank is pretty limited so a sump can't be too big. I'd like to start a reef tank with some reef safe fish and LR but know nothing about what's involved with setting up a reef tank other than good LED lighting and some additional tests. I'm not a big fan of hang on the back stuff, but realize my options may be limited. Based on what I'd like to put in this tank, do you guys feel to be successful I need to go a certain way with equipment or can I be just as successful with the fluval and perhaps a HOB skimmer? Advice appreciated to set me in the right direction. Thanks!
Hi,
Sometimes the bottom of the tank is tempered glass but the sides are not. I'm not sure how to tell the difference. If the sides are not tempered, you can drill it. I have a sump with the CPR overflow on my 90g. I HATE the lifter pump, but I finally quit having problems with it when I got the pre-filter that is sold separately. On my 56g I put a Fluval C HOB, and it works great. I miss the sump, but not that lifter pump.
I used canister filters for many. many years without a single issue. The spray bar is really nice for moving the surface water, so your power heads are free to be placed toward the rock and corals. I only went to a sump system when my API test kits kept reading over 80 for nitrates, and everyone said my canister was a nitrate factory. It turns out the test kit was garbage, and there was nothing wrong with my canister system.
I love the sump system on the 90g that was made for me (awesome thread to read), it's much easier to maintain and the in sump skimmers are 100% better then HOB types. I duplicated that system on the 30g long, and later on the 56g I replaced it with, but the lifter pump kept clogging up, then when I tried to replace the media in the pre-filter, it stopped working again. I removed the stupid thing and got the HOB that I have now. I won't do another sump system unless I can drill the tank.

 

[aquiman]

Thanks Flower. There is a sticker on the bottom of the tank saying the bottom is tempered and can't be drilled. This leads me to think the sides aren't and can be but I can't tell the difference either. Based on your experience, it seems I can go either way but the preference is the sump if I can drill it. Any recommendations on an overflow for a 55 corner if I drill it? I'm hoping a sump of a reasonable size can fit under the tank otherwise its a moot point. Thx again.

 

[2quills]

You should be ok to drill the sides. My tank that I drilled has the same sticker specifying just the bottom as being tempered. Check out the BRS overflows.

 

[aquiman]

Hey, thanks for the responses. I think I'm going to drill it and go with a sump. I found this link on you tube that shows how to tell if the glass is tempered and it also shows a method to drill the tank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZBm3iDWcZg

 

[aquiman]

Guys, more questions on some equipment.... I'm going to drill the tank and have found 700gph overflow box that is probably the correct size but the next size is 1200 which is for larger than 55g tanks. With these overflows, does it make sense to go bigger or stay with what's recommended at 700? Also, bought a 20g tank for the sump and I will add baffles. Would a Reef Octopus NWB110 be a good choice?
On my 90g FOLR tank I put a UVS on it and it made the water crystal clear. I know these are controversial for what they do, but is there more or less of a need for one with a reef tank? Thanks!

 

[acrylic51]

I think you'd be fine with the 700gph overflow....No sense in a bigger overflow than your pump can utilize.....As far as the skimmer a good performer in my opinion.....My buddy runs 1 currently on his tank. Not sure what it's max capacity is, but is a performer....As far as the sterilizer I don't think there really is a correct answer more a personal choice.....IMO not a real gain using 1. There are other means to improve water quality......

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquiman http:///t/396139/new-direction-need-some-advice-please#post_3529235
Guys, more questions on some equipment.... I'm going to drill the tank and have found 700gph overflow box that is probably the correct size but the next size is 1200 which is for larger than 55g tanks. With these overflows, does it make sense to go bigger or stay with what's recommended at 700? Also, bought a 20g tank for the sump and I will add baffles. Would a Reef Octopus NWB110 be a good choice?
On my 90g FOLR tank I put a UVS on it and it made the water crystal clear. I know these are controversial for what they do, but is there more or less of a need for one with a reef tank? Thanks!
Since you're going to drill it then I'd probably step up to at least the 1200gph overflow. You really can't go too big with your overflows when it comes to drilled tanks and it gives you better surface skimming. Heck, I have about 5,000gph worth of overflow capacity on my 120g system. Now if you were going to try and utilize an external overflow that works by siphoning water from the display tank then you'd want to size your pump and overflow a little more appropriately. But if I were you, I'd consider looking into the 2400gph overflow and do a little reading on the Bean Animal overflow system for your drain plumbing.
I would like to see you with something a little larger for a sump tank but a 20g can work. I've just seen a lot of folks try to run 20g sumps on 75g+ tanks and wind up with a lot of frustration. Mostly micro bubble issues. Plus the sump chamber evaporates rather quickly. You're limited to running smaller pumps than most folks would like to run on that size tank. They're just small tanks relative to the size of the display. If you have enough room you could probably add a second tank too it in order to gain some extra capacity.
U.V. you can take it or leave it. Most folks don't like running them on reef tanks because they hinder some of your beneficial organisms. You could always run a little carbon if you like having crystal clear water.
That skimmer could work. I'd check out some of their other models as well. I like the space saver designs, myself.

 

[aquiman]

Thanks for the valuable feedback! I'd love to go bigger than 20g sump on this 55 but because its a corner 55, the shape limits me a lot. As it is, I'm going to rebuild the stand to give me extra height and I'm going to design the stand to have a bigger foot print than the tank. I am going to have to get real creative to even get this 20g sump in there. With all the skimmer choices, happen to have space saver model you can suggest? I have a 950 gph spare pump I'd like to use too and I'm hoping this is a good fit for what I'm planning to do. Advice appreciated! Thanks

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquiman http:///t/396139/new-direction-need-some-advice-please#post_3529296
Thanks for the valuable feedback! I'd love to go bigger than 20g sump on this 55 but because its a corner 55, the shape limits me a lot. As it is, I'm going to rebuild the stand to give me extra height and I'm going to design the stand to have a bigger foot print than the tank. I am going to have to get real creative to even get this 20g sump in there. With all the skimmer choices, happen to have space saver model you can suggest? I have a 950 gph spare pump I'd like to use too and I'm hoping this is a good fit for what I'm planning to do. Advice appreciated! Thanks
Sorry, I got flipped around on builds for a moment. You're replicating what you've got going in your 90g with the 55. In that case you should be ok with the 20g sump. Is it a 20g long or tall? I think Eshopps makes a small space saver model but most might be a tad large in this case. You were probably more on the mark with your original choice. This isn't a bow front tank is it?

 

[aquiman]

No problem. It's a tall 20g. Looked at the long and it was just way too long. The 55 is a bow front... Sorry I referred to it as a corner tank. Two sides and a bowed front.

 

[2quills]

No problem. It's a tall 20g. Looked at the long and it was just way too long. The 55 is a bow front... Sorry I referred to it as a corner tank. Two sides and a bowed front.
You should be ok. This is one of those times where it would come in handy to build your own custom acrylic sump. I'd still go with a larger overflow than the 700gph and consider the bean animal or herbie drain system.

 

[aquiman]

Thx, I will look into both overflows. I was real close to building my own acrylic sump but chose this to be an area to try and save some cash since the acrylic is so expensive. I bought a 30x36 piece of .22 thickness for the baffles and dropped almost $60 bucks from Home Cheapo.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquiman http:///t/396139/new-direction-need-some-advice-please#post_3529350
Thx, I will look into both overflows. I was real close to building my own acrylic sump but chose this to be an area to try and save some cash since the acrylic is so expensive. I bought a 30x36 piece of .22 thickness for the baffles and dropped almost $60 bucks from Home Cheapo.
Yeah it's expensive getting it from them. Especially when it's just cheap extrude material anyways. If I want plastics I'll hit up one of the local plastic fab shops around the area. I have one guy that I've used a few times now. He only charges me I think $5 per square foot for .25" imported cell cast material. He always has a bunch of scrap laying around. Last time I was there I think I got a 4x4 sheet of black acrylic for a steal of a price since it had a few small scratches which was no big deal to me.

 

[aquiman]

Hadn't thought of a plastic shop in the next town. I'm sure I could have saved. Oh well, kinda anxious to get this tank going anyway and probably save quite a bit of time. Next time for sure. Thx.