Reef ready vs drill your own.

Crush Coral · 07/30/2014, 06:48 AM

I am going to upgrade to a 120. Should i drill my own or buy a reef ready talk? i like the idea of a herbie overflow but do not have a lot of time to invest in the build. So i guess i am asking if you have a reef ready tank do u wish you had drilled a non reef ready tank instead?

toothybugs · 07/30/2014, 06:52 AM

I like to do my own drilling because I'm not always a fan of where the overflows are put, and I generally drill the side of the tank high up. That said, if I had the budget to have everything professionally done by the best of the best, I would - drilling can be a hassle and if you blow it, it's all on you. That said, I like to things on my own. It makes it more "mine" that way.

Prplhz96 · 07/30/2014, 08:13 AM

IMO herbie is the way to go, just take your time drilling and you will be glad you didn't get a reef ready

alton · 07/30/2014, 08:18 AM

Use a search engine and find out how many times someone bought a tank, drilled it, and had problems only to have been told sorry you voided the warranty. If you buy used go for it. A great used tank is the old Original Oceanic Brick styles with 3/4" glass and no center brace.

Jetblue2135 · 07/30/2014, 09:40 AM

I am in a similar boat as you are except I already have a 120 and a 180 sitting around that are not drilled or RR. I am not sure which one I will set up but whichever one I go with (most likely the 180), I will drill and do the beananimal mod on the back of the tank and plan to do a 24" coast to coast overflow box or equivalent.

Just take your time drilling, it is easy. Also make sure whatever glass you are drilling is NOT tempered obviously.

ca1ore · 07/30/2014, 11:04 AM

My inclination with smaller tanks (120 or less) is to just live with RR, use both overflow drains in a herbie configuration and either drill one hole in the back for the return or go over the back. For a bigger tanks, 180 and up, where you will need plus 1,000 gph flow through the sump, I'd buy non RR and drill for a C2C BA overflow.

SGT_York · 07/30/2014, 11:58 AM

Drilled is much better, the RR overflows are huge and ugly. I certainly second the bean animal drain setup. (I have a RR dual overflow 120) The BA looks better, is easier to DIY (confusing to look at but easy to execute)

07/30/2014, 06:48 AM	#1
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Reef ready vs drill your own. I am going to upgrade to a 120. Should i drill my own or buy a reef ready talk? i like the idea of a herbie overflow but do not have a lot of time to invest in the build. So i guess i am asking if you have a reef ready tank do u wish you had drilled a non reef ready tank instead?

07/30/2014, 11:04 AM	#6
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	My inclination with smaller tanks (120 or less) is to just live with RR, use both overflow drains in a herbie configuration and either drill one hole in the back for the return or go over the back. For a bigger tanks, 180 and up, where you will need plus 1,000 gph flow through the sump, I'd buy non RR and drill for a C2C BA overflow. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

07/30/2014, 06:52 AM	#2
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I like to do my own drilling because I'm not always a fan of where the overflows are put, and I generally drill the side of the tank high up. That said, if I had the budget to have everything professionally done by the best of the best, I would - drilling can be a hassle and if you blow it, it's all on you. That said, I like to things on my own. It makes it more "mine" that way.

07/30/2014, 08:13 AM	#3
Prplhz96 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Blakely, Pa Posts: 20	IMO herbie is the way to go, just take your time drilling and you will be glad you didn't get a reef ready

07/30/2014, 08:18 AM	#4
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Use a search engine and find out how many times someone bought a tank, drilled it, and had problems only to have been told sorry you voided the warranty. If you buy used go for it. A great used tank is the old Original Oceanic Brick styles with 3/4" glass and no center brace.

07/30/2014, 09:40 AM	#5
Jetblue2135 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 27	I am in a similar boat as you are except I already have a 120 and a 180 sitting around that are not drilled or RR. I am not sure which one I will set up but whichever one I go with (most likely the 180), I will drill and do the beananimal mod on the back of the tank and plan to do a 24" coast to coast overflow box or equivalent. Just take your time drilling, it is easy. Also make sure whatever glass you are drilling is NOT tempered obviously.

07/30/2014, 11:58 AM	#7
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	Drilled is much better, the RR overflows are huge and ugly. I certainly second the bean animal drain setup. (I have a RR dual overflow 120) The BA looks better, is easier to DIY (confusing to look at but easy to execute)