New to hobby. Need help.

teejay04

teejay04

New Member
Hi, I am new to SWF and this hobby. I have a 30 gallon tank that is currently in it's cycling process for 2 weeks now, and I've just decided I want to drill holes in my tank for my overflow. If I take everything out of my tank and drill the holes. Do I have to restart my cycling process or will it continue were it left off? Or should I wait till my cycle is complete? Thanks the help!!!
 
jerth6932

jerth6932

Active Member
First off Welcome to SWF. Glad you joined us!
Second: If you are able to drill holes into that tank, then my recommendation is since you aren't too far into the process.... and probably have LR and Sand.... (hopefully) is to get it out of the way now. But while you do that you can continue to "Cure" you LR in a bucket with a pump, heater. So when you are ready to add it back to your tank you will be further ahead of the game, or right where you left off.
 
kuja

kuja

Member
If you want to do some drilling I would suggest upgrading to a 75 and creating a subtank with your 30gallon. This way you can put your skimmer, filter and nitrate reactor in your sub. You just need a pond pump to cycle your water from your sub tank to your main tank.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Welcome tj!
why not just get a canister filter or something?!?! Wat made u decide to do a sump? Imo i think sumps are for 55s and up.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I wouldn't bother drilling your tank. If you had a 55 or larger, than it's worth drilling. Smaller tanks just aren't worth it to drill.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Total cost of drilling piping and filtration setup plus time involved as opposed to the new high teck hang on back or canister filters for a tank this size IMO make drilling a less attractive option
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/385402/new-to-hobby-need-help#post_3380230
Total cost of drilling piping and filtration setup plus time involved as opposed to the new high teck hang on back or canister filters for a tank this size IMO make drilling a less attractive option
Cost wise it's probably a wash either way if you're talking about equipment. Drilling and plumbing isn't expensive. It would be a matter of personal opinion I suppose. For me I don't see a hang on the back sump/fuge and skimmer any more attractive than a small internal overflow. Or a canisters intake and output tubes with a hang on the back skimmer for that matter. Depending on the stand I think a 30g tank with a 20g sump can be done while looking much cleaner.
I guess it really all depends on what the o.p. is looking to achieve with this display tank. If he wants to do a small sps dominant tank then personally I would probably drill and go with the largest sump possible for extra water volume. JMO, and it's only one of many.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
I suppose if ur a DIYer and u have a local hardware store with everything u need....imo just spend the money on a canister. Just make sure u maintence the canister correctly!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/385402/new-to-hobby-need-help#post_3380241
I suppose if ur a DIYer and u have a local hardware store with everything u need....imo just spend the money on a canister. Just make sure u maintence the canister correctly!
The poster already said that we wanted to drill the tank, you don't even know what he plans on doing with the tank. Why are people trying to talk him out of it? The question was in regaurds to the cycling process of the system and not the filtration, wasn't it?
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
o believe me im not tryin to talk any1 out of anything they wanna do! Im saying its already set up and if he wants to break it down and drill it go ahead.....all he needs is a canister on a 30 gal tank imo!!!!! Hes asking if he has to re-cycle his tank after breaking it down and thats a YES! Hes already going from wat im reading and all he needs is a canister tats all im sayin...
good luck teejay and watever u do will all support u on it im sure!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385402/new-to-hobby-need-help#post_3380249
The poster already said that we wanted to drill the tank, you don't even know what he plans on doing with the tank. Why are people trying to talk him out of it? The question was in regaurds to the cycling process of the system and not the filtration, wasn't it?

The op also said he or she is new to the hobby, that being said IMO the easiest way to get their feet wet(no pun intended) and expand their knowledge is to have a system up and running the easiest and most efficient way. Again this is just IMO but a self-contained filtration system that hangs on back of the 30g is the way to go
 
nikesb

nikesb

Active Member
to me, and i'm with corey here, drill it and get a sump. 30 gallons of volume is small (i know, thats what i use). the best way to increase your volume is to add a sump. you'll also love being able to put an insump skimmer over an expensive HOB. you can also have a refugium for chaeto not taking away from the display
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Joe, has anyone ever told you that it's rude to jump into another persons quote without asking permission?

Perhaps the op will show back up and elaborate a little more on his/her goals for the tank. I would never argue with expanding your knowledge when it comes to anything. But IMO and IME, going out and spending money on equipment that you are ultimately going to want to dump in a few monthes down the road anyway (like the vast majority of us have all experienced) isn't always the most cost effective way to begin either. DIY projects can be a great way to learn and gain experience. Throwing a piece of equipment on a tank that doesn't require you to be "as" hands on in this hobby can also lead to negligance when people say things like "it's easier" which is not a good way to start off.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
+1 on the volume of the water and yes if i were to redo my 36 i would have got a bigger stand for a sump....u can hide all ur equipment in a sump.
Their is a lot more u can do with a sump like a refuguim... Where is the OP LOL ?
Who said it was easy lol, no saltwater tank is easy ime....lol
I just wanna know wat the OPs gonna do! lol
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/385402/new-to-hobby-need-help#post_3380287
+1 on the volume of the water and yes if i were to redo my 36 i would have got a bigger stand for a sump....u can hide all ur equipment in a sump.
Their is a lot more u can do with a sump like a refuguim... Where is the OP LOL ?
Who said it was easy lol, no saltwater tank is easy ime....lol
I just wanna know wat the OPs gonna do! lol
Well duh!!!! he's out buying a 125 so he can git r drilled and piped and stuff.
did the op state wether or not his current set up is tempered glass or not? HMMMMM
 
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