3 Pointers Before Setting Up Tank

[juan jose]

I started about 2 years ago with the hobby and I can think 3 main pointers to have an easier process.

1: Go the closed loop way instead of wasting money in pumps. They only generate heat, kill inhabitants, and they can burn down and bleach all your corals.
2: Get the largest skimmer you can buy.
3: Buy a drilled tank, overflow boxes are a nightmare.

I hope this helps somenone before setting up a tank.
Any other pointers?

Happy reefing!!!!!

[alan214]

Those are all good points. I totally agree with #2 and #3. I can't comment on #1 because I've never had the chance to use CL's. I definitely plan to though once I upgrade to my next larger tank.

[OmegaTassadar]

I also agree with number 3, a predrilled tank is nicer looking. However a closed loop isn't necessary and there are skimmerless tanks out there.

[internexus]

Can you explain the non closed loop vs the closed loop system?

Why the largest protein skimmer you can get?

Also whats wrong with the overflows?

Trying to absorb as much as I can. Detailed responses would be much appreciated thanks!
-sean

[Slickbaby]

The biggest problem with the overflow boxes is when the siphon breaks and your pump continues to pump water into your tank...thus causing a big mess!

I drilled my tank and have never looked back. Dont have to worry about air getting anywhere and its just an overall nicer look. And you can never have too big of a skimmer.

[xenon]

I have a closed loop and wish I would have gotten tunze wavebox and powerheads. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

I do agree with the biggest protien skimmer you can afford!

They make overflow boxes that dont break siphon so they are perfectly safe IMO.

[internexus]

Bear with me for this. If you have it setup w/ the tank drilled....

You have a divider equivalent piece that allows water to barely come over the edge and once it reaches the drilled hole it flows to the sump and then that water is pumped in so when power goes out you dont end up with any excess water goin back to the sump? This setup I can understand.

The overflow box on the other hand I am not sure how that is running then?

[DouglasTiede]

Just don't plum your pump to the bottom of your fuge, use a
baffel wall or have a higher out port so that you dont pump all
that water into the tank.
Especially if you use an outside pump that doesn't cool itself with water.
If it goes dry then no problem.

Largest skimmer you can afford?
Just don't over feed.

Closed loop, and see all the unsightly piping in your tank, no thanks.. Let alone all the cleaning nightmares of buildup in them?

Originally posted by Slickbaby
The biggest problem with the overflow boxes is when the siphon breaks and your pump continues to pump water into your tank...thus causing a big mess!

I drilled my tank and have never looked back. Dont have to worry about air getting anywhere and its just an overall nicer look. And you can never have too big of a skimmer.

[juan jose]

Originally posted by xenon
I have a closed loop and wish I would have gotten tunze wavebox and powerheads. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

I do agree with the biggest protien skimmer you can afford!

They make overflow boxes that dont break siphon so they are perfectly safe IMO.

Have you checked out this option www.oceansmotions.com for your closed loop I think it´s an awesome option.

[juan jose]

Originally posted by xenon
I have a closed loop and wish I would have gotten tunze wavebox and powerheads. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.

I do agree with the biggest protien skimmer you can afford!

They make overflow boxes that dont break siphon so they are perfectly safe IMO.

Do you know where to get these overflow boxes that don´t break siphon I have to get the air out of my overflow every night because my tank is not drilled.

[juan jose]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by internexus
[B]Can you explain the non closed loop vs the closed loop system?

Why the largest protein skimmer you can get?

Also whats wrong with the overflows?

Trying to absorb as much as I can. Detailed responses would be much appreciated thanks!

1) Cl= One external (preferably) pump drawing water from the main display with several outlets. Non closed loop= several internal pumps inside the tank creating flow.
2) bigger= more skimmate capacity less organics in your tank
3) They brake siphon and your tank overflows. Everynight in my case I have to draw the air out.

[RamPuppy]

you can get overflow boxes that don't break siphons from places like marine depot or drsfostersmith.com pretty much anywhere... infact I am suprised they even make the other kind anymore.

I think a drilled tank is better though.

actually, I think my next tank, if it's not in wall, will have a PVC bottom and everything will be drilled through the bottom so I can put the tank right up against the wall.

[agoutihead]

im in this dilemma myself.

first of all, how do some overflows not break syphon? my buddy just hooked up an U-tube overflow, and one of my concerns was, what if the U-tube stopping sucking water... and it actually did that, and his tank almost overflowed because the return pump kept pump.

also when doing a drilled tank in the bottom... how do you do the drain? the pressure from the water is going to want to empty out into the sump, so how do you combat that?

[tkeracer619]

most tank bottoms are tempered and cant be drilled. If it wasn't tempered you would use a stand pipe to set the water level in the tank and/or silicone in an overflow box.

Originally posted by DouglasTiede

Closed loop, and see all the unsightly piping in your tank, no thanks.. Let alone all the cleaning nightmares of buildup in them?

The reason for the closed loop is so you don't see things in the tank that are un-natural, like powerheads.

Clean them? I'm sure the 3500GPH through the 2" pipe will do plenty to keep trash out of it.






I think however a mix of propeller pumps and closed loops can achieve very nice flow patterns and be more energy efficient. My dart moves 3600GPH but uses 160W. The 8 koralia 4's flow 9600GPH and use only 96 watts. They both have benefits and downsides.

Drilling a tank is the best way to go, my opinion is based on Murphy's law when I say HOB overflows are prone to fail.

[RichConley]

couldnt disagree more wiht #1.


Closed loops waste money, waste electricity, and are nowhere near as flexible as prop pumps.

[Kaiser Tang]

I'll be the first to disagree with #2. Bigger skimmer is not always better. I had a Euro-Reef CS8-3. ($600 new). Big skimmer for my 120 gal. system. I never could get that things to pull gunk like some of the other smaller skimmers I've used. Also, depending on what you keep, you don't always need to remove all of the organics. SPS, yes. They like very clean water. Lots of skimming is good. LPS, softies, clams, no. They like more nutrient rich water. Less skimming is better. Also, if you have lots of LR and nutrient export, the skimmer is even less important. In this hobby bigger is better is usally the moto. Not so with everything. You can over do it!

[Kaiser Tang]

Originally posted by RichConley
couldnt disagree more wiht #1.


Closed loops waste money, waste electricity, and are nowhere near as flexible as prop pumps.

I also agree. Most PH use very little energy where as a larger pump for a closed loop would use much more. And, contrary to popular belief, PH don't add that much heat. The majority of heating problems come from lighting and room temperature.

[zaf888]

i heard the tunze outlet is a good overflow. i also read that the trend on skimming is goign towards none at all to underrated for your tank. is there no validity to this? something to do with taking out too many vitamins and good stuff

[nick18tjetta]

Just use a pressure rated pump for your return with the right number of eductors and you will not need a closed loop or powerheads in the tank.

I didn't buy the biggest skimmer available, I got a properly sized effecient skimmer than used a very effecient pump, why get a skimmer that is too big?

I will agree that a drilled tank is more desireable than a non drilled tank, however I ran a 125 with a lifereef overflow without any problems for years.

My tips would be:

Be patient, don't rush things and you will be ok. When you look for fix it quick solutions or stock your tank to fast, you will run into problems.

Buy Quality products and livestock. You don't need the biggest baddest new gadget on the market, but you should get good, reliable equiptment and healthy properly cared for livestock.
a

and....

Be patient.

[RichConley]

Originally posted by zaf888
i heard the tunze outlet is a good overflow. i also read that the trend on skimming is goign towards none at all to underrated for your tank. is there no validity to this? something to do with taking out too many vitamins and good stuff

I havent seen anyone moving in that direction.


Kaiser-Tang, the older Euro Reef models were pretty bad. Not nearly enough air for the body size. A deltec AP600 pulls about the same amount of air as an older 8-3. The new ones are a completely different animal.

[juan jose]

Originally posted by Kaiser Tang
I also agree. Most PH use very little energy where as a larger pump for a closed loop would use much more. And, contrary to popular belief, PH don't add that much heat. The majority of heating problems come from lighting and room temperature.

I understand the cost involved with an external pump but I´ve decided to go with the CL after having all my corals bleach due to a small pump releasing copper. If I only had the external pump this wouldn´t of happened. I´m very worried my other pumps burn down and again have my corals bleach. I was blessed it was on of the small pumps that burnt down and realeased very little pollutants. I think a CL is very versatile since you can also direct each outlet at will and never have to worry about suction cups. This is my opinion after surviving several casualties with small pumps.

[carlso63]

I would have to disagree with #1; in fact IMO the exact opposite is true...
If you avoid "cheap" PHs (like Rios, for example) the chances of the PH crapping out and killing livestock are very, very unlikely. And a closed loop pump always consumes alot more electricity than decent PHs or - especially - the newer "prop" pumps... I ditched the CL and went with (3) Koralia #4s in my 125 and I love the 3,750 GPH of flow that uses less than 40 watts total...

I agree w/ #2; especially if you are a newb or starting out w/ a smallish tank... Odds are, you will eventually "upgrade" your tank size - and that will render a smaller capacity skimmer basically useless... and while I have seen beautiful skimmerless tanks, IMO having one is one more safeguard against some of the more common newbie mistakes like overfeeding, for example..

#3 I think is generally true; of course, you have to run a sump and / or fuge or else the bulkheads are just an expensive waste of money that you would need to 'plug up'...

[edwing206]

ALWAYS QT new fish. Losing all your fish sucks.