new tank - need YOUR help!!!

[alix2.0]

ok guys, i just found out today what i am getting for my birthday next month...
A 75 GALLON AQUARIUM & STAND!!! wooo hooo yeah?

i need your help getting it ready!
ok, i cant post a link, but on *****'s website (yes, i know, grr *****

) they have this build a tank thing. well thats what were doing. were buying a floor model stand for $300, and then from the build your own thing were getting-
rectangular 75
overflow
(no stand)
(no canopy)
(no light)
overflow accessory kit
and all this comes to $319.98
i am not getting lights because i want to get metal halides.
here are some questions i have-
-do you think this tank is drilled?
-if it has an overflow does that mean its drilled?
-is the side or bottom drilled, usually?
-if the bottom is drilled, i have to drill the stand, right?
-how do i set up the sump? (i realize this will be easier after i have the tank) do i have to use something specific for the sump or can i use a tank i already have?
-are the sump and fuge seperate tanks? my dad is going to help me build a fuge, i have a 10 i can use for it, is this ok?
i also have Qs about MH lighting, plumbing, etc, but those will come later.
i think thats it for now, sorry i know near nothing about this, and i want to do everything as best as possible. any advice / info is much appreciated. thanks!

 

[bronco300]

if it has overflows it will usually be drilled in the bottom on most standard tanks..so if you stand top is solid then yes you'll have to drill it there too.
the sump is basic...you can use the tank you have already if you want to..you can put baffles in there if you want...it'll be much cheaper. Then it'll just be an easy either PVC or spa tubing for the drain/return...whichever you prefer.
oh, and you can make the sump fuge separate or together, whichever you prefer...i think most put it together, but it depends on what you want to have down there...skimmers? sand/marcos? etc

 

[alix2.0]

yeah, in the sump / fuge i was to have as much equipment as possible, heaters, skimmer, etc. and in the fuge i want a DSB, macros, and base rock for pods.
i have a 20 long, 2x 10 gallons, and a 5.5 gallon tank i can use for any of this, and my dad can make stuff with acrylic.
ok, so the drilled tank thing, is it better to get a tank that is drilled or isnt drilled? i want as little equipment as possible hanging out of the tank, but is a HOB overflow safer?

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524307
ok guys, i just found out today what i am getting for my birthday next month...
A 75 GALLON AQUARIUM & STAND!!! wooo hooo yeah?

i need your help getting it ready!
ok, i cant post a link, but on *****'s website (yes, i know, grr *****

) they have this build a tank thing. well thats what were doing. were buying a floor model stand for $300, and then from the build your own thing were getting-
rectangular 75
overflow
(no stand)
(no canopy)
(no light)
overflow accessory kit
and all this comes to $319.98
i am not getting lights because i want to get metal halides.
here are some questions i have-
-do you think this tank is drilled?
-if it has an overflow does that mean its drilled?
-is the side or bottom drilled, usually?
-if the bottom is drilled, i have to drill the stand, right?
-how do i set up the sump? (i realize this will be easier after i have the tank) do i have to use something specific for the sump or can i use a tank i already have?
-are the sump and fuge seperate tanks? my dad is going to help me build a fuge, i have a 10 i can use for it, is this ok?
i also have Qs about MH lighting, plumbing, etc, but those will come later.
i think thats it for now, sorry i know near nothing about this, and i want to do everything as best as possible. any advice / info is much appreciated. thanks!
The sump is easy just get a 20 or 30 gal and go to lowes and have them cut the baffles and silicone them in. If it is drilled on the bottom 90% of the stands top are open so you can plumb it. Just cause it says it has a overflow dose not mean its drilled it could be a HOB.

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524388
yeah, in the sump / fuge i was to have as much equipment as possible, heaters, skimmer, etc. and in the fuge i want a DSB, macros, and base rock for pods.
i have a 20 long, 2x 10 gallons, and a 5.5 gallon tank i can use for any of this.
ok, so the drilled tank thing, is it better to get a tank that is drilled or isnt drilled? i want as little equipment as possible hanging out of the tank, but is a HOB overflow safer?
It is safer and looks better drilled. If its not drilled you could bring it down to reefsystems and he willl do it for cheap the 20long would work best IMO.

 

[bronco300]

i would MUCH rather do drilled...be a lot easier for you and i would think safer than an overflow box....so a 20gallon won't really give you a ton of room for skimmers and refuge at the same time depending on how you want to set it up...not many in sump skimmers have small footprints...so you can have two chambers in your sump for a skimmer and another for the refuge...or use two tanks.
I would think most tanks that ***** carries would be drilled...i don't recall them having many setups including a HOB overflow

 

[bronco300]

now that i look at the site, it says they are boxes built in and returns go through the same overflow box, so its a drilled one

 

[alix2.0]

ok cool, thanks for your help! as for the in sump skimmers, i am currently using an aqua-c remora HOB, could i use that in the sump for a short time untill i have the $$$ to upgrade (since the remora is only rated to a 75 anyways)? i could even sell the remora. but can i use the HOB in a sump?

 

[bronco300]

of course, just assumed in sump skimmer, sorry...you could use that for now till you get to upgrade it

 

[nietzsche]

i dont think the skimmer will do that well. i have an octopus nw150 with all the mods and mesh mod and i think it would be ok for my 75 with a sump, but i plan on upgrading the skimmer later
i suggest you get the stand custom built. the stand i got for my 75 from oceanic is horrible so my friend is helping me out with it
for my tank i bought a t5ho fixture but if it doesnt work out ill switch over to two 250 MHs

 

[alix2.0]

ok, thanks! so baffles, those are basically just to make sections, right? like its a solid sheet of acrylic that goes from the very bottom of the tank up to like an inch below the water line?

 

[nietzsche]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524442
ok, thanks! so baffles, those are basically just to make sections, right? like its a solid sheet of acrylic that goes from the very bottom of the tank up to like an inch below the water line?
its to make sections and to also be a bubble trap since skimmers usually produce a lot of micro bubbles
have you thought about what pump youll use for your return?

 

[wattsupdoc]

here are some questions i have-
-do you think this tank is drilled?
YEP! Reef ready with 1 OF box!
-if it has an overflow does that mean its drilled?
Yep!-is the side or bottom drilled, usually?
-if the bottom is drilled, i have to drill the stand, right?
Stand will most likely accomodate the drain and return
-how do i set up the sump? (i realize this will be easier after i have the tank)
do i have to use something specific for the sump or can i use a tank i already have?
You can use a tank you already have, however it needs to fit in the stand and not be too small.-
are the sump and fuge seperate tanks? my dad is going to help me build a fuge, i have a 10 i can use for it, is this ok?
You can definetly do 2 different tanks, but it takes a tad bit more effort.
Sadly, the 10 itself will be too small, but it could possibly be used in conjuction with say like a 20 or something. Or you could just do one tank.
i also have Qs about MH lighting, plumbing, etc, but those will come later.
i think thats it for now, sorry i know near nothing about this, and i want to do everything as best as possible. any advice / info is much appreciated. thanks!
Your off to a great start! Keep up researching and sking questions. Here's a couple threads you might get some info from.
This is a 55 gal with split fuge/ sump design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/282440/new-tank-setup-drilling-holes-in-aga
Here's Drpaul84's 75 gal. Flow to center design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/302092/125-gal-bench-stand-bilud
Heres a 125 with a 55 gal flow though design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/296515/help-me-make-a-sump
Chew on 'em for a little while.

Oh and CONGRADULATIONS!

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by nietzsche http:///forum/post/2524454
its to make sections and to also be a bubble trap since skimmers usually produce a lot of micro bubbles
have you thought about what pump youll use for your return?
no, im going to need help with that too. basically im getting the AGA tank and stand, the rest is up to me to figure out w/ plumbing/construction help from dad. about getting the stand custom biult, my mom really likes it & thinks it will go well with the rest of our furnature, and were getting it at a discounted $300, so i cant really argue about it. as it is theyre looking at spendin about $650 on the tank and stand, which is way more than i was hoping for, so, i get what i get & im happy!

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc http:///forum/post/2524455
Your off to a great start! Keep up researching and sking questions. Here's a couple threads you might get some info from.
This is a 55 gal with split fuge/ sump design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/282440/new-tank-setup-drilling-holes-in-aga
Here's Drpaul84's 75 gal. Flow to center design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/302092/125-gal-bench-stand-bilud
Heres a 125 with a 55 gal flow though design.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/296515/help-me-make-a-sump
Chew on 'em for a little while.

Oh and CONGRADULATIONS!

thanks for the info & links! im starting to get really excited! im not getting the tank untill a few weeks after my birthday (april 2) because my dad is in china and we need his truck to pick everything up. so i have a lot of time to figure everything out!

 

[alix2.0]

ok, heres another question ive had for a while- when you have a sump under the tank, how do you make sure that the pumps are working the same? it seems to me that if one pushed any harder than the other, youd get a flood, right?

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524643
ok, heres another question ive had for a while- when you have a sump under the tank, how do you make sure that the pumps are working the same? it seems to me that if one pushed any harder than the other, youd get a flood, right?

What do you mean both pumps? There is only one pump, It pumps it up into the tank and then the overflow is grav fed into the sump. So as long as your overflow can handle your pump (say you have a 700gph pump and 600gph overflow) then your overflow will only drain as fast as the water is being pumped

 

[alix2.0]

oh duh, i feel really blonde now. thanks.
BTW matt, i tried to get down to columbus to check out phishy business and reef systems today, but i woke up too late to make the drive.

im going to try later this week.

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524659
oh duh, i feel really blonde now. thanks.
BTW matt, i tried to get down to columbus to check out phishy business and reef systems today, but i woke up too late to make the drive.

im going to try later this week.

I feel ya on waking up to late

Ya I have been wanting to get some new frags and a tang (yes a tang for a 75 but its a chevron) but I have been sick

 

[alix2.0]

that sucks! are you on spring break? we are. yeah im soo excited about my 75 but i want to get it all 100% set up before i even start thinking about the livestock! having the best equipment is my #1 priority, because once i have that nailed down, i can get whatever i want, stress free!

 

[matt b]

Originally Posted by alix2.0
http:///forum/post/2524672
that sucks! are you on spring break? we are. yeah im soo excited about my 75 but i want to get it all 100% set up before i even start thinking about the livestock! having the best equipment is my #1 priority, because once i have that nailed down, i can get whatever i want, stress free!
I am not on spring break yet but I have not been doing anything. I just got a custom canopy from reefsystems and its sick!! and he did it for pretty cheap.