Am I crazy for not getting a RR 90g?

[stereomandan]

Anyone else have the option, but opted for a non RR tank instead?

I have quite a few reasons why I didn't want one, but anyone else do something similar?

1) I don't like the look of a big black overflow running top to bottom in the back of the tank (I keep my back glass clean and don't let calcareous algae grow over the back)

2) It gets in the way of aquascaping, especially the honker Megaflows

3) I don't like to run a lot of flow through my sump, roughly 300 gph. You don't need a lot. The filtration from the sump (where I put my DSB) will work fine with even less flow. I am going to use a closed loop system for flow.

4) It costs less. My 90g glass tank was $170. A 90g RR is closer to $300

Hmm... can't think of anything else right now. Anyway, I'll be documenting the setup soon. I just built a house and have a area in the basement dedicated to the tank. I'm trying to decide in-wall or bumped out from the wall so that the sides are visible.

Dan

 

[liquidlunch]

deja vu

deja vu

I bought a 75gal while I was having my current home built. After reading countless posts over a few months about RR vs. non, I sold the 75gal and bought a 90 RR. I have zero regrets and that black chamber is now a home to a sheet of corraline algae. Even is there was only a 1% chance of a flood, I would still get the RR.

 

[sjm817]

You can always drill it yourself and make a horizontal overflow.

BTW, get a 120 instead if you want a 4' tank!

I just bought an AGA 180RR, but it has the dual corner overflows. Much less intrusive that the big overflow in the middle of the tank.

 

[stereomandan]

I have nothing against RR tanks, they are much more fool proof. Glad you like the 90g RR. Have any pics?

Flooding with my overflow is about as probable as a RR overflowing. My overflow has been great for the last 6 years. No floods, but I have it set up well. It's a CPR overflow(which a lot of people don't like), which has the rectangular section for overflow, so nothing can clog it, and I have a Maxijet 900 in my sump pulling a syphon from the top of the overflow so that there is no loss of syphon, even in the event of a power outage. The big drawback to this setup is that you can not run a lot of flow through a CPR overflow, other wise when the power comes back on after an outage, the MJ900 pulling the syphon can't start the overflow quick enough and you might overflow the top tank for a few seconds before the syphon starts (but it WILL start automatically)

Dan

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063154#post8063154 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
You can always drill it yourself and make a horizontal overflow.

BTW, get a 120 instead if you want a 4' tank!

I just bought an AGA 180RR, but it has the dual corner overflows. Much less intrusive that the big overflow in the middle of the tank.

Didn't want a 120g. They are great tanks, but I don't want, or need the extra front to back depth for my plans.

I'm a guy who's been happy with a 38g for the last 10 years using a salt water setup, so a little smaller tank is fine by me.

Dan

 

[sjm817]

You are very lucky to have a CPR working that long without a problem. Mine failed twice in 3 months. Both times it was due to the little air nipple getting clogged. Doesn't take much for that to happen. I now run a Lifereef. VERY nice ultra reliable overflow.
No vacuum pump, airlines, power failure startups etc to worry about. It just works.

BTW, I run an AGA 90G now. Yes, its a great tank. I've got to get my lazy butt in gear and start to get the 180 set up!

If you get a non RR 90G, its not a big deal to drill a hole in the back and put in an overflow.

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063199#post8063199 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
You are very lucky to have a CPR working that long without a problem. Mine failed twice in 3 months. Both times it was due to the little air nipple getting clogged. Doesn't take much for that to happen. I now run a Lifereef. VERY nice ultra reliable overflow.
No vacuum pump, airlines, power failure startups etc to worry about. It just works.

BTW, I run an AGA 90G now. Yes, its a great tank. I've got to get my lazy butt in gear and start to get the 180 set up!

Yeah, I know. The CPR overflow is a whole other topic altogether. I do blow out the syphon line once in a while to make sure it doesn't clog. (I blow back into the tube from the side attached to the MJ900) I'm one of the few cases where a CPR makes sense, but I think for most a overflow like the Lifereef is much nicer.

Dan

 

[sjm817]

Have you seen the Calfo horizontal overflows?

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063216#post8063216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Have you seen the Calfo horizontal overflows?

No, but am interested in looking at them. Have a link?

Dan

 

[sjm817]

If I didn't have a RR tank, I'd definitely use one. here are a couple of threads.

Calfo Style Overflow boxes

Calfo overflow

 

[King-Kong]

You arent crazy at all.

I hate my 90g RR megaflow thingie.

It is HORRIBLE. The old style corner overflows were far superior in aesthetics.

Either place it in a corner, in the middle, OR NOT AT ALL!!

(still frustrated)

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063299#post8063299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
You arent crazy at all.

I hate my 90g RR megaflow thingie.

It is HORRIBLE. The old style corner overflows were far superior in aesthetics.

Either place it in a corner, in the middle, OR NOT AT ALL!!

(still frustrated)

I agree. I recently found a great deal on a never used AGA 180RR with the dual corner overflows. They are not that noticeable. Way better than the new style.

 

[liquidlunch]

here's the first week and 5 minutes ago at 9 months later

 

[sjm817]

Here is a tank with a Calfo overflow

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063325#post8063325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by liquidlunch
here's the first week and 5 minutes ago at 9 months later

Looks like it's shaping up to be a very nice tank! Good Job.

Dan

 

[stereomandan]

That tank with the Calfo overflow looks great, you can barely see them and they don't take up aquascaping space on the bottom.

Can all tanks be drilled through the back though? I don't remember. I'm not sure if the back glass is normally tempered. My tank is not All-Glass, it's a Natures Window, so I'll have to ask them if I decide to go that route. (Calfo overflow)

Dan

 

[liquidlunch]

thanks, i'm now ready for 180! maybe when i redo the carpets in a few years, i pull the trigger then.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063425#post8063425 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stereomandan
Looks like it's shaping up to be a very nice tank! Good Job.

Dan

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8063431#post8063431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stereomandan
That tank with the Calfo overflow looks great, you can barely see them and they don't take up aquascaping space on the bottom.

Yup. Thats the point. In addition, the long length is good for surface skimming,

Can all tanks be drilled through the back though? I don't remember. I'm not sure if the back glass is normally tempered. My tank is not All-Glass, it's a Natures Window, so I'll have to ask them if I decide to go that route. (Calfo overflow)

Dan

Typically, yes. AGA's have tempered bottoms, but not sides. Not sure on that brand. Check with them and see.