Squidd.......Teach me.....DYI:Plumbing 101 on a SW Tank

[squidd]

Originally posted by Leona
What are the pro's and con's of these two plans.
Why do people get the eurobracing? To drill holes if needed for c/l?
An option might be to forgo the euro bracing and just as you had mentioned go with the traditional bracing of the tank due to the 4' lenght mounting lights wouldn't be a hassle or problem either way.... I think the euro just has a different look to it that's all....
I can't make a decision on the two until I understand the two. I'm headed out for a few hours..........
Later
Leona
Euro Bracing eliminates the need for a center brace and "opens" the tank for ease of access..but incurs higher cost to drill holes in the top for plumbing...
One center brace made of glass will allow light to pass, take up room (but you have more room around the edges) and doesn't need the "extra" holes drilled
Your putting a canopy on so "looks" aren't quite that important...

 

[leona]

So eaither way I go with or without euro bracing it doesn't change how the tank will be set up. Meaning water flow etc.. Now can I still add the o/m with eaither with or without bracing?
Leona

 

[squidd]

Again Tom has and qoutes what he feels is best for his tanks.... And when you start or try to tell Tom his side of the business he doesn't like that very well.... He has been building tanks for nearly 20 years and he has insurance requirements he has to meet as well and again he WILL state sched 80 bulkheads for his tanks.... He will do what you say "if you say drill sched 40" he will, but again he knows what should be done and what shouldn't. That's why he's building the tank!!!!!!! I wouldn't SKIMP at all. I'm sorry I disagree there, but at this stage I would go with what he recommends as far as fittings to use on his product!!!!!!
Well then let him design the tank...If that's the case what does he need detailed drawings for anyway, if he's going to do what he wants...?
If that is the case, everything we're doing here is a "moot point" anyway...
"Calcs" say 1/2" glass at 24" height 48" wide do not need a center or euro brace...
I'd still reccomend putting one in "just because" but it could be narrow...

 

[acrylic51]

Yes without the euro bracing you can still do it all... If you opt not to have the euro bracing done your tank would have the same bracing it has now.... Even if you go with euro bracing it will still have the plastic black rim just no center support... does your tank currently have a center support???

 

[squidd]

Originally posted by Leona
So eaither way I go with or without euro bracing it doesn't change how the tank will be set up. Meaning water flow etc.. Now can I still add the o/m with eaither with or without bracing?
Leona
Yep...Euro or not, center or corner, will only effect the "location" of the pickup and returns..not whether you can have them or not...

 

[acrylic51]

Just go to Toms' website and check out different pics of the tanks and you will see euro braced tanks verses his standard built tanks

 

[leona]

Ok, right now we a center brace on the tank right now. So if it will save us money. I think I will go with out the euro bracing if really there is no structual support or NEED for it.
Next question is how big will a center overflow need to be to make it sufficient.
My next question is stupid but really it's the reason why I decided at first to go with the corner of's.
Will the water no matter 1 over flow or two be able to skim or pre-skimmed all the water? My thinking was if i went with 2 on the corners that gives a chance for all the water to be skimmed or pre-skimmed. At this point 1 or 2 of's does not matter to be. Savings is more important.

 

[acrylic51]

Tanks are braced different ways and alot of people have a notion that they can remove the bracing across the tank and they are really taking a chance on things, so yes bracing is very important to the structurability of any tank.... What we are questioning at this point is which way???? Standard method of bracing the tank or more modern (euro bracing) bracing style?????
Your question as far a 1 or 2 overflow boxes. If the overflow box is properly sized then yes 1 overflow box will do the job on the tank, just as to smaller overflow boxes.... The reason I suggested going with 1 overflow box properly sized would be to cut the cost for you as far as holes and bulkheads needed to be purchased and drilled.... It could be possible to design an overflow to get you the flow you need or want and still be able to incorporate the euro bracing and save you money verses running 2 smaller overflow boxes. IMO you aren't really saving any space by hiding them in the corners of the tank and you can do the same thing in the middle of the tank as well...
What were the dimensions of the overflow boxes when Squidd had laid everything out for 2 corner overflow boxes??? LXW???
Sorry again Leona, but either way you go with the euro bracing or just straight forward plastic trim bracing there is no additional cost for you..... By using the euro bracing it's easier to drill the bracing for plumbing purposes, but you could still go up and over using the euro bracing setup!!!!!!!

 

[acrylic51]

What is the proposed size for the 2 corner overflows????

 

[leona]

the of's were just going to be standard I dont think we had measurments but squidd can cofirm that with us.

 

[acrylic51]

Even though they are standard curious as to what the standards are for corner overflows??? Depends on what your trying to flow......

 

[acrylic51]

What I'm getting at if both overflows measure lets say 6"x6" the why not combine and make 1 overflow at 6"x12"x6"!!!!! Still taking up the same amount of room no matter how you look at it

 

[leona]

Ok, I've sat and re-read and skimmed this entire thread. I've Decided to let's scratch the corner overflows. Let's have just 1.
Squidd had recommened it ounce to me in the begining and now Acrylic51 you also have recommended it to me. I will work around with lr How ever I need to.
Now my next question is what are the advantages and disadvantages from were the OF would be. One big one on left side, Right side or in the middle?
as far as the euro bracing it sounds like we should just scratch that off the list and have a normal tank with a center brace. Kinda like the tank I have now. Correct?
I do need to keep the cost down but NOT the quality. So if the cost rises up because it would make the tank better that is fine with me.

 

[acrylic51]

Leona again the placement of the overflow is entirely up to you... I wouldn't favor either side over the other and again I chose the center for mine......I would have to say in the center would be better than moving or shifting it from one side or the other...
As far as euro bracing is going..... I would say if it's no big deal then don't use it, but depending what Tom says if the tank would need to have a center brace or not.... The euro bracing really isn't a big issue. Tom will tell you if your plan is feaseable or not.... I think if you overflow is 6"W and the euro bracing is 2 1/2" to 3" wide it is till possible to work down in the overflow. Again you have to make this call!!!!!!!

 

[leona]

Here is one of Tom's Tank with overflow in the middle and euro bracing.
How would this work? Cost/function reasons?

 

[leona]

sorry here is the pic

 

[acrylic51]

Leona I'm going to try to post some pics to give you a good example of what your looking at when we talk euro bracing... Here is a pic of a 95 and a 125 I think????? Again you can see that the 95 does have cross bracing and so does the 125, but you can see mods can be done with the overflows

 

[acrylic51]

Originally posted by Leona
sorry here is the pic
Nice pic I think it looks sorta like RobChucks old tank??? Actually it's identically to mine just stretch it to 8', and overflow is alittle bigger as well, but now you have an idea what we are looking and talking about and it gives you an idea that the euro can be adjusted as well to suit you needs.... Again having the euro bracing done is taking the cost up or down on the tank.... The holes is what changes the price!!!!!

 

[acrylic51]

Here's a pic of a 95 done with euro as well
This tank also appears to be setup for glass tops as well, but again good view of the euro bracing

 

[acrylic51]

Actually it answers Squidds question as to if Tom will cross brace a 4' long tank.....