first marine plans

morello · 04/08/2007, 11:35 AM

hey everyone,
im planning my first marine tank and hope to get it built and get most of the equipment at the end of the month(pay day ). i work in an aquatics shop so am quite lucky with what i have available to me, just got a few questions about tank design and would be greatful if anyone could help me out i have been askin the lads in work lots of stuff already and they have been really helpful but i think they might end up gettin sick of all my questions soon :P

im planning to have a tank built 27.5" x 16" x 20" to fit an existing cabinet in my bedroom and also a sump 24" x 12" x 12" to go directly underneath. this works out at 38gal for the tank and 15gal for the sump, less a bit for equipment + rocks and the fact they wont be full to brim.

im wondering whether to have the tank drilled in the back for overflow or use an overflow box? i've looked at durso standpipes as ill be sleeping next to it and will need it to be almost silent.

im also a little unsure on sump design anyone have a good website?

for lighting im looking at arcadia 3 series 250w should be plenty?

skimmer - v2 600 or i've heard deltec MC range are good, i want it to be in the sump.

Ocean Runner for return from sump?
TUNZE for circ in main tank.

im not really wanting to stock it too heavily with fish just a mandarin, maybe a pair of clowns and a blennie. more into the corals ideally acro's but might start with some softies first.

any help is much appreciated my head is filled with stuff at the minute

chinaman4u · 04/08/2007, 12:14 PM

Reinforce the cabinet to accommodate the extra weight. Make sure the shelf won't sag and that there is adequate cross bracing.

Consider having the tank stick out with a 27.5" x 24" x 20" to make the most use of the coverage area of halides, which is 2' x 2'. A 16" tank is pretty narrow but certainly usable.

The tank will not be silent. Eheim pumps are quiet. Not sure about the ocean runner as i dont have one.

Blown 346 · 04/08/2007, 02:33 PM

I agree with above,I would keep in mind the cabinet the tank will be on. A gallon of water weighs about 8LBS. So the tank would weigh 304LBS with only water, then you add sand, and rock. The tank will easily weigh over 500 LBS.

morello · 04/09/2007, 12:39 PM

the cabinet currently has a 20gallon freshwater system on top of it and 2 canister filters inside it. i think it will be sturdy enough its built from 22mm MDF, but i will probably modify it a bit to strengthen it just to be on the safe side. do you guys think it would be safe to have the tank 18" wide with 2" overhanging the back of the cabinet, it sounds a bit dodgy to me but not sure.

here's a bit of an updated shopping list:

all glass tank 27.5" x 16" x 20" (L x W x H)
arcadia 4 series 250w + 2 x 24w T5's
20 kilo's live rock

all glass sump 24" x 12" x 12"
Deltec MC500 skimmer
AquaMedic OR 2000 return pump
Aragonite/MM for DSB

Various PVC pipes, connectors and valves

Deltec Refractometer
Reef Test Kit
TMC Pro-Reef Salt

04/08/2007, 11:35 AM	#1
morello Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St.Helens, UK Posts: 29	first marine plans hey everyone, im planning my first marine tank and hope to get it built and get most of the equipment at the end of the month(pay day ). i work in an aquatics shop so am quite lucky with what i have available to me, just got a few questions about tank design and would be greatful if anyone could help me out i have been askin the lads in work lots of stuff already and they have been really helpful but i think they might end up gettin sick of all my questions soon :P im planning to have a tank built 27.5" x 16" x 20" to fit an existing cabinet in my bedroom and also a sump 24" x 12" x 12" to go directly underneath. this works out at 38gal for the tank and 15gal for the sump, less a bit for equipment + rocks and the fact they wont be full to brim. im wondering whether to have the tank drilled in the back for overflow or use an overflow box? i've looked at durso standpipes as ill be sleeping next to it and will need it to be almost silent. im also a little unsure on sump design anyone have a good website? for lighting im looking at arcadia 3 series 250w should be plenty? skimmer - v2 600 or i've heard deltec MC range are good, i want it to be in the sump. Ocean Runner for return from sump? TUNZE for circ in main tank. im not really wanting to stock it too heavily with fish just a mandarin, maybe a pair of clowns and a blennie. more into the corals ideally acro's but might start with some softies first. any help is much appreciated my head is filled with stuff at the minute

04/08/2007, 12:14 PM	#2
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	Reinforce the cabinet to accommodate the extra weight. Make sure the shelf won't sag and that there is adequate cross bracing. Consider having the tank stick out with a 27.5" x 24" x 20" to make the most use of the coverage area of halides, which is 2' x 2'. A 16" tank is pretty narrow but certainly usable. The tank will not be silent. Eheim pumps are quiet. Not sure about the ocean runner as i dont have one.

04/08/2007, 02:33 PM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I agree with above,I would keep in mind the cabinet the tank will be on. A gallon of water weighs about 8LBS. So the tank would weigh 304LBS with only water, then you add sand, and rock. The tank will easily weigh over 500 LBS.

04/09/2007, 12:39 PM	#4
morello Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St.Helens, UK Posts: 29	the cabinet currently has a 20gallon freshwater system on top of it and 2 canister filters inside it. i think it will be sturdy enough its built from 22mm MDF, but i will probably modify it a bit to strengthen it just to be on the safe side. do you guys think it would be safe to have the tank 18" wide with 2" overhanging the back of the cabinet, it sounds a bit dodgy to me but not sure. here's a bit of an updated shopping list: all glass tank 27.5" x 16" x 20" (L x W x H) arcadia 4 series 250w + 2 x 24w T5's 20 kilo's live rock all glass sump 24" x 12" x 12" Deltec MC500 skimmer AquaMedic OR 2000 return pump Aragonite/MM for DSB Various PVC pipes, connectors and valves Deltec Refractometer Reef Test Kit TMC Pro-Reef Salt