Upgrading Help

xrobbx03 · 06-04-2006, 11:31 AM

Ok well i finally have some free space where i can upgrade my tank. Thing is that i dont have the money to go too big. Right now I have a 38g. I just bought brand new lights just about 3 weeks ago so i dont want to have to buy new ones again.

The tank is 36in long so i am looking for a bigger size tank that is 3 feet long. What availabe size tanks come in the 36 in long foot print. Width and height doesnt matter.

I think they make a 65 that is 36 in. long. I also have a 10g laying around that i would want to make a sump/refugium.

Everything from my 38 will be getting transported into the new tank. What i would do is cycle the new tank with new sand and about 20 lbs or LR and use the old sand for the refugium in the sump. The tank i have now has about 40-45lbs or LR that i would slowly add into the new tank.
How would i go about in setting up the sump. What would i need for an overflow. or would it be better if i got the tank drilled to be reef ready. Can anyone help me out with this. What would i need for return pump.

ceige · 06-04-2006, 12:45 PM

you have a lot of options for 36". I would try to do the biggest sump you can. The more water volume the better. What is the wattage on your MH? A deep tank can be restrictive on what you can keep....

A drilled tank is a lot safer than an overflow. it will reduce the flood factor big time.....tank size, sump size (flow rate), skimmer needs etc will also help determin the pipe sizes, drilled hole size etc. Try to find a RR to save time.

xrobbx03 · 06-04-2006, 08:14 PM

my metal halides is a 480 watt setup. I think that should more thank enough. I do have a hang on back cpr skimmer which im sure i can put in the sump.

I wanted to use the 10 cause i have it sitting around. The old 38 would be too big to fit under the stand.

Chuck Spyropulos · 06-04-2006, 11:29 PM

Hey, Rob that's great! Glad to hear your addiction is growing!

A three foot tank ...let's see if you go with 36" x 30 " x 24" (LxWxH) that would be 111 gallons (V = in^3/233). You might be able to find a tank that is 100 to 120 gallons.

Yes, I think you would want and overflow and a return pump. Unless you want to drill glass or have it drilled and fitted with overflows, I would recommend buying it pre-drilled with overflows.

For the lighting, a rule of thumb for acros or SPS corals is 4 Watts per gallon or 400W for a 100 gallon tank. But if you will not keep acros, or if you keep acros at the top of your tank only, you could get away with less lighting say 200 to 250 Watts.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrobbx03

Ok well i finally have some free space where i can upgrade my tank. Thing is that i dont have the money to go too big. Right now I have a 38g. I just bought brand new lights just about 3 weeks ago so i dont want to have to buy new ones again.

The tank is 36in long so i am looking for a bigger size tank that is 3 feet long. What availabe size tanks come in the 36 in long foot print. Width and height doesnt matter.

I think they make a 65 that is 36 in. long. I also have a 10g laying around that i would want to make a sump/refugium.

Everything from my 38 will be getting transported into the new tank. What i would do is cycle the new tank with new sand and about 20 lbs or LR and use the old sand for the refugium in the sump. The tank i have now has about 40-45lbs or LR that i would slowly add into the new tank.
How would i go about in setting up the sump. What would i need for an overflow. or would it be better if i got the tank drilled to be reef ready. Can anyone help me out with this. What would i need for return pump.

xrobbx03 · 06-05-2006, 10:34 AM

I dunno if i want to go too too big. I think i still want to keep it under the 100g mark. I'm leaning more towards the 65. I dont know if there is nething like 65-80 range.

I'm going to be building my own stand and canopy with the tank. I guess this would be a good thread to start also when i get it going in a month.

Im sure if i couldnt find a drilled tank that someone on here could help me with the drilling.

ceige · 06-05-2006, 01:43 PM

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/totm/index.php

Here is a nice 3' tank for ideas.....

xrobbx03 · 06-05-2006, 03:02 PM

thats a really nice tank

xrobbx03 · 06-06-2006, 08:13 PM

I think i decided on the 65g tank. And I will run a 10g sump/refugium (Small I know but i should be able to make it work). I also plan on building a custom stand for it. Hopefully i can get this project going by the end of the month. Saving up now for everything I will need. I plan to do a black sand substrate also. Seeing that tank in sea creatures with the black sand makes me want to try it.

Only thing I will need is some help with the plumbing part. But I will address that when time comes.

Chuck Spyropulos · 06-06-2006, 08:20 PM

If you need any help with plumbing, I would be glad to help you out. Also, DO NOT BUY ANY FITTINGS until you stop over and look through mine. I have 6 buckets of PVC fittings that I need to prune down (the wife wants me to clean the garage out). So please come and look through the fittings....1" 1.5", 2" valves, pipe, elbows, unions, etc..... you are welcome to take what ever you want, NO CHARGE

Quote:

Originally Posted by xrobbx03

I think i decided on the 65g tank. And I will run a 10g sump/refugium (Small I know but i should be able to make it work). I also plan on building a custom stand for it. Hopefully i can get this project going by the end of the month. Saving up now for everything I will need. I plan to do a black sand substrate also. Seeing that tank in sea creatures with the black sand makes me want to try it.

Only thing I will need is some help with the plumbing part. But I will address that when time comes.

xrobbx03 · 06-06-2006, 08:44 PM

thanks alot chuck. It wont be a month or so until i get the new tank going but I will definitely stop by and take a look through when its time.

xrobbx03 · 06-06-2006, 09:04 PM

The tank i want to get is by All Glass Aquarium its 65 footprint is
36x18x24. It comes with the mega flow built in overflow which is rated for 600 gph.

Here is a picture of the overflow. I think this is nice clean way to get to my sump. I wont have to do any drilling or buy any other over flows. I would just have to get the accesory kit for the overflow. Now only to find somewhere I can get this tank.

xrobbx03 · 06-06-2006, 10:59 PM

here is how i was thinking of setting up my 10 gallon as a sump/refugium

Chuck Spyropulos · 06-06-2006, 11:22 PM

Looks great!

Chuck Spyropulos · 06-06-2006, 11:24 PM

One thing I would change is the return pump. I would feed it through a bulkhead in the right end side of the sump. Reasons?

1. Submerged pumps add heat to the water
2. External pumps are generally more reliable and more easily maintained

Also, put ball valves on the pump intake and return lines so you can close them off to remove the pump while servicing/cleaning without water spills.

xrobbx03 · 06-06-2006, 11:26 PM

thanks. Do you think that a 10g will be good enough for the 65? I might need some things drilled in the 10g would you be able to help when its time?

Upgrading Help

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