NewB mod question - BioCube 29

[skewter76]

This will be my first SW reef tank. In fact, it will be my first tank that has more than 1 goldfish.

I have been doing a good deal of research and have been mulling over a few ideas that seem like they might be good, but given the fact that I've been unable to find anyone that has done them, perhaps they are just crazy. Here is what I'm thinking of doing:

Using a BioCube 29 and the matching stand, integrate a sump/fuge with a protein skimmer in the bottom of the stand. I figure I can fit 10 gallons with enough room for overflow if the return pump fails. I like the clean look of the tank/stand so I want to do this w/out any hoses hanging out of the back. My thought is to drill a hole in the bottom of the left section of the BioCube sump through the top of the stand and run 1" pvc pipe down to my sump/fuge. For the return i would run 1" pvc up through the right side using a pump rated ~300 gph @ 4ft.

Anyone done anything like this? Am I crazy to put a hole in the bottom of this tank?

Thanks,
David

 

[CharAznable]

Good question. I was thinking of having a hole in the bottom of the 1st and 3rd chamber. One for the grain and one for the return. Any suggestions out there?

 

[drjuice28]

If you do that, whichever section you have the line draining out of will always be empty. The outflow will keep it that way no matter how strong your return pump is. gravity is a powerful thing!

 

[CharAznable]

I was planning on having a tube going up to just under the water level for the overflow. I wasn't going to leave an open hole in the bottom of the chamber. Would that still drain the chamber???

 

[Illuminati]

Not sure if the glass on the bottom of the biocube is tempered. I wouldn't drill it, way to much can go wrong, IMO.

On another note skewter if your looking for a local reef club check out the Chicago area reef club.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=180

Good place to get advice and find cheap frags. I'm on there sometimes and have a 24 gallon nanocube.

 

[CharAznable]

That's good enough for me. I am not going to take the chance of shattering the bottom. Thanks for the info about the club too!!