HELP.. How do you like your 180gal plumbed?

[ghever]

posted this on discussion , but this forum might be better place to ask..

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=786740

 

[ghever]

Hi Guys

I am trying to figure out what everyone prefers on their larger reef tanks, since I am thinking of upgrading to a 180 or so.

I like my center overflow with returns on the 2 sides.... but that is a cube, what about for a longer tank? Is it preferred to have 2 overflows?

Also, do you guys like your returns coming from inside the overflow, or separately outside of it?

I was thinkin of a big center trapezoid overflow with returns on the sides ... maybe even have a closed loop as well if I plan on keeping some SPS... but I can get a nice 180 with 2 corner overflows with returns trough the overflows for a good price, so thinking about it... I am just afraid of there not being enough room in the overflow for both the durso and return.

Appreciate the input.

G

 

[reelheel]

G - I have a standard 180g with two regular overflows...there is plenty of room for a durso standpipe and a return pipe in the overflow. As a matter of fact, I ran a tank for a long time with TWO dursos in the overflow chamber and a return over the back of the tank.
For the price, it'll be hard to beat a "standard" 180g that you could order from any LFS. You can get much more creative with a custom tank, but they generally cost much more. You can have a great setup with a standard tank, IME. Or you can really get custom and get EXACTLY what you want if you decide to customize.

 

[ghever]

thanks

thanks

thanks for the input...

the reason I posted the question is because I have a tank that was offered to me that is 180g, starphire, eurobraced... has 2 overflows at each corner with returns coming up from the overflow.

I was mostly looking to people's thoughts as to what they prefer , a center overflow with returns from the outside on either side, or two corners. I can see where having to deal with a couple of dursos could be a pain in the butt..but I have good experience with them so not to worried about that.. more worried about ease of cleaning, plumbing of this set up vs the center overflow with 2 return lines on the outside.

I know I can get a custom tank from glasscages for around $700 that will be built to exactly what I want, but it wont be really starphire, just the low iron glass....and wont be truely eurobraced. And then I would need to get a nice stand and hood.. the other deal gets me a LEE MAR 180g reef ready starphire and eurobraced tank.. with stand and hood .. for around $1000...but the stand and hood are not the finish i like so I would need to refinish them.

G