A bunch of questions for the experts.......

junior71107

New member
Hey Everyone! I have a few questions that I would really like some feedback on.. I recently had a custom tank built, pretty basic 142 gallon (5'X23.6X23.6). I am trying to decide how to plumb the tank, as I want it to be versatile from a placement perspective.. I am attaching a VERY RUDIMENTARY grade-school esq drawing of my proposed layout, and I wanted to get a feel for how you guys think it will work for me. Any ideas or concerns would be appreciated.

The basic key for the illustration is as follows:

(1) Flow Control Valve
(2) Bioballs/mixed media
(3) Skimmer 250 Gallon capacity
(4) Drip dispersion over refugium on Skimmer outlet line
(5) Main skimmer outlet
(6) return pump
(7) 2 1.5 inch transparent overflow pipes **
(8) 1 2 inch transparent return pipes **
(** I want all of my overflow and return bulkhead to be centered in the bottom panel of the tank for versatility and the type of fish in my stocking list, I will have three columns of compact live rock built around the overflow and returns)

This will be a temperate tank, so no heating/cooling is required. It will also be stocked with local native fish, and does not require the extreme clarity and purity required by indo-pacific, caribbean, and austrailian reef species.. I am moving to Seoul in March and I plan on stocking the tank by rescuing a few species from the local fish market in Seoul. My current stocking list includes: 2-3 Cloudy Catsharks(22" max size, benthic, docile, easily live in small groups), 4-6 Banded or Spotted Knifejaws, 1 Starry Triggerfish, and 1 Tiger Puffer (or two Panther Puffers). I will also be adding in random Red Sea Squirts, Cucumbers, Cleaner Shrimp, and Crabs and Abalones.. As well as a pound of mini clams, and Polychaetes (the large bad kind) to provide a live food supply for the Sharks and Knifejaws in addition to their normal feeding. My second question is in regard to my stock list, does anyone have any recommendations for removals or additions in order to better balance the tank? Please remember that all of these fish would have been killed if I don't "rescue" them for my tank, please factor that in to your "ethical concerns"
 

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I would not drill the bottom of the tank, I would drill the back of the tank. If the the glass is tempered you can not drill it.
 
Thank you for your advice. I spoke to the builder and he said he will not be using tempered glass. Why would you not recommend drilling the bottom? Is it due to the risk of total water loss if a bulkhead failed?
 
Yeah total failure, two holes in the back total loss 20 gallons or so, failure on the bottom you guess it. My tank has one hole on the bottom but it has a overflow box. Lots of people doing custom tanks are doing bean type overflows. If it is drilled already not a big deal just keep rock structures from falling on the pipe.
 
Putting the bulkheads in the bottom is fine as long as they are 'isolated' from the full tank volume by the walls of an overflow. I suppose holes in the middle of the bottom might make me a bit nervous, but done right, a center overflow can look really nice.
 
Thank you both for the advice.. I really want to use the tank as a divider in our new house with almost 360 viewing... I think I will frame out the transparent overflows with glass walls (unless someone has invented a better solution for attaching acrylic or polycarb to glass and if that would work it would be easier for me to do at home), maybe 2.5"X 2.5" columns.. That would protect from the potential of total water loss, and still give me the look that I desire.. I saw a tank with transparent centered overflows and the visual effect of water running down the pipes within the tank is very nice... I wouldnt use this set up in a full reef tank, but I think it will work well with our stock list and layout plans..
 
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