Deciding what tank to get

[Helikritz]

OK All, I am looking for suggestions...

Previous set up was 55g with 15g sump. The 55 was horrible in the sense of the tank was just too narrow. In the area where i will be placing the new tank I only have room for a 3' tank.

I am stuck between a 40g breeder and a 65g corner flow. I have kids and they want to see fish, so with that being said I would like to be able to stock the tank with at least the following (open to suggestions)...

Clowns x2 (orcellaris)
Royal Gamma x1
Watchman x1 (yellow, needs to go with Tiger Pistol Shrimp)
Firefish x2
Green Mandarin x1 (later, 6m-1y after up & running)
Dottyback x1 (purple)
Wrasse x1 (suggestions)
Any other suggestions would be great
They would love to see a blue hippo but I think that tank is too small, thoughts?

along with the array of cleaning crews such as snails/emeralds/hermits/etc...

My sump/refug will be a recycled 29 gallon directly under the display tank. I would like the plumbing to go thru the bottom so that I can have the tank as close to the wall as possible.

Question is, Is the Marineland corner flow a good set-up with only having 2 holes in bottom of tank? I keep seeing people having at least 3, 1 being an emergency drain?

Any and all suggestions are welcome..

Thank you,
Kevin

 

[thegrun]

As far as the drains go in the Marineland you could run the return up and over the top leaving the two holes in the overflow as the primary and emergency drains.
Nine fish in a 40 or even a 65 gallon tank is a very heavy bio-load along with probable issues with aggression. The clowns are going to stake out at least a 30 gallon chunk of the tank and claim it as their own and will not allow most of the fish you have selected into that space. For the firefish if you go with two be sure to get a mated pair or they are likely to fight. I think the Dottyback is just going to be too aggressive with a large fish population, better to pass on it. I just don't see the Mandarin getting enough food with a big fish population and a fairly small tank. I love Carpenter's Wrasse, but any of the flasher wrasses would be a great fish. Bottom line I think you are going to want to either slim down your fish selections or get at least a 75 gallon tank.
Best of luck!

 

[Helikritz]

thank you grun,

I would like to keep all plumbing thru the bottom so that this could be pushed right up again the wall, and also to maximize the gph of the return.

OK, will slim down some on the list of fish. I was not aware of that about the Firefish, will only have 1 and i will pass on the dottyback.

anybody know if the Marineland corner flows are quiet with only having the one drain? are they safe to run like that?

 

[Sk8r]

Mine have all been corner bows with a 2-hose drain/return, with no problems. A properly designed downflow box prevents draindown below the intake for the standpipe. If you ever have to drain the tank you simply pump it out. I have a 105 gallon that's pretty well 3x3x3 feet, weighs a ton, or most of one, and has a very large under-stand space. I do have to use a ladder to service it.

 

[A.Astore]

I only have two holes drilled and have no issues with it. My 55 was a corner overflow with 2 as well. I would not worry about the two rather than three.

I will say that you are probably better going with a larger gallon because of the kids. I have three kids and the list they give us for stocking wants is ENDLESS. Nothing worse than deflating a kid's dreams in this hobby (cue reason we now have two more large tanks in near future thanks especially to my four year old that seems to like aggressive, non-reef safe the most). You didn't mention wanting a reef system so the nice thing is even with a deeper height you won't have to worry about light getting to the sand with decent numbers still intact. I simply know how I am as well as the many posts I have read where no one is ever satisfied... go bigger now rather than wishing you did in a few months.

 

[jsspallina]

go bigger now it will save you time and money later when you want to upgrade.

Good Luck

 

[Helikritz]

So the 1 drain and 1 return line is OK? I have read (on other forums) that some people worry about the screen getting clogged and the tank overflowing.

I will want to have some corals in it, not sure on what ones. If they need to be placed high up on some rock, that's fine. Lighting I'm not worried about at this time.

I just want to get the tank so I can start the stand and begin the pond foam rock wall to cover the back glass. My old tank had a painted back, and i never liked it, it didn't add anything to the over all look.

 

[Sk8r]

THere's no screen. ?>??? A downflow box with teeth, yes, but during the hair algae stage (try to prevent it, with GFO) you may need to clear the teeth. For the rest, I do not know the clog-prone detritus of which these people speak. I've never seen any.

 

[davehead86]

THere's no screen. ?>??? A downflow box with teeth, yes, but during the hair algae stage (try to prevent it, with GFO) you may need to clear the teeth. For the rest, I do not know the clog-prone detritus of which these people speak. I've never seen any.

Snails getting stuck into drain pipes is most peoples concern.

Everyone ive seen on here claims that durso (2 pipes) are notoriously loud and to just instal it as a Herbie to prevent backups and silence the tank.

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

Throw a flame angel in there. I love watching them because of there color. I would also go with a 65 if your putting all the fish you named plus live rock and corals

 

[Helikritz]

I may have just talked the wife into a 4 foot tank, however it would have to be located in a different spot (only visible from 2 sides as it would be in a corner against 2 walls) so there is not alot of height. It would have to be a 75 (dont think i can go taller). Opinions on drilling them? I know the bottoms are tempered and id have to go thru the back. Is this a smart idea, if so suggestions on hole placement and overflow style and type?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Going with a 4' tank you can go much more than the 75 without much difference in height, here are the dimensions.

Length x width x height

75 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 18″ x 21″
90 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 18″ x 24″
120 Gallon Aquarium: 48″ x 24″ x 24″

IMO if you're going with a 4' tank I'd go for the 120. The cost of all of your equipment will be the same for any of these and as you can see it's not that big a difference between 75 and 120. I do like the footprint of the 120 as the 24"x24" gives you lots of room for aquascaping and leaving a good bit of open water

 

[Helikritz]

Snails getting stuck into drain pipes is most peoples concern.

Everyone ive seen on here claims that durso (2 pipes) are notoriously loud and to just instal it as a Herbie to prevent backups and silence the tank.

With this i would then have to go over the top with the return? Kinda wanted to advoid this.

No go with the 4' tank, it would end up too close to the utility panel, by like 4" and I'm not moving a wall. Owell.

 

[davehead86]

With this i would then have to go over the top with the return? Kinda wanted to advoid this.

No go with the 4' tank, it would end up too close to the utility panel, by like 4" and I'm not moving a wall. Owell.

Yes, but with a return over the top you can adjust it where ever you want so it wouldnt necessarily be in the way.


Im just saying this is why people run herbie and beananimal drains. They are dead silent. If the noise of a properly tuned durso doesnt bother you then go for it. Just do some research on Durso Drains and make sure you have all the info at hand to make your decisions.