C Dogs 400g Sun Lit Peninsula Reef

[C Dog]

I removed most of the over flow. This opened up alot of space! I am still deciding to use a internal overflow or external bean animal. I would like to do a external bean animal over flow but I would have to cut a horizontal line in 1" thick acrylic. I dont have anything to cut it with or how to.

I am waiting for my hammerhead pump & skimmer to start the closed loop.

 

[rgsa8892]

nice tank mine is similar in shape only mine is 360 gal 60x24x48.I was thinking you could put regular bulkhead fittings in the bottom with the plastic gaurds and plumb under and up the back side behind the black with 1 1/2" pcv to the water level height and a siphon break hole similar to a derso standpipe setup only on the outside of the tank.i use 2 x 1 1/4" derso"s with a mag 18 return pump and handles just fine.

 

[C Dog]

The holes on the bottom with be blocked off with a piece of acrylic.

 

[zakstrong]

i saw your post about cutting acrylic and took a look at this. it looks awesome should be a lot of fun to set up. what are you planning on keeping? will the solar tubes allow you to keep corals through out the tank?

 

[C Dog]

Here is what I have in mind if I do a external overflow.

The outer and bottom green tape will be 1" acrylic that will be the overflow box. The top tape that says"Open slot for overflow" is where I would cut the slot.

The top of the slot is 1/2" from the bottom of the euro brace. Will this affect the strength of the tank?

This would be the same height as the original overflow box. Does this look good or is there something I should change?

 

[C Dog]

i saw your post about cutting acrylic and took a look at this. it looks awesome should be a lot of fun to set up. what are you planning on keeping? will the solar tubes allow you to keep corals through out the tank?

Yes I should be able to keep corals anywhere.

 

[MikeyUU]

Can you close up the bottom of the overflow you didn't remove, and drill holes in the spot where you have the "open slot overflow"? Then you could just put on an exernal overflow with the beananimal style piping. You'll also give yourself more weir length for better skimming with the way that left over overflow sticks out.

 

[C Dog]

My original plan was closing the overflow( i left) on the bottom but it would leave a shadow in the tank. The external overflow box would look a lot cleaner and no dark spots in the tank but a lot more work.

 

[MikeyUU]

That makes sense. How large do you plan on making the hole in the tank? Dependent on flow and width it should not need to be very tall and that could help you keep some more of the structural strength. The hole looks pretty large from what you boxed out with tape.

 

[C Dog]

Its about the same size as the teeth on the original overflow. I was planning on making it any where for 1/2"-1".

 

[peppie]

Your "Slot,... series of Slots" shouldnt need to be any taller than 3/8''.
Be sure to brace your external overflow box all the way down to the stand. This will greatly reduce the stress you are adding to the top of your rear panel.

 

[C Dog]

Here is a update on what I will probably do with the overflow.

How about this? I made the overflow box bigger. There is 4" between the (3) 8" overflows or I can add 1" to each side of each overflow and do (3) 10" slots with 2" in between.

 

[peppie]

What was the total inches of the space between the teeth of the original overflow??
How much flow was run thru the tank with that amount of space between the teeth?
What is your plan for return flow???

 

[C Dog]

The teeth are 1/4" apart and the old overflow was 31" total.

I plan on flowing 1,500-1,700 gph

 

[peppie]

So lets keep it simple. Say it was 32'' long. divide that by 4 . So you had 8'' of open space between the teeth. Now you want to multiply that by 3 times, to get your 24'' of open space.
Even if you doubled the 8'', that would allow you twice the flow that you had in the first overflow.
So IMO the 3 X 8'' slots would be more than enough for your flow, and would leave more material between the slots. Win, Win

 

[C Dog]

Here is where it will go in my house. The first pic is how my house is set up now.

The second pic is with the screen in patio closed in with 2 sets of french doors. The wall left of the tank(blue rectangle) where it says 16' are acutally sliding glass doors all the way across. Those will be removed. My dining room table will be on one side of the tank(blue rectangle) and the other will have a bar. The bottom of the tank, table/bar top will be 36" high

I have to order 1" acrylic to do the external overflow. It will cost about $170 shipped for the acrylic to be cut and shipped. I am still checking localy for the acrylic. Slowly coming together but trust me this build will be worth the wait :beer:

 

[C Dog]

Here is the skimmer & Reeflo HammerHead pump I got used. Paid $235 shipped for both. I dont know a brand or model of the skimmer. Any one know? 26"T x 6" W I was told it was rated for 350-400 gallons.

The pump paint wa looking a lil rough so I sanded it and painted it black.

Should the this 90 degree PVC be turned up or down? This is where the water exits the skimmer.

 

[C Dog]

Small update. I cut the slots in the tank for the overflows. Just waiting for my tax returns to buy french doors, build a stand and to tear out my wall.

 

[C Dog]

Update on what I have been doing.

I have been polishing the acrylic to remove what little scratches there were. I cut the 3 slots in the back for the external overflow.

I sold the skimmer I bought for this a few weeks ago. I then bought a used My Reef Creations MR-4 Protein Skimmer for $135 shipped. It is rated for 900 gallons . The skimmer looks well built. I just need to get a few plumbing pieces which shouldn't cost much. It has the quick disconnect for the collection cup. Brand new these are around $900 so I feel like I got a good deal.

Here are some pics of it. The gallon of milk is just to show how big this thing is.

 

[jdpiii3]

lookng good! I love my MRC