Rubbermaid Stock Tanks

[alanmorehead]

I have been looking at the Rubbermaid stock tanks as a replacement to my glass sump/skimmer tank. I have a 54" long area just to the side of my 180g DT and a 100g stock tank would fit well (a 150g would be a little too long). I've found some info on them, but had some questions on the the plan/design.

Details:
- 180g AGA Megaflow DT
- Stand is 40" tall w/ 2x6s (34.5" tall opening on the side)
- Reeflo Dart (requires 2" intake)
- EuroReef RS250

Questions:
- Everyone recommends replacing the leaky factory bulkheads. I need to make the hole a little larger for the Dart's 2" intake requirement. Can I just use the same bulkhead from my glass sump and the same aquarium silicon? or do I need to use something else to bond and seal it? I've heard that the silicon does not bond well with the tank materials

- If I have the sump 80% full, do I need to worry about putting in baffles or anything to prevent micro bubbles? This is one thing that I would like to fix w/ my current setup. I've heard that I shouldn't need to worry about baffles because the tank is so deep and the return pump is fed from the bottom.

- Are the drain hole walls vertically straight or do they taper down like the rest of the tank? I'm not sure if I can use PVC or if I need flexible tubing to feed the Dart pump coming out of the sump.

- I would like to put the skimmer in the stock tank too. With this wide of a tank I should get a lot less fluctuations in water level. Do I need to worry about making a separate area for the skimmer to maintain an exact water level or do you think it will be fine with a stand that elevates it up to the appropriate level. I would really like to avoid having to make a separate section for the skimmer if possible.

[tgreene]

- Everyone recommends replacing the leaky factory bulkheads. I need to make the hole a little larger for the Dart's 2" intake requirement. Can I just use the same bulkhead from my glass sump and the same aquarium silicon? or do I need to use something else to bond and seal it? I've heard that the silicon does not bond well with the tank materials.

I have several of these in use, from 100g to 300g, and I agree that the stock bulkheads all suck and leak. I have sealed these off completely on my sumps, and then re-drilled the proper holes for new bulkheads. If placed on a flat side, they will seal up just fine.


- If I have the sump 80% full, do I need to worry about putting in baffles or anything to prevent micro bubbles? This is one thing that I would like to fix w/ my current setup. I've heard that I shouldn't need to worry about baffles because the tank is so deep and the return pump is fed from the bottom.

I don't...


- Are the drain hole walls vertically straight or do they taper down like the rest of the tank? I'm not sure if I can use PVC or if I need flexible tubing to feed the Dart pump coming out of the sump.

It depends on the sump, some are flat panels that go straight down, and some cut inwards an an angle... It just depends on the mould they come from, as I've seen 3 different styles with the same UPC Code, all from Rubbermaid.


- I would like to put the skimmer in the stock tank too. With this wide of a tank I should get a lot less fluctuations in water level. Do I need to worry about making a separate area for the skimmer to maintain an exact water level or do you think it will be fine with a stand that elevates it up to the appropriate level. I would really like to avoid having to make a separate section for the skimmer if possible.

I placed a pair of cinder blocks in the bottom of mine that has an in-sump skimmer, to raise the skimmer up so that it wasn't too deep.