Finally building my 125 saltwater tank. Many questions

[saltwater2999]

As of right now I have a freshwater 125 tank that I want to convert to saltwater. I already have a 55 gallon saltwater and I'm just looking for the upgrade. Just have some questions so far.
What equipment does everyone use.
What gph return do you run
Is it hard to convert a standard 55 gallon into a sump

I thank you ahead of time for any input
More questions to come

[Twistofer]

That's a tall order...I guarantee that for each member on this forum you'll get a different answer regarding what's the best equipment.

IMHO, I would sit down, take a breath and figure out what type of tank you want to run. Figure what you want for livestock.

Some basics, your flow should be about 7-10 times the volume of your tank. I recommend a skimmer that handles at least 150% of your tank's volume.

[Dmorty217]

+1^ slow down and plan it out down to the tee. Personally I would suggest quality over cheaper priced equipment that is out there that way you don't buy to rebuy a yr later

[saltwater2999]

I am slowing down lol. I'm just trying to get some peoples inputs on what they run and there success so that I can figure what works best and then I'll go from there

[oscarinw]

Here's my $0.02:
Flow through the sump should be about 4-6 times your total volume per hour.
Flow in the tank depends on what you'd like to keep. Minimum of 20 times your total volume up to 60 times your total volume.
The standard 55 would probably be a bit too tall of a sump. I would rather use the entire width of your stand and go with a lower profile sump.
+1 on planning to the very last detail before starting to spend money and then having to re-spend.
Good luck with things.

[saltwater2999]

Using a low profile sump would cause me either to build one or buy one. Which one would be cheaper and how big should I go

[saltwater2999]

What's would be better 2 700 gph for return or 1 1500 gph pump
Also what is better submersible pump or external pump for the return

[thegrun]

For a return pump I would run a single pump for efficency. The Eheim 1262 would be a great return pump for your tank. The Eheim pumps are more expensive than most but well worth the money IMHO. The rest of your water flow should be provided by in-tank powerheads.

[RandoReefer]

Is your 125gal going to be drilled (corner flow) or do you plan on using an overflow box on a non-drilled tank?

My sig line has everything I use for my 125. It is drilled in both back corners. (My return pump is a bit much, but I will use the extra gph to run reactors. Less pumps and plugged in items, IMO)

[saltwater2999]

Okay yeah that's what I was thinking was running one pump and the just T connect it off.
What I was thinking was to buy a internal overflow box and then drill it dead center of the back of the tank. Once I drill the tank I can silicone the overflow box in place. For return I was thinking of drilling the back glass on the left side and right side to have the return come from the Corners return the water and have the middle drain the water

If that all makes sense.
I plan on drawing all this up on a 3d program later this week

[KeepNitReel]

Buy your overflow box from Glass-Holes and save yourself the trouble of siliconing plus they're very low profile.

[Sacohen]

There will be many different answers to what equipment to get.
Like everyone said decide what type of tank you want FOWLR or Reef.
If Reef do you want all softies, LPS or SPS or a mixture?

My main question when you said the 125 was a Freshwater tank before is did you ever dose copper in it?

Copper and saltwater inverts do not mix and may be the deciding point as to if you can even use the 125 for a saltwater tank.

[saltwater2999]

Originally Posted by Sacohen

There will be many different answers to what equipment to get.
Like everyone said decide what type of tank you want FOWLR or Reef.
If Reef do you want all softies, LPS or SPS or a mixture?

My main question when you said the 125 was a Freshwater tank before is did you ever dose copper in it?

Copper and saltwater inverts do not mix and may be the deciding point as to if you can even use the 125 for a saltwater tank.

Nope never dosed with copper

[Sacohen]

Cool.

[saltwater2999]

Originally Posted by KeepNitReel

Buy your overflow box from Glass-Holes and save yourself the trouble of siliconing plus they're very low profile.

That would be easier but the way I'm planning the drain I would have to drill another hole because I want an emergency drain incase one of the drains clog

[KeepNitReel]

Originally Posted by saltwater2999

That would be easier but the way I'm planning the drain I would have to drill another hole because I want an emergency drain incase one of the drains clog

I guess you don't know how the glass-holes is designed. It is very slim & has a cover (sold seperate) there is no way anything bigger than the bulkhead will fit in the overflow box. Now somehow if all the teeth got clogged (1 in a Million) then you would have an issue.

Good luck on whatever you do.

[saltwater2999]

Originally Posted by KeepNitReel

I guess you don't know how the glass-holes is designed. It is very slim & has a cover (sold seperate) there is no way anything bigger than the bulkhead will fit in the overflow box. Now somehow if all the teeth got clogged (1 in a Million) then you would have an issue.

Good luck on whatever you do.

I'll have to look at it more to see if they are better

[orteh22]

Any recommondation on External Overflow box or drilling the tank?

[Ryan2013]

In regards to your sump, if you can fit a 40 breeder in your stand I would use that. I recently took an old 55 gallon tank apart and man it was a lot more work than I thought. Getting the plastic trim off took the most time and an extreme amount of effort to get off. I took the sides of the tank to a glass shop and had them cut down to 14 inches in height. It came out to 10 bucks which made it much better than cutting it myself. It would have been easier to just use a 33 long but they are near impossible to find. I wanted to try to save some monet but if you have the cash, definitely get a sump custom made for what your needs are.

[accordsirh22]

my 125 has dual 700gph corner overflows, 1" piping all around for drain and returns. i have a ~1600gph pump (although it pumps less that 1400 at that head height), and it has worked well so far. i use a skimmer rated for 220 gallons. i havent really added a whole lot of extra powerheads yet but i have about 1200gph in powerheads. been pretty happy with it all so far

[accordsirh22]

a 30 long is the same as a 55 i think, might be 1 inch shorter front to back?, other than height. thats what im using as my sump. with another 15 standard plumbed in as a refugium

[saltwater2999]

Originally Posted by Ryan2013

In regards to your sump, if you can fit a 40 breeder in your stand I would use that. I recently took an old 55 gallon tank apart and man it was a lot more work than I thought. Getting the plastic trim off took the most time and an extreme amount of effort to get off. I took the sides of the tank to a glass shop and had them cut down to 14 inches in height. It came out to 10 bucks which made it much better than cutting it myself. It would have been easier to just use a 33 long but they are near impossible to find. I wanted to try to save some monet but if you have the cash, definitely get a sump custom made for what your needs are.

So I have a 55 gallon and now I just received a 40 gallon for free lol
Also I'm planning on building a custom stand so I can fit either one if I wanted

[Ryan2013]

You would need a really tall stand to overcome the height of that 55. The 40 gallon you have, is it about 3 feet long and 16 inches tall?

[Ryan2013]

Originally Posted by accordsirh22

a 30 long is the same as a 55 i think, might be 1 inch shorter front to back?, other than height. thats what im using as my sump. with another 15 standard plumbed in as a refugium

I looked for one for months but couldn't get one without special ordering it. I liked the footprint of a 55 but wanted it shorter. I just improvised haha. I have the skimmer in the section with my drain lines, then i have the refugium, and lastly the return section. I would have liked to have had a larger volume for my return section but that's what an A.T.O. is for.

[BrianB421]

Originally Posted by KeepNitReel

Buy your overflow box from Glass-Holes and save yourself the trouble of siliconing plus they're very low profile.

+1. Glass-Holes is a great company. Quality product. Simple installation (even drilling the tank wasn't bad). Snarky/Sarcastic instructions. Plus they give you candy.