help please...

[palileo]

alright, i know i've been askin hella questions... probably because i'm still transitioning from smokin reefer to becoming a reefer... lots of relapses... haha... j/k... umm... maybe not... or umm... maybe so... :smokin: originally i thought this was reefer central but now i'm converting... haha... j/k. well here's the deal...

i start moving in 2 weeks... and rather than hope to get everything right and working properly the way i have things, i'm thinkin of changing to a sump... only problem is, i don't know where to start. i have a 10g to convert into one. i have plenty of acrylic, a 48" acrylic bender, and tools at my shop if i need to build one to fit in my stand. i've actually built a couple small tanks for some friends before... the sea clone i have can be used inside the sump but what else will i need? well from what i'm hearing, i guess a new skimmer too... but since i have it, will i be able to get away with it for a while.

also, is there anyone that might be able to help with the overflow thing? haven't drilled glass before... so if anyone has bits and pointers or time to help me with, i'd really appreciate it.

 

[Fragmented]

Check this out

http://ozreef.org/component/option,com_bookmarks/Itemid,50/

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I agree that a sump is the only way to go. I would be happy to help with the tank drilling (i just use a dremel and a diamond bit to start the hole and a tile cutting bit to finish it). Where abouts are you in Sac.? You can PM me about the drilling if you want.

John

 

[duec22]

as far as the skimmer goes...I would say you could use the seaclone for now... any skimmer is better than no skimmer...

 

[palileo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7132547#post7132547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fragmented
Check this out

http://ozreef.org/component/option,com_bookmarks/Itemid,50/

thanks for the link... lots of info

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7132715#post7132715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaliforniaDreamer
I agree that a sump is the only way to go. I would be happy to help with the tank drilling (i just use a dremel and a diamond bit to start the hole and a tile cutting bit to finish it). Where abouts are you in Sac.? You can PM me about the drilling if you want.

John

thanks alot, i appreciate all the help. i'll have the last 2 weeks of this month available before i have to move the tank from Greenhaven to where we're moving in Laguna, when is best for ya.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7132819#post7132819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by duec22
as far as the skimmer goes...I would say you could use the seaclone for now... any skimmer is better than no skimmer...

yeah i figured that it would be better than nothing. thanks for the confirmation... i'm still getting my feet wet in this reefin hobby. grateful to hear any/all responses...

so i guess it's official. maybe... haha... i guess it still depends on how much more i'll have to spend. anyone have spare parts lying around they'd like to get rid of?

where should i put the holes?

i was reading about putting the holes on the bottom, what do you think? 3 holes i guess like he had going... forgot exactly how he had it working... 1 for the overflow, 1 for the return, 1 strictly for w/c? i think he piped the overflow in from the bottom with piping that went into the tank, up to about where it would stop draining if the water got down too far... then he hid it with some live rock sculpting... i'd like to try and have it set up and ready for drilling. if we do the bottom configuration, i won't paint the back in case i ever want to turn it into an island...

thoughts anyone?

oh i'd like to add that i never thought that i'd get this much help on here. thanks to all of the MARS community. i travel to your planet frequently... haha... i'm there with ya every night as i stare into my tank for hours and hours and hours.

i definately plan on becoming a member in May. hopefully i'll make it to WMC...

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Drilling the bottom is no problem as long as it is not tempered. Oceanic tanks often have tempered bottoms but there is always a tag advising not to drill. Not sure what your plans are for the holes or how you are doing the overflows. With an island tank the overflow is often at one end. Are you planning an overflow box in the center?

 

[palileo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7134901#post7134901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaliforniaDreamer
With an island tank the overflow is often at one end. Are you planning an overflow box in the center?

i guess i was thinking something like that. maybe not directly center of the tank, but off the glass. i was hoping i could hide it with the rock. if i don't put it somewhat center, then i think i'll run into more problems trying to hide it. what do you think?

i'm really new at all this, anybody have thoughts on this?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

The problem with a center overflow is if your tank is not that wide you would end up with very little space between the overflow and your front and rear glass. This would make hiding it and aquascaping in general difficult. You can expect the overflow to take up an area of at least 3ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ x 4ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ maybe more. With your ability to fabricate plastic the creation of the overflow itself should be easy. I can also help with the creation of a durso standpipe to help quiet the overflow.
In any case were you able to check to see if the bottom is drillable? If the bottom is tempered it will crack if we try to drill it. As I said before, I would be glad to help, just PM me. I live in the south area and it would be easiest for me to go to your place than for you to bring the tank to me. You will need to get some bulkheads for the holes you want prior to drilling (I use them to make sure the hole is the right size).