Input on new tank

[grundig5]

My current tank is 18 high and my next tank is 18 high. its very manageable. 18 borders on a "shallow" tank and 20" is closer to show size, really up to you. By clearance do you mean between the ceiling and top of tank? What light are you going to run? Have you seen the thread in the SPS forum on RC: Poor mans Elos tank? Very similar and from GC.

Edit heres the link: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1382521

 

[ECFENCING]

pierce

You're right about that. The gallonage is approximate according to their website....

The 95 wide with the dimensions on their web site is actually 80 gallons.

 

[ECFENCING]

I decided on 20 high. I'm going to use 2x250w aquactinics. The clearance I have is from the top of the tank to the ductwork that is running over the tank.... so the metal halides will be approximately 7.5" over the tank.

 

[grundig5]

Sounds great. Not to get OT but did you end up going with that ATB?

 

[cali_reef]

I did order with the black silicone and I'm not having them drill anything.

How are you draining the tank to the sump??

 

[cali_reef]

I decided on 20 high. I'm going to use 2x250w aquactinics. The clearance I have is from the top of the tank to the ductwork that is running over the tank.... so the metal halides will be approximately 7.5" over the tank.

7.5" from the lower edge of the light fixture? that is a bit high and will allow a lot of light to escape\scatter.

 

[ECFENCING]

Yes I did get the ATB skimmer. It's coming this week. For $500 shipped it is a steal.

Pierce: That is 7.5" from the lower edge of the light fixture. I am going to buy an overflow box from glass-holes.com. It's called the dart box and I was planning on drilling two 3" holes for 2 2" drains.

For the return I was planning on drilling two 3/4" holes.....for the bulkhead going to the locline. The return is reduced from 1.5" -1" -3/4"elbow. I'm going to use the snapper though instead of the dart. Even with the snapper I am going to dial it back.

This is just an idea.....Glass-holes.com does make some nice boxes though. Austinoceans makes nice boxes as well..

The reason I didn't have glasscages drill any holes is exactly because of Pierce's and other's concerns.

I would like to create a calflo style overflow though but glasscages does not do that. So the next best thing is getting one of these slim overflow boxes that don't take up a lot or real estate.

Please chime in on comments. I can't post the link from glass-holes.com since I'm at work and it's a Youtube video but I'm sure someone else can post it. Just search dart box.

 

[cali_reef]

Yes I did get the ATB skimmer. It's coming this week. For $500 shipped it is a steal.

Pierce: That is 7.5" from the lower edge of the light fixture. I am going to buy an overflow box from glass-holes.com. It's called the dart box and I was planning on drilling two 3" holes for 2 2" drains.

For the return I was planning on drilling two 3/4" holes.....for the bulkhead going to the locline. The return is reduced from 1.5" -1" -3/4"elbow. I'm going to use the snapper.

You are drilling the holes your self? :Yikes:

It is not worth the saving or risk of having glass cages doing it not per your spec..

3/4" hole is not big enough for a 3/4" bulkhead. Two 3/4" locline will be too small for the snapper, you are better off with a Ehein 1262 if you are using two 3/4" loclines. The two 2" drain will also be wasted if you are only pumping few hundred gallons back from the sump.

 

[ECFENCING]

Pierce:

I meant holes for 3/4" bulkheads.

So if I go with drilling holes for 2 1" bulkheads for the returns that should work shouldn't it?

With head loss we are talking about 2500gph going to about 1200gph at full throttle. I haven't checked the head loss calculator on RC. And 2 2" drains would be about 2000gph.

Maybe I should just have 2 1.5" drains instead which would match up better with the snapper.

As far as drilling the holes I won't be drilling them. Someone local will be drilling the holes.

I wish I could post the video but I can't.........

I want to use the brand new snapper that I have as a return pump....$ for $ I think they are the most efficient pumps... in terms of flow versus watt draw other than the red dragon

 

[cali_reef]

Pierce:

I meant holes for 3/4" bulkheads.

So if I go with drilling holes for 2 1" bulkheads for the returns that should work shouldn't it?

With head loss we are talking about 2500gph going to about 1200gph at full throttle. I haven't checked the head loss calculator on RC. And 2 2" drains would be about 2000gph.

Maybe I should just have 2 1.5" drains instead which would match up better with the snapper.

As far as drilling the holes I won't be drilling them. Someone local will be drilling the holes.

I wish I could post the video but I can't.........

I want to use the brand new snapper that I have as a return pump....$ for $ I think they are the most efficient pumps... in terms of flow versus watt draw other than the red dragon

I would go for two 1" loclines, or four 3/4" returns to match the Snapper. you want flow coming out of the returns, not a pressure jet.

Two 1.5" returns at the bottom can handle 3000GPH just fine. 2" bulkheads are too large and hard to work with.

 

[ECFENCING]

OK who makes nice acrylic overflow boxes locally and should I have some glass cut for support as well?

I think with 1/4" acrylic it should be fine without the glass support.

 

[ECFENCING]

Pierce: Thanks for the input.....

I'm rethinking my circulation........I don't want to have a lot of flow through my sump. Even though I could dial back the snapper don't know if it's such a good idea so maybe the ehiem 1262 with two 3/4" loclines and 2 1" drains might be better as opposed to the snapper with 2 1.5" drains and 2 1" loclines..and dialing back the snapper considerably.

Input greatly appreciated.

Also thinking of running about 4 tunze nano-streams or 2 vortechs. Was also thinking of adding a wavyseas....

 

[FREEZE]

Ernie - Jeff (Customking) is in Brooklyn and he does nice work - he has made me some nice acrylic overflow boxes. He is a vendor on this site.

 

[ECFENCING]

Jeff is good. You're right but he's so busy......it's tough to get a hold of him...Nice guy though....