More Tank Build Questions...

TriggerHappyDude

TriggerHappyDude

New member
I need feed back and opinions on these sized rimless tanks...

48x30x24

50x30x20

External or Internal Over Flow?
How thick of glass? 3/4" 1/2" ?
Closed Loop System or Powerheads?
How tall of stand? 36" 38"?
Eurobracers needed?
 
I would go with the shorter of the two. I like to be able to reach down to the botom of the tank in case a frag falls or I need to rearange something. Plus two inches more in width would give you extra room in the canopy for 4' lights. If I could design one I would have the overflow attached to the outside of the tank, but not a hang on, so not to interfer with room in the display tank.
 
I won't have a canopy, they will hang over or clip on, probably hang over...is my plan.

The custom build, will be designed, if I choose external over flow, to be attached to the tank, not hung on. I agree.

But at this size, is the over flow really taking up "that much" room? I understand in the nano tanks, space is limited, but this size? Really? The internal can be hid with live rock, and not have to worry about siphon issues...I don't know which way to go?

Thats just one argument for the internal, vs. your external argument.
 
I might have found a totally different tank size to go with!
Check out the this guys tank, the first page of the thread has the best pics of the tank build...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1107620&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

I love this size, 36x36x24, but scroll down to his equipment on the first page. Do you all see any issues with him having one big pump running all he has underneath there? Or at least thats what he said he was going to do. I can't tell from the equipment pics what all he has going on down there, maybe you can?

His aquascaping is really cool, bonsia tree inspired!
 
Chris,

the problem with a cubic shaped tank is that there is actually little linear dimension for a fish to swim. Tangs in particular like to swim, as do the triggers. By having a 36 tank, the longes length is corner to corner, and is limited. a 4 foot tank at 24 inches width provides a great deal more swimming length.

Having said that, cubes look nice, can be nicely scaped, but you may need to think on the fish you want to put in it.

As always, just my thoughts.
 
Ok, I'm not doing 36x36 now...I don't want my swimmers to be in a square cell. So back to the decision board...

48x30x24 is the frontrunner...
50x30x24 is in second place...
60x30x25 is my new third place tank...but is probably too big.

My fish will swim!
 
Ok, so here is what I'm playing with size wise with my tanks...

3tanks.png


I'm favoring the 150 gallon on the left...
Its funny, I started this aquarium research in the Nano sizes, moved up to 75/90 gallon, then 120 gallon...now look at me!
 
I've got a 140 out in my garage waiting to be set up that looks pretty close to the one on the far left. I was told its called a brick tank. The one I have is not rimless, but has 3/4" glass with no center brace, so the top area can be a viewing point as well. Give me a shout if you would like to come over and check it out, for comparison reasons. (its not for sale I'm settin it up LOL)
 
Thanks Paul and Greg! I have a very strong feeling about that one...it just feels right. Now only if I could get a deal on it at AGE or DeepSea Aquatics...or if I could get a nice build at Glass Cages...

Thanks for the input!
 
Hey Paul (and anyone else),
I'm getting feedback from somone on another thread about wanting to put the BlueThroat Trigger in my reef aquarium...

Anyway if its small enough it maybe fine but the bigger he gets the hungry and in your home hobby tank will lack its natural food source and look elsewhere for survival
Click to expand...

and more...

A reef tank means coral.The fish are like an extended CUC and MB a few for eye candy.The trigger will only make water quality harder to control. Im sure it will be fine for awile but in time it will be an issue.
Click to expand...

Somone who has it out for a BlueThroat in a reef tank, I just don't know how to reply to this person, without the experience you all have. :confused:
 
Also, what do you all think of the 1/2" glass vs. 3/4", I don't much about what makes what of each of these better? I guess I could consult with the tank builder once I have that decided, but your opinions would be great...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12285583#post12285583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Stealth91RT
I would go with the shorter of the two. I like to be able to reach down to the botom of the tank in case a frag falls or I need to rearange something. Plus two inches more in width would give you extra room in the canopy for 4' lights. If I could design one I would have the overflow attached to the outside of the tank, but not a hang on, so not to interfer with room in the display tank.
Click to expand...

Stealth91RT,
I considered this but because of the 30" front to back, another at least 5" for an overflow will make it stick way out from the spot I'm putting it in, and that would just be a bit much, I think if the tank were smaller, the internal overflow might be a "space" issue, but this size, I don't think it is. A cleaner look, oh yeah, but I think I could aquascape around it well enough to look fine.
 
I wouldn't necessarily respond to the person regarding the blue throat. He has his opinions and we have ours. Mine comes from experience. I have had a blue throat, sadly he died a while back. I also have a pink tail trigger which is around 8 inches.

He has nipped a coral....only one and only a few times. If you feed them the food they want, they are model citizens.

When it comes down to it, its your tank my friend and you do what you want.

I have seen clown triggers in tanks as well. of course they will eat the shrimp and inverts, but the corals were just fine.

Paul
 
Thanks Paul, I didn't really respond, by the time I checked out what you had to say, there were others already responding to that person, saying the fish was reef safe and not any more stressful on the tank water quality than the tangs that that person suposedly loves so much. So I just said I would stick with the good advice of my COMAS friends and enjoy this fish.

So do you think Clowns and/or Huma Huma (Picasso) triggers are ok in a tank of corals, just not the shrimp and inverts? Just asking, for my own education.
 
Where do you find information on how much and what to feed fish you are wanting to purchase? I don't know what I would feed any of the fish I listed, is that information available from where you buy the fish? Or is there a site with this information?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12318813#post12318813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pwhitby
I wouldnt do that......but i have seen it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, those two species belong in an aggresive tank community...live rock but probably not all the corals and such.

Nothing I have planned right now. I'll be happy with a BlueThroat for now...maybe another tank another day for those two.
 
Ok, so I've sketched up the 48x30x24 (brick) custom tank...do you all think my overflow is too big or too small for this sized tank?
The overflow calculator I used with some sample numbers...but I don't really know how to determine how much FLOW I want...for an example though say I wanted 750 GPH...

Using the following input parameters
Gallons per Hour = 750

Drain and Overflow sizes are calculated as
Recommended minimum drain pipe diameter = 1.13 inches
Recommended minimum linear overflow size = 11 inches

What is 11 inches of "linear" overflow? I don't know what that is? I don't even know if 750 gph is a good number for my sized tank and the stock I'll have in it...where does one come up with that number?

150gallon.png
 
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