looking for opinions

[Michael Brumit]

I have been out of reefing for a few years been doing fish only in a 72 bowfront. I have just purchased a used 125 and was wondering what has worked for others. First of all should i drill tank? Second what skimmers have worked well. Really i am just looking for general advice on where to start i am a bit overwhelmed right now.

 

[Michael Brumit]

anybody?

 

[crumbletop]

[welcome]

Michael!

Since you've gotten your feet wet with a fish only, I think you probably should drill the 125 and set things up for an overflow with a sump. I really like that setup compared to a sumpless setup because the aquarium looks a bit cleaner, the water level stays the same in the display all the time, you can put addititives in the sump or into the overflow so they mix well before going into the display, etc. u-tube overflows are an accident waiting to happen that can work well, but a regular overflow is more worry free. I can't give you advice on how/where to drill, but others on here can.

RE skimmers, I like how the octopus skimmers work. I have a Tunze 9010 that works pretty well. Euroreefs are nice ones as well. As far as bang for the buck goes, the octopus skimmers seem pretty nice.

You'll want to think about lighting, temperature control, test kits, stability of the environment (temp, alk, ca, etc.), sand bed type (none, shallow, deep). DawgDiggity is doing a build right now and is dealing with a lot of the same things, so you might tag along with his build

 

[Michael Brumit]

Thank you very much. I know it sounds dumb but are there certain tanks that can be drilled (glass i mean) I picked up an old tank. Glass is at least a half inch thick if not more. I do have reef expieriance but it has been some time and i am a bit rusty. I thank you for your patience.

 

[Michael Brumit]

Also i have a u-tube type overflow right now and i hate it. It seems to cause more problems then it helps. I have been researching the octopus skimmers and they seem to have good reviews.

 

[DMBillies]

You cannot drill tempered glass. You'll have to figure out the manufacturer and ask them if they are tempered (unless there is a sticker on there somewhere that says what panes are or are not). If you can't figure it out because the tank is too old, I'd say to definitely avoid the bottom. Many tanks have tempered bottoms and regular glass elsewhere. Unfortunately there is no way to tell otherwise (as far as I know).

And you definitely don't want to drill tempered...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uigdnhUsns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqV5W76U8Qg&feature=related

 

[Michael Brumit]

I will look all over it tonight to see if i can find a manufacturer but i do not recall seeing one. I am just wondering about drilling in the back i hate to take a gamble and ruin what i got.

 

[platax88]

Hey Michael,

I have a 125 mixed reef that is doing great! Mine is not drilled either and i have not had any issues with the u-tube overflow, just make sure that the tube remains clean of algae and gunk.

Here is some info about my setup.

Lighting: 3 X 250 watt SE MH running SPS 20k bulbs (will be switching to HQI with phoenix bulbs next week)

Skimmer: DAS EX-2. Best thing i ever bought. I overfeed and have a high bioload, yet this monster keeps my nitrates undetectable. Always hovered around 20ppm before.

Chemical filtration: @ phosban reactors. 1 for carbon, 1 for phosban.

Circulation: Mag 9 return pump, 3/4" sea swirl, 2 maxi mods 1200, 2 seio 820 (behind rockwork)

Top Off: Kalk reactor. Another toy that has really helped. Keeps CA and Alk at rock solid levels. 70 gpd RO/DI

Misc: Aquacontroller JR. Controls whole setup and keeps things in check! Macroalgea in refugium.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Michael Brumit]

That helps alot. Might need some help setting all that up and figuring out plumbing. Thanks to everybody for all the imput i value your opinions and keep it coming.

 

[NeveSSL]

Michael:

Welcome to RC and MTRC!

Just to put a shameless plug in here, definitely join MTRC when you get a chance. You get 10% off at most of the local fish shops.

Second off, I would recommend to do as much research as you can and try to get a good understanding of as much as you can as far as equipment and methods go. Needless to say you won't be able to figure EVERYthing out, but it should give you a good idea of what direction you want to go.

Take your time on it for sure.

And, of course, if you have any questions or anything, feel free to ask them in here or elsewhere on RC... there's a TON of great (and some bad) info!

Oh, and FWIW, here's a link to my build thread and what all I've done to my tank that may give you an idea of the journey I've traveled so far.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1110242

Brandon

 

[crumbletop]

He's already a member, Brandon

 

[Mnemic]

Best thing to do is Email the Mfg of the tank if you know who it is. I know All-glass responds to email. They emailed me back letting me know what parts of the tank were tempered. I just told them the size, the year I thought it was from, and they replied bottom tempered, sides not.

 

[Michael Brumit]

I looked all over tank last night and had no luck finding a sticker. Sadly i am afraid to drill it because i know as soon as i do i will break it. It looks like i will be stuck with a u-tube. I wonder what the chances are of the sides not being tempered? The tank is a old LFS display tank and the glass is at least a half inch think. Any thoughts?

 

[tswilson21]

that kind of makes me nervous about my tank. I watched those videos in the link above about tempered glass shattering tanks. If the bottom of the tank is tempered couldn't it just shatter one day?

 

[fallinapart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13108658#post13108658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tswilson21
that kind of makes me nervous about my tank. I watched those videos in the link above about tempered glass shattering tanks. If the bottom of the tank is tempered couldn't it just shatter one day?

Not without some help, hitting it with a piece of rock rather hard or drilling it, but to just shatter for no reason is not going to happen. Now someone is going to tell me of a horror story about a tank breaking for no reason of course that is why they temper glass is to make is stronger, but not unbreakable.

Norman

 

[Michael Brumit]

What is the safest overflow to run? I live way out in the country and we loose power alot. I know i am gonna come home one morning to a flood.

 

[DMBillies]

Michael- I'd say that if the glass is really thick and it is an older tank, the odds are better that it is NOT tempered glass. Of course, I make no guarantee of that and I can't help you pay for a new tank if you break it

I wasn't showing those movies to frighten people about their tanks breaking, I just wanted to demonstrate why tempered glass should not be drilled (i.e., you can't just get away with it by drilling extra slow with more water).

 

[Michael Brumit]

Brian,
It is deffinatly an older tank. The glass is very thick. Tank must weigh 300lb by itself. Think maybe i might just drill it and see what happens.

 

[Michael Brumit]

By the way it has a glass stregthener bar across the top. I dont know if that helps any at all. I am just abit overwhelmed right now its like starting all over. I thank you all for your input. I would be lost without you guys.

 

[Michael Brumit]

I got a 72 bowfront right now with a dual strip 48" light fixture. Would that be enough light for a 125 or should i just switch over to MH. I have never used MH and have to admit i know nothing about it. Also should i hunt around for new tops for 125 or just make a canopy and screw fixture onto it.