2nd Nano,4th tank!!! Need pics of 20 long drilled.

[BLKTANG]

Ok so im a Reefer addict.


I got a 20 long today,& the reason y im posting is to c if anyone has a 20 long drilled,if so post some pics.

TIA,Dave.

 

[JC VT]

Hi Dave,

I don't have pics, but I might be able to help if you are looking for any info on what I think works and what I might do differently. I have a 20L.

Joon

 

[BLKTANG]

ok im ready,did u drill 2 x or once,how noisy is it?

 

[JC VT]

Once. It's extremely quiet.

I drilled back right corner, 1inch bulkhead. It then goes through an external durso, oversized at 1.25 inches, down through spa flex, then reduced down to 1in vinyl.

One thing I'd highly recommend is oversized drains with spa-flex. After that, the loudest noise would be the splashing from the skimmer output.

Joon

Edit: If I were starting from scratch again I'd go with a 1.25 or 1.5 inch bulkhead. I'm a believer in oversized drains. It can only help, IMO

 

[BLKTANG]

how big of a sump do u use,& what type of return pump.gph?

 

[JC VT]

20L sump, Mag 2 return. Probably 150-175 gph.

 

[BLKTANG]

ok now tell me exactly what u would do different?

I have a 10g with hob refigum

RR 50g custom

180 RR

& A JBJ with nothing in it.

 

[BLKTANG]

this is my first drilling experience

 

[JC VT]

I would oversize drain and go with a sleek looking overflow. Either that or an oversize drain with a screw in strainer. Right now I have an upturned elbow w/ gutterguard to prevent snails from hopping in.

I'd probably go with a bigger skimmer... I just happened to have my turboflotor on hand so I used that. I can't push all the overflow water thru it, but I can push a decent amount, so that's just nit picking. I'd go with some tunze nano streams. Otherwise I'm pretty happy w/ my set up.

Mainly a nicer looking overflow (nicer than a white pvc elbow, lol), and a bigger skimmer.

 

[JC VT]

Oh, and I like oversized drains, not only for the noise, but also in case a snail decides to go down the water slide and lodges himself in there.

 

[BLKTANG]

sewwt thankx,i would love too c some pics.

 

[JC VT]

I only have a camera phone I never fell into the digital camera thing unfortunately.

 

[JC VT]

Another thing I forgot to mention, is that my 1 inch bulkhead with elbow (oversized elbow btw at 1.25 inches) can't handle a whole lotta flow. I think a mag 3-5 would be the upper limits of it.

 

[BLKTANG]

Thats what i was thinking.Might go with 2",& maybe a Seaswirl

 

[JC VT]

Not sure if you've had a sea swirl before, but they stick out real far into the tank. For a tank 12 inches wide, it would block a lot of light. I was considering putting one on a 29 I was setting up, but then realized that it would create a huge shadow.

 

[BLKTANG]

hmmmmm,good thinking.I have 2 on my 180.

 

[IsThisNameTaken?]

Here's a 20 long I made for my little brother. I drilled three holes. two for 1" drain bulkheads and one 3/4" for the return. He's running a mag 7 through a 10 gallon sump.

He's since got an ASM G1 skimmer and has two 150watt 20k HQI halides hanging over it.

 

[IsThisNameTaken?]

Here's a couple more in the construction phaze.

 

[BLKTANG]

Very nice job.How high does the water get in the sump?

Did u diy the overflow boxes?

How noisy is it?

Sorry for the newb ?'s.

TIA,Dave

 

[Hobster]

Nice looking tank!

How far down (on center) did you drill the overflow holes and how far from the sides? I would like to drill mine the same.

What about any back siphon on the return loc lines. Did you drill a small hole it ?

Do you have anymore pics of the sump layout?

Thanks!