refugium plumbing

fng_71 · 04/11/2012, 09:23 PM

sorry for the redundant thread but i need help. starting my first tank in ten years. last one was 55 gal. just aquired 125 gallon with some misc. parts. i've got a hob overflow with 2 hoses coming from it. no refugium yet. curious how big thye fuge should be. i know i need a skimmer. in my misc. equipment i have 2 gen x pcx55hp external pumps rated at 1140 gph. also have a magnum 350 canister. i plan on having my return for the fuge and mag 350 on oppsing sides of the tank for some good flow. i think my biggest question is plumbin. do i use the external pump or scrap them for an internal. i'm not afraid of diy for its pretty simple to make the sump and tanks are cheap to come by. thanks in advance for your imput. i just can't wait to start my build. my tank plan is to use some live sand and live rock and alot of dry rock. then work my way up to corals and fish. once started i'll have to do a build post with picks.

Playa-1 · 04/11/2012, 09:38 PM

I would skip the canister filter and maybe keep it around for water polishing later if needed or sell it to free up some cash. Modern powerheads are much more efficient at moving water in the DT. I would opt for an internal return pump. Drill the Display tank and install an internal overflow box. Loose the hang on back stuff. The sump would be the largest tank that I could find that would fit into the space that I had available for it. A 40 gal breeder tank is a popular choice. I'm using two tanks a 55 gal and a 35 gallon for my sumps. I would recommend that you research and plan carefully.

fng_71 · 04/12/2012, 09:42 PM

thanks for the reply. i had to confirm my tanks sides are not tempered. i'm going to drill the tank and have been looking at glass-holes. they have a 1500 gph overflow kit and i can also drill 2 returns aswell. i'm going to sell the other stuff and apply that to the set up. i should get a couple bucks. i have 2 1200 gph external pumps, 2 ballasts each fitted for 2 175 watt mh and the hob overflow. i got the tank, stand and the rest for $150. the tank is about 12 years old and the top frame is cracked in a few spots so i ordered a new one for $40. then i was thinking of resealing the tank. the tank needs a good cleaning and i've got some paint to scrape off the sides.

10reefman · 04/27/2012, 08:23 AM

IMO ill buy a new tank to start with.

fng_71 · 04/29/2012, 10:56 AM

i probably should have reefman. the more i get into it the tank is the cheapest part. but i filled it all the way up and let it sit for a few days and its water tight. if it aint't broke don't fix it. i've got the new top on, just waiting for the silicon to cure. cleaned off the paint and looks good. going to drill the tank this week for the overflow and returns. then i'll paint the back of the tank. if all else fails, i'll have a million pieces of glass and a tank to buy.

GrampaDon · 04/29/2012, 05:00 PM

When you resealed it did you cut out the old silicone from the corners.?
If so you should be fine.

Gl*******s stuff is easy also. Just set the torque on the drill as low as you can and still drill. [trust me here]
On the returns ,I would suggest they be as close to the top as can be. It helps with breaking the siphon when the return pump is turned off.

fng_71 · 04/30/2012, 09:57 AM

thanks grampadon i can't wait to drill the tank. the tank held water so i didn't reseal it. the silicon was still good. it wasn't chipped up or pealing. i only replaced the top frame since it was cracked and looked brittle. the tank still has another 24 hours of sitting upside down so the silicon cures. i decided to let the weight of the tank do all the work. i should be drilling on wednesday.

04/11/2012, 09:23 PM	#1
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	refugium plumbing sorry for the redundant thread but i need help. starting my first tank in ten years. last one was 55 gal. just aquired 125 gallon with some misc. parts. i've got a hob overflow with 2 hoses coming from it. no refugium yet. curious how big thye fuge should be. i know i need a skimmer. in my misc. equipment i have 2 gen x pcx55hp external pumps rated at 1140 gph. also have a magnum 350 canister. i plan on having my return for the fuge and mag 350 on oppsing sides of the tank for some good flow. i think my biggest question is plumbin. do i use the external pump or scrap them for an internal. i'm not afraid of diy for its pretty simple to make the sump and tanks are cheap to come by. thanks in advance for your imput. i just can't wait to start my build. my tank plan is to use some live sand and live rock and alot of dry rock. then work my way up to corals and fish. once started i'll have to do a build post with picks.

04/11/2012, 09:38 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I would skip the canister filter and maybe keep it around for water polishing later if needed or sell it to free up some cash. Modern powerheads are much more efficient at moving water in the DT. I would opt for an internal return pump. Drill the Display tank and install an internal overflow box. Loose the hang on back stuff. The sump would be the largest tank that I could find that would fit into the space that I had available for it. A 40 gal breeder tank is a popular choice. I'm using two tanks a 55 gal and a 35 gallon for my sumps. I would recommend that you research and plan carefully.

04/12/2012, 09:42 PM	#3
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	thanks for the reply. i had to confirm my tanks sides are not tempered. i'm going to drill the tank and have been looking at glass-holes. they have a 1500 gph overflow kit and i can also drill 2 returns aswell. i'm going to sell the other stuff and apply that to the set up. i should get a couple bucks. i have 2 1200 gph external pumps, 2 ballasts each fitted for 2 175 watt mh and the hob overflow. i got the tank, stand and the rest for $150. the tank is about 12 years old and the top frame is cracked in a few spots so i ordered a new one for $40. then i was thinking of resealing the tank. the tank needs a good cleaning and i've got some paint to scrape off the sides.

04/27/2012, 08:23 AM	#4
10reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: new york Posts: 171	IMO ill buy a new tank to start with.

04/29/2012, 10:56 AM	#5
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	i probably should have reefman. the more i get into it the tank is the cheapest part. but i filled it all the way up and let it sit for a few days and its water tight. if it aint't broke don't fix it. i've got the new top on, just waiting for the silicon to cure. cleaned off the paint and looks good. going to drill the tank this week for the overflow and returns. then i'll paint the back of the tank. if all else fails, i'll have a million pieces of glass and a tank to buy.

04/29/2012, 05:00 PM	#6
GrampaDon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Wayne ,IN Posts: 636	When you resealed it did you cut out the old silicone from the corners.? If so you should be fine. Gl*******s stuff is easy also. Just set the torque on the drill as low as you can and still drill. [trust me here] On the returns ,I would suggest they be as close to the top as can be. It helps with breaking the siphon when the return pump is turned off.

04/30/2012, 09:57 AM	#7
fng_71 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Island Lake, IL Posts: 203	thanks grampadon i can't wait to drill the tank. the tank held water so i didn't reseal it. the silicon was still good. it wasn't chipped up or pealing. i only replaced the top frame since it was cracked and looked brittle. the tank still has another 24 hours of sitting upside down so the silicon cures. i decided to let the weight of the tank do all the work. i should be drilling on wednesday.