New Salterwater Tank Project

[PAS Photography]

So... after work yesterday since I couldnt make it to the meeting I stopped to look at a tank for sale. Ended up buying it! I guess its an old acrylic tank Hooked on Fish use to sell. I got the tank and stand for $300. The tank itself is 5ft long by 18" deep and 24" tall with angled front corners.

So I have some Questions maybe you guys can help me with. My biggest one I have is requarding the Built in Overflow. Ive never done a sump or overflows yet. It came with an Amiracle bioball filter but I dont think theres room for my protein skimmer in it, which is really where Id like it to go now.

1. What size sump (how many gallons) would be sufficient?
2. Can I incorperate the Amiracle filter and then into a sump with the ProteinSkimmer?
3. What size pump am I going to need flow wise?

Water leaves tank over the overflow, out bottom of tank into sump. Pump then returns the water up piping in center of overflow to two fittings on the either side of the top of the overflow.

4. These two fittings are bare, should I use some of that bendable cool ball type piping and a nozzle or, what would be a good application here?

5. Im going to need some more LiveRock for sure and was wondering where to get some for a decent price (cheap possibly) or anyone in the club have any they dont need for sale?

6. There are some scratches in the tank and was wondering what is the best way to go about fixing those?

2years of the 75gal. and it was time to upgrade!!! My project every night after work over the next few weeks is getting this new one running.

Thanks everyone,
Paul

 

[BenjieC]

1. What size sump (how many gallons) would be sufficient?-the largest you can fit in your stand and still work in it
2. Can I incorperate the Amiracle filter and then into a sump with the ProteinSkimmer?-I'd sell it unless you plan on doing a fish only in the future
3. What size pump am I going to need flow wise?-I'd generally go with 3-5x the display volm, so in your case a 5-700gph pump would be fine. Then I'd put powerheads in the tank for additional flow min of 30x turnover so 3-4000gph. Koralia, Tunze, or Vortech's will get you there pretty quickly.

Water leaves tank over the overflow, out bottom of tank into sump. Pump then returns the water up piping in center of overflow to two fittings on the either side of the top of the overflow.

4. These two fittings are bare, should I use some of that bendable cool ball type piping and a nozzle or, what would be a good application here?-locline

5. Im going to need some more LiveRock for sure and was wondering where to get some for a decent price (cheap possibly) or anyone in the club have any they dont need for sale?-I though I saw some for sale in the CMAS forum

6. There are some scratches in the tank and was wondering what is the best way to go about fixing those? Micromesh sand paper

2years of the 75gal. and it was time to upgrade!!! My project every night after work over the next few weeks is getting this new one running.

Thanks everyone,
Paul[/QUOTE]

 

[RobTop]

Yeah what he said.

I should have rock FS in the comeing week or two and it will be cheap, otherwise look at other FS threads like Benjie said. Store bought LR is expensive. I can get it through a distributor at a good price but this time of year everything will die due to the cold, and would be the case with just about any mail order rock. best time to ship rock is Sept?oct or March-April depending on the last winter storm we get. As for the scratchs there is a product line called Novus which as I understand it is th estandard for buffing tanks. Never have used it, but that is the line everyone I know has used.
Can you fit a 40 gal breeder in there for a sump? That would make a good one. I think I saw that Benjie had a 40 gal sump FS in his thread. I have a 30gal sump forsale if you want. If you had to the filter you have could be made to work until you can put something else in there. Just remove the bio-balls and try, clamp the return hose to the side and that should open it up to allow space for your skimmer.

Congrats on a great upgrade and a wonderful deal!

 

[PAS Photography]

Well the opening in the front of the stand is smaller, and was barely able to squeeze a standard 20 gal tank in the back. So it looks like I am going to add some acrylic in the 20gal. and make my own. I have looked up some designs and think I have a good game plan now.

Im really dreading making the transition tho, the 55 to 75 was a pain and im sure this will not go much smoother but at least I know what im in for this time.

I could use the live rock. Rob, Let me know what you have and how much you want for it.

I sold my 75gal. to a buddy that want to do a saltwater tank and start with fish only and liverock with maybe some zoa frags.