A Low Country Reef Tank....one more final upgrade

[albano]

I'm perfectly happy with the 36" width especially since it will be up against the wall and my only access to the tank without getting in it will be from the front and the sides.

I can tell you from experience... Even on a 36" front to back tank, it's a looong way if you have to place something on the bottom! I needed to put supports across the top of the tank, to support myself, to be able to place live rock and corals near the back... BUT...it's worth it!

 

[SPotter]

I can tell you from experience... Even on a 36" front to back tank, it's a looong way if you have to place something on the bottom! I needed to put supports across the top of the tank, to support myself, to be able to place live rock and corals near the back... BUT...it's worth it!

Yeah this has me concerned. I am thinking about just having two large rock stuctures on the ends and keep the middle open. Hopefully it will allow me to reach whatever I need to get to from the front or the sides.....hopefully.

What would you suggest for overflows? External is not an option and I orginally thought about a single trapezoid overflow in the middle of the tank but the more I think about it, I am now thinking that I should have one in each corner to make it easier for any kind of maintenance.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Can you trapezoid the corners? When I had my tank built they were doing it on another tank being built.

 

[SPotter]

Can you trapezoid the corners? When I had my tank built they were doing it on another tank being built.

I can discuss it with them.

 

[Adamc1303]

What's trapezoiding corners?

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

What's trapezoiding corners?

Instead of being square you place the corners with the trapezoid overflows.

 

[Mike S]

Is there a space constraint that is keeping you from going with an external overflow? After having both, I'd chose an external of I could. The one thing didn't like on my old tank was the space that the internal overflows took up. Then again you have some real estate to play with. It was also a pita to retrieve fish that always seemed to find their way into them.

 

[SPotter]

Instead of being square you place the corners with the trapezoid overflows.

Wayne can you get a picture of this?

 

[SPotter]

Is there a space constraint that is keeping you from going with an external overflow? After having both, I'd chose an external of I could. The one thing didn't like on my old tank was the space that the internal overflows took up. Then again you have some real estate to play with. It was also a pita to retrieve fish that always seemed to find their way into them.

External is my choice but I don't think accessing it will be any easier unless I did two separate overflows close to the corners. That still doesn't leave a lot of space for me to do any kind of work if a bulkhead needs to be replaced.

 

[Mike S]

If you are thinking about doing corner overflows I wonder if you could just do externals towards the ends and have them put the holes for the bulkheads within reach? I have your old tank just a few inches off the wall and can reach them with a little bit of effort. I'm no bean pole either.

 

[SPotter]

If you are thinking about doing corner overflows I wonder if you could just do externals towards the ends and have them put the holes for the bulkheads within reach? I have your old tank just a few inches off the wall and can reach them with a little bit of effort. I'm no bean pole either.

Now that I gotta see!!!!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Wayne can you get a picture of this?

I can sneak by after I come from the hospital.

 

[SPotter]

Thank Wayne!

 

[Rotknee]

Go BIG or go home baby!!!

Go BIG or go home baby!!!

I don't know how I'm on the late freight catching this thread. After seeing your purchases you make me feel better about my Black Friday indulgences.:wildone:

I meant to ask what you thought of ceramic rock for this build? Anyway, I see you went with the tried and true lighting solution. Good choice!:thumbsup:

I am looking forward to seeing you fire up those DC pumps. They are the future of the hobby and I am hoping they work well for you.

 

[SPotter]

I don't know how I'm on the late freight catching this thread. After seeing your purchases you make me feel better about my Black Friday indulgences.:wildone:

I meant to ask what you thought of ceramic rock for this build? Anyway, I see you went with the tried and true lighting solution. Good choice!:thumbsup:

I am looking forward to seeing you fire up those DC pumps. They are the future of the hobby and I am hoping they work well for you.

So funny Rodney"¦.I was wondering today when you were going to jump in here!! I thought a lot about the ceramic rock, spoke to a few people about it but ultimately decided on Marco for the display and will do 150-200lbs of live rock in a rock sump.

What did you buy for the black friday sales?

 

[Rotknee]

So funny Rodney"¦.I was wondering today when you were going to jump in here!! I thought a lot about the ceramic rock, spoke to a few people about it but ultimately decided on Marco for the display and will do 150-200lbs of live rock in a rock sump.

What did you buy for the black friday sales?

I got a pair of Sea Sweeps, Tunze 6255's and the 6105.500 battery back up connectors. I was looking for an alternative to my Vortechs and thought I would give the Tunzes a shot. Overkill...um...*%# yeah!!! Also replaced my pH and Redox probes along with a slick hanging solution for my lights. Bought a bunch of chemicals I needed too. I was just looking at my CC bill and thought "...this hobby ain't cheap!"

 

[SPotter]

I got a pair of Sea Sweeps, Tunze 6255's and the 6105.500 battery back up connectors. I was looking for an alternative to my Vortechs and thought I would give the Tunzes a shot. Overkill...um...*%# yeah!!! Also replaced my pH and Redox probes along with a slick hanging solution for my lights. Bought a bunch of chemicals I needed too. I was just looking at my CC bill and thought "...this hobby ain't cheap!"

you have to tell me what you think of the sea sweeps. I have 2x6105's that I might hook up to the sea sweeps. I was planning on running sea swirls on my returns but If I convert the swirls into sweeps I might do that if I need more flow.

 

[Rotknee]

That Flow Wolf is impressive! I will be watching closely because I believe you can plumb your tank with ZERO visual pollution provided you execute this part of the build correctly. That thing is like a OM4 or steroids. Nice find!

What are you going to do for an overflow? IIRC you said you were going with a BeanAnimal? Mentally I have been thinking about a 72x36x22 new tank build but not sure about which solution would be best regarding overflows. I like the look of using the corners like Mo did on his build but still not sure. Either way, I'll be watching your success while borrowing an idea or two.

 

[Floyd R Turbo]

Can you post your proposed design? As you know I'm big on the BeanAnimal type overflow, you can get creative and make it work - and it's totally worth it in the long run, even if you have to make a few sacrifices

 

[SPotter]

so far the layout is pretty simple…..96x36x24. I haven't decided on the location for all of the closed loop holes yet and will do that once I am decided on the overflow location. The only way I would do a bean overflow would be to put the overflow externally on one of the 36" sides of the tank. I spoke with James at Envision today and he suggested just doing two internal overflows that will be 12" from the sides. So we pretty much have a clean palate to work with here.