New Tank Design

[skhou]

Hi,

I'm just in the process of researching and looking into setting up a new 100 gallon marine/reef tank and I'm just a little bit confused in terms of what the best way is to set up the overflow system as well as the sump. Any help, advice, or diagrams would be great.


thanks

Sonchy

[mg426]

Is the tank drilled ??

[dorkfish3]

well, I am not sure what exactly you dont understand so I am going to start from the beginning. if you buy a tank make sure you buy a reef ready tank, which means it has holes drilled in the bottom and it has plastic or acrylic overflow boxes fo the water to fall into. if you buy a tank the most common for the size you are looking for is a 90 gallon or a 125 gallon by AG (All Glass Aquariums). the 90 will have 1 overflow box and 2 holes drilled for your bulkheads. now your bulkheads are the pvc pipes and 1 is your return from your main pump and the other is your drain from your tank to your sump(you can buy bulkhead kits which is much easier that doing it yourself). the 125 gallon will be the same as the 90 gallon except the 125's have 2 overflows and 4 holes drilled so it will be a little more complicated on the plumbing, but honestly its all fairly easy. as for your plumbing-

I prefer you find a local pond shop and use the non kink rubber tubing, which is black and very good and easy to use. I dont prefer you plumb it with PVC due to the fact that your return from your pump will have more 90 degree angles to make which is where you get head loss which makes your pump less powerful and a few other negatives such as it being harder to do and I have had problems with it in the past.

An example of a basic plumbing job that is easy for say the 90 gallon RR tank and a 30 gallon sump.
have the piping drain from your tank to one side of your sump and I recommend putting in a ball valve so you can stop the water when needed. on the other side of the sump where your return pump will be have it plumbed to the return bulkhead and I also would put a ball valve in the piping there as well. that is the most basic plumbing I can think of but if you are going to plumb in a chiller or any reactors let me know and Ill tell you how you can work those in.

[skhou]

Hi,

I have not purchased a tank yet, but I'm assuming it's best to buy one which has been fully drilled and piped for convenience. I suppose I'm just thinking if there are different variations of where the overflow should be or is it more so the standard corner box or possibly in the middle?

thanks

[jefnalyssa]

IMHO Location is personal opinion for a overflow box. I prefer the middle so you dont have to look at the overflow on the side.