Should I get overflows pre-drilled (reef ready)?

[drjosay]

Reefers,
After a two year hiatus from the hobby, I've decided to put the tank back up. I had a 75g tank that I used previously for FOWLR, but I am considering upgrading to a larger tank. What I want to add to the tank are various fish, live rock, and an anemone or two. Here are my questions:

1. Is a pre-drilled "reef-ready" tank necessary for the things I want in my tank, or can I go with a standard tank?

2. Will a quality hang-on wet/dry filter and hang-on refugium be sufficient, or is it essential to go with the overflows/sump system under the display tank?


Thats all I have for now. My wife and I bought a house exactly two years ago and we both agree that we're miserable without the tank. I cant wait to get things back up again. Thanks for any info you guys have. You're great!

-Billy

 

[thehunt]

overflow

overflow

I don't think it is nessary but in a large tank i like the assurance that the overflow will work properly and not get air in it like a hang on one can

 

[mazilla]

have somebody drill the tank for you, it should run about 15.00 a hole. Then you can make your own overflows out of glass skinned with acrylic(if it's a glass tank, or just acrylic if it's an acrylic tank). Thats what I did on my 180G, piece of cake.

 

[Aquarist007]

[welcome]

If you have the opportunity to have it drilled then do it--it is alot more effecient that way and less problematic for possible flooding

Nothing is more effecient then a protein skimmer---I would get a protein skimmer over the hob
Live rock, and sand bed and a protein skimmer are really all the basic filtration you need for a tank.

 

[Playa-1]

I would upgrade to the reef-ready tank. Maybe you can use your current tank for a sump/fuge.

That being said, It can be set up many different ways and it's not absolutely necessary to have a sump under the tank. But then again, I can't imagine a scenario where I would want to settle for anything less then a good sump/fuge set-up.

Why would you want a bunch of clutter hanging on the side of the tank when you could put it in a sump. Why would you settle for a hang on protein skimmer when you can get one to set in your sump that will be much more effective.

 

[limitdown]

I highly recommended getting a pre-drilled tank so that you can hide all of the mess inside the stand.

 

[Aquarist007]

Have a look at the post on my log book thread on sumps and be sure to visit the link to melev's reef.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1424845