75 gallon reef ready , what to do ?

[sjatm941]

ive got a 75 gallon reef ready tank and im looking for opinions on a diy plumbing/sump or filtration system . the tank is already drilled , on one end 3/4 the way up 2 holes which are 7/8" and on the bottom of the tank are three 7/8" holes drilled , on tward a corner at one end and 2 evenly spaced in the middle of the tank . this is in a stand so i can make use of the bottom holes .anyway im trying to figure out a system for this, and from what ive read by searching these holes seem smaller than most . and ideas would be greatly appreciated. thanks


sean

[sjatm941]

rough idea where the tank is drilled . the ones up top at the end are on the end not the back . i used paint shop pro for this buy im not a pro as you can see . hehe

[Geoff]

do you have idea on what you would like to put in the tank? the hole on the bottom in the corner, was there an overflow there at one time? do you see silicone residue up the sides in that corner? i would think you would want to put an overflow in this corner. i would have liked one more hole somewhere, but that is just me. that way you can have the 4 in there now as returns for a CLS. what i am thinking is having one of the holes on the side near the top being the inlet for the CLS, and the 2 holes on the bottom as returns. use that other hole up on the side as a return from the sump.

G~

[sjatm941]

well the hole in the bottom corner is at the front of the tank and i wouldnt see why there would be a overflow in that one , and on the bottom? as for the side holes, the cabnet its in would cover the side plumbing , so the only thing i can think of is the three bottom holes are returnes and the 2 on the side are intake . if i set up a sump , what happens if the power goes out ? is there some kind of one way valve id put in line for the returns ? isnt a 7/8 hole kind of small ? or would i just use a kick a#$ pump ? i guess the intakes could use a tube that goes up taward the top or some kind of overflow . with this in mind i hope to get some more direction for where im going . am i nutz ? hehe

thanks sean mcc

[sjatm941]

heres what the tank and stand look like . its set up as a fresh water right now and some of the bottom holes are plugged but i9m thinking if making a fish only or reef tank. just looking into the plumbing/sump part for now . as you can see in the near front corner a return . mayby the stand is backward the way i have it , but then the doors on the lower part would be inaccessable , or could be set up so both sides are viewable . i like it on the wall so i have it set up this way .

[Geoff]

interesting! those holes on the bottom would have to be on somekind of CLS. if they were supplied from a sump, then if the power goes out, you are in big trouble. you can get check valves, but they are unreliable and are subject to clogging. either way not something i would risk.

those are small holes, looking at my chart those holes will only accept bulkheads for 1/2" pipe. hard to get enough flow using that.

those holes in the middle would be great for blowing out underneath the LR.

let me think on this some more.

G~

[Geoff]

i do not know what to tell you. is there anyway you can make those holes bigger? it will be real difficult to get enough flow through those pipes for anything really usefull in a reef environment. there is now way you can use those 1/2" pipes for a drain. you will need an overflow box anyway. so what good will the holes be if you can not really use them. from what i have read this seems to make more sense for a FW planted tank.

G~

[sjatm941]

thanks for your help , i thought about a closed loop but as you say , not enough flow . right now is a fresh water with 2 canister filters mag 350 and cascade 1000 about 600gph total . i know it was a saltwater before so im waiting for the original plumbing from my bro in law , the way it sounds is some kind of closed loop . i was thinking of a fish only saltwater , but im still learning . wonder if this would be enough for fish only salt ? thats really what i wanted to do . the glass is about 1/2 thick im not sure about drilling . i guess ill just see if anyone else has some suggestions , keep reading and learning befor i go for it . oh ya , if i used a over flow id have to drill bigger anyway , on each end at the top there is a slab of non removable glass , probaby goes in from the end about 5 inches , kind of like a non removeable end cover? weird from what ive seen.

thanks sean